CH. 19: No Choice
School had been going as good as you could expect for Andy considering she hated it and she was sure to let Danny and Linda know anytime she had a
chance, which in turn only got her a very long lecture regarding the opportunities a good education provided.
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"Hey Andy," Andy was startled by the all too familiar voice. That she would have been all too pleased if she would have never heard it again. It was a voice
from, her past who caused nothing but trouble for her. "Word on the street is that you got adopted and moved up town," the voice made conversation. "What
do you want Brock," Andy wanted to get as far away from him as possible. "Just wanted to check up on you, and make sure you remembered what the boss
said would happen if you told the cops about seeing him kill Tyson." "That was a long time ago Brock and if I didn't tell then, what makes you think I would get
the urge to squeal now," Andy was annoyed. "Just make sure you keep it quiet, or your new family might get hurt," Brock was using a tactic he knew all too
well, yet he had never been able to use it on her before, considering family had always been something she never knew much of until she met the Reagan's.
Pulling her attention away from Brock, was the voice of her younger brother, one of the brothers he threatened, and that made her mad. "Andy," she heard
Sean yell again for her from where he and Jack stood just outside the door of the school where they usually waited for Danny or Linda to pick them up. "I have
to go," she looked over at Brock as she hurried towards her brothers. She could see her mom driving up, and that made her move even faster, hoping that
Linda did not see her talking to Brock and then question her about it. "Hey guys, let's try to hurry to meet mom in the car," Andy said quietly. "Who was that
you were talking to," Jack whispered coming up next to her? "No one," Andy shook her head, not wanting to play the hundred question game. "How was
school," Linda asked after the three piled into the car? Both boys replied, but Andy remained silent. "Andy," Linda asked again? "It was fine," Andy replied
starring out the window her mind drifting back to a time she wished she could forget.
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Later that afternoon after Linda sent them upstairs to get busy on their homework while she worked on dinner, and Danny was still at work, Jack decided that
now would be the perfect time to question Andy about her encounter with the guy she seemed to be a little warry of and in a hurry to get away from earlier
that afternoon. "Andy," Jack said walking into his sisters room without even bothering to knock. "What do you want Jack," Andy was a little frustrated with both
her homework and the thought of seeing Brock again after so long, then again apparently it was not long enough. "I want to know who that was you were
talking to just outside the school today," Jack asked not even bothering to beat around the bush. "It was no one Jack, so just forget about it," Andy was trying
to get rid of him. "Listen Andy all it takes is a little phone call to a mutual acquaintance of ours who holds a Detective shield, and he will do what he does best
and find the guy, and trust me he will find him, dad always gets his man." By now Andy was beyond frustrated, the last person she wanted to know about
Brock or any of what happened to her was Danny Reagan. "Jack," Andy raised her voice, "I don't want to talk about it, so just leave me alone," Andy shoved
him. "Andy, you have to tell someone," Jack shoved her back, his voice getting higher. "No I don't, so just do me a favor and get out of my room," Andy pushed
his back against the wall. Considering Linda was down stairs there wasn't much of a chance of anyone hearing the commotion or even know what was taking
place between brother and sister, if only Danny had not chosen that very minute to get home from work and walk upstairs and pass his daughter's bedroom to
put his gun and shield in the safe of his bedroom. "Hey what's going on here," Danny asked stepping in? Danny really was never bothered by little
disagreements that his kids had with one another, knowing that brothers and sisters had them regularly, at least he and his siblings did, Danny remembered.
But when they started shoving one another against walls, and there was a chance of something in his house getting broken, Danny couldn't help but step in.
"Nothing," Andy stepped away from Jack. "It didn't sound like nothing," Danny looked from one to the other looking for answers. Neither of the siblings said a
word and instead just glared at one another. "In that case, I am sure you both have homework that you SHOULD be doing," Danny put special emphasis on the
word SHOULD. "Yes," Jack said quietly taking the opportunity to step behind Danny and get out of the room before he started naming consequences for
fighting, in which he had a tendency to do, especially when you fought family. Andy returned to her desk, leaving Danny just standing there. "You okay," he
asked Andy, sensing that something was not right. "Fine," Andy didn't look up, going back to her English homework. "Everything all right at school," Danny was
looking for answers? "Fine," Andy gave the same answer, as she shook her head, this man just did not give up. "Okay," Danny walked out. And just when she
thought she had him completely figured out, he does something unexpected, and just walks out without pushing the matter, Andy thought to herself.
