Game Changer

Chap 6 "Grown Up"

Angela's POV
Thirteen years later, my baby girl is grown up. She walked down to the kitchen and sat down. "Lylee," I smiled as I put a plate of breakfast in front of her. "Thirteen years old and already in her sophomore year of high school."
"Where'd you get to be so bright?" Jeremy asked.
"Dad, if I recall, Mom was the youngest detective ever in the NYPD SVU," Lylee smiled. "I guess I got it from her."
"Okay," Jeremy nodded as James came down the stairs and sat down. "James, here's breakfast." Jeremy put a plate in front of him. "First day of college at the age of eighteen, how are you feeling?"
"Not good," James let out and put his head down next to his plate.
"Eat up," I replied. "You're going to need it, trust me."
"Mom, Brooke and Shelby were wondering if we could go to the skate park after school," Lylee nodded.
"You have to ask your father about that one," I nodded. "Mom has to go to work."
"Dad?" Lylee asked.
"Not like that, you're not," Jeremy nodded.
"Like what?" she asked.
"The makeup," Jeremy pointed. "What is that? Blush?"
"Dad, stop," Lylee nodded. "It's not blush. My cheeks are always pink."
"Are you going to meet a boy?" Jeremy asked.
"No," Lylee nodded. "Shelbs has a skateboarding competition today and asked if Brooke and I can go support her."
"That's what you're attending?" I asked. Lylee nodded. "That's just perfect, another kid in the middle of a crime scene." Everyone looked at me, even James. "The skate park is closed today, Lylee. Someone was killed there last night."
"By who?" Jeremy asked.
"Four," Nick sighed walking in.
"You're kidding," I looked at Nick. "Please tell me your lying to me."
"I wish I was lying through my teeth," Nick replied. "But no. Olivia got confirmation that he was at the scene. Prints were found on the murder weapon and a note that says I'm back with the number four underneath it."
"I thought he was in a maximum security prison," Jeremy pointed at Nick.
"He was, but a bomb went off and a couple of the prisoners escaped," Nick nodded. "One of them being Four."
"Who names their kid Four?" James asked.
"Someone who wanted to escape their life as Thomas Eaton," I sighed.
James looked at me, "Eaton?"
"That's what I said," I nodded.
"That name is on my birth certificate," James replied. "Then again on my name change certificate making me James Eaton-Manning."
"Your last name is Manning," Jeremy looked at James. "We changed your name after we adopted you."
"So, is this guy related to me in anyway?" James asked.
Jeremy and I exchanged glances at each other. "It was coming one way or another," Jeremy shrugged.
"James, Four is your father," I sighed. "His girlfriend, your mom, put you up for adoption because he has a criminal record. We didn't want you around him because of that." I looked at James. "Now that he's out, we don't know what that could mean for your father and I."
"Protective custody," Nick looked at me. "All of you. If he's coming for James, he might attack your weakest asset first." Nick looked at Lylee. "He's going to take princess so James will surrender for his little sister."
"You know how I'll sacrifice myself before he could touch anyone of my kids," I looked at Nick.
"And I know how stubborn you are to not want to be in protective custody," Nick replied. "Ange, you know it's the right thing to do even thought you don't want to. All of you will be watched around the clock."
"Perfect, just want I need," James nodded. "A chauffer." He took a bit of his food and got up. "I can't be late."
"You still have fourty five minutes," I replied. "Sit down and finish your breakfast." James did and ate in silence. "So, what's the pair up?"
"Finn will go with James because they get along so well," Nick nodded. "I'm with Lylee." I sighed. "You and Olivia will switch off through half the day."
"I work," Jeremy replied. "All day."
"I'll bring you food," I nodded. "I'll bring the whole team."
"That means you need to bring more food," Jeremy responded.
"Okay," I nodded. "That's fine."
"Really?" Nick asked.
"I don't mind at all," I smiled.
"When do I get my car back?" James interrupted.
"Well, you sky rocketed our insurance," Jeremy replied. "The repairs costs a couple hundred dollars. Your mom isn't really happy that you did. Why don't you ask her?"
"Give me a month," I replied. "The car is a Mitsubishi Eclipse and you wrecked it after six months."
"So, a month," Nick nodded. There was a honk and my phone beeped. "Is it Liv?"
I got out my phone. "No," I nodded. "It's Finn. James, your ride is here." James sighed as he grabbed his backpack and left. "Does it seem like he's not happy the way his father turned out?"
"He doesn't want to be like Four," Nick nodded.
"But he won't because we raised him the way we were raised," I sighed. "So, far, he's nothing like his father."
"Yeah, wish I could take more," Nick nodded. "But I gotta get Lylee to the school and follow her from a distance."
"Uncle Nick, that just sounded creepy," Lylee responded as she got up and grabbed her backpack. "I guess I'll tell Brooke and Shelbs no."
"Exactly," I nodded. Nick and Lylee left. "Looks like I'm dropping you ff. "Jeremy was doing the dishes. "Hey, something on your mind?"
"No," Jeremy lied.
"Why bother?" I asked as he finished. "You haven't been able to lie to me for the past fifteen years, why start now?"
"We're thirty," Jeremy shrugged. "Wouldn't hurt to try."
"I'm thirty three, you're thirty four," I replied.
"Yeah, we're getting old," Jeremy sighed.
"Don't remind me," I nodded. We got into the SUV and I started driving. We got to Kohl's and Olivia was waiting outside. "Looks like she got here before us."
"You're trading off with her at three, right?" Jeremy asked. I nodded. "Alright." He gave me a quick kiss. "See you in six hours."
"Bye," I nodded as Jeremy got out of the car. "Okay." I went to the precinct. Amanda was there. "Hey."
"Where is everyone?" Amanda asked. "I tried everyone's cell. I was about to call you."
"Yeah, my family has been put in protective custody," I sighed. "So me and you have to take care of the case for today because the rest of the team is watching a family member." I looked at Amanda. "I'm on my own because I can take care of myself, apparently."