5. Waiting. The waiting was always the worst, thought Tim. Especially when they had no idea who they were waiting for or what was going to happen. Looking around the yard from his position on one side of the driveway, hidden by a tall hedge, he could see Dog on the other side of the driveway; Baby Lyssa was on the porch, Leland across the street and he knew Duane Lee was around back, just in case.

Cars whizzed by on the street, people passed on foot, while they sat and waited. Fifteen minutes later, an old battered pickup came barreling down the street. Just before it passed by the Wik'a'ni driveway, the driver slammed on the brakes and skidded around the corner into the yard.

"Careful everyone" came Dog's voice over the radio, "this might be our guy."

Remembering the warning the girl had given them, Tim unhooked his mace from its straps and carefully stretched out his muscles, ready for action.

As the truck's engine stopped and its' lights flicked off, the driver's door opened and a man stepped out. From where he stood, Tim couldn't tell if it was Wik'a'ni or not. Looking around, the man spotted Lyssa on the front step.

"Who the hell are you bitch?" he yelled down the driveway at her.

"Watch it Lyssa, this is our guy," came Dog over the radio. "No one spook him. Leland, Duane Lee, get around front here and block him in. Beth, our guys here: stay inside with the girl." Static was his only answer. "Beth?" no answer. "Damnit," he muttered, "Anyone got radio on Beth?" All replies came back negative.

"Well ya stupid slut? What the hell ya doin on my steps?"

"You Oke Wik'a'ni?" called Lyssa.

"What's it to ya cunt?"

"Watch how you're talking to my daughter Wik'a'ni!" yelled Dog, stepping out from where he'd been standing. Following his lead, Tim stepped out from behind the hedge and started towards Wik'a'ni, while Leland and Duane Lee came around the house from each side, blocking him in the driveway.

"Who the hell are you?" shouted Wik'a'ni. "Why the fuck you all in my yard?"

"I'm Dog Chapman," Dog answered."You've been jumping my wife's bond for two years Wik'a'ni and I'm getting sick of trying to track you down."

"So you're the fuckin bounty hunter? Well Dog, you can kiss my ass!" reaching through the open driver's door, Oke pulled out a gun, took aim at Baby Lyssa, and fired.

Watching her family coming out of their hiding places, from the front steps Lyssa could hear the shouted exchange between her dad and Wik'a'ni. She was just getting ready to turn around and go into the house when she caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye.

Whipping back around, Lyssa watched, momentarily paralyzed, as Wik'a'ni pulled a rifle from his truck and took aim right at her. Unfreezing, she threw herself aside just before the shot rang out, thudding into the door where her head had just been and raining wood splinters down on her.

She screamed as she rolled down the steps, landing hard on the front walk, where she lay, winded and in pain, as she heard the fight begin.

As Wik'a'ni pulled the trigger and the shot rang out, Dog threw himself on the guy in a full-on football tackle. His heart went cold as he heard Baby Lyssa scream.

A wave of helplessness and fear washed over him; he had no time to look for his daughter as Wik'a'ni fought to get away again, hitting Dog squarely in the jaw with an uppercut to the chin.

Dazed, Dog's grip on Wik'a'ni loosened, enough for him to pull a knife from his pants. Now fighting for his own life, Dog didn't have the luxury of sparing thoughts for Lyssa.

Just in time, Tim and Duane Lee tackled Oke from behind, twisting the knife from his hands, flipping him face down and jamming handcuffs onto his wrists.

Duane now had thoughts for nothing and no one but his daughter; as he was helped up by Leland, he looked towards Baby Lyssa, who was lying motionless at the foot of the stairs.