Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers.

A/N: Once again, my sincere thanks to Wolfpyre. This was a hard chapter and I would have been stuck on it for days without her incredible help and feedback.

Chapter 13

Chris listened silently as Nettie explained the details of this afternoon's little drama. Occasionally he looked over to Vin, but his friend contined to avoid eye contact. When Nettie finished, Chris gave a nod and got to his feet, glaring intently at Vin until the other man looked up.

"I'm the one she disobeyed today and I'm going to take care of this, but you damn well better pull it together because that little girl needs you. She needs you to stand firm not indulge her shenanigans."

With that the gunman turned and left the room.

"He's right ya know. Yer jest confusin' the child. It's like ya up an' changed the rules an' thet's bound ta set her adrift, jest when she most needs an anchor."

Vin shook his head and looked imploringly at the woman before falling back in the chair. "But how kin I do it, Nettie, after what I done?"

"Why did ya do it Vin?"

Vin looked up wide eyed at the woman in front of him."Whadya mean?"

"Why'd ya take thet switch ta her?"

"I done tol' ya, I found her red handed with thet box an' figured she'd been lyin' the whole time."

"Kay, so thet made ya mad so ya decided ta take it outta her hide?"

Vin was aghast at the words coming out of Nettie's mouth. Didn't she know him at all?

"NO! Course not! I mean sure I's mad but I'd never jest - Nettie ya gotta know I wouldn't. 'Sides think I's more sad an' hurt at the time."

"So ya whipped her cause ya was hurt then?"

"NO!" Vin practically roared, starting to get mad now.

"Then why?" she pushed.

"Cuz I wanted teach her right from wrong. Cuz I worry if'n she don't straighten up, she'll get in more trouble than I kin get 'er outta. Cuz I LOVE HER!"

Nettie stepped toward the longhaired tracker taking his face in her hands, her look softening. "An' thet's exactly why ya caint quit on her now. She's jest a little girl Vin 'an she needs yer guidin' hand even if thet means yer usin' it ta smack her on the rear sometimes. All kids be needin' thet. True more'n most. She's a special little girl with a big heart but them awful people she's born to planted a seed o' darkness in her. She needs us ta keep her focused on the lighted path. Sure she's got Chris an' the rest an' me too o'course, but you an' True gotta special bond an' she needs ya ta keep her from fallin' an' gettin' lost in thet darkness. Chris had the right of it, she needs ya ta stand firm."

"It's jest so hard knowin' I messed up so bad. Knowin' I hurt her."

"I know, son" Nettied answered pulling him into a hug. "But ya gotta learn from it an' move on. Maybe thet means ya vow ta always hear her side before punishin' her, maybe it means ya always give yerself a bit more time ta think things through, maybe it means ya decide never ta use the switch agin. I don't know. Ya'll hafta work thet out fer yerself." She pushed him away, holding onto his shoulders. "But my boy's not a quitter, is he?"

"No Ma'am, I reckon not."

She gave a satisfied nod. "I reckon ya need ta think things through. We kin talk more after supper if'n yer feelin' like it, but right now why don't ya head over ta the bath house?"

"Ah, Nettie," Vin started to complain.

"Don't ya sass me boy! I kin use this spoon on you jest as easy as True. Now git!"

"Yes Ma'am," he agreed with a grin, heading for the back door. Neither Nettie nor Vin noticed a thoughtful Buck quietly slipping away back into the parlor.

M7***M7***M7***M7***M7

Buck hadn't meant to intrude, but he was glad to hear Nettie talking some sense into Vin. The tall ladies man had to admit that the old gal's word really set him to thinking as well. Naomi was from that same world True was. Did he have the fortitude to step in and be her pa? He sighed shaking his head.

"Ya ready ta go, darlin'?" he asked stepping from the hall into the parlor.

"Go where?" Naomi asked irritably.

"To the school, to meet Lauren, Miss Willis that is, and offer yer apology for the pranks ya pulled."

"You mean to tell me you still expect me to do that? After nearly burning my hands off?"

"Appears to me Sassy fixed ya up right good. Ya seem fit as a fiddle," Buck observed casting a questioning look towards Rhianna.

Rhianna nodded offering a big smile, pleased that Buck wasn't going to let Naomi manipulate him. "Absolutely."

Naomi glared at the blond girl but couldn't help but ask, "Sassy?"

Buck chuckled. "Yeah, when Rhianna first got here she tried ta run off, had a run in with some bank robbers, then had the grit ta call Chris 'asanine' right to his face."

Naomi looked at her clan member in amazement. "And I thought you were the smart one. Did you have a death wish?"

"Emotions will at times get the best of each of us," Rhianna quoted Ezra's words to her. "Just for your own personal edification, when Chris is already angry with you, keep your commentary to a bare minimum."

The younger girl chuckled, pushing thick waves of mahogany hair back from her face. "Don't exactly take a genius to figure that one out."

Buck laughed. It was nice to see the easy banter between the two girls. Now if he could just figure out a way to make peace between Naomi and True. He'd need to give that a bit more thought.

"All right. Enough jawin'," the peacekeeper said reaching to lift Naomi from the divan. "Let's get a move on."

Naomi pulled away from Buck the moment she had her feet underneath her. "I don't like being manhandled," she informed him irritability.

"Well, I'll try ta keep that in mind. How about you try to keep in mind that you'll do far better around here if you use a respectful tone?"

Naomi met Buck's earnest gaze and the man was completely surprised when she answered quietly, "I'll try."

Buck smiled and lead Naomi out the front door. Rhianna watched them go with a contemplative look on her face. Things were a long, long ways from being okay, but it was possible they were headed in the right direction. Having heard Chris come in, she knew he was going up to talk to True. Rhianna supposed she should wait around to see how that went, but quite frankly, she was tired of all the drama. Maybe she'd just go see what Conall was up to. She could always check on True later.

