"There's going to be an IA investigation."

Lindsay paused for a moment before continuing the reach into the fridge while Avery held onto her leg.

"Run that by me again?"

Jess sighed on the other end of the line, confirming what Lindsay had thought she heard.

"They want to know why I shot to kill."

"Are they serious?"

"Yeah. Captain just told me a few minutes ago. I go in this afternoon and they'll be calling you in too. Austin when she's ready but it might be better for them to do it now when she's on painkillers and less likely to give them a piece of her mind."

"Maybe," Lindsay agreed. "This just seems so stupid. I mean, have they looked at your record? There's nothing on it. Why an IA investigation over this? Is Addison's family suing the department or something?"

"Actually no one has even claimed the body. I honestly don't know where this is coming from."

"I'll talk to Jo, see if she knows anything about it. You wanna call me when it's over?"

"Yeah."

"I think it's going to be okay, Jess. It could just be a power play, they're not going to find anything against you and they know it."

"I know, but…"

"Yeah."

"I think I'm going to go have a session with the punching bag real quick. Let me know if you hear anything on your end."

"I will."

They hung up and Lindsay sighed, looking down at Avery who was still holding onto her and giggling.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, just a banana," Avery replied. "An' some lovin'."

"We're fresh out of bananas because your brothers turned into monkeys overnight, but I can give you all the lovin' in the world."

Avery giggled as Lindsay scooped her up and pressed kisses to her cheeks.

"I like that lovin' mama. Where is daddy? He shall come an' hug us an' make a Avery sandwich!"

"He's getting ready for work but he should be down soon. Where are the boys?"

"Gettin' ready too. Ben cannot do his tie. Coley is helpin'."

"Why is Ben wearing a tie?"

"He gots a meetin'."

"What kind of meeting?"

"Oh mama, 'member how Mac an' Jo is visitin' the boys at school?"

"Oh, grandparents day. I forgot."

"Mac will go with Coley an' Jo with Ben! An' tomorrow Mac will go with me to my school! I am most excited. He will love story time."

"I'm sure he will."

"You is workin' tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, so you an' me have the day together! Wonderful! What shall we do?"

"We're going to do something so very exciting you won't know what to do with yourself."

"Oh?"

"We're going to run errands!"

"Oh mama that was not a funny joke."

"I tried. After that we're going to stop by and check on Austin and then I think we're going to go to the candy store and get a lot of chocolate for Jess. What do you think?"

"That sounds great! But it makes me sad."

"Why does it make you sad?"

"Because after I become five, I will go to kindergarten. An' then you an' me will not have days together, nor will I have them with daddy. In the words of Ben, this is most distressing."

Lindsay nodded and leaned against the counter, brushing Avery's hair back from her face.

"I know it doesn't sound so great," she conceded after a moment. "But you will get to do a lot of fun things in kindergarten. Daddy and I still have special days with the boys sometimes and we'll have them with you too. I promise."

"Okay mama, that is a deal."

"I'm glad you love daddy and me enough that you want to spend time with us."

"Oh yes, you an' daddy is my most favorite people in all the world!"

Lindsay smiled and kissed her daughters cheeks then settled her back on the floor.

"Go see if the boys are ready to go."

"Okay. Boys! Are you ready for school?" she shouted, running up the stairs and meeting Adam halfway. "Oh, hello daddy. You look most handsome. Are you havin' a meetin' like Ben?"

"I have to go to court. What do you think, do I look trustworthy?"

"Sure!"

"Thanks Tink."

"You are welcome, daddy. I am on a mission for mama now. I gotta go."

He chuckled as she headed in the boys room and he went downstairs to the kitchen, finding Lindsay hurriedly packing lunches for the boys.

"Hey babe."

"Hey. Oh, you look good."

"Do I not normally?"

"Normally you look casual good, this is fancy good."

"I feel like this collar makes my face look fat."

"It does not. Come here though, your tie is crooked."

