Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, other than Brielle.
Rated: M
Warning(s): Slash, Het, Stripping, Exotic Dancing, Domestic Violence, etc.

It had now been one week since Chris had taken Brielle back to Canada with him, and he had started to realize that maybe he had made a mistake. Not in the decision that he had made, no. He knew that Brielle was better off with him, whether or not anybody else chose to believe him. The mistake had been to return home to that bastard he called his father. He had been less than supportive of Chris' decision and Chris wouldn't stand for it.

Now, as he read to Brielle from a book of fairytales, he noticed the man out of the corner of his eye. He stood in the doorway, that look of eternal disapproval seared onto his face. It made Chris sick. He wasn't a kid anymore and he didn't need his father's approval, but the fact that he felt the need to constantly undermine his authority as Brielle's father never failed to scratch the tentative membrane that kept him from silencing the old man once and for all.

"You need to take her to a hospital, Chris." His father said after a moment. Both looked down at Brielle, who looked much too pale and hadn't eaten her dinner in two days. "Look at her! She's only skin and bones!"

"What would you know about it? It's not like you've actually tried to feed her. She can't keep her dinner down, so I don't force it. End of story." Chris hissed, but he refused to look at his father's face.

"You'd rather that that child starves to death than admit that you made a mistake, wouldn't you Chris?" His father whispered. His hands formed fists at his sides, but he restrained himself.

Chris looked away, embarrassed to admit that he may have made a mistake, but was too proud to turn around and correct it now. "Leave. It's her bedtime and I am trying to read her a bedtime story."

"I hate to do this, Chris, but if you don't take care of that child -,"

Chris turned on him then, his eyes fiery and wild. "You'll do what, old man?"

"I'll have to take up the matter with child services."

All of a sudden, Chris was out of his chair. That membrane had burst and now nothing could hold him back as his hand curled into a fist and struck his father's face harshly. The old man frantically tried to suck in air as Chris wailed on him, blow after blow piercing him as if his fists were blades. Chris was ruthless. Every bit of anger that he had ever possessed toward this man was vented in that moment, and when he crumpled to the floor, Chris smiled.

Chris walked back over to the bed and yanked Brielle out of the bed, her head bobbing weakly from malnutrition. Her eyes fluttered a few times, before they came to settle on him. There was a milky sheen of white over the normally vibrantly colored eyes. Chris chose to cast that aside as he shifted her to one arm, her body moving without much of a hassle. At this time, she was much too weak to contest his desires.

"Look at that, Brielle. That just goes to show you that you can't trust anybody in this goddamn twisted world. Not even your own family." He spat at his father, who weakly flinched, unable to defend himself.

"I want Mommy." Brielle whined weakly. Tears streaked down her little face and her body stirred with distress.

"Get this through your thick skull, you little brat. Your mother doesn't want you! Your mother doesn't love you! He's glad that you're gone! In fact, I bet he wishes you were dead!" Chris screamed into her face.

Brielle started to sob, her little chest heaving with the force of her cries. "M-Mommy…"

"I'm the only one that you can trust, Brielle. I have your best interest at heart. And I will be there for you, forever… and ever. Say goodbye to your grandfather." Chris said.

Brielle only looked at the man on the floor with teary eyes as Chris carried her out of the house.

Adam sat on the floor of his house, the Jason Reso's business card in his hand. He knew that Jeff had said that he would take his case, but what if he didn't? Adam couldn't afford a lawyer. He couldn't even afford to pay for the operation that would save his baby's life. Maybe Chris was right. Maybe Adam was a second-rate father and he deserved all of this. His stomach twisted and he took a swig of his ginger ale. He couldn't afford to be sick.

Over the last two hours, he had been attempting to convince himself to try and call Jay. He would never know unless he called him, was what he reminded himself. It was worth a try. And from what he had heard, Jay's record was almost impeccable. One had to really search to find a case that he hadn't won. That should have calmed him, but it really didn't. It would be his luck that he would be that one flaw, that one blemish on Jay's record.

You abused her, you beat her until she bruised, the nurse's words still echoed in his head. How could someone think that he would ever hurt his precious little baby? She had been his entire world ever since that moment when he found out that he was pregnant. His world revolved around her, she was the reason that he continued to pour his life down the drain in that club. It was the only job that he was qualified for, after all, now that Chris had broken him…

A knock on the door broke him out of his pity-party. He shook himself out of it as he climbed to his feet. "I'll be there in a minute!" He called, hoping he could be heard in the next room over.

