its been a year since they met Monty, the little six your old boy they'd adopted, and the whole town loved him. he was getting better too, they were working on his studder and teaching him to say other words but he didn't always manage. he still didn't talk well at all, when he did speak he was studdering through each word he attempted, literally all he said was 'daddy' or 'Tommy' or 'Doc' and occasionally Flo if he could get the word out, but he had a happy life. he was adorable the whole town loved him, though they could never tell if he was talking about Red or Mack when he said daddy, because he called them both daddy. he also liked to call Ramone by his wifes name on the rare occasion he could say Flos name, he had a hard time with the letter F and the letter D. he's been given a little more freedom in the town since everyone actually watches him. Sally, a big lawyer from LA, had crashed in the town a few weeks ago, with a fever of 102 and a blown rod in the engine of her Porcha. Monty wasn't handling her new presence well as he hadn't been able to see Doc the whole time she'd been sick, though Doc had made up for it by letting him sit in his old Hornet, he still didn't like her.

"oh hey kid." Sally smiles, seeing Monty walk down the side walk by himself with Tommy clutched in his arms. he stares at her, stepping back. "where's your daddys?" Sally ask walking over to him. immediately he screams, backing away from her. Doc bursts out of his clinic, eyes landing on the boy, he lets out a sigh of relief and walks over, scooping him up. Monty curls up, clinging to him with a quiet whimper.

"its alright Monty." Doc assures. he looks at Sally confused. "what happened Sally?" Doc ask.

"I just walked over and ask where his dads were." Sally frowns. Doc rolls his eyes.

"Red and Mack have been working on stranger danger with him. he does that if you ask the wrong question, sometimes even if he knows you. did it to Flo the other day, had him in tears." Doc frowns a little. Monty sniffles, burying his face in Docs neck.

"d-d-Doc." he whines.

"its okay kid. come on, we'll go find Red." Doc assures, carrying him off. he glances at Sally nervously before cuddling to Doc. "you getting better with my name kiddo." Doc murmurs. Monty cuddles closer. "I know she scared you, but you're okay." he assures. he heads into the fire station. "Red, you here?" Doc calls.

"yeah back here, if you're looking for Monty, he went to Ramones." Red calls.

"I have him." Doc frowns. Red pokes his head out and walks over, taking the boy.

"what happened? whys he so upset?" Red ask, holding him tightly.

"Sally ask where his daddies were and he started screaming." Doc frowns.

"he doesn't like her." Red says, cuddling the boy.

"yeah I gather that. why doesn't he like her?" Doc ask. Red shrugs.

"no idea." Red says, setting the boy down so he can run over to his drawing desk. "but he'll answer you if you give him a minute." Red chuckles, watching him go. "god I love that kid." Red sighs, smiling.

"the whole town does." Doc chuckles.

"hey Monty I love you." Red calls. Monty grunts at him, looking over and making a sign towards him. Doc was learning that ment he was saying he loved them back, since he couldn't say the word yet.

"he's got speech therapy tomorrow." Doc murmurs.

"I know, I'm trying to see if I'll be able to take him. Macks supposed to come home tomorrow, but you know how the life of a semi driver goes." Red frowns a little. he hates leaving their little down without a fire fighter.

"I'll take him. he seems to do a better when I take him anyway." Doc says.

"thats true, though he doesn't repeat words to us like he does you." Red frowns.

"I'm older, he probably looks up to me as a replacement for that shitty man who beat him. I think he's afraid to disappoint me." Doc says.

"da-daddy!" Monty says running back over, holding up a picture. he'd been super easy to teach how to spell and write, so he'd started adding words to his improving pictures and this one was no different. he took the picture and looked at it. it was a picture of a lady that looked a little like Sally with 'CPS' on her name badge. Red shows Doc the picture before smiling at Monty.

"thats such a great picture. thank you so much Monty." Red smiles, ruffling his hair. Monty giggles and hugs his leg.

