Chapter 26

Maddie stared at the ceiling absentmindedly, having been awake for most of the night thinking. She was alone since she insisted that Abeline go home and get some rest and while she knew it was the right thing to do, it still made her uneasy to be on her own. It's only a couple more hours now. She reminded herself, looking across the dimly lit room at the digital clock that said it was half past five in the morning. She had slept a couple hours during the night but mainly the day before when Abeline had been with her. It had been the only time she'd felt safe enough to sleep, that, and when Cordell had been with her the night before.

Captain James had been by the previous afternoon, updating her on how the investigation was going and to ask more questions about what had happened. Her case worker from CPS had also come to meet her, a kind enough woman but she had been through enough to know not to trust anyone who had anything to deal with CPS. She had trusted them the first time and the old adage once bitten, twice shy was more then applicable in her situation.

They had asked about her other injuries, the cracked ribs and the bruises around her throat. She had to tell them what had happened and had eventually told them the full truth but only pieces that she could talk about. When she had told them about her father losing his temper and what he had done, she hadn't been able to look at Abeline. They asked her why she had put up with the abuse for so long, why she hadn't tried to get help and the only answer she had for them was that she thought it was normal. Her father had conditioned her so much that she believed she deserved it. She only knew now that it wasn't, because of how she had seen Cordell interact with his own children.

Abeline had spoken to her after they had left, asking her why she hadn't come to them for help. She had answered it was because she was scared of being taken away from her father, preferring to stay living with him then go back into the foster care system. It was the truth too, she had known what to expect with him. He had been the only one to lay a hand on her, not like the second home she had lived in where the man had let all his buddies have a go one night. She was still eleven at the time, it had been a couple months before her father had come for her. At least though it hadn't been worse, it had only been physical but she had run away the next day and when CPS had found out after the police had found her, that foster carer had been taken into custody.

She didn't tell Abeline of that though, it had already taken too much of a toll on her to speak about what had happened the morning of her fathers murder. Emotionally and mentally she was spent and after their visit, she had to sleep.

Now, wide awake again, she was visited by those old thoughts and demons once more.

She was worried, worried about what was going to happen to her now. It was of no surprise when her case worker had said they couldn't locate any relatives, they hadn't in the past so she didn't expect them to have been able to find them now. They still had a few days however to decide what was going to happen with her, the doctors had decided they wouldn't let her leave until Thursday. That was a good four days away, four days to be stuck in one of the places she hated with an absolute deep set hatred.

After those four days though, then what? Foster care was the only logical answer though she despised the thought of it. What other choice did she have though? Being only fifteen, she didn't have any choice. For a little while she had hoped that maybe she could stay with the Walkers, but in the back of her mind there was a little nagging worry that said she was out of her mind. They wouldn't want her, not after what had happened. Not after they had witnessed what they did.

'High risk' is what they would class her as, something she had been afraid of and another reason why she hadn't asked for help when she had first started back in those foster homes. She had seen what other kids classed as high risk had been subjected to which in turn ingrained in her the need for her habit to remain a secret. Now though, everyone knew…

Six thirty.

A nurse came and did her obs, the teen pretending to be asleep when she entered the room. The hospital staff had been nice enough but she didn't trust them. When it came down to it, she didn't trust anyone, except for the Walkers. It had taken her a good few months before she had begun to feel comfortable around them and it was Abeline and Bonham she started to trust first since she had spent the most time with them.

Cordell was okay in her books, she didn't mind him and she saw how good he was with his children. Liam wasn't too bad but out of everyone, he was the one she had spent the least amount of time with and was still slightly wary of him. Stella and August, they were just kids like herself and she didn't have a problem trusting them. She did wonder though if they knew just how lucky they were to have a family like they did. She would give anything to have a family such as theirs.

And in four days, that would all change.

She would go to a new foster home and probably never see them again.

At that thought, her eyes began to water with tears again and she was thankful the nurse had already left. It would be the same as last time, being taken from everything she knew and being put into a place with a bunch of strangers that she was to call 'home' but would never really fit in. She was older though now, wiser too from the hard experience of life. It was only until she turned eighteen but the thought of spending three long years being a foster kid wasn't the least bit appealing at all.

