Keeping her face hidden in Scott's shoulder, Angie endured the poking and prodding from Aunt Naima, and then her friend.

"Ok. Let's check your heart now," Naima said, slipping in and getting to work. They'd already done most of this once, but Angie didn't question it. All she wanted was for the pain to stop and not to leave her dad's arms ever again.

Once the nurse was finished a few minutes later, Naima rubbed Angie's back and said softly, "Angie, the new doctor is a good friend of mine. His name is Dr. Dale and actually, he's Jameelah's doctor. Do you think maybe you could let him talk to you?"

Barely turning her face so she could peep at her aunt wearily, still crying, Angie struggled to whisper, "I don't want to be put to sleep."

The effort made everything hurt again, and she curled in tight against her dad again with a muted cry. Scott rubbed a circle on her back and he hushed her softly. She couldn't even bring herself to worry about being too much trouble or remind herself that this was all temporary, that Daddy might still send her away for what she did.

All she knew was that she needed him. Badly. There was no one else she wanted.

The doctor heard her and he piped up quietly from the end of the bed.

"I'm not gonna do anything, Angie. I just want to talk and see if I can help. Is that ok?"

The man had a kindness about him, quiet and steady, much like Uncle Trent.

There was a long pause as Angie tried to make her mind up through the pain.

"What do you think, Angie?" Daddy asked quietly. "Can you be brave and let the doc talk to you?"

As it stood, Angie didn't have much fight left in her and she gave in little by little.

"Just talk?" Angie whimpered weakly.

"Yeah, let's just talk for a minute, Angie. I don't even have to come any closer if you don't want me to," said Dr. Dale.

Shifting her face so she could look at the man, Angie weighed her options before surrendering. As long as no one else touched her and she got to stay with Daddy she could tolerate it.

"Ok."

"Awesome! Thank you. I know this has all been really hard, and that's all on top of feeling pretty crummy, so let's see if we can figure out a way together for you to feel better, ok?"

The verbal acknowledgement of how much everything was weighing on her and how overwhelmed she felt right now, coupled by the invitation to make it better, slipped past Angie's barriers. The frightened, fighting part of her started to crumble. This doctor was different from the last. Dr. Dale spoke to her instead of over her, like she was really there and worth speaking to.

She nodded once, letting the man know she wanted what he offered. Maybe he could make it stop hurting in a way that wasn't so scary. She so desperately wanted it to stop hurting, to feel right again!

The second she agreed, her dad released a breath that she didn't notice he'd been holding and she felt his body lose some tension, making her want to relax more too.

Dr. Dale offered a genuine and compassionate smile before saying, "So, it says here that your stomach hurts? Is that right?"

Nodding again, Angie whispered brokenly, trying to explain. "It hurts a lot…and so does my throat. Hurts to breath…and talk…"

"It hurts a lot? That's no fun at all." Young as he was, the man was dead calm and in no rush, whereas the other had been like a bull in a china shop, seemingly heedless of how terrified she was. "You know, I can think of a few things that could be making it hurt, and I could help it stop hurting, but to do that, we need to touch your stomach and poke around a bit. Do you think you could allow that if Dad stays right with you?"

There was another long pause while Angie debated.

Daddy ran a hand over her messy hair and she snuggled close again.

"Please, Angie. Let him help." Daddy whispered near her ear. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was aware of the pleading note and that his words held stress mixed with the coaxing.

Another wave of pain hit her, and Angie nodded, whimpering through another set of pained sobs as she squirmed to get out of her own skin, crying, "It hurts. I want it to stop."

"Ok. Let's make it stop." Dale said sympathetically. "Will you let me help?"

Nodding again, Angie closed her eyes, whispering, "Please, help. Please make it stop."

Green lit, the doctor got out his pen light and a depressor for her tongue so he could see in her mouth.

"Let's start easy. Can I see that sore throat?"

Compliant now, Anige let him look.

"Oh, yeah. That does not look fun. Not fun at all. We'll talk about that in a minute. Do you think we could check your stomach now?"

