Janie and August peek into Stella's room and she's digging through her dresser, clothes all over her floor.

"Stel, what's, uh, what's going on in here?" August asks with a small chuckle.

"Why did a tornado hit your room?" Janie asks.

"Hey, do you guys have any money?" Stella asks.

"Why?" They both ask.

"I just need it. Can you go get it?" Stella snaps at them. The twins share a look.

"Okay." August shuts the door. "You trashed your room, you're yelling at us, which for you is not normal at all, and you're asking for money. This sounds like something I should go tell mawline."

"No! Don't." Stella protests. "I think I can find dad."

"How?" August asks.

"A woman called the ranger station and I'm going to meet her." Stella says.

"Okay, I'm-I'm coming with you." August says.

"Me too." Janie nods.

"No, you aren't." Stella argues.

"Oh, I think we are." Janie says.

"Yes, I am. Stella, we just went through this, okay? And we're both sick of it. So if this is something that's gonna help find dad, we're doing it together." August walks out.

"Exactly. You're not the only one who gets to make adult decisions. Besides, going to see a random person alone is probably one of the most dangerous things you could do."

+++

They get to the parking garage and get out of the Mustang, looking around for anybody. They hear footsteps and turn to see a blonde woman.

"Shannon?" Stella asks.

"You're who I was talking to?" She asks.

"I'm with the Rangers. Can you tell me where you saw Ranger Walker?" Stella asks.

"Do you have the money?" Shannon asks.

"Just tell us where our dad is." August demands.

"Your dad. That's what you were starting to say on the phone." Shannon recalls.

"Yes, okay, the missing Ranger is our dad. It doesn't really matter. Now, just tell us where you saw him." Stella orders.

"She asked if you had the money." Two guys walk up behind the siblings. One guy stands between the sisters while the other pats August's jean pockets. "Pockets feel empty, babe." He tells Shannon.

"Hey. What're your names?" The second guy asks the girls.

"No, don't-don't-don't talk to them." August demands.

"Ooh." The second guy laughs. "Tough guy. What if I want to talk to them? You gonna stop me?"

"Just give us the money." Shannon orders.

"Tell me where my dad is." Stella says.

"Screw it." The first guy punches August in the stomach.

"August!" Janie and Stella call, trying to walk over.

"Ah-ah-ah." The second guy wraps his arms around their waists.

"Hey." Stella objects.

"Get off me." Janie fights against him.

"Don't go anywhere." The guy says. "Give us the money."

August punches the first guy. The guy throws the sisters to the ground and the first guy holds August so the second one can punch him. August falls to the ground.

"Hey!" Stella exclaims.

"Stop!" Janie yells as the two guys start to kick August

"Wait, stop it. Stop it, wait!" Stella shouts. "Here. Stop!" She holds the money she got from her room out. They stop and Stella walks over to Shannon, giving her the money. "Here. Just take it."

"This ain't even 200. Where's the rest?" Shannon asks.

"Freakin' amateurs." The first guy mutters.

"Stella. Stella!" August calls as the first guy holds a knife to him, ready to stab him.

"Don't." Janie tries to attack him, but the second guy holds her back. "Get off me." She struggles against him.

"Okay, here, take it. It's a classic. It's worth way more than ten grand. Just take it and leave us alone. Okay?" Stella gives Shannon the keys to the Mustang.

"Why'd you have to make it so hard?" Shannon asks. "Let's go, boys." The guy lets go of Janie and the three go to the Mustang and get in.

"Augie?" Janie rushes over, kneeling next to him.

"Hey, you okay?" Stella asks, rushing over.

They watch as Shannon speeds away in the Mustang.

+++

It's the middle of the night and the family are waiting for Cordell and Liam to get home after being called by Captain James that they got out. Abilene made some food as they wait around.

Soon enough, Liam and Cassie walk in, Abilene and Bonham immediately hugging their youngest. The others hug him as they talk to him. Janie keeps an arm around Liam, seeing how broken he seems.

After a couple of minutes, the door opens, Geri and Cordell walking in. As Cordell shuts the door, Abilene races to him, tightly hugging him.