"she looks like an old CPS worker, probably his case worker." Doc murmurs. he crouches in front of Monty. "she's not gonna take you from Red or Mack, I promise you that kid, I won't let anyone take you from them." Doc assures gently, smiling at him. Monty opens his mouth visibly struggling.

"f-f-" Monty tries.

"you want to go see Ramone?" Doc ask. Monty nods quickly, he can't say Ramones name so he calls him Flo and thankfully everyone knows that. "okay come on, I'll take you to him." Doc assures. Monty holds his arms up. he can't be expected to walk if Docs offering to take him somewhere. he shakes his head and scoops him up. "spoilt. thats what you are boy. spoiled worse than milk." Doc mutters, carrying him out and leaving Red laughing behind him. Doc carries him to Ramones shop and sets him down. "Ramone!" Doc calls, shutting the door and walking away. Ramone pokes his head out and Monty squeals, running over towards him. he pulls some papers from the little pockets of his jeans and holds them out to Ramone.

"hold on kiddo, give me just a minute alright?" Ramone ask. Monty nods and runs over to his assistants desk, she was out on maternity leave, and climbs up into her chair giggling and kicking his feet. he looks up when the door opens and jumps from the chair running over to the door immediately.

"mmm!!" Monty grins. Mater scoops him up.

"'ey there buddy. ye ain't seen Doc 'ave ye? I thought he done come in here." Mater says. Monty grunts and squirms free, before grabbing a paper, writting a note for him. Mater looks at it. "left? ya mean he's gone?" Mater asks. Monty nods and Mater nods a little. "alright thanks lil buddy." Mater smiles. he looks behind him then crouches down and hands Monty a sucker. "don' tell yer daddies." Mater winks, leave. Monty laughs shoving it into his mouth and heading back over to the chair to wait for Ramone. he spins in the chair happily, until the door opens again he squeals and jumps up to see who it is, only to find Sally. he stares at her, his little heart pounding in his chest, before whimpering.

"Ramone?" Sally calls. he hugs Tommy tightly and curls up, hoping she can't see him. Ramone comes out.

"hey, your cars drying now. it'll be done in a bit. managed to match the blue up real nice." Ramone nods at her. Monty jumps down and runs over to him clinging to his leg with a whine. "hold on kid, I gotta finish with Sally first." Ramone assures gently, patting his head. the boy doesn't throw tantrums often, because of fear he'll be hurt, but when he does its usually because he's tired or scared and it seems like no matter where Red or Mack or Doc is, one of them always hears it. he's too old to be throwing tantrums the way he does, they get pretty bad until Red gets his hands on him and settles him, but none of them get upset when he does. he immediately lets go of Ramones leg and plops onto his butt, his sucker falling out of his mouth, and Ramone realizes he's messed up. once he starts Red is generally the only person who can calm him down completely. Monty screams bloody murder as loud as he can, throwing himself backwards onto the ground. he's sobbing and screaming. he doesn't like Sally, he's scared of her, he wants someone to hold him when she gets too close and since Ramone refused, he'll cry until one of his three favorite people holds him. "aw c'mon kid don't be like that. we don't need your daddy here." Ramone says, quickly trying to pick him up. the boy screams louder, going limp and sobbing harder.

"kind of a spoiled brat isn't he?" Sally asks hesitantly.

"come on Monty, its alright." Ramone murmurs, kneeling beside him. "what?" he asks looking up at Sally. he can't hear her over Montys meltdown.

"kind of a brat isn't he!?" Sally calls a little louder.

"no he's not." Red snaps coming in, shooting her the dirtiest glare. "and don't talk about my freaking baby like that." Red growls. he walks over and scoops the boy up, holding him tightly. "okay buddy. I get it. you're upset. did that mean lady come in and scare you?" Red ask. Monty sobs clinging to him, face bright red from the force of his screams. Red scoops up Tommy from the ground and nuzzles him gently. Red looks at Ramone. "what happened?" Red frowns.