Again, Angie agreed to it, this time reluctantly leaving the safety of Metal's arms and laying back in the bed while the doctor checked her over. He poked around her stomach gently until he found the place that really hurt on the right. When she yelped out a cry Dale immediately backed off, letting her curl back up and towards Scott's waiting comfort.

So wrapped up in how much it hurt and how much she wanted it to stop, Angie didn't pay much attention to her dad's soft growl of encouragement before he turned his attention to the doctor.

"What are you thinking?" Scott asked. He sounded weird. Like he had a frog in his throat.

Angie opened her eyes a little and squinted at the blanket near her nose. Had she gotten Daddy sick? Was he going to be in pain like this too?!

"So, for sure her tonsils are going to need to come out." Angie heard Dr. Dale tell him. "They are really swollen and infected and based on the other information we've gathered from earlier, that would be my best recommendation. I'm also thinking she's got appendicitis as well, which would also need to come out."

"Ok. Is there a way to…make this easier for her?" Scott looked down at Angie's head and she buried her face, hiding from the idea that things needed to 'come out of her'.

His hand found her's and started rubbing circles on the back of it when her breathing got faster and shallower. It was so hard to breathe! "

"Yes and no. I can order a few things to take the edge off. Either way, we're going to need to get moving quickly. It's your call."

There was a short silence and Angie waited, trying to concentrate through how much everything burned and ached. Part of her was too tired to care anymore while the other part was screaming inside that she wanted this to be over.

"Do it." Metal said firmly.

"Ok. I'll notify the OR and order the rest of those tests. The surgeon, Dr. McAlister is excellent. She's the best, actually. Bridgette will walk you through the rest, and I've ordered a few things that she can give Angie, if you decide you want her to have them. If you don't have any questions for me? No? Ok. Naima can probably stay as support? Sound good?"

"Yup."

Listening without listening to the next bit, Angie retreated, knowing this was happening and she couldn't stop it. The adults were talking, someone was talking to her too, moving her limbs and wiping something cold on her arm. Angie didn't even register what the other nurse with Naima had said it was for.

Shivering, Angie turned her face to look at her dad, tears slipping out and falling off her nose.

The man saw and he leaned in close, sheltering her from the world around her and saying softly, "I've got you. It's going to be ok."

"I want to stay with you." Angie begged, suddenly afraid he would have to leave or she would be taken from him.

"I'm not leaving you and you're not going anywhere either. You hear me? It's you and me. Always. And when we leave this place, it's still you and me. Nothing will change that. You hear me? You and me."

Angie took a moment to register his words, but when she did, something inside clicked into place and she let go of what little stubborn fight she had left in her.

"I'm scared." Angie whispered honestly, struggling to keep from wanting to puke again. There was nothing left in her to throw up.

"I know."

"It hurts. I want it to stop."

"It's going to stop hurting really soon." Scott promised, brushing her hair out of her eyes yet again and leaning so he was at eye level. "It's all going to be ok. All the stuff about to happen isn't nearly as bad as what you're feeling right now and no one is trying to hurt you. It's all to help, and I'm staying right here with you."

"Do I have to have surgery?" Angie asked between short little sobs.

Nodding while brushing away her tears and cupping her cheek with a rough palm, Scott said, "Yes. I promise you're safe. I've had a bunch of surgeries before. It's not so bad."

"But you're brave," Angie whined, more tears leaking out with a painful sob.

"You are too, Mini Metal!" Daddy's gruff tone slipped back in, weirdly making her feel better. "You're one of the bravest kids I've ever met. You got this!"

"Will I stop hurting?" Angie asked, so exhausted. It was outweighing her fear now, bit by bit.

"Yes. You'll feel a little crummy still for a bit after, but not as bad as right now. Then from there you'll feel better and better, and I'll be there to help. Ok? Daddy's not going to work again until you're better."

"They're gonna put me to sleep," Angie whimpered. "And there's needles."

