Disclaimer: Character owned by Janet Evanovich. We just enjoy messing with them.

Warning: Some graphic Violence and adult Situations. Tissue Warning. Read at your own risk. But it will have a BABE HEA Promise.

"Daddy, I said NO"

The phone rang, startling the man in front of the television. He reached for it, hoping whoever it was wouldn't take long; after all it was the playoffs he was watching. Hearing sobs over the phone, and knowing it was his youngest daughter, his favorite daughter, had him instantly on his feet.

"Daddy, I need you. I told him to stop and he wouldn't." he heard Stephanie crying to him.

"Where are you, pumpkin?" he asked softly.

"I'm at work, daddy can you come? Please." she whispered in his ear.

"I'm on my way, honey." was the reply.

Running out the front door, ignoring his wife and her damn questions, Frank Plum had a feeling of dread in his stomach that was building the closer he got to the Tasty Pastry where Stephanie worked after school. Pulling up in front, he noticed the lights were all off. Tapping gently at the door to get her attention, he saw her lying on the floor in a small heap, her uniform shirt ripped at the seams, a mess on the floor. All of that told Frank all he needed to know.

Watching her trying to steady herself as she got up off the floor, holding her side in pain while keeping her jeans pulled up around her was about Frank's undoing. As she moved closer to the dorr he noticed a bruise in the shape of a hand print on her hip, where her pants were torn.

"Honey, daddy's here," he said softly through the door, trying to keep the quiver from his voice, barely holding the rage that he felt, she failed to make eye contact with her daddy as she shuffled to remaining distance to the door, obviously in pain.

Finally the door opened; stepping through and locking the door behind him, Frank held his arms out for his pumpkin, needing to hold her in the worst way. A daddy's way. He would do everything in his power to protect her.

Hot tears of anguish escaped Stephanie's eyes, as they were absorbed in his shirt, mingling with his own.

Rocking his precious daughter in his arms as only a daddy could do; neither of them saying a word.

Silence was broken only by the sobs being torn from deep within her.

Listening to her; starting to talk, his heart broke even more at what he was hearing.

"I told him no daddy, I swear I did. I kept telling him no. I told him no daddy." Over and over the words were coming, like a chant she couldn't quit saying.

Frank's blue eyes went hard as steel hearing the heartbreak of his baby girl. Trying to keep his grief and rage from overwhelming her, he said to her in a whisper "I know you did baby. I believe you, never doubt that. I love you baby girl and nothing will ever change that. You are my light and joy, Pumpkin, and have been ever since you were born. There is nothing that will ever change my feelings for you. You will always be daddy's girl." Rubbing her back, holding her in his arms, rocking back and forth, the streetlight shining in on the father and daughter locked in a world of their own.

Listening to his daughter's sobs, he vowed vengeance on the man that raped his daughter. That man would pay.