** Thought I'd better throw together a quick chapter before Y'all send a lynch mob out for me. LOL

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The man punches Adam in the face but the blonde never turn loose of the little girl. If he could just hold on until Chance, being the quickest of the two men, could get to them.

Patches knew he had to help his little sister. He couldn't allow this bad man to take her. He balls his fist and punches the mean man in the face.

"ASSHOLE!!" The man yells as he shoves Patches down onto the sand.

"SOM BIT!!" Patches shouts as he jumps up and bites the man hard on the arm.

The man screams out in pain turning loose of Emily. He looks up and sees Chance running toward them.

Adam and Emily tumble to the ground.

The would-be kidnapper turns and starts to run down the beach with Chance after him.

Tim gets to where the kids were and grabs Emily up in his arms.

"Uncle Tim, that bad man tried to take me." Emily cries as she hugs Tim tightly.

"I know, Baby Girl. Your Bubba and Adam saved you though." Tim says, his heart was beating out of his chest as he held onto the trembling little girl.

Tim glances up and sees that Chance was losing ground. Running in sand is not easy and he was quickly becoming exhausted.

"SATCH!! MACK!! GET HIM!!" Tim yells. Both dogs obey his command and chase after the stranger.

"EMILY!!" Kirstie screams as she runs up and grabs her daughter from Tim hugging her tightly in her arms. "OH, MY GOD!!"

Tim helps Adam up and grabs both boys into a hug.

Chance's lungs ached for air. His legs hurt. He was relieved when Satchmo and Mack passed him.

"Get him, guys." He whispers as he tries to catch his breath.

The man glances around to see Chance's whereabouts. He finds himself being knocked to the ground by a huge white dog. The man screams out in pain as Satchmo bites down on his arm and Mack sinks his teeth into his leg.

"CALL OFF YOUR DOGS, MAN!!" The stranger yells as Chance walks up to where the dogs were holding the kidnapper.

"Good job." Chance says as he pets the two canines. He reaches down and grabs the man by the collar and punches him twice in the face. "You sick son-of-a b*tch!"

Olena was screaming their address to the 911 dispatcher.

"I'm so proud of you two." Tim says as he holds onto the two boys.

"He hit me, Tim." Adam sobs into Tim's shoulder. "But I neber wet go of Emiwy."

Tim pulls Adam back so he could check his face.

"You're definitely gonna have a nice shiner." Tim smiles as he kisses the blonde's forehead.

"Mmm bi som bit." Patches says, his eyes wide with fear.

"I know. You were awesome." Tim rubs the man-child on the cheek. "You both were."

"Thank you, boys, soooo much. I love you." Kirstie says through her tears as she gives them hugs.

Three police cars pull up. Three officers run across the beach to where Chance was holding the stranger down on the sand. Satchmo and Mack were standing to the side.

Two officers walk over to where the others were standing to get the information. One cop took Tim over to the side to get his statement while the other was getting statements from Emily and the boys. Mainly Emily and Adam. :)

One officer walks back with Chance as the other two put the handcuffed kidnapper into the police car.

"This guy was wanted in five states for child-trafficking. We knew he was in the Florida panhandle, just didn't know exactly where." The officer says as they join the group.

"Oh, God." Kirstie cries as she realizes how close her daughter was to becoming one of the missing.

"There's a hefty reward of $500,000 for the capture of this sicko." An officer says. "Look like it belongs to you guys."

"Well, it was a group effort." Tim smiles as he slides his arm around Chance's waist. "Between the boys, Chance and our two dogs." He reaches down with his free hand and pets Satchmo.

"But you were the one who noticed the guy acting weird." Chance says as he slides his arm around Tim's waist.

"I thank God for you all." Kirstie says.

"But I think the real heroes are Patches and Adam. They were determined not to let that creep get Emily." Tim says.

"I agree. They sprung right into action." Chance nods.

"Mmm mun." Patches says as he holds his hand out to the police officer causing everyone to start laughing.

"What did he say?" The officer asks with a confused expression.

"He wants his money." Tim laughs.

~~

"I have never been so scared in my life." Kirstie says as she stares down at her glass of tea.

"It makes you second-guess letting the kids go out to play." Tim says as he mindlessly tears at the label on his beer bottle.

"I know." Kirstie nods.

"This is a normally safe neighborhood, guys. We've lived here for years and nothing like this has ever happened." Olena says.

"He wasn't even from Florida. The officer told me that he was from Detroit." Chance says.

"Yeah, you shouldn't start getting too paranoid. I mean, yeah, you should keep an eye on them but don't keep them from enjoying themselves." Sami adds.

"It's good that you were observant, Tim." Kevin says. He and Tori had gotten home and was filled in on what had happened.

"Well, after the last few months, I think I'm finally reading people's actions a lot better." Tim says as he takes a drink of his beer.

"After what happened to you guys today, I think tonight would be the perfect time for a beach bonfire." Kevin suggests.

"Me too. It would help you all relax a little bit." Tori adds.

"We habin a bonpire?" Adam asks as his eyes grow wide with excitement.

"YAYYYY!" Patches claps.

"I don't know." Tim says before turning his attention to Kirstie. "You feel up to it?"

Kirstie sighs as she looks down into the anxious green eyes of her daughter.

"Hotdogs?" Kirstie asks with a smirk.

"And marshmeadows?" Emily smiles.

"And beer?" Chance asks with a raised brow. Tim nods eagerly with a smile.

"No, Uncle Chance." Emily giggles. "I can't dwank bea."

"Cha, mmm bea." Patches nods.

"Sorry, you two, but root beer may be the only kinda beer you'll be having." Kirstie says.

"I took a dwank of bea one time." Adam says.

Tim snaps his head around to look at the smiling blonde.

"You did?" Tim asks. "When?"

"Uh huh. You wath dwanking a bea and den went to da batwoom. I took a dwank while you wath gone. It wath yucky." Adam says, making a face and shaking his head.

"Wait. When did you plan on telling me that you had a batroom?" Chance asks with a smile.

"Huh?" TIM asks with a puzzled look.

"Not batwoom, thilly." Adam giggles. "Batwoom. You know, a woom you go pee pee in."

"Mmm sit." Patches adds with a nod.

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