Chapter 13

"Morning," Dominique said as her daughter entered the office. She looked up at the clock, which showed that it was an hour before most of the staff would be in. The only reason she herself was so early was because of how late she stayed talking to Kat, she hadn't had time to glide back home. "I admit, I wasn't expecting you so early."

Angela smiled at her mother. "Yes, well I wasn't sure when you'd be in, and I wanted to talk to you."

"About?" Dominique asked, crooking an eyebrow.

Angela grinned. "Fox has an idea..."

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Connor walked into his daughter's shop with a smile. He had been looking forward to this morning all week, as he and Kathy had planned on going out for breakfast.

The veteran police officer wasn't surprised to find his daughter working on an engine, though he was surprised by the lack of music or her lack of greeting him.

"Kathy," he called, drawing her attention.

Kathy smiled as she looked at him. "Morning Dad." She stood up, wiping grease off her hands. She looked down at herself, a bit sheepishly, before looking at the clock. "Do you mind waiting a few minutes?" she asked. "I lost track of time and," she grinned and held out her hands so he could see her grime covered clothes and skin, "as I'm sure you can see, I need a shower."

Connor chuckled. "No hurry," he told her. "I took the day off."

Walking over, Kathy gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she said, before moving to the steps that would lead up to her apartment.

Connor smiled, happy that his daughter seemed to be doing well. Sitting down on a stool by her workbench, he pulled an old battered book out of his pocket. It was a western by Louis L'Amour called Flint, one of his favorites. Turning to his bookmarked page, he began to read as he waited for his daughter.

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Thomas Hobart stood beside a green Chevy Impala, band looked both ways down the sidewalk and road to ensure he was alone. Confident that no one would see him, he slipped a slim jim out of his coat and slid it into the door.

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"Puck will alter his spell on me so that I can become human at will?" Demona asked for clarification.

Angela nodded. "Yes."

The red haired woman leaned back in her seat, and grinned. "In that case, how can I possibly refuse." Her face became serious, "However, I believe it's time we started work, Ms. Nolava."

Angela straitened. "Of course, Ms. Destine."

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Thomas Hobart made sure his ski mask was firmly in place, before he rolled down the window of his stolen car. Looking over at the shop across the street, he smirked as he stuck his MAC-10 out the window.

This would show the bitch.

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Kat was in the process of dressing when she hear the gunshots and squealing tires.

Heedless to the fact she had yet to put on a shirt, Kat ran downstairs, to find her shop shot to hell...

..and her father laying in a pool of his own blood.

"DADDY!" she screamed as she ran towards him.

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Elisa sighed as she waited for the light to turn. After tonight, she just wanted to get to the station, finish her end-of-shift reports and go home.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem as though that would be happening as her radio came to life.

The call of officer down had her flicking on her lights, even as she made a frantic u-turn.

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Captain Chavez watched with concern as Kathleen MacAuley watched the ambulance that held her father disappear around the corner with empty eyes.

Her hands were still covered with his blood from when she had tried to stem the blood flow herself. Already, officers had the area around the shop taped off, and several of them gave her sympathetic glances.

Maria was worried about the younger woman. She knew her father and she were close, having known Connor since she started on the force. Hell, she remembered attending the mechanic's high school graduation.

She prayed that Connor survived, but she didn't hold out hope, with multiple GSW's, he'd be lucky to make it to the hospital.

As she looked around at the swarm of police that had converged on the small shop, she took in everyone's posture and looks. It was always hard when a fellow cop was shot, it was even harder when it was someone like Connor. The sergeant was a fixture at the precinct, often offering advice to younger officers, even those that were his superiors. Though he may come down hard when he was angry, he was basically the big brother, or even father, of the entire 29th precinct. She remembered seeing him comfort a young rookie that had been forced to shoot a teen that had pulled a gun on him.

This would be hard for everyone.

"Kathleen," she called softly.

The young woman turned to look at her, with a lost look in her eyes. "Captain Chavez," she replied, her voice soft and as lost as her eyes.

The captain sighed, and placed her arm around Kathleen's shoulder. "Come on, I'll have someone take you to get cleaned up and take you to the hospital."

Kathleen allowed herself to be escorted away, and Maria called out, "Maza!"

The detective quickly approached. "Captain?" she asked, awaiting orders.

"You and Bluestone take Kathleen to get cleaned up," she said softly. "Afterward, take her to the hospital. If you can, get her statement."

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After taking Kathleen from Chavez, cleaning off the blood, and getting her a shirt to wear, Elisa asked, "Is there anyone you want to contact, anyone you want at the hospital with you?"

Kathleen was silent for a moment before she said, "My girlfriend. But today's her first day of work."

"I'm sure her boss will understand, where does she work?"

"Nightstone," she said softly. "She's Ms. Destine's personal assistant.

Elisa tensed, but handed Kathleen to over to Matt. "Detective Bluestone will take you to the hospital," she said. "I'll stop at Nightstone to get your girlfriend, and meet you there. What's her name?"

Kathleen opened her mouth, but hesitated a moment before answering, "Ann Nolava."

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It's short, but then again, it's a very emotional chapter. I hope you all enjoyed. In case you don't know, GSW is short term for Gun-Shot wound.

Please Review and Checkout the Challenges in My Forums and the stories I have up for adoption, posted under the title Please Adopt Me!