"I told him I couldn't hold him, I needed to finish with Sally." Ramone says worriedly.

"he's scared of her. she looks like his old CPS case worker. he's terrified she's going to take him from me and Mack." Red says. Monty sobs and clings to him. he hiccups and sniffles, flinching when Ramone gets too close. "its alright buddy it's alright." Red murmurs, carrying him out of the building he pauses and goes back to Sally. "touch my son or call him bratty again when you know absolutely nothing about him and Mack will put an end to you when he gets home." Red spits, before storming out. "okay Monty, come on, I bet Flo will give you a cookie." Red murmurs. Monty wipes at his face, clinging to Red and sniffling. he walks into the diner and over to the counter. "Flo, I need a cookie for the little man." Red calls.

"they'll be out of the oven in a moment." Flo assures walking over. "aww who upset my sweet boy?" Flo ask, reaching towards. he whimpers, turning away and tearing up again.

"i know buddy, its just Flo." Red assures gently. "your husband." Red snaps, glaring. Monty sniffles.

"aww sweet boy, its okay." Flo assures gently. she heads into the kitchen and comes back with a warm cookie in her hand. "they're still a little hot." Flo murmurs, holding it to him. Monty reaches out to touch it and cries, pulling his hand back. Red takes it, it's a little warm still, not too warm, but the boy was still upset and therefore, fussy.

"here, take a bite." Red murmurs. Monty whines turning his head. "okay, I'm gonna eat it then." Red teases and takes a nibble. "mmmm." Red smiles. Monty sniffles giving him a dirty look, but opens his mouth and leans towards the cookie. Red smiles and gives him a bite.

"you be nice to this little cutie." Flo smiles, gently reach out to rub his cheek gently. he sniffles, chewing his cookie, and leans into her hand watching Flo. "now if your daddy isn't being nice, you always come to me and we'll talk over a glass of milk and a cookie alright?" Flo ask. he leans back into Red, holding onto him tightly. Flo smiles at him a little and heads back to the kitchen.

"come on. we'll go home and watch some tv and then take a nap, how about that?" Red ask. Monty stretches and turns his head from the cookie to curl up. he's upset and tired. Red smiles a little and takes him back to the house. he puts him down gently, giving him Tommy. Monty toddles to his bedroom and curls up in his bed. Red follows after him, tucking him in gently. "you gonna lay in here by yourself? not gonna come take a nap with me?" Red ask. Monty immediately reaches for him. "thats what I thought baby." Red murmurs, scooping him up. he grabs Montys blanket and carries him back to his and Macks room. "you know, daddy comes home tomorrow." Red murmurs, laying in the bed with him. Monty cuddles into him and pats Macks side of the bed. "yeah I miss him too." Red smiles. Monty curls up with him and snores.

Monty is back up two hours later after a nap and heading for the clinic. he'd found an old Hudson Hornet hot wheel all rusty and dented up, he wanted Doc to fix it. he was a doctor after all and he'd fixed up Tommy when his arm fell off, surely he can fix a car. his receptionist lets Monty in smiling at him.

"hey kiddo, Docs in his office." she smiles. Monty nods at her and heads down to Docs office, pushing the door open. Doc looks up from his paper work.

"hey squirt." Doc smiles. Monty squeals and walks over quickly.

"d-d-Do-d..." Monty tries. it always looks like it hurts for him to studder out one of his four little words, but everyones always patient. if they try to interrupt, answer before he says it, or say the word for him, he'll cry and then he won't say the word. "Do-Doc." Monty says. Doc scoops him up and puts him up on his leg.

"whats up kiddo?" Doc ask. Monty holds the car out to him with a frown. "oh hey, you found a Hornet." Doc smiles. "little beat up though isn't it?" Doc ask. Monty nods, reaching for Docs pencil. Doc gives it too him along with a piece of blank paper. fix! he turns to look at Doc, holding the car out towards him again. "fix? kid, I don't know if I can fix that." Doc says, taking it gently.