"Mama, there she is-- hey! Gentle, gentle." Cordell says. "There you are." Abilene pulls away. "I cannot believe you're making a roast this late. Or-or early, I guess."

"Well, I-I'm sure you boys are starving, and you're home." Abilene says as Bonham hugs Cordell. "Thank God you are home."

"Starving, of course. Of course we're home." Cordell says. Given the opening, Janie tightly hugs her dad, but loosens her grip a little when she remembers his injuries. Cordell hugs her back, kissing the top of her head. "We-we, uh..." Cordell wraps an arm around August when he hugs him, sticking Janie in the middle. "You can't get rid of us that easily."

"I can't believe you're okay." August says.

"I'm good." Cordell assures as Stella joins the hug.

"It happened, and I just had this feeling." She says.

"Oh, no feelings, no feelings, all right? Okay." Cordell says as they finish hugging. "Okay, enough. We're good. We're home. We're here. We're fine. We're safe. Right, stinker?" He asks Liam.

"Yeah. Something like that." Liam says.

"Yeah. Would've been home a little bit earlier, uh, but, uh, nice of y'all to wake up." Cordell says. "Mama, I would love to eat, if that's okay." He tells her as she walks over to Liam.

"Of course." She says, wrapping an arm around Liam, starting to help him walk to the dining table.

"Let's go eat." Bonham announces.

"Yeah, let's go eat." Cordell mutters. Bonham wraps an arm around him, helping him walk. "I'm all right, I'm all right." They all make their way to the dining table, Janie sharing a concerned look with her siblings.

"You know what? Hey, wait. H-Hold on. Hold on, hold on." Cordell says, going to the head of the table. "I'm good." He tells his dad, breaking away from him. "Hold on. Uh, wait a second, wait a second." Abilene pulls one of the chairs out for Liam and he sits down, wincing a little. "I-I got an idea. And I-I think it might be a, um... matter of fact, I know it's a good idea. Stella Blue, you never got the chance to hear my graduation speech."

"Dear God, no." Stella says.

"Is he delirious?" Janie whispers to her brother.

"That or something." August whispers back.

"This is gonna be fun. Okay, okay, everybody sit. Sit, sit, please, please." Cordell tells them. You, too. Sit. Sit. Sit." Everybody but Cordell sits down around the table.

"Son, you sure you're okay?" Bonham asks.

"I'm fine, daddy. I'm-I'm fine." Cordell says.

"Because everybody who went through who knows what is fine." Janie mumbles under her breath.

"Just my-my baby girl -- or, well, first baby girl -- has to hear her graduation speech. I practiced." Cordell says. "Okay." He clears his throat. 

"Oh, God." Janie whispers.

"Stella. There are moments a parent thinks about from day one. Your-your first words. Uh, your-your first steps." Cordell says.

"Really going for that long-term retrospective, huh?" August asks.

"Are we gonna be here for 18 hours?" Janie asks.

"All right. Hush, you two." Cordell tosses napkins into the twins' faces.

"Anyway, graduation has been one of those moments. Mostly because for 16 years we envisioned it alongside your mother. She and I sitting together, watching you cross that stage, whispering to each other about how much we wish we had gotten rid of Augie first."

"Okay, I thought that was kind of a fun... tough crowd." He says. "Okay, okay, all right. I guess what I'm trying to say is even though your mother isn't here, she would be so proud of the woman you've become. A Sauber woman, in just a few months. Ready to conquer the world and whatever mountain happens to come our way..."

"Um, dad." Stella points to his arm where blood is escaping from the bandana wrapped around his hand.

"Cor-Cordi, stop. Look, stop." Geri points the blood out.

"Oh. Oh. Aw, crap." Cordell puts his hand to stop the blood fall. "Uh, I think a stitch must've, uh..."

"Oh, sweetie, I got it." Abilene gets up, going to the kitchen.

"It's fine. Mama, it's-it's-- I'm not done, uh, j... got to, uh... I'm good. It's not..." Stella gets up and wraps a napkin around his hand. "Uh, uh..."

"Thank you, dad." She tells him. "It's good to have you home." She says.

"Mm-hmm." He nods. He rests his chin on top of her head. "Yeah, it's good to be home. Happy graduation."

~ ~ ~

After eating, everybody retreated to their rooms, Cassie and Geri both going home.