"Yeah, that is true," Daddy tilted his head and his frown creased with compassion. "But if you're asleep it won't hurt anymore and when you wake up I'll still be here, right with you, keeping you safe."

"Are…are they making me sleep now?" Angie asked, eyes widening with fright when she registered the arm the nurse was holding had a band wrapped around it.

"Not yet." Daddy ran a thumb under her leaking eyes again, still holding her cheek. "Just keep looking at me. Don't worry about what's happening over there."

Something stabbed her arm suddenly and Angie gasped more with surprise than pain. Her stomach and throat hurt way worse.

"What was that?" Angie whispered, somehow holding her dad's steady gaze and focusing through the waves of nausea and knives in her gut instead of looking at her arm.

"Just a little needle. You're ok. I've got you. I know what it was and it's ok."

"What was it?" Angie asked, still keeping her eyes on him.

Scott seemed to debate for a second and then he explained with gentle patience, "It's a needle for an IV. Goes in your vein and helps medicine and stuff get into your system faster. Your Uncle Trent and I know how to put them in, but we're not as good at it as your nurse is. Next they're going to give you something to help it stop hurting…and it's also going to help you feel less scared."

Biting back another sob, Angie whispered, "Not hurting would be good...and…and I don't want to be scared anymore."

"Yeah." Daddy kissed her forehead and rested his own against her head for a second, saying, "I'd like that for you too, little bear. That's why I asked them to give it to you."

For some reason knowing it was something her dad wanted and not just something strangers decided she should have made it more appealing.

"Ok. Here we go, Angie," Naima said from behind them. "Bridgette is giving you the meds. You might feel a little strange, but that's ok. You're safe. We've got you, baby girl."

Flicking her worried gaze back up to her dad, Angie waited. Not much time passed before she felt really weird all the sudden, like her body didn't want to hold tension anymore and she got really relaxed.

Her eyes slammed shut and she tried to talk. It was hard to form words, so only one came out.

"Daddy?"

"You're ok. I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere," Daddy's voice was tender and close to her ear. She felt him holding her hand and smoothing down her hair at the same time.

"Still mad?" Angie asked faintly, working hard to get the part words out and finally voicing that one question that kept surfacing through everything else and wouldn't leave her in peace. She couldn't keep it in anymore now that the tension was leaving her.

"No, I'm not." The words were clear and tight with emotion. "We're gonna talk about all that later. Right now, just remember that I love you, you're stuck with me, and that I've got you, so it'll all be ok."

"Ok." Angie drew a long, shuddering sigh and gave in to the call to relax.

The next few minutes were a blur. Later Angie didn't remember much past the knowledge that amidst getting prepped for surgery, she had Naima and her dad there and it all happened so quickly.

On the way to the OR she grew vaguely aware again and a small spark of panic broke through the lovely floaty place she'd been in.

"Daddy?"

"Right here. It's ok."

"Stay."

"I'm here, baby girl. You're ok."

Satisfied, Angie drifted back to the floating place and didn't pay much mind to anything more. Eventually she heard Daddy say he'd be there when she woke up, and then she knew no more.

Coming back was odd.

Things were happening around her, but she didn't care so long as she could hear that one voice answering every so often and asking questions. As long as she could hear Daddy, she didn't have to worry. It was nice being in that far away, relaxed, sleepy place where nothing hurt.

The only problem was it got harder and harder to stay there.

And it hurt coming back.

The more aware she became, the more she sensed that she ached. It wasn't nearly as bad as before, but she still hurt. Especially her throat.

Trying to let out a tiny moan when the waking world stabbed through her harder, Angie found it hurt more to make noise and that scared her.

"I know, honey," The voice of the nurse from earlier reached her. "It's gonna be rough for just a second here. Hang on."

Angie's eyes split open and she squinted, trying to move and find her dad. Her body wouldn't cooperate and she was imobile, which was even more scary.

"I'm right here, Angie." His voice came from her left and only then did she realize he was holding her hand and had been all along. "It's ok."

