My father seemed to pause and grow still as soon as I called him "Dad," and he took a deep, shuddering breath before he released it with a small whoosh. Ok, he said before he cleared his throat after his voice had cracked and became filled with relief. Ok. He took another deep breath and released it with another whoosh, trying to keep his emotions in check so that whoever he was with didn't know what was going on.

I didn't say a word and waited for him to do what it was that he needed to do.

After a while, Timothy shifted on his feet and looked around to make sure that we were safe before he looked at me when all I was doing was standing there with a blank look on my face. "What's happening?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question while he studied me, even though I couldn't see him with my eyes still closed. "Why are you still standing there with a blank look on your face?"

"He hasn't done anything yet," I replied with a shake of my head and grabbed my gun a little tighter, growing nervous. "He is trying not to cry at the moment."

"Why?" Timothy asked and cocked his head to the side, searching my face for answers when I didn't respond right off of the bat. A small smirk appeared on his face while he tucked his head closer to his chest. "Did you call him "Dad," Neeley?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question while he continued to study me.

I opened an eye and stared at him with a blank look on my face, even though I had a feeling that my father didn't want me to do that but didn't care while he tried to get his emotions under control. I stared at my companion with a blank look on my face, not knowing how that was the response he came up with.

Timothy's face grew brighter, and a grin appeared on his face when he caught my blank look as if he knew that what he said was right, especially since I had not said a word. "It is true, isn't it?" he asked. "Did you call him "Dad," and he is not trying to cry because you haven't been calling him that at all?"

I couldn't help but open my other eye and stare at him, searching his face without saying a word because I had no idea how he knew what I was thinking and what was going on between my father and I.

Timothy grinned and tucked his head closer to his chest. "It is, isn't it? I am taking your silence that is the reason as to why nothing has happened between the two of you. Did you call him Dad and stop being a stubborn old pig?" He raised an eyebrow in question while he studied me.

I scowled and narrowed my eyes, pressing my lips into a thin line while my father chuckled softly. "I am not being a stubborn old pig," I said with a small grumble in my voice. "Why the hell did you call me a stubborn old pig?"

Timothy shrugged and looked nonchalant, even though he could tell that I was getting annoyed with him, which he didn't seem to care about because he knew that I wouldn't hurt him. "It fit," he said and shrugged, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes and scowl without saying a word.

My father chuckled amused. He cares about you, Love, he said, and I bit back an annoyed sigh and bit the inside of my lip. I am sure that you care about him, too, correct? He mentally raised an eyebrow in question while he studied me in a way only he could, especially since we were connected with this familial type of bond.

I sighed and mentally nodded. Yes, I said, trying but failing to hide the annoyance in my voice. Now, can you go ahead and do what you need to do, please? I asked while I shifted on my feet, growing anxious for some reason. We need to go and help rescue the kids or start to get ready for my group.

My father bit back a small chuckle, silently agreeing with me. Close your eyes, he said, and I bit back an annoyed sigh before I did what I was told to do and closed my eyes. Now open your mind to me, he said softly. You'll feel a little weird, grow a little taller, and sound a little different than what you do now, but other than that, you will be fine during and after this.

I mentally nodded and sighed. How am I supposed to do that? I asked, not knowing how I was supposed to open my mind to him. And should I warn my partner before this happens?

Yes, he said and mentally nodded without giving it much thought and not telling me how I was supposed to open my mind to him. You might want to go ahead and warn your partner about what is going to happen so that he doesn't freak out on you when you start to act differently.

I bit back a tired sigh and opened my eyes to see that Timothy was staring at me with a raised eyebrow and studying me with a patient and worried look on his face. "I'm probably going to be growing a little taller and sound a little weird," I said, "when he does whatever it is that he needs to do."

Timothy nodded. "Do you want me to hold your gun?" he asked, earning a small snort from my father while I gave him a weird look. He bit back a small smile and tucked his head closer to his chest. "What?" he asked while he raised an eyebrow in question, studying me. "Do you want me to?"

"I still have enough weapons on me, even without the gun in my hands, Copeland. If he wants to kill you, then he can use any of those weapons and kill you. Don't be stupid."

"Or more stupid than I already am," Timothy said and shrugged. He shifted on his feet and looked around to make sure that we were still safe, and a look of nervousness and anxiety appeared on his face while he looked at me. "Are you sure that this is going to be a good idea?"

I didn't...

"Well, it's the only thing that we have," I said and shrugged, pressing my lips into a thin line, "especially since my father is the one that is suggesting we do this before we get what we need to do done."

Timothy sighed and nodded, offering me a tight smile while he bowed his head. "Ok," he said and moved a hand through his hair and across his face. He shook his head and held his gun tighter in his hands, growing serious. "Then I will make sure to keep watch over you while this happens between the two of you and make sure that you stay safe."

You have my word...