Janie lays in her bed and fiddles with her rings as a thousand thoughts race through her brain. She lets out a heavy sigh, hating how her mind is so active when it's the middle of the night... well, early morning.

She gets out of bed and quietly walks through the hallway. She reaches her dad's room and raises her hand to knock on the door, but hesitates. 

Janie quietly sighs, starting to leave, but the door opens making her turn with slightly widened eyes.

"Hey, baby girl." Cordell softly greets.

"H-Hi." She stammers. "Sorry, I, uh... I just... I couldn't sleep."

"That-That's okay. Um... I was gonna go down and-and make some coffee." Cordell says.

"You haven't been home for more than six hours and you want coffee?" Janie asks.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm, uh... shockingly, not that tired. Must be-- you know, yeah." Cordell says.

"Right." She mutters. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good, baby. Nothing to worry about." Cordell says. Janie nods, even though she doesn't believe him. "We're all safe. We're fine. We're good."

"Okay." She mumbles.

"You wanna... you wanna go down with me?" Cordell says.

"Sure." Janie nods.

"Okay." Cordell puts his hand on her back, the two quietly going downstairs to not wake August or Stella.

Janie sits on the couch while Cordell makes his coffee. After he's done, he sits next to her, the two sitting in silence.

"I'm glad you're home." Janie says after about ten minutes of silence.

"Yeah. Yeah, me too, baby." Cordell smiles at her. He wraps his arm around her, bringing her into his chest, tightly hugging her and he plants a kiss to her head. Janie stays with him, eventually managing to slowly fall asleep, in her dad's safe hold.

+++

The next night, Janie still can't get her mind to shut up, so she grabs her pillow and blanket. She considers going to her dad's room, but given how positive he had been all day, she's not sure she can handle any more false optimism. Plus, any time somebody mentioned feelings, he'd change the subject, reminding everybody everything's fine.

Janie trudges to her sister's room, softly knocking on the door before opening it. Stella is lying in her bed and on her phone.

"Can I sleep in here?" Janie asks.

"Sure." Stella mumbles, putting her phone up. Janie shuts the door, walking over and getting in the bed. "Don't you usually sleep in dad's bed for, like, a week straight after something like this? Or half a week, at least?"

"Yeah, but... he's too positive this time. He... he's pushing everything down. He won't accept that emotions are a thing." Janie says. "Kind of ruins the whole comforting vibe I want. Plus if he's really that bad, last thing he needs to do is take care of me."

"Right." Stella mutters. "Isn't Augie your second option, though?"

"He was snoring. There's no waking him up." Janie says making Stella softly chuckle.

"Are you okay?" Stella asks.

"I don't know." Janie sighs. "Are you?"

"I don't know." Stella copies.

"Well... this will be a fun summer." Janie sarcastically remarks.

"Mm. Yeah, the best." Stella lightly rolls her eyes.

+++

It's the end of summer and they're supposed to start driving Stella to college tomorrow. Cordell is still acting as positive as ever, as if nothing ever happened. Liam tries to pretend he's okay, but Janie can tell he's struggling and her dad's lack of processing doesn't seem to be helping.

"Hey, you all packed up?" Cordell asks as the siblings walk into the kitchen. "Got to be on the road to Sauber at 0900 sharp tomorrow."

"Yeah, all done, just emotionally prepare yourself for all the luggage I'm bringing." Stella jokes as Liam and Bonham walk in.

"I'm more worried about emotionally preparing myself for not tearing up when I drop you off at college." Cordell says.

"Okay, are we seriously out of whey protein?" August asks.

"Get in some cardio, would you? There's more in the basement." Bonham says.

"Gramps, you just don't understand." Stella laughs. Janie quietly laughs as she sits at the counter.

"Okay, Stella, that's not-- that's not cool." August says.

"Augie only has a little time before he shows everybody he got ripped over the summer." Stella says. "But if you tilt your head just so, you maybe can..."

"Yeah, yeah, you know, standing at a certain distance. And-And angle..." Janie joins in on the teasing.

"Yeah. Exactly." Stella nods in agreement.

