It was so much to take in and process. Steven had been to many crime scenes of all sorts, but he never imagined he would be standing in one that involved his family and the fact he lost someone too. Caylee, his future daughter in law and mother of his grandchildren, had been killed by two bullet wounds to her person and bled out quickly, passing away just minutes before he arrived with paramedics and other officers. Steven just stood there staring at the sheet covering Caylee's body, the other shooter's body had been taken out already, and then the wounded shooter was in cuffs, being treated and guarded heavily at the hospital. The manager of the store was getting treated, he wasn't bad at all, the second clerk was just terrified. Steven's biggest worry now was locating his grandchildren. He checked over his texts, that's how Caylee let him know something was going on.

Steven pulled out his phone and looked at it again; ~Robbery at the corner store, here w/kids. Hiding them in the office with other shoppers. Plz, hurry! -Caylee~ Steven looked around and found the office, then he tried to open the door, and it was locked, so he knocked on the window and saw Caleb's face, he offered a smile to the boy as Caleb quickly stood and opened the door.

"Papa!" Caleb and Hazel cried out as they rushed into his waiting arms. Steven hugged them fiercely and closing his eyes in thanks they were unharmed and safe. Steven tried to soothe them but whispering soft words that it was alright now and everything was okay, he kissed their foreheads and released from the embrace.

"Chief, the female cashier, is going to give us the security tapes of the last half hour and none of these people were injured. Should we start questioning?" asked an officer coming beside Steven now.

"No, just get statements and information. Send them home afterward, tape this place off, keep back news crews, round up evidence, then send in clean up. I'll talk to the kids and take them to my son, I'll give him the news personally and expect me to be taking a few days off as well," Steven informed calmly, the officer nodded in understanding. The whole department knew who Caylee was, fiance of the chief's only son and both Caylee and Hanson were in the military. Steven's fellow officers knew this was going to be hard and that he would need time off to help his son with the kids, the service, and funeral.

"Of course, Chief. Our deepest condolences to your family," another officer told him.

"Thank you. Sergeant, you're in charge of all this. I will be back in time to deal with the court hearings, keep me posted." Steven stated as held Hazel's and Caleb's hands to lead them out down another aisle so they wouldn't see any of the blood on the floor. Steven loaded them in his squad car after getting Hazel's booster seat from the trunk given he always kept one with him, he started it up and took a deep breath. This was probably going to be one of the hardest things he ever had to do, right up with burying his wife ten years ago, almost eleven in November. Hanson wasn't going to handle this well, he didn't take his mother's death well either, but she had been sick for years and just got to a point she couldn't fight anymore.

Caylee's death, this would be different and harder. This happened so unexpectedly, and the woman died a hero to stand up to these robbers so no one else aside from the manager of the store would be hurt. Steven didn't know what his son's reaction would be, and the kids didn't know either. Steven put the car in drive and heading down the road to get to the base. Gods, he didn't want to do this. Hanson was going to flip out and then be heartbroken, but Steven knew he had to be the one to tell him and that's why as much as it hurt, he would go there to face his son and tell him that Caylee was dead.

(Fort Riddari Base)

The exercise went well after Hanson yelled at them to pull it together because he expected better from them. Now, everyone was in the chow hall for lunch. Talking, eating, laughing, having fun talking about how the mission went and how they could improve for next time. Hanson informed them that after they had eaten, all of them were headed to the practice range to shoot their guns and would be going in small groups, so it didn't crowd. Hanson got Caylee's message and smiled wide while replying to her and then putting his phone away in his pocket to continue eating. Meanwhile, at the base gates, Steven just pulled up and rolled down the window to speak to the guard there.

"Name and business?" asked the soldier.

"Steven Haddock, chief of police. I need to see my son, Lieutenant Colonel Hanson Haddock, right now please," Steven replied showing his badge.

"It's drill weekend, he didn't say you were coming." the soldier replied.

"It's imperative I see him right now, radio him if you must, but he won't turn me away," Steven said roughly becoming impatient. The soldier sighed as he pulled out his radio to call Hanson and ask if his father was allowed in.

"Night Fury, Night Fury. This is Riddari entrance. Do you copy? Over." the guard said.

"Riddari entrance, this is Night Fury. I copy five out of five. What's the issue? Over." replied Hanson.

"I have the police chief at the gate requesting to see you, says it's urgent. Permission to allow him inside? Over." the soldier asked.

"My Dad doesn't need permission to see me; he's always welcome no matter what. Yes, send him in. Don't make me have to remind you again. Night Fury over and out." Hanson sighed heavily, the guard unlocked the gate and let Steven drive in and park in the visitor's section. Steven shut off the car and got out, then opened the door to let the two kids out. With a sigh, Steven took their hands and made his way to the chow hall. Taking a deep breath when reaching the doors, he pulled it open and walked in. Hanson instantly stood up and made his way over to them; the kids released Steven's hands to rush to their father.

"I've been looking forward to seeing you all day," Hanson smiled as he hugged them tightly.

"Daddy, there were mean people at the store and Mommy had us hide in the office til Papa came," Hazel told him quickly as Hanson arched a brow in confusion. Mean people at the store? The kids were sent to hide until his father got there? Hanson noticed now that Caylee wasn't with them, something bad happened, he didn't like the way this felt all of a sudden. Had Caylee been hurt?!