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"Did you know that Jack and Andy were upstairs fighting?" Danny asked a few minutes later joining Linda in the kitchen. "Jack and Andy," Linda looked at him
questioningly? Knowing that it wasn't very often that Andy and Jack got into an argument, it was usually Andy and Sean, or Jack and Sean. "Yeah I was kind of
surprised myself," Danny replied grabbing a carrot from the salad she was preparing. "What did you do," Linda asked? "Nothing," Danny shook his head, "I get
the feeling there was more to their argument than just a normal disagreement about something trivial." "Really," Linda voice showed immediate concern?
"Neither one of them said anything, but my years on the job and seeing through people who are trying to not be seen through, told me otherwise," Danny
enlightened her. Linda sighed, "What do we do?" "Just play it by ear I guess, this is my first parenting job too," Danny shrugged smiling at her, "demanding
they tell us something will only show that we don't trust them, and they will never learn responsibility, and how to stand on their own two feet that way." "I
hope your right," Linda didn't exactly doubt her husband, but that didn't keep her from worrying about her children.
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The following week, and Andy managed to have a relatively good week at school, and not having any more encounters with Brock, Andy was able to return to
her daily routine, in her new life that she liked to call, life with the Reagan's. Forgetting about Brock, Andy and Jack were both able to return to their old selves
and managed to continue getting along, at least as much as getting along one could expect between a brother and a sister that were only separated by a year
or so in age. The weekend was upon them, in which aloud later nights for the kids to enjoy watching movies and driving Linda crazy while Danny worked the
night shift. "What do you want to watch," Jack was the first to ask? "I don't know, what do you want to watch," Sean asked as if in sync? Andy sighed and fell
backwards, "now don't start that again," Andy thought of the past hour that they had just wasted by arguing on what to watch. "If you three don't pick
something to watch in five minutes, I'm going to pick something for you," Linda threatened tired of the arguing. "No!" the three yelled simultaneously just
about throwing anyone of the movies they had spread out on the floor at Sean, not wanting to have a repeat of the Sound of Music or something very similar
with little to no violence in it. As if it would help to keep them from wearing the uniform, sometimes they had to remind her that their father, grandfather, and
great-grandfather all wore the uniform, as if it was almost hereditary. After the kids decided on RED, Linda was finally able to get an hour or two of quiet, in
which she chose to spend the time with a glass of wine, a hot bath, and a good book. She had been in the tub for almost an hour and was enjoying every
minute of it, sure she probably shouldn't have left the kids unattended for that long, but there were times in which she needed a break, and now was definitely
one of those times. She knew the kids were old enough to take care of themselves, and she really wasn't concerned about that, what she was concerned
about however, was if two or three of them got into a fight with one another and tried to kill each other, in which she was hoping to avoid. Her cell phone rang,
and Linda reached for it, hoping not to drop it in her tub full of water. "Hello," she said into the receiver after glancing at the ID and noticing that it was indeed
the father of her three terrors. "Hi babe, how are things going?" Danny asked the usual question he asked when away from her and she was left with the kids.
"Oh you know, the usual," Linda replied. "First Andy tried to kill Sean, then Jack tried to kill Sean, and just to try and make me get more gray hair than I already
do, they all tried to kill each other, hoping to alleviate the other two and become an only child." Danny couldn't help but laugh at her last comment, despite the
fact it wasn't the best idea, "I remember trying to do that myself with my siblings, it never worked very well considering dad always tended to be around at
those times." "It isn't funny Danny, they never act like that when you're here with them," Linda had a point. "That's because we have a mutual respect," Danny
explained. "I threaten death or jail, and they become perfectly content with following every exact order I give." "You are so bad," Linda laughed at his
comment.
