Author's Note: I have taken so long to post a new chapter because I struggle with transtitions between scenes. I think I finally figured out how to do a short time jump, so here it is. It's a bit longer than I usually post, but I wanted to get through the whole ordeal. Gabriel is still alive because he should be. Hope you enjoy it!

Carlos opened the door slowly, unsure of what he would find on the other side. A small smile tugged at his lips when he saw Elayna curled up on the couch, fast asleep, her feet barely touching TK's leg as he sat, watching TV on the opposite end. He closed the door as quietly as he opened it, now not wanting to disturb her. "How long has she been out?" he asked.

"Almost an hour," TK answered in a hushed voice. "She wanted to see you, but you're late."

"Yeah," Carlos said, indicating the overstuffed file folder in his arms. "It was a lot." They matched weary expressions. "Think you can get her up to bed? We need to talk."

"Sure," TK said. He pulled the blanket off of the sleeping girl and shook her shoulder. "Hey, Elayna." She opened her eyes. "Come on. Time for bed."

Elayna stirred. "Is Carlos home?"

"Yes, chica, I'm home," Carlos called from the kitchen. "Go on up to bed. I"ll see you in the morning."

He started the kettle and managed to have tea ready for him and TK by the time his husband returned to the first floor. TK sat on a stool across the counter from Carlos and, ignoring the beverage, reached for the file.

"This looks rather substantial," he said, flipping through it.

"It is. You need to find time to read the whole thing."

"I'll do it tomorrow." He stopped at a school records page and skimmed it before claiming, "Smart girl."

"Yeah," said Carlos, sipping his tea, "probably her saving grace."

"Want to give me the Spark Notes version?"

"It's not pretty. She was found living in her car at five years old with her ODed mother."

TK's head flipped up. "Shit. You mean her mother ODed while she was with her?"

"Yeah. Been moving from one foster home to the next since then. Chronic runaway. Spent a small amount of time in a group home. Lots of different schools."

"Jesus. Poor kid." He looked back down at the paperwork. "Any health stuff we need to know right away?"

"Nothing important. No allergies. Maggie and I went by the last foster home though. Tried to get some of her stuff."

"Yeah? What was that like?"

"Fucking nightmare. The guy never reported her as a runaway. Just kept cashing his check. Her last social worker quit, or got fired, I don't know. So no one was checking up on her. Been on the streets for a few weeks."

"Thank God you found her." He continued flipping through her file, ignoring the tea, while Carlos continued drinking his tea, trying to process everything he had learned. "So," TK started, closing the folder, "want to tell me what made you jump at taking her home?" Carlos' eyes met his. "We had barely finished the process. I thought the plan was to wait for something to come to us."

"I mean, she came to us. Right? She just appeared in front of me. Messy, and wild. Needing a home. I don't know. It seemed right. You disagree?"

"Not at all. It will be quite an adventure. Besides, I like her. She's got some spirit. But ya know what?"

"What?"

"I miss you."

"Really?" He licked his lips. "I'm right here."

"It's too far away."

Carlos moved around the counter and reached for his husband as the girl on the stairs tiptoed back to her room.

LSLSLSLSLS

The next few days were busy as the new family worked to acclimate themselves and carve out a routine. TK and Carlos took time off work to coordinate doctor and dentist appointments for Elayna. She balked the entire time but managed to follow their direction. The relief of having a comfortable bed and food, so much food, encouraged her to remain agreeable.

The food had actually turned into a bit of a problem. The doctors insisted she needed to consume more, and she wanted to, but it overwhelmed her. The idea of having unlimited access was strange. She could not bring herself to ask for it, much less take it when she was hungry. At other times she would need to be told to take it easy, because she ate with such speed. It embarrassed her and worried her foster dads.

Marjan's self-appointed role as favorite aunt benefited everyone. She took Elayna shopping for an entire wardrobe, all the girly things she needed, and even a new bedding set to replace the ultra-masculine one that met her in what had once been a guest room. The expense bothered Elayna, and was a concern for the boys as well, but everyone in the firehouse and the station, as well as their parents, were insistent on helping with finances. Of course, Marjan was all about fun when she shopped with Lanie, and worries vanished.

Carlos and TK returned to work, scattering their schedules as much as they could so someone would be home for Lanie. Once they settled her into a new school, things eased and a sense of normalcy entered their lives. Everyone knew the honeymoon phase would end, even if those can last a while.

LSLSLSLSLS

Elayna was scrolling through her phone on the couch, with the TV playing in the background, when she heard a key rattling in the lock of the front door. She had time to close her app and bury the phone under her blanket before Carlos entered the room. His stern expression met her surprised one and he shut the door behind him, a bit harder than necessary. "Didn't I just drop you off at school a couple of hours ago?" he asked, hands resting on his belt.

