I wanted to say thank you to everyone who continues to read and add this to their favorite and alert lists that means a lot. Also thank you to Pharmergirl, ItsJustBecca, monkeybaby, and decadenceofmysoul. I also got a guest review but without a name it didn't get posted so thank you to that guest for your kind words.

Slight references to 3x6

A lady with dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a seemingly kind demeanor walked into the room a few minutes later and Anna surveyed her. "Hi. Anna? I'm Doctor Charlotte but you can call me Charlie."

"Hi," Anna answered softly. She needed to show respect as she had been taught but she wasn't sure what would come from this talk and didn't want to be admitted to a looney bin for it. "Are you a psychiatrist?"

"I'm a child specialist. I help kids and teens when they need to talk and don't feel like they can talk to their parents." Charlie took a seat at the table and smiled softly.

"You going to solve all my problems?"

She didn't seem put off by Anna's tone or attitude. "Sometimes I've found recognizing you have a problem goes a long way to working it out."

"You going to tell my mom what I say?"

"Not unless I think you're going to hurt someone."

Satisfied with Charlie's answers, she got down to business. "Where do you want me to start?"

"Wherever you want. This is, as they say, your show."

"I had a happy childhood for the most part. Couple of deaths, couple of close calls, daughter of a cop, S.O.P." At the doctor's confused look, Anna clarified. "Standard Operating Procedure."

"Do you think that's changed?"

"How happy I am?" Anna asked. Charlie nodded. "A little maybe. I seem to be angry a lot."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know. I'm a teenager?"

"What caused the change, aside from aging?"

"Maybe it's because my uncle Joe died. I was 12; four months before my 13th birthday."

"That couldn't have been easy. Dealing with a death at the same time as going through puberty." Anna shook her head, agreeing with the doctor. "What makes you angry?"

"Not much actually. I—I get upset more than I get angry. Like last night." She told the doctor about the accident and about how she reacted to Danny's job offer. "I love my dad, really I do, and I want him around but I feel like he never wants to be around. I mean, I know he's gotta work, we need the money and four times what he makes now would definitely go a long way, especially with college coming up in two years but at what point is it too much? Is there ever a point where you just got to accept that there are some things more important than money?"

"More important?"

"Like his kids? I feel like ... maybe I'm not so important anymore."

"Your dad ever tell you that?"

"Of course not and if he thought I felt that way he wouldn't hesitate to tell me that I was wrong but as they say, actions speak louder than words."

"Do you just want him around more?"

"Part of me does, but another part knows that every time he's home lately it always ends bad." The doctor looked interested and Anna went on to explain. "Yelling, screaming, anger, and tears."

"Why do you think that is?"

Anna stared down at her hands. She really didn't want to open up but remembered that Jim said it could help her plus maybe it'd put things in perspective. "I don't know. Maybe I don't know how to talk to him anymore or maybe I need his attention so bad and that's the only way I know how to get it."

"Maybe he's trying to understand but he can't relate and it escalates because of that," Charlie suggested, looking for any cue that the girl understood that.

"Should I give him a break?" Anna glanced up then back down.

"Maybe try a different way."

"I guess. Not sure what that would be, but I can try."

Charlie changed the topic having noticed the girl brought it up. "Do you worry about your parents financials?"

She looked up and tried not to look as worried as she felt. "How can I not? I'm going to college in two years. Well, my mom expects me to but I can't help but wonder if they can't replace a $6,000 car then how can they afford a $60,000 a year, four year education?"

"Do you think about it often?"

Anna nodded. "I try to help too. Babysitting, waitressing ... I don't know if it's working though."

"On top of a full course load?" Anna nodded, feeling more relaxed. The woman honestly seemed to be trying to help and not trying to assess if she was crazy and maybe it was helping. "Do you take any time for yourself?"

"Not this season. In the spring I play baseball."

"You consider that fun?"

"Yeah. I mean it's hard work but friends, family, and a good sport. Dad seems more proud of me when I'm hitting home runs than anything else."

"Did he teach you to play?"

"Mainly. He taught me how to play football, to ride a bike, to swing a bat, hit a boy ... My uncle Joe on the other hand refined my baseball technique and taught me all the good stuff; to shoot a gun, to be nice, mind my manners, treat people right, things like that."

"Understandably you were upset when he died?"

"Very much so," Anna said. "It pretty much rocked my world. We were very close."

"You mentioned a couple deaths in your childhood, aside from your uncle?"

"Yes, my grandmother and great-grandmother. My uncle in 09, my grandmother in 05, and my great-grandmother in 01."

"Four years apart?"

"Uh ... no. December 01, September 05, and May 09."

"Are you worried about next month?"

"Because it's been 11 years since my great-grandmother died?"

"Because it's been three years and seven months since your uncle died." Anna looked at her confused. "And it was three years and eight months between your uncle and grandmother and three years and nine months between your grandmother and great-grandmother."