"Okay, okay, okay, that's enough. That's enough." Cordell loudly cuts in. "Give it a rest, give it a rest. Give it a rest, give it a rest. Both of you knock it off. If you don't, it's gonna make for a very long road trip. Speaking of, where are we at on the Mustang?"

"Okay, so we called about that, and..." August starts.

"Okay, okay, okay, look, look." Cordell stops him. "Uh, th-this does not inspire confidence. I'm gonna try that again. Where are we at the Mustang?" He turns to Stella. The twins give her panicked looks.

"Deon swore the carburetor would be here today, but..." Stella says.

"The carburetor?" Cordell asks.

"I'll give him a call." Stella says.

"It's one thing after another with this guy." Cordell says.

"Hey, look, I get supply chain issues, but two months, that's crazy." Liam comments.

"Yeah. You're putting a lot of this trip on a car, son." Bonham says.

"Car? More like an antique that won't fit four of you or luggage." Abilene says.

"You know what, though? That's why you have a follow car. I got you, Stella." Liam says.

"I call riding with Uncle Liam." Janie raises her hand. She can't handle a road trip with her dad's current "everything is fine" attitude.

"It's not just a car. You know that... I mean, how many times, right here, did Emily talk about taking the kids to college in that Mustang?" Cordell asks. "And I'm not gonna let some mechanic ruin that."

"Well, I'm sure mom would understand a-a mechanic ruining that. She... she wouldn't be that disappointed." Janie says. She internally winces at Cordell's incredulous look. "Or... maybe she would. She-She would mind and... and get the car back. Um... yeah."

She sends a weak smile to August while Cordell rolls his eyes.

"You tell Deon, come hell or high water, that car is in the driveway at 9:00 AM tomorrow." Cordell orders Stella. "Yeah?"

"It'll be here, dad." Stella assures.

"Great. See? How easy was that?" Cordell questions. Janie won't admit out loud that his positive grin actually scares her a little. "And that's the positivity I'm looking for!" He exclaims, gently hitting August's shoulder, his statement directed to the twins.

"Yeah." August lets out a soft scoff.

"I'll take care of everything else." Cordell says. "Only thing now is, uh, "go team" on three." He holds his hand out, palm facing the counter. "One, two..."

"I got to go." Stella mumbles.

"Not in a million years." Janie says, getting up.

"Three, go... team." Cordell says as all three siblings walk out and Bonham laughs.

+++

Janie walks up to Liam who is sitting on the porch.

"Hey." She mutters.

"Hey." Liam greets.

"Can I...?" Janie motions next to him.

"All yours." Liam says and Janie sits next to him.

"Are you okay?" Janie asks after a few moments.

"Why do you ask?" Liam asks.

"Cause nobody seems to be asking anybody that question. Especially... with-with dad. I mean, he gets asked, but he's... doing whatever charade he's doing." Janie says.

"I'm... I'm okay, Jane." Liam tells her.

"I find that... hard to believe." Janie says. 

"No matter what I'm feeling, it, uh... doesn't feel exactly right venting to my teenage niece." Liam says.

"It's not the worst idea." Janie says. "But if you don't wanna talk, you could write. That helps... sometimes, anyway. Or... take a baseball bat to your room." She smiles a little and Liam chuckles.

"I will take that into consideration." Liam says. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. It's a little annoying having to be around dad's extreme happiness levels, but... yeah." Janie mutters.

"Yeah." Liam mumbles. Janie scoots a little closer, resting her head on Liam's shoulder, sensing that he needs some type of comfort.

+++

"Hey." Colton walks into Stella's room. "So, August and Janie are joining us today?"

"Nice to see you, too." Janie quips.

"Love you, too, man." August retorts.

"We just got off the phone with Deon." Stella says.

"And it was not good. We can't foot the bill anymore, so I guess there's no kickback to lie to dad for us." August says.

"I've had a good tip week. Maybe I can throw extra to help keep up the charade till you guys cross the Oregon border?" Colton asks.

"Okay, so kick the can?" August asks.

"No, buy us time." Colton corrects.

"Oh, right, so-so you guys can have a magical day together before all hell breaks officially breaks loose. That's great, dude, thanks." Janie remarks.

"Yeah, so then whenever she's chilling in her dorm, Janie and I take the heat for most of this? No, thanks." August says.

