ANNOUNCEMENT: AH! I am so sorry! It has been so long!

EXPLANATION: A couple of weeks ago was the opening weekend of Godspell, which I'm in, and I did not have time to update stories. THEN I lost power due to hurricane Sandy. THEN I had to transfer all of the stuff I wrote down on paper to the computer. There.

AGAIN I AM SORRY! STUPID HURRICANE.

Not that I'm complaining. At least I still have a house and my family is safe.

Anyways…here you go!

Chapter 6

Katie had decided that she did want to be left alone anymore. She had agreed to play with Charlotte, so she wouldn't be alone, and to get her mind off of the thoughts plaguing her mind. She felt like a child again, never wanting to stop playing, but not for the reasons that a normal child would. Would she ever get over this plaguing fear that overcame her thoughts almost every moment? On top of all that, she had now just put Colleen and her whole family in danger. How could she live with herself if anything happened to them? She couldn't stand to be relocated with another guardian again. Again feeling the guilt…so overwhelming…

"Katie!" Charlotte said. Katie flinched, but relaxed seeing it was only Charlotte.

"Yes, Charlie?" Katie said taking deep breaths to calm her increasing heart rate.

"My dolly's arm is flat!" Charlotte said, waving the doll in Katie's face.

"Oh I see," Katie said, taking the doll from her. "There's a hole in her arm. We'll have to put more stuffing in it and sew her back up,"

"Like a doctor!" Charlotte said, getting excited. "Like Mama! And you!"

"That's right," Katie said, smiling. "Now we can play doctor, and you can be my assistant,"

Charlotte clapped her hands excitedly. "Now I'm going to go get the things I need. You prepare her for surgery,"

"Ok!"

Katie left to get her sewing kit from her room.

"What are you doing Katie?" Colleen asked, causing Katie to jump sky high. "Sorry," Colleen said quickly, hoping that she didn't frighten her too much.

"It's fine," said Katie, recovering her breath. "I'm getting my sewing kit. Charlie's doll has a hole in her arm, and I need to perform surgery," Katie smiled.

Colleen smiled. "She really looks up to you, Katie," Colleen said. "She loves having someone to play with,"

Katie smiled brightly. "I don't know what I'd do without her," she said. "She's helped me get through some terrible things…even if she didn't realize,"

With that she walked back into Charlie's room. "I got everything we need,"

"Good!" Charlotte said. "I've got her all ready,"

"Very good," Katie sat down where Charlotte had placed her doll and started to fix her up.

"Be careful!" Charlotte burst, seeing the needle go into the doll's arm.

"Hush," said Katie over her shoulder. "When assisting in surgery, you have to be calm and quiet,"

Charlotte nodded, carefully taking in everything she said. She watched very intently as Katie performed the "surgery".

"There, all done," Katie said, holding the doll up to Charlotte. "Good as new,"

"Yay!" Charlotte said seizing the doll and squeezing her close to her.

"Be careful!" Katie warned. "She's just had a surgery. She can't do anything that might hurt her again, and she needs plenty of rest,"

"Ok," Charlotte said, taking the advice to heart. "I'll make sure she gets all better,"

"Good," Katie said.

"I'm gonna be a doctor too," Charlotte said proudly.

"Really?" Katie said, smiling. Nearly every woman in this family wanted to be a doctor.

"Yeah!" Charlotte exclaimed, carefully setting her doll in her bed.

"Well you can start practicing by taking good care of that doll," Katie said.

"I will,"

Katie walked into the hall to find Colleen looking for her. "I'm going to the clinic. Do you think you'll be alright?"

"Is Andrew home?"

"No," Colleen said uneasily.

"Actually…can I…"

"You can come with me," Colleen said quickly, instantly realizing I what a bad idea it was to leave Katie home alone. "You'll just have to watch the children,"

"Of course," Katie said. "I'll go get them ready," Katie dashed off the gather the children.

When they reached town, Colleen got the children settled in one of the recovery rooms, and Katie was playing games with them to keep them entertained. They were playing for a good hour, when she heard commotion coming from downstairs.

"Wait here everyone," Katie said to the children. She crept downstairs and tried to see what was going on. There was a man sitting on an examination table, holding a bloody rag to his face.

"Yeah, I fell off my horse and he trampled my face…"

Katie gasped. That voice was horribly familiar…

"Oh Katie," Colleen said. "I need your help. Get him another rag please, and wet it,"

Katie nodded. She moved stiffly to the cabinets to get a rag. She slowly walked over to where the man was sitting, her mouth dry as sand.

"Here you go," Katie said in a barely audible whisper.

"Thanks," the man said, taking the old rag off his face. He looked at Katie with his disgusting eyes.

Katie's eyes bulged. She walked backward until she bumped into Colleen. "Katie what are you? – "

"It's him," she croaked.

"What?"

"That's him, Colleen…he's come back for me…"

Colleen gasped. "His horse didn't trample him…you kicked him…"

"He's gonna hurt me…don't let him hurt me!" Katie cried, on the verge of hysterics.

"Shh, it's going to be fine. Go upstairs…and…I'll figure something out," Colleen watched nervously as Katie ran upstairs. Her gaze went back to the man, and she shuddered.

"Now," she said. "I'm going to examine you,"

The man nodded. When she finished examining him, she sighed. "Your nose is broken, but other than that, there isn't any serious damage. Those cuts will heal rather quickly,"

"That's good," he said. "'Cause I got things to do,"

That sent a wave of panic down her spine. "Alright well…I'll just, set the bone, and put the bandages on it…"

When she finished, the man gave her a sly look. "Now I ain't got a place to stay, and I ain't got money for a hotel,"

"Well you can't stay here," Colleen said firmly. "I have patients upstairs,"

"Well that's a shame,"

"Mama!" Anthony called. All of the children suddenly appeared. "Katie is crying again, and she looks real sick!"