"You think there's a pattern here? I mean, I guess there could be. I'm not sure how that will hit me if there is." Anna twiddled her thumbs.

"How's your relationship with your mom?"

"Fine," Anna snapped, tugging down the sleeves on her jacket over her hands. Despite what the specialist had said earlier, Anna was acutely aware that this could get back to Linda.

"I'm not here to judge. Sometimes teens have problems with their parents."

"We get along great, most of the time. I don't tell her everything, but we do talk."

"About what?"

"Boys, friends, boyfriends, brothers."

"Do you talk about your feelings? About what makes you upset?"

"Sometimes."

"How often is that?"

"I don't know. She worries so I try to keep it to a minimum. I don't want to make it worse."

"Why not?"

"She doesn't deserve that. They say that the only thing harder than being a cop, is being married to one. The hardest thing in my family is being married to my dad. He's not just married to my mom, he's married to his job. Sometimes, he gets these cases and that's all he thinks about until it's solved. Eats, sleeps, breathes the job. Like a dog with a bone. My mom worries about that; she doesn't need to worry about me being okay too."

"What do you think a parent's job is?"

"Well my mom's a nurse—"

Charlie flashed a smile before cutting Anna off. "Not your parents, parents in general."

"To take care of their kids."

"And what does that involve?"

Anna shrugged. "Food, clothing, shelter."

"What about emotionally?"

"Yeah, I can see that too."

"Would you say that it's a parent's job to worry?"

"They tell me it is but they also say a distracted cop is a dead cop."

"And your mom?"

"She's got a high stress job, she doesn't need to worry about me."

"You think they can't handle both?"

Even Charlie could see the irritation sparking in Anna's brown eyes. "I never said that. I think they could but I don't think they should have to."

"Because that will make you a burden?"

"Maybe."

Charlie randomly switched topics. "Could it be possible that because you were so close to your uncle when he died that you find it hard to let people in now? That if you were to get close to someone else and they died too, it would hurt even more?"

"I do think about that. I know that death is a natural part of life and sometimes even bigger because my family is full of cops. I also know that familial death can hurt no matter how close you are to someone because they are family. Sometimes I wonder if Joe's death hurt more because I was closer to him than either of my grandmothers or if it was because I was finally old enough to understand death."

"Maybe it's a combination of both."

"Could be."

"I hate to say this because we've made some real progress here, but our time is running short and I have to get back upstairs. I want you to go home and consider opening up to your mom and dad about what we walked about. Maybe they shouldn't have to handle both but I can guarantee that they want to because they love you so much," Charlie said. She motioned to someone behind Anna and the door opened. Anna looked and saw her mom entering the room. "Anna, on top of that consideration, I'm going to write you a prescription."

"I thought you said you were a specialist?" Anna asked confused as she turned to look back at the doctor.

"I did."

"But you're not a psychiatrist," Linda said. "You're a psychologist."

Charlie waved her off. She pulled out a notepad from her pocket and turned to a blank page, scribbling something down before handing it to Anna. "Doctor's orders."

"This doesn't make any sense," Anna said, looking at the note and then up at her mom.

"Have fun?" Linda read, confused as well. Both women looked at the doctor.

"Once a week, Anna, I want you to put down school, responsibilities, homework, the job, money worries and just be a teenager. Have fun. Go for a run, throw a baseball in the yard, shoot some hoops, call up a friend and go out for the afternoon, catch a movie, go to a party; just have fun. See what that does for you."

"If you say so."

"Now, can you give me a minute with your mom?"

"You said you wouldn't tell her."

"And I'm not, I just want to talk." Anna sighed but nodded and left the room. Five minutes later Linda and Charlie joined her. "Remember what I said, Anna. Linda, I'll see you around." They both said goodbye and Linda lead her to the subway.

"Didn't you drive today?" Anna asked.

"I didn't. We're going to meet Pops. He asked me to meet him at the title bureau," Linda said.

"Why?"

"I don't know. Guess we'll find out when we get there." Linda smiled and they hopped on the subway. Anna followed her mom, curious as to why Henry wanted to meet them. When they got to the DMV they found Henry waiting out front. He handed over his keys to Linda.

"Follow me inside and we'll get the car transferred into your name," he told her.

"What? Henry," Linda protested.

"You need it more than I do. I shouldn't be driving anymore anyway and let's face it, anywhere I need to go I can just take the subway."

"But you love that car," Anna said.

"And most days, it just sits in the garage. This is what family does, let me do it," Henry answered. Linda wrapped him in a tight hug. Henry stood in shock for a moment then hugged her close.

"Thank you," Linda whispered in his ear.

"You're welcome," Henry answered. He let go and lead them inside the DMV. The papers were signed, the fees paid and soon they were on their way to drop Henry off in Bay Ridge before heading home.

"Pops," Anna said as they reached Bay Ridge. "I'm sorry about what happened last night."

"You're not the first grandkid I've had storm off from the dinner table. It's not even the first time you've done it," Henry said.