The moment she heard him, Angie stopped fighting and relaxed again, closing her eyes because that felt better.

She must have fallen back asleep again, because when she came back again, she was still sore but her brain was clearer and she could actually focus on the words being said around her.

Daddy was talking to Auntie Naima in a low tone.

"I'm just as much to blame, Naima. Don't be so hard on yourself. We'll make a plan and do better next time."

"I should have asked more questions- should have noticed-"

"You were working overtime and burning the candle at both ends at the same time as looking after three kids. Not sure I would have noticed either let alone had the emotional capacity to be there for her. You probably did better than I would have."

"No excuse." Naima muttered. "I can't believe I missed the signs. I was so burnt out and distracted, I never even saw Jameelah being so cool towards her. That little girl is beside herself with guilt. I had to have a long chat with her and convince her Angie was going to be ok."

"She say why she was freezing her out?"

"She doesn't really know why. Just keeps saying it just sorta happened and she feels horrible about it. Oh, and according to what Finch got out of Angie, Sarah and Summer got worse the second Angie wasn't playing with them. She's put in another complaint to the parents, just so you know."

"Little shits." Scott's dark growl put Angie's neck hair on end. "I'd love to give them a talking to."

The image of her dad's thunderous, stifling fury being directed at her school tormentors brought mixed feelings to Angie's heart. On the one hand she was satisfied by the thought, and on the other she didn't wish that on anyone, even her worst enemies. Daddy was so scary when he got mad even though he didn't yell.

"Oh, get in line. They've been awful for two years now to Jameelah. I'm just waiting for the opportunity to tear a strip off their mom's. Sarah's mom is the worst of the two. The woman is bitter, vengeful and vindictive. Her husband cheated on her during deployment and left them last year, or so the rumor mill spins it."

"Still no excuse to let your kid be a little asshole."

"Never said it was. I'm just saying there's a reason the girls are so bad. You learn what you see."

There was a soft snort and Scott murmured, "Poor Angie. If she learns what she sees, she'll end up a grumpy bastard like me."

"I would watch that language," Auntie Naima said sternly. "She'll be waking up soon and you don't need her swearing at her classmates at school."

There was a quiet chuckle followed by a growled, "Maybe that's just what they need….I'm kidding. Geez. Let a guy make a joke."

"I'm glad you stood down from the mission."

"What else was I going to do?" Daddy's voice took on an edge. "Go anyway? Do you seriously think I would have done that to her?!"

Angie's back stiffened against her will as she tried harder not to listen and failed.

Aunt Naima wasn't phased. "I never thought Jason would do something like that, and then he did several times when Alanna needed him. The team often comes first for frogmen. I wasn't sure what you would do."

"I'm not Jason," Scott said darkly. "I respect the hell out of him for a lot of reasons, but I'm not him when it comes to shit like that. I would never leave Angie alone to face all that for any reason. Not even sure Jason could have done it either in these circumstances."

"Well, all the same, I'm glad you stayed."

Scott grunted something and there was silence for a while. Angie wasn't sure she wanted to be awake yet, so she tried to go to sleep again and resisted the urge to move. Nothing hurt right now, but she got the awful feeling it would all get sore the moment she moved. That and she was a little desperate to hear more from the adults. Knowing that Daddy had no intention of ever leaving her alone during a scary situation like the last day made her feel cozy and she could have wept with relief. Maybe she never needed to beg as much as she had for him to stay. Maybe he would have actually stayed anyway.

"When are they back, do you think?" Naima asked softly.

Daddy drew a long breath, like he did when he was thinking.

"Not sure. Depends what they went for. I've got a hunch though that it'll be a few days. Should get some time off after though. It's been a long haul."

"Yeah. It sure has. Longer for you. Your life got turned upside down and you've been going non stop since."

That old, familiar guilt bubbled up in Angie and she tried to stay still, ignoring the subtle increase in the light 'beep' of her heart monitor in the background.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything," Scott said gruffly. "Just gotta figure out how to convince her of that."