He stepped closer and she straightened the tie for him, then adjusted his collar a little.

"How did I ever manage without you?"

"I have no idea."

"Hey daddy you and me are both wearin' our fancies!" Ben declared, jumping off the bottom stair. "We look dapper. Think Jo-Jo will be proud to sit next to such a dashin' young guy?"

"I think she will."

"I sure wish we had flowers left, I would bring her one."

"If we hurry up we can stop somewhere before school and get a flower for her."

Ben whooped with excitement while Colton amusedly rolled his eyes and gathered their backpacks up.

"C'mon Ben. In the car I'll tell you about all the flowers that I know from gardening, okay?"

"That would be awesome Cole! Bye mama, bye sissy! Have a great day."

The boys ran outside and Adam grabbed their lunches then said goodbye to the girls before following his sons out the door.

"Well, looks like it's just you and me, Tex," Lindsay drawled, opening the cupboard and pulling something out.

"Why you call me Tex, mama?"

"Just for fun. Here, I saved you a treat."

Avery's eyes lit up and she took the fruit leather, licking her lips excitedly.

"Oh mama, I love these so most! Thank you!"

"You're welcome. I'm going to go and get ready and then we'll head out."

"I could eat and watch you with your make-up?"

"Sure, let's go."

"Hey there Wonder Goose."

Austin grinned as Lindsay and Avery came through the door, Avery barreling towards her but stopping as soon as she got to the couch.

"Hey girls."

"Austin, your face looks sad. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, just a little sore. What do you have in that bag there?"

"Oh me an' mama picked up some treats! We got chocolate for Jess because she is going to have a rough day. An' we getted you some stuff too. First a Krispie Treat for mama says they are your favorite. An' next there is some popcorn for you like it. And then, the most best thing of all. Silly string to shoot uncle Danny!"

"Ah, you know what I like," Austin chuckled, sitting up and wincing. "But I think what I would love the most would be a snuggle from my favorite redhead."

"Oh that's me!" Avery giggled, climbing onto the couch. "I must be careful of you on this side. Lemme climb 'cross your lap."

Austin wrinkled her nose but managed to settle into the couch while Avery hugged her carefully.

"I love you so most, mine Austin. I am happy you are okay."

"Me too."

"Me three," Lindsay agreed, sitting down on the coffee table. "I brought lunch if you're hungry."

"I should probably eat something so the pain pills don't make me urp all over the floor."

"What is urp?"

"Barf."

Avery made a face and moved slightly away from her, just in case.

"I'll bring you a plate. Need anything else while I'm up?"

"Between you and Stella hovering over me I'm not going to have to move for weeks."

"Hey, Stella cancelled work and flew up here to see you. You just happen to be on my way."

"Thanks for the love, Lin."

Lindsay smiled and went into the kitchen to unload the shopping bags while Avery climbed onto the back of the couch, petting Austin's hair like it was an animal.

"So Austin, you gots a hole in you now?"

"No, it's all stitched up."

"Oh. I was just wonderin'. Dan-yo tells me that you must get those stitches out soon."

"Eventually."

"Hmm. Well your hair is most tangled. It is fluffy like mine an' that means it gets tangled lots."

"You mean it's curly."

"Yes. You an' me an' Stella gots that kinda hair. But yours is not taken care of."

"It's hard to brush your hair when you can't lift your arm."

"Oh, then I will do it for you," Avery started, clambering off the couch.

"Honey that's okay. I can get Danny to do it later."

"No, no, that will not do. Hims a guy, he don't got hair like a lady. He will not know the end from the roots. That's what mama says when daddy tries to do my hair. Don't fret, Austin, I will go get Sarah's brush. I know where it's at."

Before Austin could protest, Avery was off the couch and sprinting into the bathroom, opening the middle drawer to find a brush and comb. She took it back out to the front room and climbed back on the couch, humming to herself as she ripped the brush through Austin's hair.