"To-Tommy." Monty frowns.

"yeah I know, I stitched Tommys arm back on, but I'm not a toy doctor." Doc says. Montys face falls a little and he looks at the car. "aww c'mon kid don't be upset." Doc sighs, taking the car. theres a knock on the door and Sally pokes in.

"uh, hey Doc, oh." Sally frowns looking at Monty. "I'll come back." Sally frowns.

"no its okay, come on in." Doc says, moving Monty over to his other knee. he shouldn't have put the boy on his bad knee anyway. Monty cuddles to Doc, holding tightly to him, whining. Sally walks in and sits across from him and Monty. Monty whines at him, holding up the hot wheel car. "hold on Monty." Doc murmurs, patting his head. he reaches over and grabs Sallys file. "whats up Sally?" Doc ask. Sally goes to say something and Monty grunts angrily, waving the car at Doc, as if to remind him he was there first. "Monty you have to let me work." Doc frowns.

"I was just wondering-" Sally starts. Monty squeals angrily squirming in Docs lap.

"Monty, stop. I have to work kid. I know you were in here first but I have to work." Doc snaps firmly. Monty looks up at him tearfully and throws his hot wheel car at Doc before squirming free, then running off. he heads back home, where the front door is left open for him while Red cleans the living room.

"hey buddy- Monty whats wrong?" Red asks, walking over to him. Monty sniffles, smacking Reds hand away and heading for his bed room to curl up in his favorite hiding spot with Tommy. Red follows him and grabs a piece of paper and pencil. "Monty, come on, tell me whats wrong." Red murmurs, crouching beside Monty's bed. Monty snatches the paper and pencil and draws a quick picture. he shoves it back out from under the bed. its a stick figure picture with CPS over one person, who is grabbing the other person, and Doc written over the stick figure being grabbed. Red looks it over a minute and sighs. "look buddy, Doc has work to do. Sally isn't stealing him from you. I promise." Red assures. Monty squeals in argument. "okay, tell me what happened." Red murmurs, pushing a blank paper under the bed again. Red sits there for a bit, honestly beginning to wonder if Monty was actually drawing anything or not, before the paper comes back out. its basically a little comic. he walks into Docs office and shows him the car, Doc looks it over, Sally walks in, and Doc immediately ignoring the boy to work, before shouting at him. "aw he shouted at you?" Red ask. he lays on the floor to look under the bed. Monty nods sniffling. "okay come on buddy, what if we go see Mater? hmm?" Red ask.

"mmm." Monty mumbles.

"yeah Mater." Red murmurs. Monty sniffles and crawls out, cuddling to Red. "we'll even pull out your four-wheeler, yeah?" Red ask smiling. Monty grins at him and Red takes him to put his helmet on. Monty hands him Tommy and runs outside. Red follows him and grins. "look Monty, Macks home." Red smiles seeing the semi pull up. immediately, Monty forgets his four-wheeler and runs over to the semi squealing. Mack can't pull in without letting Monty play with his horn. Red follows after him smiling. Mack opens the door and throws a tired smile at Red. he jumps out of the semi, scooping Monty up. the boy immediately hugs his neck.

"da-daddy!" Monty squeals, cuddling him. Red laughs a little, walking towards them.

"hey buddy, daddys pretty tired, mind if we wait until tomorrow for you to honk the horn?" Mack ask, half smiling. Monty pouts at him, but nods a little and cuddles him, hugging his neck tightly. he hadn't seen Mack in a little over three weeks, he'd been on one trip after another, and he'd missed Mack more than the semi's horn.

"thank god your back. we've got a new town member and he's terrified of her. she looks like an old CPS caseworker." Red mutters, walking over and hugging him. Mack holds Red tightly.

"I promise Red, we can talk after I get dinner and a few hours of sleep." Mack mutters. Red nods.

