John re-entered the living room after going to check on Finch to see what was taking him so long.

"Well Finch won't put Symone down even though the kid is sleeping." John stated "How's it going out here, Root?"

"Good. I have a lead but, who is this guy that appears to have been staking out the Children's home?" Samantha wondered

John peeked over her shoulder at the security camera footage. He shrugged, "I don't know. Why don't you figure it out? Or ask Finch?"

"Well when Finch resurfaces I will." Samantha informed "But in the mean time, I can do this." She typed fast on the computer keyboard and did a bunch of hight tech stuff. Than she asked, "Who is Neil Palino?"

Eileen and Desmond both gasp and mumble to themselves, "No way."

John turned his head towards the kids, "Who's Neil Palino? Do you two know him?"

"I didn't know him, but my mother did." Eileen said "He's my biological father, but he left my mom when she was still pregnant with me. He was never there for me."

Desmond gave a nod, "Yeah. I knew him really well when I was a little boy."

"Well who is he? You have to tell us, kid?" Sameen urged

Buck sighed and let his mind flash back

Flashback: Six years ago -

Six year old Desmond is sitting on the couch watching TV, while his two year old sister Diana toddles around the house.

Their Uncle Neil stumbles half-drunken into the house.

"Hi Uncle Neil." Desmond greets scared

"Is that all you can do? Just sit there and watch TV, you worthless boy?" Neil wondered as he half-yelled "Didn't your daddy tell you to watch your sister?"

Desmond shook in fear as he nodded, "Y…Yes sir. I'm sorry." Then he got off the couch and took his sister's hand, "Come on, Di. Let's go to the play room."

"Kay Bubba." Diana replied to her brother

"Not so fast, Desmond." Neil shouted

Desmond whispered to his sister, "Go to the play room, Di. I'll meet you there." Then he turned to face his uncle, "Yes, Uncle Neil?"

"You disobeyed your father's direct orders and since he's not here at the moment, I'll have to punish you instead." Neil told the boy as he slid off his belt.

"Uncle Neil, please no!" Desmond begged

Neil summoned the boy with his finger, "Come here, boy."

Desmond took slow, small steps toward his uncle.

End of flashback -

Desmond is brought out of his flashback by the sound of John's voice.

"Buck?! Buck!" John called "Buck!"

Desmond shakes his head, "What?"

"Neil Palino?" Samantha wondered "Who is he?"

Desmond looked down, "He's not a nice man."

"Look kid, I can tell you are scared, but you need to tell us who Neil Palino is and how you knew him." John told the kid

Desmond looked at John's kind eyes. He took a breath, "Neil...Uncle Neil. Neil Palino is my uncle."

"Do you know anything else about him?" Samantha questioned, breaking her silence. "Like if he's in a gang or anything? Or maybe why he's been staking out children's home?"

Desmond though for a moment before shaking his head, "No. And not that I know of, but I wouldn't be surprised. And no again."

"Okay. John, Sam, one of you go talk to Coraline. See if she knows anything about Neil Palino and what she know." Samantha instructed

John and Sameen look at each other as if trying to figure out who should go, but without saying a word.

"I'll go." Sameen announces

Maisie looks up from the spot where she is petting Bear, "Sammy, where are you going?"

"I have to go out for a little bit. It's a work thing." Sameen replied

Maisie pouted, "Don't leave me, Sammy. I don't want you to go."

"I'll be back soon." Sameen assured the girl

Maisie started to cry, then she ran to Sameen, and hugged her, "No! Sammy, don't cry."

"Looks like you aren't going anywhere, honey." Samantha told her wife with a smug, but just in teasing way.

Sameen glared over at her wife as she hugged the kid back, "Okay kiddo, I'll stay." Then she turned to John, "Looks like you get to go. Lucky you."

"I should get going." John said

Eileen stood up, "Take me with you. I can help."

"Absolutely not." John protested "No kids."

"Please, just have to take me. Neil Palino is my biological father." Eileen pleaded "Please John?"

John sighed and caved, "Okay fine, kid, you can come. But you have to do exactly what I say."

Eileen nodded and made an X over her heart, "I will. Promise."

"Alright, let's get going then." John told her

Eileen turned her head to Desmond, "B, you want to come?"

"No, I'm good." Desmond replied "I don't want to see him ever again."

Eileen nodded and then turned back to follow John.

Once John and Eileen are gone, Samantha keeps looking at the computer to dig up more information on Neil Palino.

"Need any help there, Root?" Sameen offered

Samantha shook her head, "No. I'm good, love. You just entertain the kids." Then she turned to Desmond, "Buck, do you mind helping me by giving some intel on your Uncle Neil?"

Desmond shrugged his shoulders and walked over to Samantha.

"I'm hungry." Brendon announced

Not a second later, Mackenzie started to cry, alerting everyone that she was awake, and in effect she also woke up Nola and Symone.

"Mama!" Nola cried "Mama!"

"Baby loud, Harry." Symone complained as he covered his eyes

Harold carried Symone out to the big living room area, and he entered upon this conversation.

"You get the baby, Sam. I'll get Nola." Samantha said as she dished out orders "Harry, you get Brendon some food." Then she ran into the bedroom to get Nola

Sameen followed after Samantha to the bedroom, but it's to get Mackenzie.

Harold stared like a deer caught in headlights, then turned to the little boy in from of him, "I'm guessing you're Brendon." He places Symone down to let him walk.

Brandon nodded, "Yup."

"Okay let's get you some food." Harold told the boy

"Up! Up!" Symone demanded as he raised his arms

Harold took Symone's hand, "I need you to walk, little man." Then he turned back to Brendon, "What would you like to eat, buddy?"