"Yeah, but running off was dangerous and stupid."

"Again, it's not the first time."

"Dad?"

"Your aunt Erin. She ran off for two days after a fight with her mom."

"Where'd she go?"

"My place."

"Anyway, it's still not right. I should control my temper, I wasn't even that angry. I was kinda just upset."

"Hurricane moment I believe Danny described it."

Anna shook her head though Henry wasn't looking at her. "Not really cause there was less warning."

"When things change it's hard and it doesn't help that you haven't been sleeping," Linda said.

"Trying to hold on to some semblance of normalcy when change threatens your world is only natural, so is lashing out," Henry said.

"Okay, but I'm still sorry," Anna told them.

"You're forgiven," Henry said.

They got home to find Danny on the couch watching them with no sign of the boys. "Where are the boys?" Linda asked.

"Out back. Anna, go see what they're doing," Danny answered. Anna sighed but walked out back to find the boys playing soccer. She watched them for a while knowing that her parents were probably discussing whatever the psychologist had told her mom.

"Come play, Anna," Sean called.

"Not really dressed for it," Anna answered. She was still in her school uniform not having time to change before seeing the doctor.

"Ok," Sean answered and continued playing defense against his brother who was trying to get the ball past him into the net. Soon their mom was calling Anna in. Anna smiled at her brothers then went back inside.

"Something you want to say?" Danny asked as Anna sat down next to him and Linda sat down on her other side.

"I'm sorry for blowing up at you like that yesterday and for running off. I didn't mean to make Mom worry. You didn't deserve that and neither did she. No matter how angry I was I should have just told you instead of walking off."

"Have you been having nightmares?" Danny asked.

"Haven't woken up screaming."

"That's not what I asked."

"I had one, last night."

"Still think we blame you?"

"No. It's not my fault. And even if it is my fault, you don't blame me for it."

"So much like her dad," Linda muttered. She knew the young girl blamed herself, just like Danny was doing, even though it was just an unfortunate accident.

"We could never blame you. I know you feel guilty because you're a good person and don't want to make things harder for me and your mom," Danny said.

Linda put a hand on her daughter's shoulder and Anna looked up at her. "But that's what we're here for. We love you, very much and as parents it's our job to worry and take all that pain and burden from you. Sometimes, if you tell us what you're worried about, maybe we can help you through it and none of us will worry so much anymore. You'll never be a burden to us. Never."

She looked back at Danny to see if he agreed. He smiled softly. "She's right. You're amazing, Anna, and I know I don't say it enough but I love you and the last thing I want is for you to think you can't come to us. We are here to take care of everything, even if I'm working a lot. Family comes first and you are family. But to do that, you've got to open to us. It's one of the reasons I turned down that job offer," Danny said.

"Last thing I wanted to do when I was your age, was tell my parents what was going on with me, teenage girls just don't want to talk to their parents but that's what we're here for. Maybe letting us know what's going on can help settle you and make things easier on you," Linda explained.

Anna swallowed and looked at her dad. "You really turned down the job offer because of me?" she asked nervously.

"No, not because of you, not exactly," Danny said. "I thought about it, I'd be stupid not to think about it, that much money plus benefits, but I love what I'm doing, where I get to do it and how often I get to be home for my family. Nearly every night and nearly every Sunday, plus all holidays. I love being a cop, it's what I do and it's where I belong."

"But what about college? If you can't afford to replace the car, how can you afford to send me to college?"

"Don't worry about that, we've got it handled," Danny said, trying to keep his tone light.

"But it is something I worry about. I know that you can handle it, but I worry," Anna said.

"Anna," Linda said. She turned to her mom. "You're not going off to college for more than a year and a half. With that said, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to going off to college. In state versus out of state, living arrangements, majors, public versus private schools. On top of all that there's always financial aid and scholarships. Get the right kind of scholarship now and you could go to college for not much more than we pay now for your current schooling," Linda explained.

"And situations can change," Danny said.

"You considered taking the job because of that though?"

"For a moment but I told you, I need to be here and, Anna, you're not in trouble for last night."

Anna's shoulders deflated. It wasn't that she wanted to be in trouble she was just confused by why she wasn't. "I said I'd ground you if you blew up at your dad again. You implied something that I'm glad you didn't say but you didn't snap at him really. And Jim texted to let us know where you were. You shouldn't have walked off but you weren't hurt and we shouldn't punish you for that. Especially not on top of what you're feeling right now," Linda explained.

"Go see if your brothers are ready for dinner," Danny said.

"You going to be here all night?" Anna asked.

"All night, I promise," Danny said. Anna nodded then she hugged her dad, then her mom, then walked towards the back door only to find the boys coming in to wash up.

I am so sorry if I've let any of you down by Danny's and Linda's reaction to Anna getting angry and running off but I think they realize how much she is suffering and can't justify punishing her after everything she's been through. I promise in the next chapter we move on past Greener Grass.