"I second that." Janie says.

"Hey, no one's saying that." Stella says. She peeks out of her room to make sure nobody is near. "Look, if I'm leaving for Sauber tomorrow..."

"If?" Colton asks.

"I just mean... I can't leave Augie and Janie with this. I won't." Stella says.

"Okay, then what if we just... rented a look alike, right?" August asks. "67 Mustang? Dad's none the wiser."

"You think he's not gonna notice that we don't have the car that we've had in our family... for 20 years?" Janie questions.

"No, I think he'd be the wiser." Colton argues.

"That is the worst idea ever, August." Janie tells him. "You know better than that, dude."

"You two got a better plan you're sitting on?" August asks.

"Actually, I do." Stella says. "We steal the real thing back."

"Excuse me?" Janie asks.

"What?" Colton asks, smiling.

"I've been doing some digging the past few weeks. I searched local hashtags, and after some late night scrolling, I found some car club enthusiasts posting about it. About her -- the woman who robbed us. Her handle's S-Nines, and she's been using mom's Mustang to drag race."

Stella shows them a post on Instagram.

"Yeah, I-I've seen this on a flyer at The Side Step." Colton says. "Yeah, Desert Speed Wars. Car shows, late night races. But, Stella, you really think you want to go and confront them?"

"I don't see any other way. But also, this isn't your mess, so I completely understand if you don't want to get..."

"Listen. Just stop, okay? I-I wouldn't miss our last day for anything. Okay?" He tells her and she nods.

Janie rolls her eyes, mentally barfing.

"And this might be the only child in me speaking, but I am amazed at the lengths you three have gone to, like, keep this charade up. I mean, we're talking grand theft auto now?" Colton asks. "Like, what won't you guys do for your dad?"

"Well, I mean, you kind of haven't seen him this summer." August says.

"And it's not GTA, it's... it's taking back what's ours, what's mine." Stella reasons. "Thankfully, Uncle Hoyt taught me a thing or two about how to hotwire." She smiles before walking out.

"Why did she get taught the cool stuff?" Janie asks.

+++

They're at the race show and watch as the woman who stole the Mustang races another car. They get across the finish line, the woman winning by a second.

"So maybe just one or two mods." Stella comments.

"Yeah, I think dad is gonna notice that, Stella." August says.

"Actually maybe feel like we should've gone with Augie's plan now." Janie says.

The two cars stop, the man in the blue car getting out and the woman gets out.

"Hey! You swerved into my lane." He says, holding a crowbar.

"We didn't drift an inch." She says.

"Maybe you just couldn't see. Here, let me help." The guy goes to swing the crowbar down onto the Mustang. Before he can, though, S-9's two guys attack him, beating him up as he falls to the ground, the guys kicking him.

"Uh... I feel like we're underqualified for this mission." Janie comments.

"I think we should call dad." August says.

"Yeah, I-I think two plates could be right on that." Colton says.

"No, Colton. You weren't there when my dad came home. Trust me, he can't handle this headache right now. I honestly don't know if he can take it. We've come this far. We're gonna get that car back." Stella declares.

+++

"We just need them away from the car for a minute or two." Stella says. "You give me an opening and I'll handle the rest."

"Okay, so, like, distract, smash, and then grab?" August asks.

"Less smash. But, yes, grab and go." Stella says.

Janie and August walk forward a little, watching S-9 and her guys talk.

"Hey, guys?" August calls after a few minutes. "Hey, um, S-9 and the boys are packing up, heading out, so... it's now or never." August says.

"Right." Stella says.

August puts his baseball cap on, him and Janie walking over to where the guys are.

"Hey, boys." August says. "We have to talk."

"Do I know you?" The one guy asks.

"Dude, chill." Cody says. "That's Pete's baby bro."

"Yeah." August says, laughing.

"And, uh..." Cody looks at Janie.

"Oh, yeah, this-this is my-my... girl." August says, wrapping his arm around Janie's shoulders.

"Yep." Janie nods, both twins internally throwing up at the idea of fake dating.

"Yo. Get swole patrol and his girl here a 40." Cody says. "What's your preference?" He asks them.

