A/N: This is the next to the last chapter. Three important people show up at the end. It took me a little while to get right, but I like the way it turned out. Stay tuned!
"What do you mean we can't go back? We have to! She has Ronnie, Jody, you know she does!"
"No, actually, she doesn't." Jody said, trying her hardest to keep the angry and anxious John's anger under control. "John, we can't force her to tell us anything."
"Give the two of us five minutes in there alone with him." Dean, who had accompanied his father to the sheriff's station, stood against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face, the universal sign he was fuming.
"Dean…." Jody warned. She sighed and looked around, wondering how to keep the two anxious men occupied. "Look, we have every available deputy out looking for Ronnie right now. The four o'clock news ran her picture and we just have to wait…"
The phone rang and one of the deputies summoned Jody. Jody smiled and thanked whoever had called, catching John's attention from the other side of the room. Jody hung up the phone and turned to John.
"I may have a lead on Ronnie."
"Where is she?" Dean asked.
"She's at the potter's field on the edge of town."
"How the hell did she get all the way out there without anybody seeing her?" John asked.
"I don't know, John. But the guy that runs it called the local police. He said a teenage girl matching Ronnie's description was out there looking for her where her mother was buried."
"I'm going."
"I know. I'm going with you." Jody said.
"If you come, she'll get spooked and run away. Let me and Dean handle this…"
"John, I have to go. I'll hang back a little, but I have to be there."
"Fine. Let's just go." John said impatiently. He headed for the door then turned back to Dean. "Go home."
"What? No way, Dad!"
"I'm not asking, Dean. Go home with Lisa and Ben. Keep them calm. I'll bring Ronnie to see you guys, but I don't want to spook her."
Dean groaned. "Just call me when you have her, Dad. Please. Let me know she's okay."
"I will, Dean. Go on."
Reluctantly, Dean headed to his car and was driving away the same moment as his father. John paid no attention to Jody behind him, stepping on the accelerator and not easing up on it until he reached the gates of the cemetery. An old man was coming to meet him at the gate.
"Can I help you?"
"I hope so. I'm looking for my daughter. I heard she might have come this way. Her name is Ronnie Winchester. Have you seen her?"
"If it's the kid sleeping over there underneath that tree, then yes, I have."
John let out a relieved breath. Ronnie was safe. "Is she alright?"
"She looks a little beat up, but I think she's okay." The old man had a bowl in one hand, and reached his free hand out to John. "I'm George."
"Thank you for watching her."
"She said she was here looking for where her mom was buried. Why wouldn't she know that already…?" George asked.
"It's a very long and convoluted story." John replied. "Can I go in and check on her?"
George had been intending to question John a little to make sure he was really Ronnie's father and not some random creep coming to collect her for some nefarious reason. He wanted to wait until he saw cops before letting John inside, but something in John's eyes swayed him. The man was afraid. Not afraid that he'd be caught doing something he shouldn't do, but afraid that Ronnie was hurt. George unlatched the gate and motioned for John to come in.
"She's asleep."
"That's okay. Thank you. Thank you for keeping her safe and calling us."
Before George could respond, John was running across the yard towards Ronnie. He stopped a few feet away and took in her appearance. There was blood on her, but John couldn't tell if it was hers or not. There was some ball of fur sleeping in Ronnie's lap, but John couldn't tell at first that it was a cat. John cautiously Ronnie's shoulder and shook it gently.
"Hey, kiddo. Wake up."
Ronnie jumped and immediately shouted in pain. "OW!"
"What's wrong? What is it? What's hurting?"
"What are you doing here?" Ronnie spat. "Go away!"
"What do you mean? I came to get you."
"No you didn't. You asked her to take me."
"Who? Your grandmother?"
"Don't act like you don't know!" Ronnie accused. Her stomach was hurting worse, but Ronnie bit her tongue to keep from shouting again like she wanted.
"I don't know what you're talking about, sweetie. What did your grandmother tell you?"
Ronnie sniffed and shifted around. "That you asked her to take me. That you didn't really want me."
"Do you believe her?"
Ronnie swallowed. "I don't know what to believe anymore."
"Think about it. You've been with me for the better part of a year. I know we had a rocky start, but have things really been that bad?"
"No. It's been good. Really good."
"Do you think I'm that good an actor?" John asked, chuckling a bit, praying it would calm Ronnie down a little. "Come on, kiddo. I'm crazy about you."
"Really?" Ronnie asked.
"Yes. I've been going crazy the last few hours worrying about you." John assured her. "And think about Dean. I haven't seen him this happy since Ben was born."
"Why? Cause of me?"
"Exactly, kiddo. Dean lives to take care of everybody else. He told me you didn't want him to tell me about the fight with Billy at school."
"I didn't want you to be mad." Ronnie said, her guard starting to slip away.
"I know. And that's why he was so ready to cover for you."
"Did he cover for Sam?" Ronnie asked.
John let out a full laugh at that. "Only all the time."
Ronnie appeared genuinely confused. "I don't get it. Why would he treat me like he did Sam? I'm not his real sister."