"She really is afraid of you giving her up. Even Finch expressed that one clearly."

"I know. She emailed me the whole thing. According to her, and now you, and Trent, she' thinks I'll send her away, and…fuck if that doesn't tear me to pieces, Naima."

Angie got uncomfortable. Ms. Finch told her dad everything? She wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or betrayed. Perhaps a bit of both. She didn't like that it was bothering Daddy so much, and she was helpless to fix that. No matter how much she wanted to believe that he wanted her in his life.

"As it should." Naima answered with a sigh. "That would tear up any good parent, knowing their child thinks it's even possible that they would be sent away if they aren't 'good enough'."

There was another long paused before Scott muttered, "If you breathe a word of how vulnerable I'm about to get with you-"

"Not a soul."

"Good. Still have a reputation to keep, even if my little Mini Metal is slowly chipping away at it."

"Of course." Naima said with mock seriousness and Scott snorted ruefully.

"Look. I know it's only been, what…just over two months now? Damn…has it only been that long? But, Naima…I love her so damn much …sometimes so much that it hurts and I can't get enough of her, even on the rough days." Scott shifted where they were standing near the window and Angie could see him in her mindseye, rubbing his face and pinching his nose. He sounded rough now, tired and worn out. "Sometimes I actually hate that I have to leave her. Used to love my job with no hesitation and now…every week that passes it's harder to leave. This last one was…hell…for obvious reasons."

The words stunned her and Angie tried not to wiggle. She was resistant even now to hearing the truth coming from the very person she'd been convinced since Sunday didn't love her anymore, was going to send her away and who only cared for her out of duty after all, not because he wanted to.

"Have you told her that? That you don't like leaving her?"

"No. Didn't think I should. She was already so concerned about 'messing up my life' just by existing that I didn't want her to think she was 'ruining' anything more."

Concern prickled into Angie's gut, because Daddy was right. She was afraid of messing up more in his life, and she couldn't deny that hearing him say he didn't love his job as much anymore because of her was hard. Still, there was something about the way he was saying everything that she just couldn't figure out. Like, maybe it was true after all. Maybe she'd been wrong.

"Where on earth does all that come from anyway!?" Naima whispered. "Surely her mother wasn't the sort of person to-"

"No. This doesn't come from Catherine. This is spill over from fuckin Ronda."

"What? You can't be serious…"

"Oh, I am."

"What did Ronda tell her!?"

"Heard Angie talking to Cerberus the other day. As far as I can tell, Angie was bullied at her old school too when her mom was sick and Ronda told her to suck it up, get over it and put her big girl pants on."

"That bitch!" Naima fumed, shocking Angie because the woman never swore. "Did Finch tell you that Ronda also told Angie that if she didn't behave and caused too much trouble for her new family that we wouldn't want her anymore?"

Daddy's tone went dangerously quiet as he rumbled, "Yup. Believe me. I'll be passing it along to the new case worker. She'll be happy to report it and hopefully bury that woman deep."

"Unbelievable." Naima said venomously. "I still can't believe that woman. Leaving Angie with you so abruptly and after she took off too-"

"Don't forget that she didn't actually take the time to background check me properly and just went off her 'gut' that I was safe enough to leave a child with-"

"Nearly putting her with the Uncle before that-"

"The fucking Uncle better pray I never met him. Just his existence has put Angie through enough torment. And if I ever see Ronda again," Daddy growled out another string of words under his breath before saying savagely, "The amount of emotional damage I've got to try and undo because of that woman on top of everything else? The more I find out the more livid I am and somehow I have to make sure it doesn't bleed over and spook my kid when I try to get her to tell me stuff, because then she just shuts down and clams up something fierce and we end up here ."

Feeling bad, Angie tried not to make any facial expressions. Daddy seemed to be upset, and she felt like that must be her fault…but then that didn't exactly seem right either, because everything he said was so fiercely protective of her and raged against Ronda.