"Are they yours?" the man asked. Colleen nodded. "Beautiful family…and the girl, the tall one…she yours too?"

"No," Colleen said. "All of you get back upstairs, and tell Katie I'll be right there,"

"Katie? Is that her name?"

Colleen was beginning to feel extremely uneasy. "I would appreciate it if you'd leave, I have other patients,"

"I just have one more question," he said, walking closer and closer to Colleen. "Where is she? The doctor on the sign?"

"She…she died…" Colleen said sadly. "Two years ago,"

"My condolences," he said. "Did she ever…tell you anything?"

"What are you – "

"My girl…I know you know where she is," he had now cornered her into the wall.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Colleen tensed up as he pressed his body into hers. His putrid breath reeked of alcohol.

"Yes…you do," he was boiling with anger. "Katie knows where she is…I know you do too,"

"I really don't know what – "

"Yes you do!" he was now pressing his gun to her stomach. "Tell me now!"

"Please! Please stop!" Colleen cried. "Help! Someone – "

"Shut up!" he pressed the gun harder into her.

The front door suddenly swung open and Andrew stepped in. "Colleen I got the – "

He stopped dead in his tracks. Colleen gave him a terrified look and mouthed the word 'run'. Bewildered, Andrew was frozen to his spot.

"Don't move," the man growled at Andrew. "Draw the curtains, and lock that door,"

Andrew obeyed. "Please…don't hurt my wife…"

"Quiet," he snapped at him. "Get against the wall," Andrew stood next to Colleen. "Tell me where she is, or I'll kill him,"

"I don't know where she is!" Colleen screamed. "Leave him alone, please!"

"Shut up!" he hit her across the face. Anger was quickly boiling up inside of Andrew. No one man handled his wife. Colleen started to cry. Andrew wrapped his arms around her and tried to comfort her. The man stood there impatiently.

"Ya know…" he said thoughtfully. "I never finished with Katie...she's a feisty one, she is…"

"Don't you touch her!" Colleen snapped. "Leave her alone,"

"Call her down here," he demanded. Colleen stayed silent. "Call her down here, or I'll go get her,"

Colleen gasped. What would happen if he went upstairs? "K-K-Katie! C-c-come here!" Soon, Katie had emerged, looking absolutely terrified.

"There you are…" the man said menacingly. "Thought you could get away, did ya?"

"Please…don't hurt me…" Katie begged. "Please leave me alone…"

"Where's the girl?" he boomed angrily.

"I don't know!"

"Tell me, or you're mine!" he grabbed Katie and kept her in a tight hold.

"NO! LET ME GO! DON'T HURT ME!" she shrieked. She tried desperately to get out of his grasp, screaming as loud as she could.

"Be quiet!" He bashed her over the head with the butt of his gun, and she dropped unconscious on the floor.

"Katie!" Colleen cried.

"Mama? What's going on?" a small voice said.

"Tommy! Go back upstairs!" Andrew tried to get him away.

"No, no…" the man said walking closer. "Do stay…and get the others…" he added, looking menacingly at Colleen.

"Yes sir," Tommy disappeared upstairs before anyone could object.

"No…" Colleen whispered. "Don't hurt my children please…" she begged, starting to cry again. "Do whatever you want to me…just don't hurt them…please…"

"It all depends on how you cooperate," he said.

Soon all four children came bounding down the stairs. "Katie?" Charlotte asked. "Why are you sleeping?"

"Charlotte!" Colleen called to her. "Come here!" Charlotte obeyed and Colleen gathered her in her arms.

"Mama, why are you sad?" Charlotte asked.

"Shh," Colleen cradled her.

Andrew was holding Johnny and Anthony and Tommy clung to their mother's skirt.

"What a pretty little sight," the man said. "I would hate to destroy such a perfect little family…"

Colleen shivered as he came closer. She pressed Charlotte's face into her.

"Where is she?" he growled.

Colleen frantically searched the room with her eyes. "I…I'll tell you,"

"Good," he backed off. "Tell me,"

"I've go to get something upstairs,"

"Well I'm coming,"

Colleen nodded. She put Charlotte down.

"What are you doing?" Andrew whispered harshly.

"I have a plan," she whispered back, then hurried upstairs.

"If I come back and any of you are gone, I'll kill her," the man said, then disappeared upstairs.

Andrew rushed to Katie's side.

Colleen slowly took the paper out of the box and locked it back up again, sliding the key in her pocket. 154 Baker Street…154 Baker Street…

"Here," she handed him the paper. "Now please, leave us alone,"

"If this is fake…"

"It isn't!" she said hastily. 154 Baker Street…

"Don't tell anyone what you've seen today, or I'll find you…and I swear I'll kill you and your pretty little family," he stormed downstairs, and Colleen rushed after him. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, he was gone.

"Colleen…" Andrew rushed to her and embraced her.

"Andrew…we don't have much time. We have to get to Denver,"

"What?"

"The girl, she's in danger," Colleen said. "We have to go…154 Baker Street,"

"What are we waiting for?" Katie jerked awake. "We have to save her,"

"Katie you're staying here – "

"No!" Katie stood up. "I'm perfectly well! I'm coming!"

Andrew and Colleen exchanged looks, then turned back to Katie.

"Fine," Andrew said. "But you'll need to be very careful,"

"I will," Katie said. "Now let's go; he could be halfway there by now,"

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