"Yeah," she said, no longer meeting his gaze. "I just needed a day off."

"You couldn't have told me that?" When she did not answer, he flipped the TV off and asked another question. "How did you get home?"

"I Ubered."

He took a step towards her and reached out a hand. "Give me your phone." They had provided her with a phone soon after she moved in with them, with the clear understanding that either he or TK could take it at any time. This was the first time it had been confiscated. He thumbed through it to open the Uber app and confirmed the ride. Then he placed it in his pocket. His actions caused the crumbling of the girl's face before she was able to pull her features back together. "Grab your backpack and let's go."

Her face shot up to his. "I'm not going to school."

"I'll take you to the firehouse. You can stay there until I'm off shift and then I'll come pick you up."

"Then why can't I just stay here?"

He fixed a cool stare at her and said, "Let's go."

Hating his stomach flipping glare, she stood up and gathered her things. "Fine," she said, sort of under her breath, as he held the door for her.

She climbed into the front seat of his police cruiser despite his order to get in the back. She pretended not to hear him and he chose not to fight that battle. They rode in silence for a few minutes before she asked, "Am I in trouble?"

His brow crinkled. She came from a troubled past. He had a file in the back of the closet of his and TK's bedroom chronicling the trouble she had known. When he was a kid, trouble meant going to his room or being grounded for a week. Nothing like that lived in her files. Abuse and abandonment littered those pages. "What does 'trouble' mean to you?" he asked.

She thought for a moment, looking out the window. "I don't know." She sighed and scooched down in her seat.

"I'm not happy with what you did today. And TK isn't either. And we are all going to sit down and straighten this out. And there are likely going to be consequences of some sort. But nobody is going to be hurt. And nobody is going to leave. Okay?" He tried to catch her eyes but her staring out the window and his trying to keep his eyes on the road made it difficult. "Hey, can you look at me for a second?" She complied and he swiveled his head to see her. "Do you understand?"

"Yeah," she said, then returned to the scenery. They remained quiet until he pulled up to the station.

Carlos cut the ignition but Elayna made no attempt to move. He placed a hand on her knee. "Hey." When she looked over at him with wet eyes he said, "We're going to be ok." She nodded and he leaned in and kissed her head. "Go on," he said, and she exited the car.

TK passed her as she entered the station and walked around to the driver's side of the patrol car. Carlos reached into his pocket and retrieved Elayna's phone. Handing it to TK he said, "We never put a tracker on this. Can you look into that for me?"

"A tracker? Is that really necessary?"

"She Ubered home. Without anyone knowing. Yeah, I think it's necessary."

TK grimaced. "Yeah, I guess it is. Alright, I'll figure it out."

A call came through on Carlos' radio and they both listened to it before he responded with his call number. "I've got to go." TK reached a hand through the window and squeezed his shoulder. "I'll come get her after my shift. Call me."

"Copy that," TK said as the lightbar turned on and Carlos sped away.

Elayna had exited the car and made her way to the kitchen without a backwards glance. She noticed TK walking towards Carlos, but paid him no mind. She kept her eyes down and hurried into the kitchen. As people yelled out their hellos, she ignored them. Hopefully, they would take the hint and leave her alone. Stopping in front of the coffee machine, she let out a long sigh. How was she supposed to get a hot, caffeinated beverage out of that behemoth of a machine? She contemplated it for only one more moment before Captain Strand, who would not have cared about a hint, even if he had received it, entered the kitchen behind her. "Good morning, Layna! No school today?"

"No," she said, her voice small, eyes willing the contraption to give her coffee.

"Get away from that thing,"" Owen said, walking towards the blender on the counter. "It's not good for you. Sit down. I'll make you a smoothie."

She sat at the counter and watched him. He prattled on about the ingredients he was using and the nutrients of the concoction. Finished, he placed the beverage in front of her. "Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome."

TK entered the room. Owen raised an eyebrow toward the troubled girl and gave his son an encouraging pat on the back before turning to the sink to clean his mess.

TK stood across the counter from Elayna. Shoulders drooped, head down, both hands wrapped around her drink, she did not appear to want to engage in conversation with anyone. He did not care. "Hey," he said. When she ignored him, he reached a hand out to hers.

She flinched. Not wanting to spill her drink, she moved it out of the way, then leaned back from the counter further distancing herself from TK. One arm wrapped around her middle and the opposite hand flew up to cover her eyes. Nobody is going to get hurt. And nobody has to leave. Nobody is going to get hurt. And nobody has to leave. The words repeated on a loop in her brain, so loud that whatever TK was saying to her was not being heard. Nobody is going to be hurt. And nobody has to leave. If she kept saying them, she might believe them. If she kept saying them, everything would be ok. If she kept saying them, they might come true.