If she hadn't cut, she wouldn't even be in this mess. She wouldn't have had to come here, she wouldn't have had to explain her injuries, none of this would have happened.

She wouldn't have had to leave the Walkers.

She felt safe there.

Now it would be back to foster care and uncertainty for her.

Tears slipped down her cheeks and she brushed them away, careful not to move her arm too much. The doctors had said she was lucky, there didn't appear to be any permanent nerve damage but they had left strict instructions that she needed to keep them still and not move them if she wanted them to heal. Would she still be able to play the guitar and piano? That had been the main question and the only answer was that they would have to wait and see.

They said she was lucky too she had been found when she did, and for the quick actions of the Walkers that had saved her life. She had cut veins and nicked arteries too. She would have been dead if they had found her a few minutes later.

That thought terrified her.

She hadn't wanted to die.

She only wanted to ease the ache inside her heart.

Seven-fifteen.

A gentle knock sounded on the door and she looked over, a small smile coming to her lips as Stella and August entered the room, followed closely behind by the rest of the family. Why are they all here? She wondered.

'How are you doing this morning Maddie?' Bonham started.

'I'm alright sir.' She replied honestly. She was alright, doing as good as she could be considering her world had crashed down, the sky had fallen in and she'd almost kicked the bucket. Yep. She was doing great. 'You're all here early. Is today a special occasion or something? Have you got a soccer game today Stella?'

'No, no soccer.' Stella replied, bringing out from behind her back a paper bag to place on the table next to her. 'We all decided we'd come have breakfast with you. Blueberry muffins are one of your faves, right?'

'I haven't had them in ages.'

'Well, you'll like these ones. They're from Mom's favorite bakery in town. They are the best.'

'And we bought chocolate too.' August added.

'Chocolate and blueberry muffins, a very balanced breakfast.' Liam remarked.

'You are more then welcome to your gross green smoothies you love so much, but I am going to take blueberry muffins over that any day of the week.' She replied, soft laughter coming from the family at her joke.

'Oh ouch Maddie.' He said good naturdly, playing along with her.

'She's only saying what the rest of us have been thinking.' Cordell replied teasingly, earning a look from his younger sibling then he looked inside the paperbag he had been carrying. 'Who's got the ham and cheese croissants?'

'Ah-' Abeline reached for the bag. 'That one would be mine.'

'I thought I ordered ham and cheese-'

Maddie began to giggle listening to the banter between them all as they attempted to sort out who would be eating what. By the time they got themselves sorted out, she had finished almost half of one muffin and was contemplating eating the other one in the same sitting. Stella was right, they were good.

'So-' Bonham turned to Maddie after everyone had taken a seat, he and Abeline taking one's closest to her. 'What would you think of us obtaining your guardianship? Abeline and I.'

Maddie stopped mid chew, looking at him. Umm… what? She swallowed quickly. 'You aren't joking, are you?'

Abeline shook her head. 'Not at all honey, we're serious about this. We spoke as a family last night and we all agreed that we would like for you to come live with us, if that is what you would like.'

She glanced around the room, Cordell, Liam, Stella and August nodding in agreement. 'You…' It took a moment for it to sink in. 'you... you are serious.'

'What'd you say Maddie?' Bonham questioned. 'You think you could put up with this ragtag bunch?'

'I...I don't… know what to say…'

'Yes is probably a good answer.' Stella replied. 'Besides, Augie and I've gotten used to having you around. We both would like you to stay.'

She swallowed the lump in her throat, struggling to keep her emotions in check. 'You're sure? Really sure?' She asked, looking at Bonham and Abeline. 'I mean, even with everything that's happened and what you know about me?'

'None of that changes anything.' Abeline said with certainty. 'We do want you to come live with us Maddie-' She motioned to the others in the room. 'we all want you to.'

Maddie bit her lip. 'I… I don't know. I don't want to be a burden-'

'Heck Maddie, the last thing you'd be is a burden.' Bonham interjected. 'We know you haven't had things easy honey but we are willing to give it a go if you are. What do you say?'