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The following week however things tended to change, Danny and Linda were both scheduled to work a hectic schedule, and with having three children to tend
to, also worried about what they were going to do with them after school, when they were scheduled to work turned into another headache. Danny and Linda
did manage to come up with a solution however, despite the fact neither of them really cared for it. The solution involved that the two rotate and keep the kids
with them at work until they got off. It was Thursday afternoon, and this particular day they were scheduled to stay with Linda at the hospital. There was a
park just outside of the hospital, and Linda agreed to let them go out and play as long as they promised not to leave the park, and they looked out for one
another. Like any smart kid, they immediately agreed, just glad to be rid of the strong disinfectant smell, and the constant reminder of being quiet. Andy wasn't
exactly playing, rather she just preferred to be outside, rather than shoved in the nurse's lounge while Linda worked. She and her brothers hated having to
stay at the hospital, never could they leave the lounge, they couldn't touch anything, and they had to be very quiet, as to not disturb someone, Linda always
telling them they needed to be considerate of those that were sick and hurt. Preferring the opportunity to stay with Danny at the precinct, they didn't get to
stay with him very often considering he never knew when he would have to leave to chase after a lead, but when they did get the opportunity, they preferred
it over than the hospital. Danny didn't have as many rules, all he told them was to not get in the way of those who were doing their jobs, simply ending the
conversation with if they got into trouble they were going to find themselves being detained in a holding cell until it was time to go home. The kids took Danny
at his word, and never found trouble enough for Danny to carry out his threat. Andy glanced over at her brothers, and found Jack hanging upside down from
the monkey bars, and Sean trying to see how fast he could spin himself on the merry go round until he threw up. She was just rounding the walking trail that
bordered the park, which allowed parents to relax and take a walk while their children played when she again came face to face with Brock. Andy sighed as a
flash of anger crossed her face, "won't you just leave me alone already?" "That's not going to happen kid, you see I did some digging, and found out that you
are living with a family of cops, and the Reagan family at that, one of the most predominant families in New York when it comes to blue," Brock was speaking
the truth. "So, what's that got to do with me, you, or Trace for that matter?" Andy was hoping to get to the reason he was hassling her sooner than later.
"Trace just wants to make sure that you aren't going to squeal to that new daddy of yours, and tell him that you saw some mean man kill someone." "That was
almost three years ago Brock, hasn't he forgot about that already figuring that if I didn't tell then, why would I suddenly tell now," Andy was annoyed? "You
didn't have a cop as a daddy three years ago," Brock reminded her, "needless to say when Trace starts getting worried, I start getting worried." "If he was
really worried, why didn't he come after me then, as soon as he found out that I saw him," Andy questioned? "You lived on the street, and he figured that
whether or not the street killed you, no one would believe some street kid that had numerous altercations when it came to constantly having to be drug back
to her foster home," Brock started. "He never expected for your knight in shining armor to show up and rescue you from a life such as the rest of us live." "And
just what does Trace plan on doing about it," Andy wanted to know the real reason for the conversation and the part that really affected her? "Well the way
Trace sees it, that if you really care for that new family of yours and you don't want anything to happen to either of them, you will run away and do what you
do best and disappear." "Yeah I think I should tell you that I pulled a disappearing act about a month ago, and it didn't turn out to good, my dad found me in
less than a day." "But this time you will have a good reason to disappear," Brock had a point, "you will be doing it for their protection." Andy sighed, she
wanted to argue with him and say something savvy, but the truth was he gave her an ultimatum, an ultimatum that she couldn't ignore, she just loved her
family too much. "I'll do it," Andy thought about it for a moment. "When," Brock wanted to know. "Tomorrow," Andy answered, knowing that it would be useless
to ask him what he wanted to know for, considering she already knew that he would be watching to make sure she carried it out. "Fair enough," Brock
disappeared seconds after the words left his mouth. Andy found a bench to sit, whereas the park was empty for the most part aside from her and her brothers,
she certainly had her choice of benches. She felt as if she was going to be sick as she thought of what she was going to have to do the following day and she
was in no mood to talk or even deal with her brother and his hundred questions, unfortunately Jack missed that look in her eye. "Hey Andy wasn't that the
same guy from the school," Jack asked? "Jack just do me a favor and don't start that again," Andy was more than serious. "Listen Andy if he's badgering you,
dad can get you a restraining order," Jack enlightened her having done sat through enough Reagan family dinners that he knew the ends and outs of the
benefits of something such as a restraining order. "I'm going to give you some good advice Jack, and I suggest you follow it, just mind your own business and
leave me alone, and whatever you do don't tell Dad," Andy was tired of dealing with his own badgering. "But Andy, talking with that guy is not safe," Jack had a
point. "I wonder if I can get a restraining order from you," Andy shoved passed him trying to walk away. "Andy I'm serious," Jack ran after her and grabbed her
arm. "This is the second time already that he's approached you, now what does he want?" "I said to mind your own business Jack and I'm serious," Andy
glared at him. "Fine," Jack decided to let her be, knowing the longer they argued the worse things would get. "Time to go guys, my shift is over and we need to
get home," Linda called from the entrance of the park interrupting there conversation. "Just keep it quiet little brother alright," Andy said quietly as they
headed for the car. "For now Andy," Jack was showing that he wasn't giving up just yet.
