"Did you comb that hair?"

"Yes."

"You sure?"

"I tried to." Angie mumbled, her ducking her head when her dad shifted with a stern head tilt.

She was already in 'disgrace' this morning. She'd taken too long worrying about what she should wear for her first day of school and not enough time had been spent working through her hair, and she hardly ate breakfast, which seemed to annoy her dad.

"Get over here."

Angie clutched the comb tightly in her fists and didn't move. He didn't have hair, well, much hair. How could he possibly be able to help her? Jameelah had told her she didn't like when her dad had to help her with her hair because he pulled it too much and wasn't as gentle with it as her mom some days. Especially if they were in a hurry.

"Angie. I don't have a lot of time or patience today. Come here."

Not willing to push it and find out what happened if he lost his patience with her, Angie forced her feet to lift off where they'd been glued to the floor.

"Let's go. Pick up those feet and stop dragging your tail!" A clipped edge in his tone appeared when she didn't move fast enough and Angie hastened her step, head down and gripping the comb so hard it's teeth bit into her hand.

When she got close enough, her dad put a hand on her head with firm pressure and another on her shoulder, maneuvering her to stand in front of him while facing away so he could reach her hair.

"Comb." He ordered, holding out his hand and Angie reluctantly put it in his big palm. "Stay still and this shouldn't hurt…much."

Stiffening at that added growl, Angie hunched her shoulders and closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the tearing and ripping to begin because it really was a mess of knots back there and she had no hope at all that he would be able to be gentle, even if he tried.

"Relax." Scott grumbled with less annoyance than he had previously as he got to work separating the tangled parts from the not as tangled.

Angie got more rigid when he told her to relax until she felt next to no pulling from the hands trying to tame her hair. There was the occasional tug, but mostly she felt nothing but a firm grip on sections of her hair and the sound of the comb rapidly working through the tangles from the bottom up. The most amazing part was the lack of tearing or ripping. He was being kinder to her hair than she'd been.

Tension slithered away and Angie heaved a sigh of relief that she didn't mean to be as loud as it was.

Behind her she heard her dad snort softly.

"Didn't think I knew what I was doing, did you." He flicked a finished section over her shoulder and started in on the next with care and efficiency.

Not thinking, Angie shook her head and then bit back a muted squeak when the action made her dad snag the comb on her hair.

"Don't move." He warned. "This is a real mess, kid. Have you been using a conditioner when you're washing this?"

Remembering to use words this time, Angie said, "No. Ronda only packed shampoo."

Grumbling non verbally, her dad tossed another finished section over her shoulder and kept working.

After another few minutes, he pulled it back into a ponytail and held out his hand, "Elastic. This will have to do for today. "

Holding it up without protesting, Angie waited for him to fix it around her hair and then shyly looked up at him over her shoulder when he handed the comb back.

"Thank you…and thank you for…for not pulling my hair."

"You got it." His big hand came gently across her shoulders at the base of her neck, steering her for the door while he grabbed her backpack off the couch with his other hand. "Now let's get going. We're running behind as it is."

All too soon they were at the school and the dreaded first day was about to begin.

"I'll pick you up after school unless something comes up with work. If that's the case, Aunt Naima will get you." Scott told her as she reluctantly pulled on her backpack and stared across the school yard at the sea of kids. "Hey! Look at me."

Angie tore her eyes from the intimidating jungle and met his steely gaze, half trying to hide the worry and fear, half allowing it because lately he'd proven himself to be someone safe to show her 'bad' feelings to.

He was completely serious and confident as he said, "You've got this. Jameelah is here, she'll look after you. Aunt Naima only had good things to say about your teacher. You know where you need to go. It's going to be ok."

Chewing her lip, Angie tried to give him an agreeable nod, but he spotted the remaining worry anyway.

Sighing, Scott crouched down and asked in a low voice, "What's got you worried."

Shrugging, Angie angled closer to him and studied her toes. "Kids are mean."

Taking her seriously, Scott nodded in agreement. "That is true. Anyone can be mean, if they want to. Rise above them, stand up for yourself, and don't let it stop you from being kind, Angie. Be you, and you'll make friends with the sort of people that you'll want to spend time with. Ignore the rest. They don't matter."

Three car's down, Jameelah was piling out of Uncle Ray's car.

"Angie."

She turned back to her dad.

"You got this. Ok?"

Trying to believe him, Angie nodded bravely and pretended she was going on a secret mission for him instead of going to school. She could be brave and he was right. Jameelah would be there. She really liked Jameelah.

"Come here."

Angie was surprised when he motioned her in for a hug and she wasted little time reacting, falling into those huge arms and hiding her face in his shoulder. She couldn't express how much she didn't want to be apart from him right now and she couldn't explain why the idea of not being with him during the day made her feel so afraid. Instead she looped her small arms around his neck and held on tightly.

