If you can't fly, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving.

-Martin Luther King Jr.

-Luke-

I sat outside the interrogation room right by Evan, waiting for Maggie to come out. It's been only ten minutes since she went into the room with the female officer that walked in after the other officer led her inside. Sarah would text me once in awhile asking for an update, and so far I would reply with 'still waiting'.

I looked straight ahead, watching as people in uniforms walked back and forth, files in their hands or an energy bar.

"So it's clear you have feelings for my daughter." I snapped my head towards Evan. He was looking down at his hands as he messed around with them. "I know I asked you awhile back to bring her back, you know, make her happy again. You told me that Graham was already doing it, but what you didn't know is that you are too in some way. You didn't leave when we heard what happened, you stayed silent and you held her hand the whole time, reassuring her that everything would be fine. And I for a fact know that if it were allowed you'd be in that room with her doing the exact same thing. Just by sticking by her you've given her happiness. I respect you for that Lucas."

I opened my mouth to thank him but he cut me off. "But, frankly as her dad I can't really make it so easy for you. Especially now. Not that I don't trust you, but it's sort of my job." I nodded my head slowly, trying to see where he was going with this.

"I will allow you to kiss her cheek, hug her, and even hold her hand. But so help me if I see your hand in a spot too low or too high, I will walk into this station and go behind bars after these men find your dead body, you hear?" I gulped and nodded my head.

"Loud and clear." I replied.

Suddenly the door to the room opened and the female officer rushed out, a serious expression on her face. She walked to the male officer from earlier nearby and handed him a photograph. "It's him, we have a location and exact description." She said. The male scoffed and started speaking codes into his walkie talkie, both of them running off outside and into their vehicles. Evan and I stood up as another officer came out with Maggie and motioned for all of us to follow.

"What in God's name is going on?!" Evan asked.

"Sir, the man who raped your daughter has an arrest warrant in nine other states for the same reason. We've been trying to hunt this man down for two years already. He changes his identity every time he's on the move and all ties are cut off randomly." I widened my eyes as they took the three of us to a bigger vehicle outside, motioning for us to get in.

"If we catch this man he's going to be thrown in jail with a life sentence." I leaned forward between the front seats and hit the gate in the middle.

"Then step on the bloody gas!"

————

-Maggie-

After I had explained everything to the lady, she had asked me to describe the man. I scratched my forehead and tried my very best to get the details correct.

"He was about 6'1 in height, uh dark auburn curly hair, tan skin tone, he's probably in his late twenties. He has brown eyes-"

"Wait hold up," the lady had stopped writing and she walked out of the room momentarily before coming back in. She slowly passed me a photo of a man. "Maggie, is this the man?" She asked. I looked down at it and my heart dropped as I nodded. The lady stood up, her expression went from calm to urgent.

"Where was it that you saw him last?" She asked.

"Art festival just outside of town. He was selling wooden rings." She shook her head and looked at me.

"This man has done the same thing he did to you to many other girls Maggie. You're the first girl to report him that ended up with a baby. You're gonna have to stay here while my team goes and hunts him down. We'll be back-" I stood up and shook my head. "No. I'm not staying here. I'm going." She opened her mouth to protest but I shook my head.

"I have to go. I won't be able to calm down until I see him cuffed up, and I won't wait here." She hesitated before nodding and walking to the door.

"Come with me." She stated. She led me out the room towards the guys. Next thing I know we're in a car and Luke is telling the officers to start driving.

I know he's mad and all, but the way his accent pronounced every word made me blush. I silently scolded myself as we began driving. Luke sat back, following the officer's orders and put on his seat belt. He turned to me and grinned.

"We're putting that man in jail for the rest of his life Maggie. He won't come near you or any other woman out there ever again." I smiled and grabbed his hand. "Thank you for coming. I was scared out of my mind in that room." I said. He sighed and kissed my cheek, for some reason checking behind me right after before looking back at me.

"I'll be there for you tomorrow at school too. You won't have to worry about anything." I smiled as we rushed to the festival. As we got closer I frowned and my heart rate started picking up.

"What if he isn't there? What if he left already since he knew I found out?" Luke shook his head and gripped my hand. "Apparently there are some police officers at the airport too just in case he made a run for it." I nodded, a bit of relief washing over me. The only sounds in the car were codes and formation plans being placed through the radio the officers had and dad talking to mom about everything that was happening. I frowned as I realized that this happened to many other girls before me. None of them got pregnant but they still have to live with that in their mind, just like I do. I felt bile rising in My throat as I realized how truly sick this man was. It's going to be extremely hard to tell Graham this. I know there's still years ahead until he actually asks about his dad, but just imagining how he'll react to it all has me worried.

Ten minutes later we found ourselves outside of the festival. One of the officers turned around, giving each of us a stern look. "You guys stay here. We have no idea if this man has a gun so we need to safe just in case." They both got out of the car and the three of us watched as the group went three different ways into the festival, their guns out low.