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Dinner around the table that evening was unusually quiet with Danny's mind on the case he was working, and Linda's mind on a patient. In the meantime,
Sean was thinking about how he was going to tell Danny and Linda about that bad grade he made on his math test, while Jacks mind was on the conversation
he was going to try and have with Andy after dinner, and Andy's mind was on how she was going to leave, and how much she didn't want to.
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"Andy," Jack said knocking gently on his sister's door. "Come in," Andy said getting the feeling she knew why he was coming in. "Can we talk serious for a
minute, without either one of us getting mad at the other," Jack asked carefully already laying down the terms of their conversation. "We can try," Andy wasn't
sure if it would do any good, considering she knew she couldn't tell him anything. "Listen Andy, I know I shouldn't have pushed you earlier, but I'm just
concerned," Jack said carefully this time trying a different tactic. "I'm sorry too Jack, but I just can't tell you, this guy Brock is no good, and the less you know,
the better off you will be," Andy was trying to protect him. "And I get that, heck I have been around police talk since I was born and I know that there are
some really bad people out there, but you need to be careful." "I know Jack, and I am, but you have to let me handle it in my own way, which is what I am
doing," Andy explained. "Can you tell me how you plan to handle it," Jack figured she wouldn't tell him anything, but it was worth a try. Andy shook her head,
"not this time little brother." Andy called him little brother intentionally already thinking of how much she was going to miss him when she left the next day.
"Okay," Jack stood. "But you know that none of this will end until you and you alone takes the next step and does something about it," Jack said walking out of
the room. Andy fell back on her bed, how could her brother be so smart and so annoying all at the same time, she asked herself?
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Andy lay in bed an hour or so later, darkness surrounding her, as she was fighting awful hard to keep the tears from falling. This was going to be her last night
as a Reagan, and no matter how short a time it was, and the amount of extensive punishments she found herself getting, she had to admit that she loved her
life and didn't want to leave the people that were responsible. Then again what choice did she have, she had to protect them. Jack lay in bed in his room, the
brief conversation he had with Andy running through his head. He didn't have much, in fact all he had was a first or last name, he wasn't sure, and a slight
description, then again at least it was a start. He knew that if she wasn't going to do something about it, he was going to take matters into his own hands and
do what Andy should have done from the very beginning, and that was tell someone that could do something about it, and that person was their father. But
how would he do that, considering Danny would probably be up and gone long before he had to be up for school, and even if he did manage to catch him,
talking to him alone wouldn't be easy without his mother or brother busting in. He was just about to give up, when one last alternative came into play, he
didn't exactly want to do it, knowing that it would probably get him grounded ten to life but the heck with it, Jack decided to take a step outside of the safety
zone if it would protect his sister, he would go to school in the morning but leave around lunch in order to give him plenty of time to go to the precinct, where
he was hoping to shock Danny enough to believe the story he was going to tell him.