"Cold ones, man." August says. Cody wheezes, patting August's chest as August and Janie force out their laughs.

"Classic Pete. Ice cold, baby." Cody says as the other one hands each of them a bottle.

"So, uh, you guys like cars?" August asks making the two chuckle.

The two sit down as S-9 and the guys carry on most of the conversation. The twins glance at the Mustang constantly, making sure they're not obvious. They watch as Stella and Colton get in the car and work on it.

The other three look at the car when they hear the engine start. S-9 starts walking over to the Mustang as Colton and Stella get the car started.

"Hey!" S-9 shouts. "Hey, that's my car!" She yells as Stella drives.

August turns to the guys and punches Cody in the face, knocking him down. Before the other one can get August, Janie spits in his face, grabbing his shoulders and yanking him down, kneeing him in the stomach.

As the Mustang slowly drives to pass them, Colton opens the door, pushing his seat up. August shoves Janie forward, the two quickly jumping into the backseat, Colton shutting the door after they're in.

The car stalls and comes to a stop. The three get out.

"Hey!" S-9 shouts as everybody gathers around. "Wait a second. You're the ranger's daughter. From the tip line."

"And you're the woman who kicked my family when we were down." Stella says. "Do you have any idea what this car meant to me? What it meant to my family?"

"I think you should get out of here. No one needs to get hurt." S-9 says.

"No." Stella objects.

"You gonna call the rangers, then? Call your dad?" S-9 asks.

"He doesn't need this right now. That's why we're here." Stella says, pointing to the twins.

"Come on, Stella, let's just bounce." August says, nervously glancing around.

"No. This car has been in my family for 20 years. My late uncle gave it to my late mom, and you ruined it." Stella says.

"I think it was the other way around." August mutters. Janie hits him in the shoulder, giving him a look to shut up.

"Not the time." She whispers.

"I was supposed to take that car to college with my dad." Stella informs. "He's okay, by the way. Back from captivity. You know, after being kidnapped in his own front yard. But the one thing that he's been set on since he has been home is this road trip. For 16 years, him and my mom have talked about it."

"Do I even want to go? Who could care about a thing like that at a time like this? Do I even want to go to college?" Stella questions. "No one's bothered to ask. Even though I just wish that somebody would bother to ask me. But I am not asking you, I am telling you. You are not taking this away from him. Hell or high water, that car is in my driveway by tonight."

"Condolences to your mom." S-9 says. "And to your uncle. And to whatever happened to your dad. Family pressure..." She glances back at the guy that Janie kneed and he looks at her both clueless and possibly offended, "can be complicated."

"Look, nice try on the hotwire, but... just take her home. Consider the mods yours." She holds the keys out to Stella. "With the promise you won't have your dad come arrest me."

Stella takes the keys.

"I promise I'll try." Stella says and S-9 nods.

+++

"If you didn't grab my arm, I would have slipped and fallen under the wheel." August says as they get home. "It would've been bad." He says while the sisters laugh.

"Oh, my God, I am so happy you both got in." Stella laughs. She pulls up to their house. "Here we are." She takes the keys out, the three getting out.

"You know, I got to hand it to you, Stel." August says.

"Yeah. I mean, you were, like, a full on badass." Janie says.

"Thanks, but you were right. It turns out it was more smash and grab." Stella says.

"I mean, it's not a bad right hook, right?" August asks.

"No." Stella chuckles.

"No, man, you knocked that dude to the ground." Janie says while letting out a laugh.

"I see the car's out of the shop." Cordell angrily states as he walks out. All smiles immediately fall from the siblings' faces. The siblings share looks. "Incredible. So, tell me. How was Desert Speed Wars?"

Cordell angrily slams both doors to the house open, the siblings following their fuming father in.

"The three of you..." Cordell pulls the three stools at the island out, "sit! And I can't believe I have to say this explicitly, but do not go anywhere until I'm back home and that woman and her goons are in jail." He says as the three sit down, August in the middle.

"Dad, don't." Stella objects. "You don't have to do anything."

"Excuse me?" Cordell turns back to her.

"We're here, we're safe, the Mustang is fine. Can't it all just be over?" Stella asks.