TK left his side of the counter and joined her on hers. He needed to get her attention. He placed a hand on her shoulder, ignoring the flinch this time. She leaned forward into his chest. "Breathe," he said. "Breathe."

The air she was holding escaped as a sob. His arms tightened around her and she cried. Nobody is going to get hurt. And nobody has to leave.

Luck was on their side. Everyone in the station stayed away from the kitchen to give them privacy, and the alarm never sounded. He held her for a few moments, placing kisses on the top of her head, and reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. Her breathing evened out and she pulled back from him, wiping at her eyes. One more shaky breath and she said, "I'm sorry."

He did not say anything right away. He gave her a little longer to compose herself. When she settled onto her stool, he handed the smoothie back to her and instructed her to drink. She obeyed, then, for the first time that day, looked up into his eyes. "Good?" he asked. She nodded her head. "Good. Now, what is going on?"

She shook her head. "I know you're mad at me. Carlos is really mad."

"Well, yeah, Elayna. The school called and said you weren't there. We didn't know where you were. Do you know how scared that made us?"

"Wh - Why did the school call you?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Because that's what they do. . . when a student isn't there."

"Oh." She was so confused. Nobody is going to get hurt. And nobody has to leave. "I, ummm. . . I don't think I knew that."

"Ok, well, let's not worry about that right now. How 'bout you tell me why you weren't at school. Why did you leave after Carlos dropped you off?"

Maybe this would be ok. Maybe this would be easier for her to talk about. "I told Carlos. I just needed a day off. Haven't you ever just needed a day?"

"Yeah. But you've only been there for two weeks. You needed a day already? What's going on? Is someone giving you trouble?"

"No." A slight smile pulled at the corners of her lips. The adults always thought bullying was the problem. "Everyone is fine."

"Then what?

"It's just," her eyes went down to her hands in her lap, "it's just a lot."

TK took a step closer to her. She had been through so much. He hated how she was hurting. "What's a lot?"

"School! The work. I don't think I can do it. It's too much."

"It's not too much. Honey, it's a brand new school. And you haven't been in any school for quite some time now. You're just out of practice. But you are smart." She shook her head and he added, "I've seen your files." He leaned down to catch her eye. "You are really smart."

Their luck ran out. The alarm alerted TK to a call. They listened to it then he said, "Ok, I've got to go. No more tears. Take out your computer. Pull up your classes. Make a list of what needs to be done and where you're having trouble."

"Strand," Nancy called. "Let's go."

He dropped a kiss on her head and started toward the rig. He called back, "I'll help you when I get back."

LSLSLSLSL

Elayna traveled halfway up the stairs of the townhouse before his voice called her. "Come help me in the kitchen," Carlos said.

She wanted to retreat to her room for the night and forget this day had ever happened. She froze in her spot, letting her backpack slip off her shoulder, trying to figure out an escape.

"Come on," he called again. She relented and walked back down the stairs, dropping her backpack at the bottom of them, and entered the kitchen. No one is going to get hurt. And no one has to leave.

"Wash your hands," he said, removing items from the refrigerator. "We're making enchiladas. Has my mother taught you how to make them yet?"

She had spent a bit of time with Carlos' parents. They treated her with kindness and seemed to enjoy her company. While she was still a little leery of new people, they were patient and she liked them. His mother, in particular, had welcomed her with open arms and took it upon herself to teach Elayna everything she knew about cooking. "No," Elayna answered Carlos, "and my hands are already clean." She turned them over, inspecting.

"Wash them anyways. You're about to cook." It continued to surprise him, the basic things she did not know.

With a heavy sigh, Elayna washed and dried her hands at the sink, then turned to the counter where Carlos had placed, among other things, a bowl of cooked chicken breast. "Here," he said, handing her two forks. "I'm going to show you how to shred the chicken." He proceeded to pull the meat apart with two forks of his own, then left her to her task as he chopped vegetables at the other end of the counter.

After a few moments of the two of them working quietly, Carlos started. "What happened this morning, that cannot happen again."

"I know," she said, not looking up from her work.

"I mean it, Elayna. We need to know where you are at all times. If TK or I drop you off somewhere, you cannot just go somewhere else the minute we leave."

"I said, 'I know.'" She knew she sounded flip. She took a small step away from him and continued working on the chicken. Two foster families ago, a hand would have come and slapped her for being fresh. She hated that home. The mom hit for any infraction, regardless how slight. Elayna learned to keep an arm's distance, but the slaps would come later, when her back was turned and she did not expect them. They did not even hurt. That was the most insulting part. She had been hit far harder, many times. But those slaps seemed worse. They were humiliating and reminded her that she was nothing.