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The next day, Andy went to school without any fuss which worried Danny and Linda more than anything else they thought they would come up against that
day, then again the day had barely started, and they would soon find out that Andy and Jack both would prove them wrong. The second however that Linda
drove away, Andy cut school completely and hitched a ride back home to change out of her uniform and pack a few things that would help her survive on the
street. She was grateful she had a key to the house and didn't have to break a window as a means of entry as she ran up the stairs and into her room. She
knew what she had to do, there was no question about it, and she knew she had to run away. She didn't want to do it, and everything in her was screaming
for her not to. She felt as if there was a battle going on inside of her, between her heart and her head. Her head was telling her she was going soft, yet her
heart was telling her she finally had something good going and not to screw it up. Her heart was beating a hundred miles an hour as she weighed her options.
Where would she go, and how would she survive on top of hundreds of other questions were spinning in her head. Andy shook it off, she knew what she had
to do, and there was no use in dancing around the subject, she had to run away, and she was going to do just that, she said to herself as she dumped
everything out from her backpack to start the all too familiar task. There was just one problem, her heart wasn't in it. She was just about to run out the door
when she saw it, it was a picture of her with her family that Erin had taken just after she came to live with Danny and Linda. Andy smiled, she had to admit she
loved the picture, Danny and Linda were both sitting on the couch while she, Jack and Sean sitting on the floor in front of them. Grabbing the frame, Andy
shoved it into her backpack before hurrying out the door. She knew her face was appearing as if she was about to cry, as she took one last look at the house.
What was wrong with her she just couldn't figure it out? Was she going soft? When you came from a background such as hers, there was only one rule, be
tough, because only the strong survive, Andy remembered as she ran down the street.
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Jack was proud of himself, he managed to get away from the school without anyone noticing him, and he was only minutes from the precinct. Sure he would
have to face his mother's wrath for taking off, but he would deal with that later. For now, he had one concern, and that was for his sister. Walking through the
door of his father's precinct, Jack nodded at a few of the officers that were talking just a few feet away from the door. Jack didn't look nervous or afraid like
most kids did when walking into a police precinct, in fact Jack appeared quite the opposite, he had been there countless times with his mother since he was
little, but this time, this time things were different, this time he was alone, and this time he needed help, his father's help. Walking into the main room, where
his father's desk was, Jack wasn't surprised in not seeing his father there, his father was a busy man, who had a very dangerous job, yet a very worthwhile
job in helping people. Taking a seat in his father's desk, Jack didn't say a word to anyone, and instead just looked around the room from time to time while he
got busy on his homework. Ten minutes later Sergeant Gormley walked out of his office, he didn't think Danny was at his desk, or even in the office for that
matter, but seeing a head with the same hair color as Danny's sticking up from behind the desk chair, made him think that he was wrong. "Reagan, where are
we on the McCoy case?" Gormley questioned in his usual boisterous voice. Hearing a loud voice say his last name, startled Jack and Jack instantly turned the
chair around, thinking that he was by no means there to cause trouble for anyone, he just needed to talk to his father about something he was concerned
about. "Jack Reagan, what are you doing here," Gormley looked both shocked and confused to see the son of Danny Reagan sitting there, knowing that the
Reagan kids hardly ever showed up at the precincts, figuring that they got enough talk from the boys in blue at their own homes and around the family's dinner
table? "Sergeant Gormley," Jack stood and shook the man he had known for several years' hand. "I'm not here to cause trouble or anything, I just really need
to talk to my dad about something important," Jack was being as respectful as he could, hoping to get the older man to understand. "Its fine Jack, why don't
you come into my office and we can talk until your father gets back, I'm sure he will be back any minute," Gormley gestured at the door of his office. Jack was
perfectly content with just waiting for his father where he was, but not wanting to sound impertinent, Jack stood and followed Gormley into the other room.