"Don't let him hear you say that." John said. "He was ready to tear this town apart looking for you."
Ronnie grew quiet. The thought that someone out there genuinely cared for her the way that John was describing was still a foreign one to her.
"And Ben?" John said. "He idolizes you."
Ronnie smiled. "Yeah. He's a cool kid."
"So are you. And Lisa is loving having another girl around to talk to. Someone to take shopping and whatever else it is girls do. She's about to fall apart worrying for you."
"No. No, I can't trust it. I can't."
"Can't trust what?" John asked. "Come on, baby girl. Talk to me."
"I'm not worth it. I'm not! No one wants me. I'm just a throwaway kid."
"That is not true. Not true at all."
"Yes it is. Stop trying to tell me it's not." Ronnie yelled. "The only family I've got left wanted to kill me."
"What? Dolores tried to kill you?"
"What else did you think she was gonna do with me?" Ronnie said. "You know about my mom, don't you?"
"Yes. I do."
"So you know what she did?" Ronnie said, sniffling. "What her job was?"
"Yes. I do know, sweetie. But that doesn't matter."
"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"
"Honey, she did what she did to take care of you. That's the most important thing there could be."
"You mean…" Ronnie sniffed. "You don't think anything less of me?"
"Because of her?" John asked, confused. "Your mom?"
"Yeah. Grandma killed her because of that. Why would you think any different?"
"Ronnie, listen to me. Your grandmother is not well. I think that, maybe at some point in the past, she might have been a good person. I don't know what happened, but obviously it turned her into someone that doesn't need to be out on the streets."
"I just can't trust it. I been hurt too much." John took Ronnie's hand, and she immediately drew back. "Don't. Just leave me here. Nobody wants me and nobody should."
John sighed. "I do. I don't know how to convince you of this, but I do."
"Excuse me?" George had made his way over. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. I think we're fine."
"I had some soup on the stove, sweetie. Are you hungry?" George asked. "You look like you haven't eaten in a little bit."
Despite her reluctance to believe John, she looked to him for guidance. "Is it okay?"
"If you're hungry like he said, sure."
"Here you go." George said. "It might be a little cold, but it should still be good. It's my wife's old clam chowder recipe."
"Thanks." Ronnie said quietly. She took a sip and smiled. "It's good."
"See?" John asked. "Some people are kind just to be kind. They don't want to hurt you."
"Why don't you go on with your dad, sweetie?" George said. "You can come back and talk to your mom anytime you want."
"Thank you."
A loud meow made everyone look down. Ghost had woken up and was batting Ronnie's hand for attention. Ronnie smiled and looked to John.
"Can we take her home? Please?"
John looked down at the scruffy cat and frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please? She's lost just like I was. We can't leave her here."
"Maybe George can take care of her…"
"I've tried." George said. "She won't come near me."
After a long pause where John glared at George for not catching his hint, John made the mistake of looking at Ronnie's face. Her hopeful face crushed him. It was a reflection of the face Sam had given him many times years before, which John had felt forced to crush when he denied simple pleasures in the name of keeping Sam safe.
"The vet bills come out of your allowance."
"Yes! Thanks, Daddy!"
"George, can she stay for a little while so I can take Ronnie to the hospital?"
"I don't need to…OW!" Ronnie started to stand up, then immediately sat back down when her stomach lurched.
"You were saying?" John asked. "Come on, let me help you up."
"I'll be back." Ronnie said to Ghost. "I'll have to think of a name for you."
"I've been calling her Ghost. But you can probably think of something better." George said.
"What about…" Ronnie blushed and shook her head. "No. It's stupid."
"What?"
"Well, I was thinking about Mommy when I saw her. She hasn't left me since then, just like my mom didn't leave me until she had to."
"It's your cat, kiddo."
Ronnie smiled. "Okay. I'll be back soon, Mommy cat. I'll take care of you."
John put an arm around Ronnie's shoulder and kissed her cheek. "And if you'll let me, I'll take care of you."
Ronnie nodded. It was time for her to take the plunge. "Let's go."
A quick trip to the hospital brought good news. Nothing was broken. Ronnie's side was bruised, and would heal with rest in a few days. Ronnie went shopping with Lisa for the things she'd need for Mommy, while Dean, John, and Ben set the house up for another party for Ronnie that night. Dolores was taken back to the hospital, placed under twenty-four suicide watch and maximum security.
Standing in the corner of the kitchen, away from and invisible to the rest of the family, were three people just as interested in the festivities as everyone else. Bobby felt strange being in his old house, but comforted that it had barely changed. Sam was surprised that he didn't feel more jealousy at his father's attention on Ronnie, but all he felt was contentment and happiness that his family was finally happy. Lily stood between both guys, smiling and watching her baby finally find a family.
"So? How'd we do?" Sam asked.
"I have to admit, this sounded crazy when we first started, but I think it worked out okay." Bobby said.
"I agree." Lily answered. "We did good, boys. We did good."