Hey everyone, sorry I haven't updated in a while. But I am now back with another chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats.

"In the mist of confusion, I have found clarity," Douglas said. "Or at least what I think is,"

The stillness in the air was becoming unbearable. By the looks of it, Douglas was sitting alone in his room. But on the contrary, Douglas knew she was with him, right here, right now.

He stared down at the photo of his late wife. "Hope, I am so sorry. But I have to try to bring this family back together, just like you would have wanted. And to do that, I have to forgive Donnie, and that means moving on. I am sorry,"

"Some things really are unforgivable, aren't they?"

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Many years ago, Hope sat on the edge of her bed. She outlined every button on the phone, stalling. Hope sighed, running her free hand through her hair. Normally this was just something she did when she was anxious, but the clump of hair that came out only frustrated her more. A reminder of what was coming.

Hope looked up when her husband entered the room. "H-Hey,"

"You okay?" Douglas asked, taking a seat next to her.

Hope sighed. "I am trying to be,"

Douglas put her arm around her. "Everything is going to be alright,"

"You can't promise me that, you don't know that!" Hope snapped. After seeing her husband shrink back. After taking a deep breath, she took his hand. "I'm sorry Douglas. I know how hard you are working to keep things together," she said, tears welling in her eyes.

"Yeah, I am pretty good at it," Douglas smirked, causing Hope to smile slightly.

"And that is why you have nothing to worry about," Douglas assured her.

Hope looked him in the eye. "I have lots to worry about. By this time next year, I will either be dead or in prison!"

"Hope, you can't talk like that. The chip will work, and you are going to make it," Douglas said.

Hope sighed. "And what about when I get arrested and sentenced to life?"

"They won't find you guilty. Even if they do, we can run," Douglas replied.

"What about Davenport Industries? What about the lives we have made for ourselves? We can't just throw that all away, flee the region and change our names," Hope argued.

Douglas tucked some free strands of hair behind her ear. "I don't need Davenport Industries, I need you. As long as the five of us are together, we can be happy,"

Hope looked away from him. "We can't just pretend this never happened. I did something horrible," she whispered.

"Hope, you said it yourself, what would have happened if you didn't act. And yes, maybe it was rash, but that doesn't matter. You did the right thing," Douglas said.

"Sometimes we have to do horrible things to protect the ones we love,"

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The previous night.

"H-How could you do this!"

Hope looked up at her sister, who was shaking with fear. The tears streaming down her sister's eyes frightened Hope even more than what had just transpired.

Hope dropped the knife from her hand, frantically looking for something to wipe her hands with.

"What have I done?" Hope whispered, seeing the blood covering her hands beginning to dry.

"How could you do this to him?" Leah, her sister, asked as she knelt down next to her husband.

"He tried to kill you," Hope said. "And the kids. What else was I supposed to do?"

"Oh, I don't know, how about not kill my husband!" Leah snapped.

Leah rushed past her sister and went for the phone.

"Leah?" Hope asked shakily, "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" Hope asked louder as she say her sister dialing the phone.

"... yes, the address is 720 Wildwood Street," Leah spoke into the phone.

"Leah, don't, please," Hope whispered.

Hope collapsed onto the ground. She sat there frozen for the next few minutes, until she heard banging on the front door.

Hope flinched away, expecting a swat team or police force to jump in and take her down. Instead, she was greeted by a scared, but familiar face.

"Hope? Are you okay?" Douglas shouted, walking into the dinning room. He saw his brother in law lying on the floor, Leah's arms wrapped around him, and worst of all, his wife covered in the man's blood, looking at him with dread in her eyes.

"Douglas-" Hope started.

Douglas rushed to her side and helped her off the ground. Ignoring the mess, he wrapped his arm about her to stabilize her. "Hope. I'm here,"

"Get the kids," Hope whispered. "They are upstairs. Take them through the back so they don't see any of this,"

Douglas nodded. He grabbed a blanket from the couch and wrapped his wife in it. He lead her to the car and set her in the passenger seat.

Next he hurried upstairs to the play room, where he saw the five small children tenderly sleeping. He grabbed Chase with one arm and Bree with the other. Adam, the only one of the children who was awoken by his entrance, followed him out the back to the car.

After settling his family in the vehicle, Douglas walked back in through the front door. Before he could step onto the first stair, Leah stopped him. "Please," she said. "Don't take my kids too,"

Douglas sighed. "Leah, I am so sorry. I just want to make sure they are safe. And so did Hope-"

"You would let her take everything from me?" Leah asked in a hushed tone.

"She is your sister. She just wants to protect you, and your kids. She is there aunt," Douglas said. "You know he is- was dangerous,"

"I know," Leah whispered, stroking her husbands face.

"How about I come check on you guys tomorrow morning? If you feel like anything doing anything rash- just call me, okay?" Douglas asked.

"Sure," Leah huffed. "Why don't you and Hope just take care of your own family,"

"You are our family too,"

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As they sat on the bed, Douglas stroked his wife's hair. "You did the right thing. I know it may not seem like, that there could have been a better option, but what you did, you did for a reason. And that reason was to protect the people you love,"

"You are over rationalizing to justify this," Hope sighed.

"Sometimes you have to," Douglas whispered.

"I bet they are already trying to build a case against me," Hope muttered.

"Don't talk like that," Douglas started. "She didn't call the police last night remember? She called me instead. Leah is your sister, she still cares about you,"

"She may love me, but I doubt she will ever forgive me," Hope cried.

"Hope, Hope, she will. It may take time, but someday she will. Family sticks together. At least in the end," Douglas assured her.

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"Hey Donnie, we need to talk. Call me as soon as you get this message,"

After hearing his brother's voice, Donald was bursting with excitement. Now, he had a chance to reconnect with his family.

"Dougie, hey, I got your call. Want to meet up for coffee tomorrow?"

So, yeah, let's go out for coffee and talk about our messed up family relationships. That is so going to go well, right?

Please review and tell me what you think about this chapter!