The Mitchell Family was a well-known family in Mariner Bay. William "Bill" Mitchell was a well-known firefighter, and he was even the fire chief. Being the fire chief was big honor to Bill because this meant that he was the highest-ranking officer of the Marnier Bay fire department. He was responsible for achieving the maximum productivity with very little time wasted. This position allowed him to have control of activities and workers. Bill had a say in what took place in different department functions, such a fire safety education. Fire safety education was something that he took very seriously and one of the things he practiced with his workers on a regular basis.

Danielle Mitchell was a well-known anthropologist in Mariner Bay. She traveled all the world to help people in other countries. Several times she helped two groups of people. One of those groups was out in the jungle in South America. And the other group was in Egypt. However, she was not getting to spend enough time with her family, so she took a job at the University of Marnier Bay. She became well liked teacher by all the students. One day, she was given the opportunity to take her class on a field trip to explore a desert and a jungle in South America. The trip would be lasting about a week. However, a week a had passed and she did not return. Neither did any of the students. Search parties went out looking for them. But no one was found. They checked with the hotel. Danielle and her students were going to look at some ruins and they never returned. The ruins were investigated, and no one was found. As they started to explore the ruins some more, they came across traps and escaped. All of the people investigating assumed that perished.

Bill Mitchell became a single parent. But it did not stop him from being the best father that he could be. He loved his children equally. In fact, his children were his whole life. So, let's get acquainted with his children. Ryan was the oldest and he was five years old. He would be turning six on April 22. He was tall for his age, and he had blond spiky hair. He wore a lot of navy's, blacks, tans, greys, and reds. In his room he had a lot of toy fire trucks, fire hats, and firefighters costumes. His dream was to become a firefighter just like his father.

Dana was the youngest and she was about 21 months younger than her brother. Currently she was three but would be turning four on January 5th. She had shoulder length blonde hair and like her brother, she was tall for her age. She wore a lot of pink and light blue. In her room she had toy doctor equipment and anytime Bill went into her room, he would find her pretending to be doctor and all her toys were her patients.

Two Years later

January 21st, 1988

"Dad, do we really have to go see our aunt?" Ryan asked as he got into the backseat with Dana. "She's mean."

"Ryan, you are going to see your grandma too," Bill reminded them. "It was the only time that your Aunt Melinda could come in to celebrate birthdays."

"But, dad, her birthday is today," Dana stated. "Mine was the fifth. She never sends us a birthday card."

"Dana, it's only one night," Bill assured them. "We'll come home first thing in the morning."

The Mitchell's arrived at Grandma Mason's house. Aunt Melinda and their uncle Gary were sitting at the table. As Dana and Ryan walked in, Aunt Melinda snarled her nose at them.

"I see you finally arrived," Aunt Melinda remarked in a nasty voice. "What took you all so long?"

"It's been pouring down rain," Billy replied as he took a seat on the couch with the kids. "I had to drive slower."

"Was it so you could look at some blonde chick driving down the road," Uncle Gary laughed. "I chose a better wife than you Bill. At least my wife didn't have those two brats to raise."

"Gary, that's enough," Grandma Mason declared as she slammed a book on the table. "Every time you come in, you are nasty to Ryan, Dana, and Bill."

"Why is it that you are always picking on Gary?" Aunt Melinda hissed as she threw her purse across the room. "You are always taking up for those stupid kids. Gary and I were smart. We know we did not want kids. And we have more money to spend on each other. We are going on a ski trip, and I can buy the most expensive jacket I can find. That is one of the benefits of being married to a lawyer."

"Melinda, you are never nice to Dana or Ryan," Grandma Mason reminded her. "You are always belittling them, and you are always finding ways to criticize them about."

"Here we go again," Aunt Melinda shouted. "You are always taking up them. What are they-"

"-they are my grandchildren!" Grandma Mason interrupted. "I've always been hoping that you could treat the kids good. They are family too and I want my family to get along so we can get together on birthdays and holidays."

Aunt Melinda walked over to Dana and grabbed her by the arm. She sank her nicely painted fingernails into Dana's arm as she started to twist it.

"Aunt Melinda, please stop," Dana begged.

"No, I'm not going to stop," Aunt Melinda remarked as she started to twist her arm harder. "Both you and Ryan are horrible kids."

"Aunt Melinda, please stop," Dana repeated as tears started to run down her face. "You're hurting me."

"I don't care," Aunt Melinda hissed. "You're going to get it in your head, that you aren't any good. You and your brother will make friends with anyone, including kids who are lower class. I would never allow it. I would teach my children that they are to only be friends with kids in the upper class. Gary and I only socialize with people who are well educated, have big houses, have the best clothes, and the best car. We do not waste time on people like you. When Danielle was alive, I pretended that I did not even have sister. Everyone liked her and they ignored me-"

"-Aunt Melinda, please let go," Dana begged.

"No, I am not letting go-"

"-Melinda, let go!" Bill demanded as he got up from the armchair. "You are hurting her."

"No, I'm not," Aunt Melinda remarked with a smirk. "I'm trying to teach your daughter a lesson!"

"Melinda, I'm not go to tell you again," Bill repeated as he raised his voice. "You either let go or else."

"Fine," Aunt Melinda remarked as she let go of Dana and spit on her. "I've always hated you and your children."

"Melinda, you won't have to worry about seeing them," Billy promised as Dana ran over to him. Her arm was red and fingernail marks were sunk into her arm. "You've never treated my children good. And I am not going to allow you to have any contact with them. We're going home."

Just as Bill and children were walking out the door, Grandma Mason brought out a doll and a fire truck. "I'm so sorry things didn't work," she apologized. "I was really looking for to spending time with the kids."

"I've never had a problem with you, Ruby," Bill assured her. "I always did like you and Marvin."

"I really want to make it up to the kids," Grandma Mason said as she handed the kids their new toys. "I'd like to come spend next weekend with you and kids."

"Really!" Ryan gasped with a smile. "You really mean it?!"

"Yes, Ryan," Grandma Mason replied. "I hated that thing didn't go well. I will see you next weekend."

"Thank you for my doll," Dana stated as she got into the car. "I really like it."

"I love my firetruck," Ryan added. "I want to be a fireman when I grow up."

The cold wind started to pick up as it started to pour down rain. Bill turned his windshield whippers on as he pulled into the Dairy Queen Drive through to order three small vanilla cones.

"Dad, how much longer until we will be home," Dana asked as he handed her an ice cream cone.

"It's 8:30 now," Bill replied. "We should be home at 11:00."

"Dad, since we haven't eaten dinner yet, can we get a pizza?" Ryan asked as he took a lick of ice cream. "I'm in the mood for Pizza."

"So, am I," Dana stated as she was eating her ice cream.

"Okay, then," Bill answered as he pulled off the parking lot. "When we get home, I'll call Pizza Hut. They will be open until midnight."

Author's note:

When I was watching the episode truth discovered, Captain Mitchell just said it was late and pour raining. So, I assumed there must have been a reason they did not stay the night with their grandma. I thought that he must have had to have a good reason to have them out so late. So, I thought that their aunt could have been there and was causing trouble. The next chapter will focus on Dana's point of what happened on the night of the car crash.