Less than three minutes passed before Aaron heard a blood curling scream from Madison. He dropped everything, turned off the oven with one flip, and grabbed his gun on his way out through the back door. He held his gun out in front of him as he cleared the corner of the cabin house. Madison was standing there with a look of terror in her eyes. He ran over to her.

"Baby, what is it? What's wrong?"

She pointed to the cause of her fear. He looked over and there she was. It was a corpse of a woman not much older than Madison; she had clearly been there for a bit of time. Aaron looked around.

"Okay, it'll be okay. Let's go inside, I need to make a few phone calls."

THE CABIN

PART 2

Once Aaron informed the local police of the situation he sat on the couch beside Madison. She laid her head on his lap as he stroked her hair and texted his team back home.

"How is she doing?" Dave texted back.

"She is still in a bit of shock; but, I wouldn't expect anything less of course," Aaron replied.

"Would you like us to drive up there?" Dave asked.

"No, the local authority is handling it right now. We will drive back tonight once she gets over the initial shock."

"Alright, do you think she can talk or should I try back in a couple of hours?"

"Try back in a couple of hours," Aaron replied as he looked down to see Madison hugging herself.

"Fair enough."

Aaron read the last comment from Dave then put the phone down and began to stroke the young girl's hair.

"It'll be okay sweetheart, I promise."

"How?" She answered softly, "how can I ever be an agent like all of you if I can't even handle one dead body?"

"It's your first one. We all went through it, it takes time to stomach it; but, truthfully, I still have difficulty from time to time."

She turned on her back and looked up at him.

"Really, what do you do when that happens?"

He smiled down at her, "I simply have to put blinders on. I stay focused on the task which is putting the clues together and finding the perp."

Madison sat up, wiped a few tears away. She straddled herself around him and looked at him eye to eye.

"Is there anything else you do to help get through it?"

He smiled sweetly, "yes, there is actually. I start with refocusing myself first by remembering something or someone that makes me smile. And do you want to know a secret?"

She smiled, "always."

He brushed her hair away from her face and behind her ears.

"Once you told me that you wanted to be with me as much as I with you, I have never been happier. When I need to refocus myself and think of something to make me smile; I just have to think of you."

Madison smiled warmly, kissed his lips softly then laid her head down on his shoulder. He held her close, stroked her hair and did everything in his power to help her feel safe in his arms.

CMCM

Once Dave heard the car pull up he opened the door to greet his long time friend, Aaron and his beautiful, adopted daughter, Madison. She was still really sleepy due to the emotional and horrific scene she witnessed just that morning. Dave didn't even wait for them to step in the house before he picked her up and hugged her close.

"It will be okay, I have no doubt the girl you found must be haunting for you."

She was tired and a bit warn but in general she was doing better. She pushed her arms up off of Dave and looked at him eye to eye and gave him a sweet smile.

"I'm okay for the most part now daddy, honest. Aaron has helped me a lot."

Dave smiled over at Aaron, "thank you Aaron. I'm thankful if she did have to see what she did, if it wasn't with me, it was you."

Aaron felt a jab of guilt but the feeling dulled when he refocused onto Madison.

CMCM

Nine weeks had gone by since Madison and Aaron's stay at the cabin. Madison woke up with some cramping; but, ignored it due to waking up a bit late and rushing around in order to get to school on time. She scrambled downstairs.

"Morning princess," smiled Dave.

"Hi Maddy," said Bailey as she kicked her legs under the table.

"OWww Bailey stop swinging your legs, you just kicked me for the third time," complained Spencer.

"Then move your legs," suggested Bailey with a bratty tone.

"No, you stop swinging your legs. I was here first."

"Nuh uhh, I was."

"What, you were…"

"Spencer. You are twenty-four, why are you arguing with your six year old sister?" Dave asked a bit baffled.

"But she.."

"But nothing Spencer, you have no excuse for arguing with her. On that note though, Bailey, stop swinging your legs."

"Daddy, he started it," the little girl whined.

Madison sat down and groaned. Everyone went quiet and looked her way.

"Are you feeling okay?" Dave asked.

"Oh, umm yeah, it's just cramps. I just took some Midol, I'll be fine soon."

As she said that, Bailey instantly had a disgusted look on her face.

"Ewww, I am never going to do that girl stuff. No way Jose."

Dave smirked over at his youngest then refocused on his older daughter.

"Okay sweetheart, if you need to come home early, don't hesitate to call me okay."

"I will, thanks daddy."

Madison stood back up. She grabbed a banana, an apple and her lunch off from the counter.

"I'm running a bit late. I'll see you later. Love you all."

She walked out hearing bye and love you from each of her family members.

CMCM

It was close to ten in the morning and Dave happened to have been at his desk when a call came through from Madison's high school. He hung up quickly and made his way to Aaron's office.

"Spencer and I have to go! Madison is hurt, she is in the hospital."

"Oh my God, alright of course; please keep me updated," said Aaron.

Dave nodded and he and Spencer took off to the hospital. It took everything in Aaron's power to stay behind and work as best as he could. His natural instinct as Madison's boyfriend was to run to her; but, he couldn't. He could never let out anything to give away any suspicions about how close the two of them truly were. He sent a text to Madison with hope that she was able to text back. She never did. He paced and fidgeted. He did many things but working was not one of them. He couldn't. All he could think about was Madison and how hurt she possibly was. An hour almost past before his cell phone rang.

"Hello! Dave! What's wrong? Is Maddy okay?" Aaron splurged out.

Dave was a bit taken back but didn't put too much thought into the tone of urgency in his questions.

"Can you make it down here? She is asking for you."

"Really, did she say why?" He asked nervously.

"No, she just said she wanted you."

"Alright, I'll be right there."