"Feelin' pretty helps you to not feel as bad," she explained, pulling on the brush as hard as she could. "Next I will do your make up if this does not make you feel good. I been watchin' mama do hers. I know all the tricks."

"Didn't you put lipstick on your teeth a few days ago?"

"Well yes but mistakes is how we learn."

"Honey could you not pull so hard?"

"Oh sorry. Mama says I gots a zest for life in all I do. I s'pose that goes for hair brushin' too."

"I see. So, remember earlier when you said that Jess was going to have a bad day?"

"Oh yes. She has to go to a meetin' 'bout what she done, shooting that man that shooted you. She is in trouble. Mama has to go tell them what happened too. Her said a dirty word 'bout it when she called Jo. A dirty word an' she told me not to 'peat it."

Austin nodded and bit back a laugh at Avery's explanations.

"Tut, tut. I have runned into a large tangle. Please excuse me while I fix it."

She was quiet for a moment then sighed loudly.

"There, I got it. Now, I will tell you a story. One 'bout Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, and their rascal brother Peter. Well one day their mama telled them they could play but not in the garden of the very bad man who is named Mr. McGregor and is the villain of our story."

Austin giggled as Avery slid off the back of the couch and down next to her.

"Just let me know if this gets too scary. Well Peter did not obey his mama and he was a bad bunny, so he went to the garden and eated all the veggies in there! Then he was spotted by that mean old Mr. McGregor guy an' he tried to run away. He lost his shoes an' then his nice blue coat. Which is okay because bunnies don't wear coats. Then he hided in a jar. An' that's all I remember for when daddy was reading me my story last night I falled asleep."

"You're good at telling stories, Avery."

"Yes, I believe so. I like it very most. But I like you even moster. I am so happy that you did not meet your maker. That's what mama said the time I haved that goldfish that went bellyup. It's nicer than saying die."

Austin sighed and tucked Avery under her good arm, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.

"I'm glad too. I've just got to figure out a way to make sure I never get close to that again."

"Hmm. Maybe you should have another job."

"Maybe so."

"Or maybe you should wear that special vest. I heard mama tellin' daddy that you was not wearin' it and that's a surefire way for somethin' bad to happen. She said no one ever shoots at you when you have it on."

"She's right. What kind of job should I do, Avery?"

"Oh I don't know. You could be anything! You could be a very good boss of people. Maybe you should think of that."

"Maybe I will."

"Maybe you will what?" Lindsay asked, coming back into the room with three small plates.

"Think about being a boss of people."

"You already are a boss of people," Lindsay argued.

"Hey, this is an A-B conversation. C your way out of it."

Lindsay chuckled and sat down next to them, trying to gauge Austin's pain and energy levels.

"Let's eat and then I'll help you get settled in bed and you can sleep until Danny and the kids get home."

"Thanks."

Avery moved from the couch to the floor and set her lunch on the coffee table, becoming engrossed in the show that was playing quietly on TV.

"So, IA is investigating?"

"Yeah. I have to go in at three. Jess is going in pretty soon. We're not sure if it's a formality or if we need to be worried."

"When do they want me to come in?"

"They'll call you in the next few days I'm sure. Don't worry about it."

"I'm tired."

"I know. Eat and then you can sleep."

"I've been having nightmares. They're horrible. Have you had any?"

"A lot. They'll get better with time."

"I haven't had any in a long time. I forgot how horrible my mind can get when I sleep."

"I'm sorry."

"We shall suffer this plight together."

"As always."

"They made me go over the whole thing four times," Lindsay said, coming out of the conference room and sitting down next to Jess, who was biting at her nails. "Tried to trip me up like it was court or something."

"They told me I shouldn't have shot to kill. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't have."

"I wasn't standing right there so I don't know what it was like but if that's the decision you made it was the right one."

"How do you think this will end up?"