"Now is there anything that I can help you with," Gormley asked taking a seat across from Jack at his own desk? "No Sir," Jack shook his head, "it's about my
sister, and I'm pretty sure dad will want to handle that one." "I'm sure your right," Gormley nodded knowing Danny long enough that he liked to take care of his
own. "You know I could call your dad and let him know you are looking for him," Gormley suggested. "No that's okay," Jack tried not to sound too anxious,
knowing that if Danny was driving and he found out he had skipped school he would probably have a heart attack and wreck the car. "I don't mind waiting, I
know he has cases to solve," Jack finished. "You are right about that," Gormley said quietly. Thirty minutes had passed and Danny was finally walking into the
precinct. He had just glanced into the open door of Gormley's office, and had to take a second look to make sure he wasn't seeing things. "Jack Reagan,"
Danny said trying to remember to keep his voice low rather than yell at him right then and there as he was shocked to find his oldest son in his Sergeants
office, instead of in school. "Dad!" Jack stood up in a hurry nearly knocking everything off Gormley's desk in his haste. "What are you doing here," Danny asked
his hands on his hips? "I think I'll leave you two alone," Gormley said before closing the door behind him deciding that now was a good time to make his rounds
around the precinct to make sure everything was running smoothly. "Well," Danny asked again looking for an answer letting his voice grow a little higher once
they were alone? "Just calm down for a second Dad, you can yell at me in a minute but I'll never be able to get this out, if I think your mad at me." "You bet I'm
mad," Danny interrupted. "I know, but if you just give me a second to explain, I think you will understand," Jack tried again. Danny took a deep breath, "I'm
listening," he managed to say in a much calmer tone of voice. "It's about Andy," Jack started. "I think she is in trouble." "What kind of trouble," Danny turned
immediately concerned? "At least two separate times in the past week, Andy has been approached by some guy, and every time I try asking her about him, she
wouldn't say anything, but I get the impression that she knows him." "And what makes you think he's a criminal," Danny questioned. "She told me he was, not
to mention any time after she would see him, she always became really distant." "I see," Danny ran a hand through his hair. "Can you tell me anything else
about him?" Just as Jack was about to answer, Danny's cell buzzed. "Danny, I just got a call from the school and they said that Andy did not go to any of her
classes, and now Jack is missing. I came home to make sure they weren't here, but they aren't, and the family picture is gone," Linda was terrified. "Jack is with
me," Danny was quick to say hoping that would ease her tension in some way. "And I think I have a lead on Andy, I will be home as soon as I can, just go get
Sean and I will meet you at the house," Danny was trying to get off the phone so he could get more information from Jack. "Alright, now back to my last
question," Danny said after hanging up the phone. "Can you tell me anything else about him?" "His name is Brock, I don't know if it's a first or a last name but
Andy let his name slip the other day." "Can you tell me what he looks like," Danny's thought were running a mile a minute? "I think so," Jack nodded. Jack had
barely finished his sentence, when Danny moved passed him and was yelling for a sketch artist. The second the sketch artist entered the room, Danny was
next to Jack. "Alright son, I need you tell me everything you remember about the guys features, did he have longer hair or shorter hair, dark hair or lighter hair,"
Danny started to explain his question. "I know Dad," Jack waved him off, "I've heard you, Grandpa and Uncle Jamie talk so much about this stuff I memorized
everything I could about him." Danny smiled, "that's what I like to hear, if only all my witnesses were as sure as you." By the time Jack was through, they had a
fairly clear identification, and had his picture dispersed to all the precincts in the area. After covering all his bases Danny and Jack headed for home. "How mad
do you think mom will be at me for cutting class," Jack started to get a little nervous the closer they got to the house? "I'm sure she will forgive you after I tell
her why you did it," Danny reassured him. "Just let me handle it, and everything will be fine." Jack let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, "thanks."
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Running into the house, Danny wasn't surprised to find Linda in Andy's bedroom. "Don't worry, I'll find her," Danny said from the doorway. "Oh Danny," Linda
didn't even try to hide the tears. Danny hugged her for a moment and then pulled her away, "I'll find her Linda I promise, finding people who don't want to be
found is my job, and from the looks of this room," Danny looked around the room, "she was torn between wanting and not wanting to be found." "How can you
tell," Linda questioned? "Well she didn't take much for one thing, which means she must partially believe that she will be found sooner than later, not to
mention there is a map of New York over here in the corner, which means she was probably trying to figure out where she would go." "Is the map telling you
anything," Linda asked? "Not especially, but if I was her I would go to some place I know," Danny paused. "Like the same place I found her in the beginning,"
Danny was running down the stairs and out the door to the car in a matter of seconds, hoping his hunch was correct.
Thanks for all the great reviews, follows and favorites, I love getting them... Only one more chapter in this story, but I am hoping to make a series involving Andy... Let me know what you think... JusticeStandsTRUE