If they wanted her, if they were really sure they wanted her… She began to nod, her eyes filling with tears. They weren't tears of sadness though, rather, tears of happiness and gratitude. 'Yes. Yes.'

What happened after was a blue for Maddie, her mind unable to comprehend what had just taken place. They wanted her! For the first time since her mother had passed, someone really wanted her. Someone cared about her. There were hugs from them and tears from her but maybe, just maybe, she had finally found a place where she could belong.


'I don't think I've ever been in here before-' August mentioned, looking around the house Maddie and her father had lived in. 'We never came over to visit.'

'Yeah, well the day after everything with Clint, when I came to see her, it was a mess.' The house had been turned upside down as part of the investigation but there weren't empty beer cans scattered across the living room floor this time. Bonham glanced around, wondering where they should start. 'Maddie's room should be the easiest to pack up, we'll start there.'

'I can't believe the owners want everything out today-' Stella said as they headed up the hallway. 'Like Maddie just lost her Dad, how was she going to clean this out even if she weren't in the hospital?'

'Can't argue with you there.' He agreed, placing the cardboard boxes down on the bed. 'Why don't you take the closet Stella, Augie, you do the drawers and I'll get the rest.'

Stella and August nodded, setting to work on packing up. 'At least she won't have to come back here.' She replied as she started placing Maddie's clothes into one of the boxes. 'It was bad enough when we saw Uncle Hoyt die, I can't imagine how I'd feel if I saw Dad get killed.'

'Maddie's had it hard, there's no denying that-' He wrapped some newspaper around the photo frame he picked up from off the bedside table. 'It's gonna take her some time to get over it.'

'It's good she won't have to go to foster care though.' August said. 'I was talking to her the day after he died, she mentioned going through the foster homes after she lost her mom.'

'Yeah-' Stella added. 'We might have our own problems but at least we didn't end up there. Hey-' She pulled the guitar case out of its hiding place. 'This must be her mom's old guitar.'

'You be careful with that thing.' Bonham remarked. 'Don't go breaking it now.'

'Of course I'm being careful. Maybe we should take it into the hospital for her?'

'She wouldn't be able to play it, remember?' Her brother questioned.

'Oh… yeah.' Carefully she placed the case down next to the door then returned to packing up the rest of the closet. 'She's gonna be okay though, isn't she Grampa?'

'Doc's say she's doing just fine, they hope she won't have any permanent nerve damage.' He placed the wrapped photo frame into one of the boxes. 'And they're letting her out Thursday so we-' He looked at both the kids. 'have a lot to get done in the mean time if we're going to pull this surprise off for Maddie.'


Saturday and Sunday passed by quickly for the Walkers, the entire family lending a hand to help with Maddie's surprise. After they had packed her belongings and cleared the house out, they had started on redecorating the guest room she had been staying in. The room had been cleared out so they could paint and on Sunday, they had done the undercoat.

Monday after school, Stella and August did the first coat with their fathers help, deciding they would do the second in the morning before school. They'd also gone to see Maddie for a little while too, Stella trying as inconspicuously as possible to find out what her preferences were for furniture and such. Maddie had mentioned what her old room had been like when she lived with her mom and so they were going off that to choose furniture styles. After looking online for awhile, and with Abeline's input, they had found a nice and elegant furniture set they would pick up Tuesday afternoon. After that, it would only be a matter of setting everything up and her room would be ready.

Both Stella and August couldn't wait to show her what they'd done when she came home Thursday.

'Mama, can I talk with you for a moment?'

Abeline looked up from her knitting as Liam walked into the living room, taking a seat across from her. 'What's on your mind?'

'I've just gotten word back from the Judge. They won't grant you and Dad guardianship of Maddie.' He replied soberly. 'Because of Dad's cancer, they don't believe that it would be a suitable placement for her.'

'Oh…' She didn't quite know what to say, not having expected that to be the outcome. 'So they'll put her into foster care?'

Liam nodded. 'I tried talking with him but he said the decision has been made.'

'What decision?' Bonham remarked, coming in to join them.

'That you and Mom aren't a placement that's in Maddie's best interest.' He replied with a sigh. 'I know you really wanted this, Mama. I'm sorry, I tried my best. '

'I know you did son…' Abeline said after a moment. 'Maddie won't take the news well.'