"Have you considered therapy? Even family therapy?"

"Yeah. Trying to find the time and talk Angie into talking to the one you suggested, Gloria, but she's not keen on it. After Ronda though, I don't blame her for being skittish around the idea," Scott sighed and muttered, "I'll go with her to family therapy if that's what it takes, just hell trying to schedule anything with how unpredictable my schedule is."

"Gloria is excellent and I know she's willing to book at a moment's notice for families like yours and rebook as needed if something comes up. You should try, at least."

"Yeah. I think so. Even if I'm the only one talking, I think we should do it. Can't keep-"

Scott broke off abruptly and the quiet was only broken by the rapid increase in Angie's heart monitor, betraying her. The longer she listened to them the more she thought she might burst with relief, confusion and disbelief. Hope glimmered. Maybe she hadn't ruined everything after all? Maybe there wasn't irreparable damage done and Daddy really was keeping her! The words leaving his mouth were a confusing mix of frustration and weary, passionate love that she couldn't fathom. Surely he was exaggerating…surely he was just tired and-

There was a soft tread and then Angie felt her hair pushed back by the much loved palm.

"You awake, little bear?" Daddy whispered gently.

Part of Angie wanted to pretend that she wasn't, but the thought of lying in any way, shape or form right now made her feel sick and she couldn't do it.

Guiltily, Angie dragged her eyes open and looked up at him.

To her surprise, his brow creased and his expression was slack with relief, compassion and affection as he leaned over her.

"There's my girl," He whispered, a tiny smile pulling around his mouth as he took her in.

Angie tried to make noise to say something, but no sound seemed to want to break past the stiff, aching in her throat. Worry creased her brow and she reached a weak hand for her throat.

"It's ok, Angie," Aunt Naima said quietly, coming to the other side and picking up the cup and straw sitting there. "Take a little drink. It will help."

Doing as she was told, Angie winced when it hurt a little to swallow, but it wasn't as bad as it had been before. It just felt sluggish and stiff right now.

Her ear hurt though. That wasn't nice.

"How do you feel honey?" Aunt Naima asked. "If you can't talk yet, that's ok. We can use yes or no questions too."

"Feel ok," Angie whispered, barely.

"How's the pain?" Daddy asked next, restless energy starting to hover around him as he studied her.

Angie tried to shrug and winced when she moved her lower half too much. The longer she was awake and moving the more she felt like she'd been dragged under a swing through gravel.

"Better than before at least?"

Nodding, Angie wiggled her toes. They felt like lead.

Eyes flicking around the darkened hospital room, Angie shivered and looked back up at Scott hopefully, hardly managing to whisper, "Home?"

Again, compassion etched his face and he said with the barest hint of humor, "Soon. I promise I'll take you home as soon as possible."

"You're just like your dad." Aunt Naima commented lightly, handing the cup of water to him and exchanging a wordless conversation. "He's always eager to leave here as soon as he can."

"I'm not the only one," Scott protested, wordlessly encouraging Angie to drink a little more water and helping her hold the cup. "Ray is worse and have you met Clay and Jason?"

"Yes. In fact I have stopped Jason for trying to sneak out once when I stopped in for a visit."

The image of her Uncle trying to sneak out of the hospital was one that Angie appreciated and understood. If she had the chance right now she would be out of here…if she could walk. Maybe Daddy would carry her and they could sneak out together!

As if reading her thoughts, Scott growled softly, "No getting any ideas. You're here for as long as they say, then I'll take you home."

"I'll go let them know you're awake." Naima said, rubbing Angie's shoulder comfortingly before she left.

The moment the door closed, Angie felt a lump raise in her throat for no reason.

She flicked an uncertain look to her dad who still stood next to her.

"What's wrong, little bear." Daddy asked, taking a seat so he wasn't towering over her and could lean his massive forearms on the bed.

The shame from her last misdeed drove the confession from her before she could stop it and she whispered with effort, "Eavesdropped."