M7***M7***M7***M7***M7

Chris made his way slowly up the stairs. Damn if he wasn't starting to feel old. He really didn't want to go do this and he knew that True really was hurting inside which made him hate it even more. Unfortunately True never was one to respond to gentle persuasion, not that he was all that good with it anyway. Still she really did need to let out some of that hurt and anger she was carrying so maybe he'd give her the chance.

He opened the door to the room True shared with Vin and breathed a sigh of relief that she was standing in the corner as she'd been told to do. Closing the door behind him, he crossed the room to take a seat on the bed calling True over to him.

"Okay," he started somewhat gruffly, "Let's hear your side of this. You can speak your mind but I do expect you to be honest with me."

True just stood in shocked silence wondering what Chris was playing at. "Ya mean ya ain't gonna tan me?"

"Didn't say that," Chris corrected with a shake of his head. "But I want to hear your side of the story."

"Oh so someone's finally gonna fuckin' listen to me?" True responded finding a bit of her earlier ire.

"So long as you keep a civil tongue. Said you could speak yer mind, not cuss at me," Chris answered with a warning glare.

"Fine! So I gave the guppy a little push. She did a whole hell of a lot more'n that!"

"And she's gettin' punished for it too."

"Not like I woulda! Not like I DID!"

"We've got higher expectations of you than her. We don't really know Naomi yet, but you're our girl and we do know you. Know how smart you are, know that inside you have a good heart even if you do like a prank now and again. We also love you way too much toLet you get away with that kind of thing."

True's lips tightened into a scowl and her arms crossed rebelliously, but she had to blink away tears. "If Vin loves me so damn much how come he didn't listen ta me?" She finally spat out, unable to keep a couple of tears from spilling down her cheek. "I fuckin' tried ta tell him! I DID! And he wouldn't listen! And he's supposed to be on MY side! IT AIN'T FAIR! WHY DIDN'T HE FUCKING LISTEN? WHY? WHY THE HELL DID SHE HAVE TO COME?! WHY DID THEY HAVE TO DIE?!" True screamed before breaking down in sobs, "It ain't fair," she whimpered.

Chris pulled the girl into into his arms lifting her into his lap and starting to rock gently. He kissed her tousled brown hair and murmured endearments, a lump forming in his throat. She was just a little girl, too young to have to deal with all this pain and loss. It scared him to see the intensity of her emotions. He wasn't sure how to help her and all he wanted to do was make it all better.

"No, pumpkin, it's not fair and I'm so sorry you're hurtin' right now. I wish I had better answers." He held her tight, rubbing her back and letting her cry out her sorrows. "Vin made a mistake, one I mighta made myself 'cause I'm here to tell you I've made my share. As a parent and as a man. I know about loss, sweetheart, and the pain it brings. I know about being so hurt and so mad that all ya want to do is make others feel as bad as you feel." Chris shook his head. "You have to trust me, that's not a good road to travel."

True sniffed and wiped an arm across her eyes, looking up at Chris. He didn't talk about his past much and she couldn't help being curious. "Whadya mean?"

Chris sighed. "After Sarah and Adam died, I was in a bad way, True. I did a lot of things that I'm not proud of. Hurt people I cared for, like Buck," he paused, "Killed men that didn't need to die."

True's eyes were wide at Chris's words.

"Hid behind the words 'fair fight,' but now I have to look back and know I took someone away from a family that cared for him, just because I was mad at the world."

"But if it was a fair fight," True began to argue but Chris shook his head.

"No. I had other options but I acted out of anger and misplaced vengeance instead of doin' what was right. You see back then I didn't know the fire was set on purpose. Knew nuthin' about Ella bein' involved. Blamed myself for not being there, Buck for keeping me away, and God for letting it happen. I was takin' my vengeance from the world at large."

Both True and Chris were quiet for a long time. True's head rested against Chris's chest and she listened to the steady rhythm of his heart. She didn't know what she thought about Chris's words. The little girl kind of always thought of the man as infallible and she wasn't really sure she liked hearing otherwise. On the other hand, she felt a certain kinship. That rage he was talking about and that spirit of vengeance, yeah she'd been up close and personal with them many times.

"What would you have done, if you had been there? What could you have done?" Chris finally asked.

"I woulda died defending my clan and taken as many of those bastards with me as I coulda."

"So you're mad at Naomi for living? Is that it?"

True sat up a bit on Chris's lap and glared at the man. "Nooo, I'm pissed at the bitch for framing me for them fuckin' pranks."

Chris returned her glare with one of his own. "I believe I said you needed to keep a civil tongue. Ya really aren't in the best position to show me attitude."

True met his gaze for about five seconds before dropping her head. "Yes sir."

"Now awhile back you framed Billy for somethin' he didn't do and I tanned him more than once didn't I? That give him the right to declare some sort of vendetta on you?"

True rolled her eyes. "As if."

Chris's jaw tightened and his eyes glinted dangerously. True opted for damage contol, all too aware how quickly her position ON his lap could change to OVER his lap. "And Vin settled that score on my backside."

"Yep, and Naomi's been punished and even has a bit more to come. What she done was wrong, really wrong, but as bad as you feel learnin' about what happened to your people, think how bad she feels havin' lived through it? Didn't give her the right to hurt the folks here, to bring you and Vin pain, or cause trouble for the rest of us. Just like you hurtin' inside don't give you the right to disobey me or be disrespectful to Vin."

"Damn! Thought ya forgot about that."

"Not by a long shot," Chris replied kissing the top of True's head before lifting her off his lap and reaching for his belt buckle.

TBC...