"Honestly? I think they're going to drop it. I don't know why they started it in the first place, at least not to this degree. It seems like a witch hunt when the report from the scene should have been enough."

"It's so unfair."

"Yes it is. Come on, I have a little while before my shift, I'll buy you some coffee and we can think about something else."

"Like what?"

"How to keep Stella in town for longer."

"We've never figured it out before but I'm game."

They headed out of the building and down the street to the coffee shop that everyone from the precinct normally frequented. Ordering coffee and pastries, they found a spot in the back where they could see the front door well.

"I got a call this morning, from Sophie," Jess said, suddenly remembering the conversation that had taken place just before the Captain had told her about the investigation.

"How is she?"

"Not good. She's at a halfway house. She's never had a job, never finished middle school even. It's like she's a child still."

"How do we help her?"

"Don and I are going to take her in."

"You are?"

"I don't know for how long but she really needs some help."

"Think you're ready for that?"

"I don't know. I'm not really sure just what she needs. I guess we'll figure it out as we go. I think that a safe and stable place to stay where she can have some freedom is going to do a lot to for her."

"Once she's ready I'm sure there's an educational program she can join."

"I was thinking that too. I'm taking her to the doctor tomorrow, hopefully we can get her healthy and maybe some counseling too."

"If you need any help, let me know."

"I will. Thanks."

"I gotta get to work, but let me know if you hear anything from IA."

"I will. Thanks Linds."

"Okay, nothing is allowed to happened for at least six months," Lindsay sighed, tossing the decorative pillows off the bed and wondering why they even had them.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing bad. I don't know how much more we can take."

"Are you a little stressed?"

"Just a tiny bit."

"Well, we've got a weekend coming up, maybe we should grab Hannah from school and find something fun to do. Get out of the city for a day."

"That would be good."

She settled against him in the dark and he rubbed her back gently, feeling knots of tension there. It had been days since they'd been able to just be quiet and together like this and they lay there in silence for a while, trying to remember where they'd left off.

"Babe, how are we going to do this?"

"Hmm? Do what?"

"Add another kid into the mix."

"Look at it this way. If you got pregnant, some things would change, there would be juggling and sacrifices, right?"

"Yes."

"How is that any different?"

"It's not."

"By the time we bring a child home, we'll have had a lot of time to adjust to some things. All the kids will be in school, we'll have time to figure out our work schedules and our budget so we don't run into any problems. It's not all going to happen tomorrow."

"I know. I'm not worried really and I'm not having second thoughts. I just like a clear plan."

"And we'll get there eventually. When we got married, did you see life being like this?"

"I don't even remember what I thought it would be like. But I get what you're saying."

"We're pretty decent parents anyway. Well, actually I can't speak for you, but when I put the kids to bed tonight Ben told me that I am "The really most awesomest daddy in the entire planet." I might have kind of a big ego about that right now."

"Well, he's right, though grammatically incorrect."

"Then Colton said he agreed but if he could change anything he would make me more generous on allowance days."

"Did you explain to him three kids times five bucks a week?"

"Yes. He didn't buy it. He said most of his friends get double that and they don't have to give to charity or put money in savings. I asked him what the rest of his friends get and he admitted some don't get any allowance so I think I won that argument."

"See, you are a great daddy."

"He's going to be too smart for us soon."

"I know. I'm a little worried about that day. Although if we encourage it, he might become a lawyer."

"I don't think he'll ever give up his medical dreams."

"Yeah, I don't either. Has Ben told you his latest career aspirations?"

"No," Adam chuckled. "What is it now?"

"He says he wants to be a rodeo clown so he can make people laugh and get exercise at the same time."

"I love that kid."

"And Avery told me and Austin that she has decided she's going to be a hair-brusher because she enjoys it and a lot of people have messy hair."

"I'm glad that all three of our kids are prefect blends of both of us."

"Oh yeah. It will be interesting to see if that kind of weirdness is all genetic or if it's learned too."

"Let's just not make charts, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too."