'Why did they turn us down?' Bonham questioned. 'Did they give a reason?'

Liam nodded. 'It's because of your health Dad.'

He shook his head in disbelief. 'What will happen now with her? Now that we've been turned down?'

'Foster care. They'll be placing her in a group home as soon as she's discharged-'

'Stella and August were asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.' Cordell remarked, taking a seat in the living room. 'They've been working so hard-' He stopped, taking note of the expressions on their faces. 'W-what's happened?'

'We got turned down for Maddie's guardianship, son.' Bonham said.

He turned to Liam. 'R-really? They said no?'

Liam nodded. 'Maddie goes into a group home Thursday.'

'Did-did they give a reason?'

'Quote, It's in the best interest of the child to be placed in a group home setting, unquote.' He recited from the message he had received, omitting the section where they gave their reason for refusal.

'Wow… I uh… I wasn't expecting they'd say no. Is there a chance they might change their minds?'

'I already tried. I even gave a thought to applying myself to take her, but I doubt my chances would be any better.'

Silence fell, Bonham placing his hand on Abeline's. She looked up at him, a quiet look being exchanged between them and he squeezed her hand gently. He knew how much she had wanted this… 'We should tell Maddie, she should hear it from us-'

'Wait, Dad.' Cordell interrupted. 'What if… What if I applied for her guardianship? I mean, only one of us needs to be her legal custodian and even if you and Mom had gotten it, we'd still be sharing looking after her like we already have been.'

Abeline looked at her son. 'Are you sure you'd want to take on that responsibility?'

He nodded. 'Maddie… Maddie's a good kid, she didn't deserve what she's had to deal with and… I think that perhaps, this might be a solution. We'd need to talk to her though, let her have her say but… I want to do this, for her.'

There was a moment's pause then Liam pulled his phone from his pocket. 'I'll go give him a call, we'll see what he says.'


Wednesday morning. Only one more day to go till she was allowed to leave. Maddie could hardly wait to get out. She hated hospitals with a passion, hated the memories the sterile environment bought with them. Memories of her mother, watching her suffer through those treatments in the hopes she would live, only to lose the battle in the end.

The nurses had been kind enough though, she couldn't complain about how they had been caring for her. The food wasn't too bad either, though she didn't have much of an appetite anyway. All she knew was that she would be glad to finally get out of this place…

Every day at eight o'clock, Abeline would come in and spend the day with her, Stella and August coming by too after school. They hadn't been the only visitors, Bonham, Cordell and Liam had all tried to see her for a little while each day too and she appreciated their company. Captain James had been by a few times as well, Micki and Trey too. They were visitors she liked to have more then the case worker or the psychologist that she had come see her the day before. At least though when Abeline and Bonham got her guardianship, she wouldn't have to deal with CPS anymore…

A knock sounded on the door and she looked up, smiling as she placed her book down. 'Is that fresh blueberry muffins I smell?'

'You know it.' Abilene chuckled, holding up a brown paper bag..

'Thank you, You've really been spoiling me.' Maddie remarked, her smile widening as Bonham and Cordell came into the room after her. 'Good morning.'

'Good morning Maddie.' Cordell replied as he sat down on the other side across from his parents.

'Morning Maddie.' Bonham said. 'How are you doing today?'

'I'm alright, I actually managed to get a little sleep last night. How's Skylar and Bubbles going?'

'Stella was turning Skylar out into the pasture when we left and August was tending to your kitten. They're both doing well.'

'That's good to hear.' She pulled a muffin from the bag and began to nibble away at it.

'Maddie, there's something we need to speak with you about.' Cordell started after a moment and she glanced up from her muffin at him. 'About your guardianship.'

Maddie's heart sank. 'They refused.' I knew it was too good to be true...

'But-' Bonham continued. 'We may have found another solution.'

'How would you feel about Cordell being your guardian?' Abeline questioned.

She thought about it for a little while then turned to the Ranger. 'It'd be better than going to the group home…'

'But you aren't completely happy about the idea?'