When he finally arrived, he opened the door and saw Randy there. "Thank God, Adam. Do you realize how many times I called you? We had a date on Tuesday and you never showed. I was worried, so I called. You didn't answer."

Adam tried to think of what day it was, and then realized with a start that it was Saturday. "I am so sorry, Randy. I didn't even realize that it was Saturday. Shit."

Randy relaxed now that he saw that Adam was okay. "It's okay, Addy… What's the matter?"

"What do you mean?" Adam asked, confused. He had his best smile on his face, but it didn't fool Randy.

Randy reached forward and brushed a hand across Adam's cheek. He showed it to Adam, who noticed with disdain that it was streaked with moisture. "You're crying, Adam. Don't lie and say that it's nothing."

"Oh…" Adam said weakly. "It's a long story. I don't want to bother you with it. Really, it's… nothing."

Randy crossed his arms over his chest. "Where's Brielle?"

"What?" Adam sniffled.

"You were so excited that she would be able to have this operation. I could see it in your eyes, Adam. You were so worried about her and were relieved when the money came in to save her. Now, you just look… sad."

Before Randy could even finish, Adam broke down. The dam broke and the tears started to fall from his eyes like a waterfall. Randy hadn't expected such an instantaneous reaction and was a bit startled by it, but after a second of hesitation, he drew Adam into his arms and cradled him there. Adam didn't resist. He couldn't. Embarrassment mixed with the heartache he felt had rendered him unable to resist Randy's comforting embrace.

Gently, Randy shushed him. He rocked him back and forth and told him very softly that he was there for him, that he wouldn't let him go, that Adam could trust him. And, somehow, Adam knew that he could. So, he told him the entire story. He told him about how he had been assaulted by Chris, which had led to Brielle's birth. He told him about raising Brielle on his own, afraid of Chris returning. And then, he told him that Chris had taken Brielle and run.

"You need to find her, Adam. You need her back. From what you've told me about Chris, you know full well that he isn't good for her. He's taken her for selfish reasons and she needs her Mommy." Randy said.

"I don't know how to get her back, though. He's ruined my credibility." Adam said.

"How did he do that?" Randy asked.

Adam took out the official papers and showed him all of the bruises he claimed were on Brielle's body. "He said that I abused her and he must've used Photoshop to fix the pictures. You know that I could never… don't you?"

Randy nodded firmly. "I know how much you love her, Adam. This… this just isn't like you."

"Thank you. It makes me feel better that someone believes me." Adam said.

"What is this?" Randy took the business card out of Adam's hand.

"His name is Jason Reso and he's a lawyer that a friend of mine recommended. The only problem is, even if he agreed to take my case, I can't afford him." Adam said sadly.

"Don't worry about that, Adam. I'll cover it." Randy said. Adam turned to him, shocked. He couldn't believe this man's generosity, to offer to pay what could be an incredibly hefty debt.

"I couldn't ask you to do that. I don't want charity." Adam replied.

But Randy shook his head. "It's not charity, Adam. It's me doing something that I want to do to help someone that I care about. Consider it… southern hospitality."

Adam looked at him carefully, his eyes wide with disbelief. He must've waited several minutes for a catch, but one never came. Randy wandered off into the kitchen, and for the first time Adam realized that Randy had brought several bags with him. They bore the Wal-Mart logo on them. His heart swelled with love as he watched Randy unload fresh produce and start to make him dinner. Maybe this was what love was meant to feel like.

Even if it was Saturday, Mike had been forced to go into work today. One of his clients had had a breakdown at his photo shoot and Mike had been called in to calm him down. If he didn't, it could mean thousands of dollars for the company and Mike could lose one of his most famous clients. He had been extremely apologetic to JoMo, but the pretty brunette had only brushed it off. They had all of Sunday, after all, and it wasn't his fault he had bratty clients.

About an hour after Mike left, there was a knock on the door. JoMo answered it and was pleasantly surprised to find Jeff on the other side. He hadn't had much contact with Jeff ever since 'the incident' (it was much easier to refer to it as 'the incident', because then Jeff wouldn't have to face the fact that he had been sexually assaulted and JoMo could still think of his job as the safest place he could hope to be). JoMo welcomed him inside with a smile.

"Jeff, I'm surprised! I haven't seen you in forever." JoMo said with a smile. Quickly, he fixed some decaf coffee for both of them and ushered Jeff to take a seat in the other room. "What can I do for you?"

"Actually, I'm here because we need to talk." His tone was incredibly serious and JoMo's happy air fell slightly. He couldn't help but feel the tension between them start to increase.

"About what?" He asked, his voice a bit more tense than he had hoped it would be.

They locked eyes. "About Phil."