Daddy's face was usually more blank when talking with her, but today, with how dark the lines were, the day's old scruff and the same t-shirt he had been wearing when he picked her up from Naima's, he wasn't as stoic. A series of expressions flickered through his face and he answered with a mildly stern, "No swearing, Mini Metal."

For some reason that struck Angie as a funny response to her confession and she quirked the tiniest of smiles.

When Scott saw it, a small smile slipped onto his own face and he followed up with, "I'm serious! Auntie Naima will get us both in trouble! I've already gotten enough well deserved lectures lately."

Going serious again at the thought of her father being in trouble too and how that felt, Angie whispered, "I won't swear. Promise."

Daddy went serious too and he paused, studying her. He took her hand and squeezed, leaning in conspiratorially, "I mean…if the situation warranted it and you used it in the right context…I might let it slide, just once. Or twice. Depending."

That brought a tiny smile back to her face and Angie wanted to answer, but her throat felt so crummy. She reached for the water again and drank a little more. The cold was helping.

"Mommy says…swearings for a special occasion," Angie whispered again.

Daddy's half smirk came back and he said, "Better save if for one, then."

Angie nodded, and held his gaze for a moment before dropping it to the sterile, white blanket under her fingers as she fidgeted with it.

"How much did you hear?" Daddy asked, sobering as he squeezed her other hand again.

"Since….since Aunt 'ima said 'meelah was upset." Angie managed. "I'm sorry."

"Shh…it's ok," Scott shook his head. "Thank you for telling me. Was pretty hard not to overhear when we're all in the same room together. I'm not mad."

Relief rippled through her and Angie blinked rapidly.

"We've got a lot of things to talk about, little bear, and we will as soon as you're up for it. Until then, there are just a few things I need to make sure you know."

Angie's lower lip wobbled before he got much further and Daddy rubbed a circle on the back of her head, hushing her again.

"You listening?"

Angie nodded.

"Good," Scott's voice got quieter. "Angie, it doesn't matter how perfect you are, or how good you are, or how much you mess up, or how many mistakes you make…nothing you ever do will make me love you less. And there is nothing you could do that will convince me to send you away. You hear me?"

Tears immediately leaked out and Angie bit both lips, still focusing her attention on where her fingers were clamped in a blanket. She could see on the back of her hand a bruise where there had been a needle. She was glad it was out now.

"Angie."

She slowly lifted her eyes and met his steady stare. The amount of pain on his face nearly took the air from her lungs.

"I will say it as many times as you need. You're not going anywhere. I love you. I meant what I said to Naima. I love you so much that it hurts sometimes, and that's a good thing, bear. Not a bad thing." When more tears poured over and Angie shuddered with a broken little sob, her dad moved in, cupping her cheek and wiping the moisture away uselessly as he said huskily, "I'm sorry I made you think otherwise, baby girl. I screwed up pretty bad and you suffered for it. I promise to try to do better."

"Me too," Angie whimpered, desperate to make peace over everything and lifting her arms weakly to ask for a hug.

Scott gathered her into his shoulder again with the greatest of care, holding the back of her head in place and kissing the crown.

"I'm sorry I left you like that and didn't come home." He whispered. "I shouldn't have done that."

"I'm sorry too…Carnival…" Angie chroaked, emotion making words rip from her throat louder than she meant to. It hurt.

"I know, little bear," Daddy's voice filled with firm compassion again as he tightened his hold gently. "I forgive you. We're ok. We'll talk about that later on and figure out what went wrong, ok? For now let's just worry about getting you feeling better."

Weight rolled off Angie's shoulders and she melted into his shoulder with another sob. It felt better this time.

"Shh…we're ok." Scott whispered, smoothing down her wild hair.

"Home." Angie whispered.

"Soon. I'll take you home as soon as possible," He answered patiently. "For now, let's make it through the next bit. I think I hear the nurse coming."

Drawing a deep breath and not caring that her dad's smell was a little stale at this point, Angie stayed snuggled in close until the last minute.

For the first time in days, things felt right again.