Carlos could hit hard. His muscles bulged and stretched the fabric of every shirt he owned. He worked out daily, sometimes at the gym, but occasionally at home. She had witnessed him pummel a heavy bag. She remembered his strength when they first met. His hands gripping her arm, holding her in place, moving her into his car. They did not hurt her, but they left her no choice. Nobody is getting hurt. And no one has to leave. He said it. It was her mantra throughout the day. She tried to believe it. As much as she was prepared to be removed from their house at any moment, she desperately wanted to stay with him and TK. She would not survive another rejection. Another loss. His slaps would hurt.

"Elayna! Hey!" Carlos said.

Her eyes snapped up to his.

"Where did you go there?" The concern in his eyes betrayed his lighthearted tone.

"Ummm . . . what?" she said, side stepping once more.

"Chica, what's wrong?" He wiped his hands on a towel and approached her as she threw her hands to her face. He enveloped her in his arms and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Breathe." He waited. "Honey, you have to take a breath. You're going to pass out."

Elayna stiffened for a moment then relaxed. It had taken some time to get accustomed to his and TK's frequent hugs. They were both tactile people. Many times she was tempted to tell them that unsolicited hugs were frowned upon by social services. But then she would feel safe and warm and comfortable, so she kept her mouth shut and leaned in.

"Good." Carlos said. "Now tell me what's wrong."

She took a couple of breaths and attempted talking. "TK said . . ." she said into his chest.

"'TK said?' TK said what?"

TK entered his home after the long shift to find his husband and foster daughter standing in the kitchen. Carlos' arms around Elayna, her head buried in his chest. He dropped his bag and hurried towards them.

"Hey, babe," Carlos said, as if there was no crying girl in his arms. "How was the rest of your shift?"

"Fine," TK said, approaching, trying to decipher the scene in front of him. "Couple of 'weak and dizzies.' What's going on here?"

"Well, we were talking about this morning. I got a 'TK said' out of her, and she started crying."

"'TK said?' Oh no, honey, what did I say?"

Carlos gave Elayna a final kiss on the head and relinquished her to the open arms of his spouse. "And I thought I was supposed to be the bad cop." He returned to the counter to finish preparing the chicken that Elayna had started. He was worried about his daughter, they both were, but found remaining calm when she panicked helped her recover quicker.

"Oh, you are the bad cop, always," Tk said, earning himself a smirk from his husband. "I was so, so good." To the girl he asked, "What did I say?"

Elayna pushed out of his arms and wiped at her face, taking a breath. "Stop being gross when I'm upset," she said, "it's really annoying."

"Come sit down and let's all just talk," Carlos said. The enchilada had been placed in the oven and chips and salsa replaced them on the counter.

"I'll stand, thanks," Lanie said, arms crossed, eyes down.

TK looked at Carlos to take his cue. Carlos shrugged at him and started talking. "Ok," he said, "so do you want to tell us what's going on with you or do you want me to start?"

"You."

"When you are dropped off somewhere, you stay there."

"Yeah. You already said that."

"If you need something. Anything. Even if it's a day off from school, you tell us. We'll help you figure things out. Got it?"

"Got it."

Carlos looked at TK, handing over the reins. "We need you to be safe," TK said.

"Here on the couch is safe," she said.

Carlos said, "The back of an Uber is not."

She nodded her head one time, still refusing to look at them. They remained silent long enough for it to become uncomfortable so she added, "That's it?"

TK retrieved her phone from his pocket and placed it on the counter between them. When she reached for it, he pulled it back. "The Uber app has been removed."

"Fine," she said, looking up at him now.

"And there's a tracker on it."

Her brow crinkled. "What does that mean, exactly? You can follow me."

Carlos said, "Should there be another emergency, we will know where you are."

"But I said 'fine.' I'll go only where you say."

"We're not negotiating with you."

She sighed and held her hand out. "Fine."

TK gave her the device and said, "Good. Now that that's taken care of, what did I say at the station to upset you?"

She released a longerer, loud sigh and dragged a stool out from the counter. Elbows propped, she sat with her head in her hands. The mishmosh in her brain would not unscramble enough to verbalize it.

"Just whatever, Chica, whatever you're thinking, just say it," Carlos said.

She kept her head down. "You said the school called."

The boys exchanged confused looks and TK said, "Yeah. You weren't in school. They called Carlos. He called me. We were worried."

"I didn't know that the school calls the parents when a kid isn't there." She looked up at him. "Like, that's a policy or something?"

"Yes, of course, honey. The school is responsible for where the kids are. If someone is absent - "

"Or just doesn't show up," Carlos said.

"- the school calls. Why is that upsetting?"

"Because I've skipped school a million times. No one ever came to look for me." She wiped tears that were starting to fall. "Or even mention it to me. Or ask where I was. Or care at all! I just can't believe it." She gestured towards the two of them. "I've missed this my whole life."

Carlos walked around the counter and they both gathered her in their arms. "You're here now. We love you. You don't have to miss this anymore."

AN: Thanks for reading! Reviews are encouraged.