"Ok, my brave little bear," Her dad murmured, gently pushing her back out of his arms and studying her face with a serious expression. "Go have a good day. I'll see you soon."

Nodding Angie stepped back just, feeling bolder with his comment of 'brave little bear'. It reminded her of Beorn, the skinchager from the Hobbit, and of the movie Brave. She liked both and she'd shyly told her dad last night that she liked Beorn. Secretly the character made her think of her dad and she liked to pretend he was secretly able to turn into a bear.

Jameelah rushed up beside her and grabbed her hand.

"Come on, Angie! I want to introduce you to my friends! They're really excited to meet you! Oh, hi Uncle Scott! Bye Uncle Scott!"

Jameelah practically dragged Angie off and over her shoulder she saw Uncle Ray come to stand next to her dad.

"All squared away for the week?" Ray asked as the girls took off.

Metal snorted. "As much as I can be. Health insurance is lined up and getting processed. Met with the lawyer, sorted out way more than I wanted to think about, filled out a bunch of paperwork in the event that something were to happen to me both while operating and not, tracked down her health records and Ronda finally sent me some more information that's relevant to figuring out this kid. All that stuff I have to sort through hasn't arrived at the storage locker yet and neither had Angie's things. Pisses me off. Wanted it done."

"What about a therapist for her? Did you give that any more thought."

"Yup. Starting to think it might not be a bad idea, given everything she's been through."

"Naima can suggest some, if you like. I know she knows a few."

Metal nodded stiffly, still watching Angie as Jameelah brought her to the swings and introduced her to two other girls. "We should go."

"She's going to be alright." Ray commented knowingly and Metal tried to bristle.

"I know. She's a tough kid. She'll be fine."

"Wowowow…hold up, brother," Ray stopped him with a concerned hand on his arm. "Not so tough that she's not acting like a normal little girl who just lost her mother and has had her life thrown upside down…right?"

"If you're asking if she's been crying, I can assure you there have been many tears which I promise I have handled with as much gentleness as I can manage. Can we go now?"

"Oh, I know you well enough to know you'd be gentle with her, I'm just making sure she's not being you and bottling it all up like the little Mini Metal that she is."

Rolling his eyes, Metal didn't answer and got in his truck.

Mini Metal indeed.

Pausing just before he pulled out of the parking lot, he stole one last look at his kid, reassuring himself she was safely on the school grounds and about to go inside.

School was uncomfortable, but not as terrible as she feared it would be. So far.

Angie sat in the sunny classroom and listened while her teacher, Ms. Finch, talked about how weather systems worked.

The morning was overwhelming, but as the afternoon wore on, Angie felt better about things.

Jameelah introduced her to Lilly and Autumn, two girls who were nice enough. Autumn seemed not to like her as much, but maybe that was because she was quieter than Lilly and Jameelah. Once in the classroom, the girls showed Angie were to hung her stuff and introduced her to Ms. Finch.

The woman was just as wonderful as Angie was led to believe. She was fairly short and soft, like being hugged by her would be the perfect, most comforting place to be. The woman had large brown eyes, beautiful dark skin and long black hair, both of which Angie immediately fell in love with. Angie thought she looked like a princess in a fairy story and the young woman was so kind that Angie felt sure she must be secretly a magical creature in disguise because being just an ordinary school teacher seemed too unexciting for someone as wonderful as her. The best part about her was her accent. Angie adored hearing her speak and she was too shy to ask what accent it was. At first she thought it was an English accent, but then it shifted and changed, making it sound too elegant and different to be an English accent.

Before class began, Ms. Finch had assured her that she'd already made up a package of catch up homework for her and promised to help her in any way she could, not to worry about a thing and that they would get her all caught up in no time. Then the kind woman had introduced her to the class and didn't make her speak, like Angie had been afraid she would. Instead she had the class sit in a circle all together with her seated next to Jameelah and Ms. Finch. Then she had them all go around and say their name and something about themselves so she could get to know them. In the end, Angie felt comfortable enough to quietly say she liked to read and that she just moved here to live with her dad.

Curious eyes brightened at that and insensitive questions began to hover on lips, making Angie fidget, but then Jameelah had piped up and announced that Angie's dad was her Uncle Scott and instantly the rest of the children seemed to 'back off' as it were with an air of respect about them. Angie didn't know why, but if having Jameelah's 'Uncle Scott' as her dad meant kids would leave her alone, Angie didn't care why.

Angie glanced at the clock. She'd managed to keep it together all day, managed to be polite, stay quiet, stay friendly with Jameelah's friends, do her work and start catching up on the work she missed, but she was tired and her head hurt now.

She wanted to go home.

Beside her two of the 'popular girls' that Jameelah warned her about started whispering while Ms. Finch's back was turned and Angie could feel them looking at her.

