Title: Little Girls

Summary: Jack is torn apart when Maria files for full custody of their daughters. How do the girls react though? (AU)

Disclaimer: I do not own Jack, Hannah, Kate, or Maria Malone, nor do I own Danny Taylor, Martin Fitzgerald, Vivian Johnson, or Samantha Spade. I do, however, own Nicole Malone, and I'm probably going to end up just making up the name of the girls' schools, and of Jack and maria's lawyers.

A/N: A lot of this stuff is made up. Please forgive me. Thanks HotchnerandPealeefor your great reviews! Hope you all this chapter

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"They have schools here, friends here, their grandfather lives here, whom Nicole, Hannah, and Kate are all very close to."

"And you're here?"

Dad had been in the deposition for hours, and was starting to break down and lose his temper. The last question, though, was one that really threw him off stride. It was like he didn't know the answer, even though it was right in front of his face. Using the signature Malone smart remark, he replies to Frank.

"Obviously. Wait, what is she doing here?"

Dad asks, seeing mom walk into the room in her typical lawyer in-the-zone attitude. She was a dynamite lawyer, but this was the one time when I wished she wasn't so dynamite.

"I'm here to sit in on the deposition, Jack. You know perfectly well that I have every right to be here."

"Jack, focus, let's get back to the questioning."

Mom and dad shoot each other evil glares from their spots at the conference table, then turn to the lawyers, building up their defenses against the questions.

"At this time, Jack, do you feel that you are better suited to raise the girls, here in New York City?"

"Absolutely."

Back in the main room, Sam, Viv, Kate, and Hannah were hard at work decorating the tree, Martin was laughing at them all, Danny was carrying a conversation about the war with my grandfather, and I was left alone to wonder what was going to happen to our family, the Malone family.

"Nic!"

We all hear mom yell my name from where she stands at the door to conference room. Knowing that she's using my nickname, I stand up and walk over, getting looks of pitty from the agents who know the whole situation.

"Nicole,"

Dad looks as if he's about to break down at any minute. He looks weary, and unsure, something I'm not used to seeing from my father.

"Maria, why did you bring the girls to New York?"

"I couldn't very well leave them in Chicago by their selves, now could I?"

"Nicole, go ahead and take a seat next to your father."

I nod my head and sit down next to dad, at his lawyer's request.

"Let the record show that Nicole Malone is now joining the deposition. Miss Malone, you are representing the interests of yourself, and your two sisters, Hannah and Kathren in this matter."

"Yes."

I say, nodding my head. If anyone should decide what happens it's us kids, and I know that in this matter, Hannah and Katie feel the same way that I do. Paying attention to the way mom works in the court room was definitely going to pay off in this situation.

"Nicole, do you ever hear your parents fight?"

"You find me an American couple that doesn't fight at one time or another."

"What sort of things did they fight about?"

"Mostly about the other working too long of hours, about things that were going on in the world, about us kids, everything."

"Which parent, in your opinion, worked the most hours?"

"Well, Dad and mom both worked all week, and occasionally had days off, but never at the same time. Even when mom was home, she would talk about work, so I'd say mom worked the most."

"Did your dad ever do things that your mom didn't?"

"He'd take us to school sometimes. By then, mom would always be at the law firm."

"But your mom was always there to make your meals, and tuck you into bed wasn't she? She was always there to take you to practices and rehearsals, right?"

I could feel my temper rising again minute by minute. Mom is glaring at dad, who is glaring at me, and I'm glaring over at the lawyer questioning me. The thought of strangling him crosses my mind, but is soon eliminated by the overwhelming fear of never seeing my dad again.

"In all, your dad really doesn't do much for you, does he? Your mom is the one that does almost everything."

I push the chair behind me, leaning forward, my body resting on my hands on the table.

"Look, I don't know what kind of picture you're trying to paint, but you are wrong. My dad is the best father in the entire universe. Sure, he's not the conventional eight to five businessman, that comes home after a long day of work, kisses his wife, and helps the kids with their homework, but that doesn't matter to Hannah, or Katie, or myself. Dad works so hard to keep a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food on the table. He loves us more than life itself, and would gladly throw himself into front of a bus if it would keep us safe! We love our father and don't want to be taken away from him."

I leave the room, leaving everything behind me, just wanting to get out of here before I lose control and have a mental breakdown. I run down the flights of steps, ending up outside, right in front of the field office, tears cascading down my face. I know I'm the big sister, and I should stay strong, not just for my sisters or my sake, but for my mom and dad's sake. If things are this bad for me, I can't imagine how bad they are for mom and dad. I stand in that position for a moment, staring down at the ground and trying to compose myself. A Kleenex tissue appears in front of my face, and I hear a voice ask the ultimate question:

"Are you okay?"