I feel like I'm in a Criminal Minds episode.

Suddenly Luke and my dad look at each other over me and they nod their heads. They got out of the car and I widened my eyes. "What are you two doing?!" I asked. Luke began to fiddle with the door and a few seconds later I realized he was putting child lock. I started to scoot towards him to get out. "No, I'm not staying. Let me go with you guys!" Luke turned to me as dad shut the door behind me, going to the front of the car. "Mags, we need you to stay safe. Your dad and I are just gonna be there to make sure the idiot doesn't go off running." I scoffed and pointed to where all the police officers went.

"They already have enough people for that! And what if the dude has a gun Lucas?" He rolled his eyes and leaned forward quickly to kiss my forehead. "We'll be fine. You have to stay here." Before I could say anything else he shut the door and went running off with dad. I groaned in frustration and tried opening the door even though it was on baby lock. I tried dad's to see if he forgot only to come up with the same result.

"If they make it out alive I'm going to kill them." I muttered. I would've gone out through the front, but since this was a cop car, they had those little gate thingies separating the front and back seats. I groaned and hit it, now knowing how Graham feels when he can't crawl up the stairs because of these things.

Crossing my arms, I huffed and leaned back on the seat.

———

-Luke-

"So what exactly are we doing?" I asked Evan. He stopped running and I did too before I bumped into him. "Just make sure they cuff him. Of not then I'll hunt him down myself." I nodded after processing what he just said and we began running again. "Sounds good enough to me." When we caught up to the officers Evan and I decided to hide by some booths behind the one where the man was currently working, since no one was there. As the little girl he gave a ring to went running off the man looked up and froze as he caught sight of the officers.

"Walter Tarrant, we have a warrant for you arrest. Step away from the shelf and put your hands up where we can see them." A cop yelled. All the people around us started to speed away from the scene as the other cops instructed them to. The man- Walter- slowly backed away from the shelves. When he was far enough he bolted towards our direction. One cop shot but missed, the sound echoing through the air.

"Walter! Freeze!" The cops began their chase and before I could process what was happening Evan jumped forward as he passed us and tackled him to the ground.

I wanted to do that.

Evan pushed his head towards the ground as he sat on his back, pinning his hands down. "You touched my daughter you sick man!" Walter yelled in pain as Evan used more force around his head and wrists. The cops caught up and pulled Evan off Walter before cuffing him. "Walter Tarrant, you are under arrest for the sexual assault of ten women. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the the right....." As the cop led Walter away while reciting the Miranda rights one of the officers that drove us here pulled us aside.

"What part of stay in the car did you two not understand? The girl isn't here too is she?" He asked. Evan and I shook our heads.

"We locked her in the car." I replied. He shook his head at us and led us behind all the other cops. When we got to the parking lot Evan and I began walking towards Maggie. As soon as I opened the car door a hand reached out and smacked me in the face.

"You idiot! You can't just go leaving me like that! I was worried one of you got shot and then I had to wait here expecting that a cop would walk up to me, announcing your death! If you ever do that again I swear I will never speak to you ever-"

I started to laugh, stopping Maggie from yelling. She frowned and crossed her arms, anger and confusion on her face. "What's so funny about this? You could have been shot Luke!" I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the car.

"Your dad tackled Walter. We caught him." Maggie blinked and turned her head up to be able to look at me. "Who's Walter?" She asked. I quirked an eyebrow as I saw her eyes flash when she connected the dots.

"Oh." I grinned and placed my hands on her cheeks. "Yes, oh." Maggie smiled and let out a contented laugh.

"It's over then?" She asked. I forced my smile away and shook my head. "No, not yet." I said. She knit her eyebrows together. "But you just said-" I cut her off as I leaned down and captured her lips with mine, finally being able to kiss her.

My heart rate picked up as she responded a few seconds later and wrapped her arms around my neck. It felt right in every way and now I was happy. I could feel her smile through the kiss and I pulled away to look at her.

"Now it's over." I said. Maggie blushed and I chuckled, getting ready to kiss her again, but then a throaty cleared. Maggie sighed and leaned her head on my chest, trying to hide her face as I turned to look at Evan. His eyebrows were up and his arms were crossed. His eyes held amusement, letting me know he wasn't about to kill me.

"It'd be nice if you didn't have your arms around my daughter's waist while you suck her face off in front of me Lucas." Maggie gasped and turned to Evan, her mouth open in shock and her face red.

"Dad!" He chuckled and I joined him as we all went in the car. Maggie huffed as we made her sit in the middle and I grabbed her hand.

"Now all I need to do is face everyone at school." Maggie said, leaning her head in my shoulder. I could tell she was ready to fall asleep by the way her eyes were drooping. I smiled and leaned my head above hers. "What you need to do is rest. The. We'll worry about school."

"I actually don't mind that at all." She said while yawning. I chuckled and rubbed circles on her hand as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

I sighed as I looked out the window in the way back, coming up to a decision.

It's time to tell Maggie about Thalia.

———