"Um pizza?" Brendon said more like a question

Harold gave a nod and then announced, "Anyone else who is hungry, can come with me to get pizza."

"Me!" Charlie replied

"I'm going to stay." Maisie said "I'm not really hungry and I want to stay with Sammy."

Desmond shook his head, "I have to decline. I'm going to stay to help Sam and Root."

"Okay. So just me, Brendon, Symone, and Charlie." Harold responded as he took Charlie's hand "Buck, tell Root and Shaw I'll be back soon." Then Harold walks out the door and leaves.

Meanwhile in the bedroom with Sameen and Samantha, Sameen is bouncing Mackenzie trying to calm her and figure out what the baby needs. Samantha is holding Nola, who has calmed down but is still really clingy and just wants Samantha.

"Sam, do you need some help there?" Samantha wondered

"No, but she won't stop crying." Sameen replied "I don't understand why she won't stop crying."

Samantha sighed, "You're tense. She can sense that, so calm down." Then she questioned, "Is she hungry? Does she need a diaper change?"

"Um…" Sameen started and felt the baby's diaper "I don't think so. It doesn't seem like it."

"See if she'll take a bottle then." Samantha suggested

Sameen sighed as she held the baby and head to make a bottle.

After making the bottle and heating it to a lukewarm temperature, Sameen tried to get Mackenzie to take the bottle.

"Come on, kid." Sameen coaxed as she placed the nipple of the bottle near the baby's mouth and touching the upper lip. "Come on take the bottle. You have to be hungry. Come on, please."

Mackenzie turned her head and wailed.

"Man kid, I get it. You have lungs." Sameen told the kid annoyed

Samantha, while still carrying Nola, heads out of the bedroom to help Sameen with baby Mackenzie.

"Sam, you take Nola and give me the baby." Samantha demanded "She sounds like you are torturing her. Poor thing."

"Gladly." Sameen complied as she took Nola and let Samantha take Mackenzie.

Samantha rocks and bounces Mackenzie in her arms, "Shh…baby….shh….Mack, it's okay. You're okay."

"Mama! Mama!" Nola cries as she reaches for Samantha

"I don't think this kid likes me, Root." Sameen states

Samantha shakes her head and sighs, "Just take her away me. Distract her." She tries to give Mackenzie the bottle, which the baby eventually takes. Them Samantha sighs softly, "Thank you."

Sameen holds Nola and walks away from Samantha. She tries to distract the little girl with a toy.

Nola wasn't having any of it thought. She pushed the toy away and cried, "Mama!"

"Mais, help Sameen with Nola please." Samantha instructed

Maisie gave a nod as she walked over to Nola and Sameen, "Nolee, you want to play a game with me?"

"No!" Nola pouted "Want mama!"

Maisie turned back to Samantha, "I don't know, Root. I think she's still tired. She's really grumpy."

"Yeah. Makenzie woke her up." Samantha replied "Thanks for trying, Mai-Mai."

"You're welcome, Root." Maisie responded

Meanwhile at the safe house, when John and Eileen are questioning Coraline.

"What do you know about Neil Palino?" John asked

Coraline stared at him confused, "Nothing."

"Look my mom told me that Neil Palino was my biological father, and my mom was your older sister. I know you two didn't get along, but you had to know something about him." Eileen stated

Coraline took a breath, "Growing up my sister and I were close, like really close. I looked up to her, and she adored me. We didn't have a falling out until your mother met him. He drove a wedge between us and our family. He drove her away from the family. He isolated her until he had her all to himself."

"Okay tell us more about him? About Neil Palino?" John requested

Coraline pursed her lips and sighed softly, "Neil….after my sister got pregnant. He bragged about it everywhere. Anywhere. He told everyone and anyone that he was going to be a father." Then she turned to Eileen, "Your mother lied to you. Your father didn't leave you. She left him. She took you away from him when you were one, but she had a right to. He was a good father to you. He loved you like crazy, but he wasn't a nice man."

Eileen nodded, "Oh. And I'm sorry my mom stole Maisie from you, Aunt Cora."

"It's alright, sweet girl. It's in the past and it's not your fault." Coraline replied

"Where's Maisie's father?" John wondered "Who is he?"

Coraline breathed deeply, "That would be Neil Palino. He's her biological father. After my sister left him, I had been on the run after he isolated and broke up our family. Eventually, after five years of running he found me."

"Then what happened?" John questioned

"He forced me to be in a relationship with him. He wouldn't let me leave the house until he trusted that I wouldn't run away. He was very controlling. He put a tracking app on my phone to track my location. " Coraline explained "I learned quickly to do what he said. I knew it was my only way to eventually get out." Then she took a breath and added, "A year later I was pregnant with Maisie, I ran away and never looked back."

Eileen looked at Coraline in the eyes, "Why did my mom take Maisie from you, Aunt Cora?"

"I…I made the mistake of telling her everything that Neil did to me." Coraline responded "Your mom didn't think I could be a mother. I had always been a little wild and not very maternal. That and she still hated me from the rift that Neil had wedged between us."

Eileen gave a nod and then turned to John, "What are do we do now?"

"Give me a minute." John said. Then he spoke into his bluetooth, "Finch, are you there?"

"Not quite." Samantha's voice came through his bluetooth

John shook his head to himself, "Where's Finch, Root?"

"He took some of the kids to get food." Samantha replied "What do you need, Helper Monkey?"

"It can wait until Finch is back." John informed her

Eileen is still looking at John, "So?"

"Um I don't know." John told her

Eileen gave a nod, "Okay. Can you leave me here and bring Charlie and Marielle by later?"

John shrugged, "I guess. Why?"

"I want to stay with my aunt." Eileen responded as she moved over to hug Coraline

John nodded, "Alright. I guess I can do that."