Disclaimer: Rin Tin Tin K-9 Cop doesn't belong to me.

Saying Goodbye - Chapter 1

Hank entered the kitchen followed by his partner, a german shepherd named Rinty, after a long day at work to find Alice sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee. Alice had been living with he and Stevie since before Stevie's mother had died in a plane crash. Alice was Stevie's grandmother and Hank's deceased brother's mother-in-law. Although the relationship sounded complicated, it really wasn't. Alice treated Hank like a son, and both of them loved Stevie very much.

Hank was very happy for Alice. After being alone for many years, she had finally met a nice man that really seemed to care for her. She smiled a lot more often and seemed to be enjoying her life again, which was why Hank was worried when he saw the tense set to her jaw and the worry lines on her forehead.

"Alice, what's wrong? Is Stevie okay?" Ever since the plane crash that had taken Maggie from them, Hank worried about Stevie constantly.

Alice jumped as if she hadn't even noticed him enter the house. "What? Oh, Hank, yes, Stevie's fine."

Hank hung his uniform jacket on the back of a kitchen chair before pouring himself a cup of coffee and joining Alice at the table. "Alice, I can tell something is wrong by the look on your face."

She sighed, putting her coffee mug down on the table and wrapping her hands around its warmth. "George has asked me to marry him, Hank."

"Alice, that's great!" Hank froze at the look on Alice's face. "Isn't it? I thought you loved George."

"I do, Hank, but..." Alice trailed off, staring down into her coffee. "Hank, his job has been transferred out of state. If I marry him, I'll be moving away." She finally looked up into Hank's face.

Hank swallowed and felt his mouth go dry. He knew Alice deserved a chance at happines, but this was going to kill Stevie. It would be like losing another mother. "Alice, I don't know what to say."

She shrugged. "I'm not sure what there is to say. I can't accept; I can't leave Stevie. It wouldn't be fair to do that to him after he's lost his mother."

A rustling in the doorway caught their attention. They both looked up to find Stevie standing there, his face a mixture of shock and pain. He took a quavering sigh before turning and running up the stairs to his bedroom. Hank shared a look with Alice, neither of them quite knowing what to say. Rinty stood up and followed the boy up the stairs.