Sarah VanSklyic was exactly as Angie expected her to be and out of the corner of her eye she saw the girl make a motion with her hand that made the other girl, Summer, snicker.

Digging deep and not allowing her face to heat up over whatever the heck they'd found to laugh at about her, Angie held onto what her dad said that morning. Anyone could be mean. She just needed to stand tall and be herself. She already had a friend right now and two more potential allies. If she could keep them, then school would be manageable. Having no friends sucked when there were bullies.

"Pst. Pst! Angie!" Sarah was trying to get her attention.

Reluctantly, Angie looked at the taller, sharp nosed girl.

"Is it true that your dad is Jameelah's Uncle Scott?"

Angie nodded.

"But…isn't he like, in the military too, like her dad?" Sarah whispered with false friendliness.

Again, Angie nodded.

"Aren't you afraid to live with him? My mom said people in the military get paid to kill people."

Getting uncomfortable because she'd been avoiding thinking about any of that, Angie just shook her head and turned back to the front.

Jameelah leaned round in her seat and glared at both girls sitting behind them, whispering, "Don't talk about stuff you don't understand and mind your own business."

"I'd be scared if I was living with a killer." Summer breathed critically, eyeing Jameelah was obvious disdain. "Isn't your dad one too?"

Unfortunately one of the boys sitting near them, Ross, heard it and he turned round in his seat, hissing excitedly, "Angie's dad's in the army!? How many people has he shot!? My dad's a Marine and he says-"

"Enough chatter, please. Paying attention."

Ms. Finch called them all to order and after that they stopped, but the damage was already done. There was a turning in Angie's gut that wouldn't stop with the idea of her dad killing people.

Had he? Did he? Was that what he did to 'bad guys' when he went to work? Should she be scared of him? She really didn't want to be. He made her feel safe when he read to her or whenever he held her it felt like nothing could get her.

By the end of the day, Angie was ready to sink into the ground and never be looked at again or talked to again. She felt like all the girls had scrutinized her and judged her to the max, and all the boys had either ignored her or made fun of her for dumb reasons when she was just in earshot. Plus there was all the whispering that Sarah was spreading around about her and Angie's parents, but half the kids told her to shove off because they also had family in the military, so that was ok. The other half ate it up and Angie tried to ignore them.

Yeah. Kids were mean.

"Angie! Come on!" Jameelah said as she grabbed her hand and dragged her through the busy school grounds. "We always get picked up over here!

Slowing her feet as they neared the pick up area, Angie wasn't sure if she was ready to see her dad yet with all those wonderings rattling around in her brain.

When she spotted Aunt Naima was waiting for them and there was no sign of her dad, Angie couldn't decide if it was disappointment or relief that she felt.

Her dad got spun up today.

"Hi girls!" Aunt Naima greeted them, bouncing RJ on her hip. "How was your day?"

"Good!" Jameelah chirped. "Is Daddy working?"

"Yes, baby. Daddy's working. He'll be home as soon as he can to give you a big hug and kiss."

"Did…did they get spun up?" Angie asked as she started to get in the van behind Jameelah.

"Yes, honey. I'm sorry. I know it's probably not how you wanted the end of your first day at school to go, but he'll come get you from our house as soon as he can." Aunt Naima promised her with knowing compassion. "Until then, I get to spend time with the two of you amazing girls! What should we have for supper?"

"Can we have ice cream!?" Jameelah asked.

"For supper?"

"And pizza!"

"YAY!" Cried RJ as he was buckled into his seat. "Pizza!"

"Goodness! Ice cream and pizza?" Naima laughed. "What do you think, Angie?"

"I like pizza." Angie offered, not caring and wishing she could just go home and curl up in her own bed.

A little part of her was angry that her dad wasn't there to pick her up. Another part wondered what he was doing and the last piece of her was afraid to know. He said that he helped people and that he and all her 'Uncles' kept people safe, but in light of Sarah and Summer, Angie was conflicted.

The evening passed without conflict. They did have pizza and a little bit of ice cream. Then Aunt Naima helped both girls with their homework and Jameelah helped her start catching up on her homework. After that they were allowed to play until bedtime.

"Jameelah," Auntie Naima warned gently as she tucked both girls into their bunk bed in Jameelah's room. "I know you're excited to have Angie here, but I want you both asleep in the next ten minutes, you hear me? No staying up all night talking."

"Yes, mommy." Jameelah answered, hugging her mom and letting her kiss her cheek. "I love you!"

"I love you too, baby girl."

Angie swallowed the lump in her throat and fought back tears with the sudden reminder of her mom.

"Angie, honey? Can I tuck you in too?"

Angie was in the top bunk and she nodded, hiding her face against the pillow and hoping her Aunt couldn't see the tears starting to leak out of her eyes.