'I just…' She took a deep breath. 'I trust your parents more. I've spent more time with them. I don't want to be mean or ungrateful…'

'No, no, I understand Maddie.' He interjected when she had trailed off. 'And I wouldn't expect you to be comfortable with the idea overnight. I know it will take time for you to work through things and such, so for now, you'd still be able to stay with Mom and Dad. It would still work the same as if they had gotten your guardianship, but legally on paper, I would be looking after that side of things.'

'What would Stella and August say? I mean, they might feel that they'd have to share you with me.'

'I have already spoken with both of them.' He replied. 'They are okay with the idea.'

After thinking it over for another moment, Maddie nodded. 'Alright, well, I guess we can give it a try. If they turn you down too though…' She sighed heavily, her appetite for her muffin lost. 'At least you guys tried.'


'I've got you…' Bonham helped Maddie out of the truck, an arm around her waist to support her. 'You doing okay?'

She nodded, still feeling a bit weak on her legs but grateful to finally be out of the hospital. 'I'm alright, thank you. I appreciate you coming to pick me up, I was starting to go crazy having to stay there.'

He chuckled softly, closing the truck door behind her and they slowly made their way up to the front door. 'At least you're home now.'

Home. There wasn't a nicer word. Much to everyone's relief, Cordell's application to become her guardian had been accepted just that morning. The social worker had been at the hospital ready to take her to the group home when the call came through just in time and Maddie had been beyond relieved. She really hadn't wanted to go back to foster care...

As the front door was opened, those gathered inside shouted 'Surprise!' as Bonham and Maddie walked in.

Maddie's jaw dropped, her hand covering her mouth as she looked around. A huge Welcome Home Maddie banner had been hung on the wall with balloons around the room. Not only were the entire Walker family present, so were Micki, Trey, and Captain James. 'Oh you guys…' She exclaimed when she found her voice, turning to Abeline as the woman came over to her. 'So this is why you couldn't pick me up.'

Abeline chuckled, giving the girl a warm embrace. 'Welcome home Maddie.'

She closed her eyes, lingering in her hold for a moment then pulled away. 'I… I can't believe… you've done all this for me.'

Cordell joined them, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'You're family now Maddie, no matter where life takes you, I hope you'll always know that this is home.'

Her eyes were beginning to water, emotion flooding over her and she wrapped her arms around the Ranger. 'Thank you…'

After a moment and when he'd recovered from surprise, he returned her embrace. 'You know-' He started when she pulled away. 'Stella and August, they've got another surprise for you.'

She looked over at the grinning Walker kids. 'What have you two been up to now?'

'You'll just have to wait and see.' Stella replied.

August came over with a blindfold and she chuckled.

'Can't have you peeking now.' He said as he tied it on.

'Now you've got me curious.' She remarked with a grin.

'Alright, we're ready now.' August exclaimed. 'You can't see out of this?'

Maddie shook her head. 'Nope. So, we gotta go somewhere or…' Her voice trailed off as August took her hand and began to lead her through the house. Finally, they came to a stop. 'Can I take this off now?'

Stella opened the bedroom door. 'Now you can.'

Lifting the blindfold, Maddie's jaw dropped again. The guest room she had been staying in had been completely redecorated. Instead of cream walls, they were now a light pink and the furniture was all matching white. Her belongings had been brought in too, her eyes landing on her mother's guitar case leaning up in the corner of the room. Bubbles, with a big red ribbon tied around her neck, jumped off the bed and jogged over to her. Picking her up, she turned to Stella. 'So that's what all those questions were about.'

Stella nodded. 'Yep.'

'Do you like it?' August questioned.

'Like it?' Bubbles climbed onto her shoulder, purring loudly in her ear. 'This is the nicest thing anyone's done for me.'

'It was all these two-' Cordell added, placing a hand on both of his kids' shoulders. 'We all helped but it was them who did the most of the work.'

'Thank you.' She gave them both a hug. 'I really appreciate it.'

'When you're feeling up to it-' Stella added. 'We'll do a girls' day out shopping. Mawline thought you might want to choose your own curtains and bedspreads.'

'That sounds like fun.' She agreed with a smile. 'I'm looking forward to it.'