"come on, lets get some dinner at Flos." Red murmurs, taking Macks hand and leading the way. Mack nods following him, Monty cradled in his other arm, playing with the strings on Macks jacket. the three sit in a booth, though Monty stays firmly attatched to Macks side. it makes Red smile, he's so glad the boy loves Mack and misses him. "give him a little space Monty, he just got home." Red chuckles. Mack scoffs and pulls Monty closer, letting him sit in his lap.

"leave him be. I missed you guys." Mack yawns a little. they put in their order with one of the waitresses and Red smiles at Mack.

"missed you too Mack. you're home early too." Red smiles.

"managed to finish my drop off pretty quickly, they gave me one that was about 20 miles or so from here." Mack smiles.

"thats great." Red sighs happily.

"mmhmm." Mack murmurs. he looks down at Monty and holds him tightly, squeezing him. Monty squeals and giggles, cuddling to him. "I missed you too. I love you guys." Mack sighs tiredly. he smiles a little kissing the boys head. Monty grunts a little, making his normal little hand signal.

"hey squirt." Doc frowns, walking over. Monty flat out ignores him, hugging Mack tigher. "throwing that car earlier is a big no." Doc adds.

"why don't you leave him alone?" Red glares a little. "I think you've done enough today, he's excited Macks home." Red says.

"I haven't done anything to him." Dco frowns.

"thats not the way he sees it." Red glares, shoving the drawings at him. "you're the second person just today to ignore him for Sally. so fuck off Doc." Red says. Doc frowns opening the drawing of Sally taking him, then the comic.

"leave him be Doc." Mack says firmly. Doc frowns and walks off looking at the pictures. "what happened with that? who is Sally?" Mack ask confused.

"its a long story, I'll explain after you get sleep." Red assures. Mack nods a little, running his fingers gently through the boys hair.

"thanks Flo." Mack murmurs, looking at his dinner. she sets Montys and Reds dinner down as well.

"you're welcome guys. good to see you back in town Mack." Flo smiles, heading back to the kitchen. Monty squirms free from Macks grip and reaches for his food. Mack lets him go, smiling.

"alright Red, start explaining. he never refuses to do anything with Doc." Mack frowns. "doesn't even matter if I've just come home or not." he adds. Red just shakes his head.

"I'll tell you later, I don't want to talk about it with Monty here it might upset him." Red frowns. the three eat and Mack heads back home to get some sleep. Red follows after him, holding Monty.

"oh hey, you must be Mack, I'm Sally." Sally smiles, waving at him. Mack smiles at her a little, reaching to shake her hand.

"nice to meet you." Mack smiles. Monty screams angrily, squirming until Red puts him down. he immediately runs over and hugs Macks leg. she took Doc, she could have Mack. Mack looks confused and scoops him up. "whats up buddy?" Mack ask. Monty hugs his neck, glaring at Sally.

"I don't get it, what have I done to you?" Sally ask confused.

"you look like an old CPS case worker. he's afraid your trying to either take him from us or take everyone from him. he really doesn't like you because you keep taking Docs attention from him." Red frowns, walking over to ruffle Montys hair.

"aww Monty she can't take you from us." Mack assures, carrying him off towards the house. "you know we'd hide her body in the desert somewhere if she tried." Mack coos, kissing his head. Monty hugs Macks neck, glaring over his shoulder at Sally before blowing a raspberry at her. "thats right, you show her." Mack chuckles softly. Red follows after them and they all lay in their bed. Monty keeps patting Macks face, trying to keep him awake. Mack snorts and turns his face away. "hey, cut it out. I need sleep." Mack murmurs, holding him. Monty shakes his head grinning. Red laughs and reaches over, taking him and holding him.

"let him sleep kiddo." Red murmurs softly. "he'll play with you later alright?" Red ask. Monty squirms free and crawls back over to Mack, curling up with him. Red would deal with Sally and Doc later, for now, he was happy to just lay with his family.