"Oh, honey…shhh…" Naima brushed her hair from her face and leaned on the edge of the top bed so that they were closer. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Sniffing, Angie shrugged because she couldn't' trust her voice.

"Are you maybe missing someone very special?"

A small sob worked its way up and Angie nodded miserably.

"Ok." Naima motioned with her hands. "Come here, baby. I got you."

Angie let herself be lifted from the bed and she wrapped her legs around the torso of the woman, hiding her face in her shoulder and letting her take her to the living room. Jameelah stayed quiet, as if she'd been prepared for something like this.

Auntie Naima sat with her in the big, comfy lazy chair and let Angie have a good cry.

"I know I can never replace your mom, because that's just not possible, but I'm here Angie." Naima whispered.

Heaving a shuddering breath, Angie let herself drink in the maternal warmth of the woman and told herself it wasn't a betrayal to her own mom that she felt so comforted. Mommy would be glad someone was taking care of her.

"Is anything else bothering you, Angie? Did anything happen at school today?"

Angie shook her head, not wanting to bring up the whole, 'doesn't your dad kill people' thing.

"Are you upset that your dad wasn't able to pick you up today?"

Shaking her head again, Angie paused and felt guilty for not being completely truthful.

"I…I miss him." Angie admitted.

"That's ok. You're allowed to miss him and you're allowed to be disappointed when he can't be there, honey. Jameelah knows all about that too. You aren't alone."

Angie nodded.

"What would help you feel more at home here, Angie. What can I do to help you sleep better? Was there anything your mom did to help you sleep?"

Thinking about it, Angie hesitated.

"She…she used to play the cello for me."

"The cello?"

"Yeah. Mommy played the cello in a big orchestra and she had to practice a lot, so she would play while I was falling a-asleep."

"Would cello music help you fall asleep? I can't play, but I can find some for you to listen to."

Angie bit her lip and rested her head against Naima's shoulder.

"I can't decide." She whispered.

"Decide what?" Auntie Naima prompted gently.

"If it will make it better or worse."

"Hmm. That is a hard one. I can't answer that for you."

"Mommy said she'd always be close to me in the music…but, I don't know what she meant and I'm afraid if I listen to music then she won't be there…and that would be worse."

"I understand." Naima nodded. "What about something else?"

"Sometimes she made me tea. The one with the sleeping bear on it!" Angie offered.

"Sleepytime?"

"Yeah!"

"I have some in the cupboard! Why don't we make you some."

While she drank the tea, Angie sat on a stool at the counter and let her feet dangle as she traced patterns on the countertop while her Aunt prepped lunches for the next day.

Auntie Naima's phone dinged with a notification and she glanced at it. A slow smile appeared and she looked up.

"Angie…I just had something come through from your dad. He's not going to be home till the morning, but he says if you want to know what happens next in the Hobbit, he made an audio recording of the next chapter while he was on the plane this afternoon and you can listen to it before you go to sleep if you want."

Speechless, Angie felt solace enter her bones. Daddy's voice when he read always made her feel cozy and she always fell asleep when he read to her.

Eagerly she nodded and Aunt Naima smiled.

"Does he read to you every night?"

"Yeah. It…it helps."

"Well, if it helps tonight we'll just have to make sure we have him record more for you.""Ok!" Angie left the tea half finished, exhausted and eager to know what happened next in the story.

Giving Angie her tablet, Aunt Naima managed to send the file to it and she found her a set of earbuds so she could listen while Jameelah slept. The other girl was already out like a light.

"Auntie Naima?" Angie asked when she was snuggled down and ready to find out if Bilbo ever made it through Mirkwood.

Naima adjusted her blankets and tucked her in. "Yes, honey?"

"Thank you."

The woman kissed her on the brow and whispered, "Sleep tight, baby. I'll be nearby if you need me."

Once Naima was gone, Angie started the recording and listened.

The beginning was a little silly because Uncle Sonny's voice interrupted in the background just after her dad said the chapter title.

"Good night, little bear!" Uncle Sonny called. "Uncle Sonny misses you and wants to remind you that he's the most fun uncle!"

"Oh, no. Uncle Brock is more fun. I have Cerberus!" Uncle Brock's voice chimed in.

"You two knuckleheads wanna to knock it off?" Her dad growled.

"Yeah, get lost you two. I want to hear this soothing voice our caveman uses to put his kid to sleep!" Uncle Clay laughed.

"You just close your eyes and listen then, goldilocks!" Uncle Sonny ribbed playfully.

Scott audibly sighed and he muttered, "Sorry, Angie, you're gonna have to just listen past them."

And then he started to read.

That quieted the Uncles down significantly, and before long Angie forgot it was a recording. She could almost pretend she was on the couch at home and her dad was close by.

She drifted off before the chapter ended.