"Kids, go sit at the table while I talk to Papa, okay?" Hanson told them, the kids hurried to the table as he faced his father. "What's going on, Dad? Why are the kids with you? What mean people at the store? Where's Caylee?" he fired off quickly trying to stay calm.

"Hanson, come outside with me," Steven said firmly. Hanson saw his father's eyes, glazed over with pain and sadness. Hanson knew that look; he saw it when his mother had passed away. Hanson couldn't shake the sick feeling within. Hanson nodded as he motioned with his hand out the door and the two left.

"What do you think is going on?" Aubree asked.

"I don't know, but it doesn't look good, and we better be prepared to do whatever we can," Thatcher informed now worried for his friend.

(Outside)

"Alright, we're alone. Now tell what's going on," Hanson demanded. It was this moment when he saw his father about to cry.

"I got a text from Caylee about a robbery at the corner store while she was there with the kids," Steven began, and Hanson's eyes widened.

"Oh, my Thor! Where is Caylee? Is she hurt!?" Hanson raised his voice in worry.

"Hanson. I'm sorry, Gods, I'm so sorry son. Caylee was shot twice," Steven saw Hanson step back once, "and she was killed." Hanson stumbled back, and his heart skipped a beat as tears formed in his eyes.

"No. Gods no," Hanson pleaded.

"The paramedics did everything they could, but she was already gone. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry son." Steven tried to reach for Hanson because he saw him shaking, as if he'd gone weak and couldn't stand anymore. Instead of crying like Hanson wanted to, his eyes narrowed.

"How did this happen, I just talked to her forty-five minutes ago!" Hanson yelled.

"I was working, Caylee sent me a text telling me there was a robbery at the corner store, she was there with the kids and hid them in the office with other shoppers and to hurry, please. We rushed there within fifteen minutes, and I was in first. One robber was dead, the other shot in the leg twice and Caylee was laying on the ground bleeding from the chest and neck. I checked her first, and she was already dead. Paramedics put the time of death at ten minutes before we arrived due to gunshot wounds and bleeding out," Steven explained.

Hanson didn't know how to feel; his fiance was dead! "I don't understand, Dad. How did this happen? Why wasn't she hiding with the others!" Hanson asked while still shaking; he felt the tears falling from his eyes.

"Hanson, I don't know. After Caylee had been pronounced dead, I went to the office to check on the kids and shoppers. My officers are getting statements and going over the security tape. As soon as I know what happened, you will too. But right now, you need to be with your kids. They don't know yet," Steven informed.

"Hazel and Caleb don't know that Caylee is dead? They haven't asked at all?" Hanson asked him. Steven shook his head. Hanson took a few deep breaths and wiped his eyes, "Alright. I will tell them. I want you to go back to the station and find out how this happened, Dad. Please. I need to know. I'll meet you at home," he added.

"Yes son, of course, I'll get to the bottom of it. Are you going to be okay? I'm worried about you," Steven tried.

"Don't, Dad. Just don't do it right now. I just found out my fiance is dead, I have to tell the kids. No, I'm not okay. If you want to help, go see why Caylee was killed and make sure the fuckers responsible get what's coming to them," Hanson demanded.

"I will. I'll see you at home," Steven nodded to him as he hurried back to his squad car and left the base. Hanson didn't know how long he was going to hold it together knowing what he did. Caylee was dead, and now he had to tell the kids their mother wasn't coming home ever again. Hanson felt the tears from his eyes again, he tried to wipe them, but it wasn't doing any good. There was an ungodly pain in his chest, clenching at his heart. Hanson tried to calm himself as he turned and entered the chow hall and walked down the tables until he reached where his kids were, sitting among his friends.

"Daddy, where did Papa go?" Caleb asked curiously.

"It's time to go, kids, we're going home," Hanson told them as the two children got off the bench and moved to either side of him.

"Dad, why did Papa leave Mom at the store and bring us here? Where is Mommy?" Caleb questioned as Hanson flinched a little.

"I'll tell you when we get home. Take your sister outside and wait by Toothless for me, okay?" Hanson tried to smile, Caleb nodded and led Hazel out of the chow hall. "Second Lieutenant Hedsen," Hanson said firmly.

"Yes, sir?" Thatcher said while standing up and offering a salute.

"Inform Major Belmore he is in charge of the base until further notice. I'm taking an immediate leave of absence," Hanson told him.

"Orders understood, Lieutenant Colonel Haddock," Thatcher replied with a nod, Hanson then prepared to walk away with his eyes closed. "Hanson, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Hanson now stopped and looked at Thatcher although the others sitting close enough could see it, tears were rolling down Hanson's cheeks, and he was starting to shake as he shook his head to his friend.

"No, Thatch. No, I'm not okay, and I don't know if I'm going to be for a while. Right now, though, I need to get my kids home and start preparing for a memorial service and funeral. You'll get the detail when it's finalized," Hanson said with his tone beginning to crack.

"Hanson, who passed away?" Ella asked with a little fear in her tone as if already beginning to figure it out.

Taking a deep breath as he turned his back to them, "Caylee..." they gasped in shock, "I have to go," Hanson said before walking out of the chow hall. None of them could believe it, but it would be the only thing that got Hanson this upset and have to leave right away to get his kids home and tell them since they were asking about their mother. Caylee was dead, and Hanson was crushed.