"Okay. That's not how this works, and... matter of fact..." Cordell grabs the keys off the counter. "I'm not leaving these with you." He heads for the door, but turns back before he even opens it. "No, you know what, I can't wrap my head around this! Why didn't you three come to me? I thought we were past the point of keeping secrets from each other."

"Yeah, so did we." August shoots back.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cordell asks. August and Stella share nervous looks making Janie roll her eyes.

"Oh, my God." She lets out a small, humorless laugh. "What the hell do you think it means?"

"Hey. Watch the language." Cordell warns.

"Who cares?! I have kept silent to please this entire family -- to please you -- for two whole months. Ever since you've gotten back, you have been acting like you are perfectly fine."

"I-I am. I'm squa--"

"Squared away." Cordell and his children chorus.

"Yeah, we've heard." Janie rolls her eyes again. "But there's no way you are. You go to PT and-and therapy, but that's not helping completely. Especially since you pretend to be Mr. Happy Go Lucky. Nobody who got tortured would be this okay when coming back, or two months later, for that matter. And even then, anybody who-who remotely mentions the word "feelings" you just shut it down. You say no! As if we're not allowed to be anything but happy! And it's exhausting. Because nobody in this family is fucking happy!"

Cordell stares into his youngest's teary eyes until Stella talks.

"Dad, this is why we didn't come to you." The oldest intervenes. "We were afraid of being the people who burst your bubble because if you spiraled and got hurt because of something that we did, I don't think I'd ever forgive myself. And I know it sounds silly, but we were afraid that the Mustang would break the dam."

"The-The Mu..." Cordell laughs.

"I mean, look at you now, dad." August says. "Those kidnappers took a piece of you. And we just didn't want to lose any more."

"I had no idea y'all felt this way." Cordell says.

"Why would you? We can't mentions feelings." Janie quietly quips, twirling one of her rings around her finger.

"It's kind of hard not to." August says.

"I never want any of you to feel like there's something you can't tell me." Cordell says.

"In that case, August, Janie, can you give us a minute?" Stella asks.

Janie gets up, passing her dad and going upstairs. August stops and hugs Cordell. He pulls away, looking at his dad.

"I love you." August tells him and Cordell nods. August follows Janie upstairs, the two going to their individual rooms.

+++

Cordell walks through the hall, seeing a light on from the crack under Janie's door. He gently knocks on the door, but doesn't get an answer. After waiting for a few seconds, Cordell opens the door, peeking inside.

Janie is asleep in her bed, one hand resting by her face, while the other is loosely holding onto a pen. Her notebook is open in front of her, a line going across the page from when her hand fell as she fell asleep. The lamp on her nightstand is on and Cordell quietly walks over.

He sits on the edge of the bed, carefully taking the pen out of her hand, putting the cap back on it. He puts the pen in the crease of the notebook and closes it, setting the book on the nightstand.

Cordell brushes some hair away from Janie's face, leaning down to kiss her temple.

Cordell gets up going to turn the lamp off, stopping when a hand gently grabs other his wrist. He looks back at Janie as she sits up.

"Hey, honey. Sorry, I-I didn't mean to wake up." Cordell quietly says, sitting back down.

"It's fine." She mutters. "Um... I just, uh..." She quietly clears her throat. "I read the article." She informs, looking up at him with teary eyes.

"Oh." Cordell mumbles. "Uh... okay."

"I... I mean, originally, I couldn't get through it because it-it hurt too much to... to imagine you in that kind of situation. And, I mean, it took me about a week, but... but I forced myself to read it. I don't know why, I... I don't know why I felt the urge to read it so badly. But I just... I did. And... and I regret it, I really don't know what made me make myself read it and why I didn't just stop. I... I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey, you don't have anything to apologize for. Okay?" Cordell tells her. "Well, with that." He adds making Janie weakly smile. Cordell cups one side of her head, running his thumb over her cheek a couple of times. "Look, I... I'm safe now. Okay? I'm here. Now, am I all right? That... that's a discussion for a different time, but... but I'm safe. I'm home."

Janie nods, sniffling, and wrapping her arms around him, her head resting on his chest. Cordell kisses her on the head before resting his chin on top of her head, tightly hugging her.

"I'm right here." He quietly reassures.