Summary: Striker and Maria have a heart-to-heart. Takes place during Vol. 2: Murder Family.

"What did you think you were doing, young lady?" Striker spoke after a tense silence. He sounded surprisingly calm, but Maria could hear the disappointment in his voice. "I told you to stay put, not follow me. You know better that, yet ya went and did it anyway. And what's worse, you almost got yourself killed! What have you got to say for yourself?"

Maria just sat wordlessly on the couch. The events that occurred earlier started coming back to her and she trembled.

"Maria, when I ask you a question, you better-" He stopped when he heard her sniffling. "I-I'm sorry, daddy... I just wanted to help you..."

Striker sighed, kneeling down to her eye level. "Baby girl, I know you like to help, but I make these rules for a reason. I ain't tellin' ya this cause I don't trust you, I just... I don't wanna lose you."

"I know..."

"If anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd do." He gently lifted her chin, wiping her tears. "Look, it's bold what you were tryin' to do, but this is a dangerous job. You can't just go runnin' in expectin' everything to work out, ya never know what'll happen."

"You mean like the dogs?"

"Exactly."

"I... I hadn't thought of that... I-I wish I was brave like you, but I... I didn't mean to be so stupid!"

Maria flung herself into her dad's chest and cried.

"Shh, no sweetie, you're not stupid. You just made a bad choice, that's all." Striker said softly, rubbing her back comfortingly. "What's important is you're safe now. But please, promise me you'll never ever do anything crazy like that again, alright?"

She sniffled. "I promise..."

"Thank you, baby doll. But don't think I'm gonna let ya off that easy, ya still disobeyed me. So, you're grounded for a week, ya got that?"

Maria winced but nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Good." He noticed she was still trembling in his arms and wiped some more tears from her eyes. "Hey now, don't let those mutts shake you up. Ain't no one gonna hurt ya, not while I'm here."

She finally smiled, "I'll try."

"Atta girl."

They silently stayed in their embrace for a while longer.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I bet those dogs were scared shitless, huh?"

He chuckled and smirked. "That's cause nobody fucks with your dad... C'mere you!" Maria squealed with laughter as Striker tickled her.