A glance at Diesel told her that he’d also arrived at that conclusion. There was pain in his eyes and his jaw clenched reflexively. But he said nothing, just watched.

Meredith handed Michael a match. The teenager gave Dani a questioning look and Dani nodded. “Do it,” she signed.

With hands that shook, Michael lit the match and dropped it into the bowl. Fire whooshed up, but quickly burned itself out. After a minute, Meredith ran tap water over the smoldering mess, dumped it down the sink, then turned on the disposal.

“Finished,” Meredith signed with a flick of her hands.

Michael’s expression was grim, but still determined as he turned to Dani. “Can I meet with her?” he asked, pointing to Meredith.

Dani maintained her own serene face, not showing her relief. Therapy was exactly what Michael needed. Therapy with Meredith was even better. “Of course.”

“And next time I’ll hire an interpreter for you,” Meredith said and Dani signed her words. “No more writing it out.”

Which was the law, but Meredith would have done it regardless because it was the right thing to do. So many providers tried to refuse to pay the cost of interpreters. Dani was grateful that securing the service for Michael’s therapy would be one fight she wouldn’t have to take on at the moment.

“I just got the next few days off,” Dani told him. “We’ll make an appointment and I’ll take you.”

“We’ll take you,” Diesel corrected. “Nobody goes anywhere alone for a while.”

Michael drew a breath, then closed his eyes and exhaled on a sob. And in that moment he was a fourteen-year-old boy who was terrified and hurting.

With an audible swallow, Diesel came to his feet, hooked one big hand around Michael’s neck, and pulled the boy in for a hug. Michael froze for a split second, then wound his arms around Diesel’s solid strength and cried into his chest, his sobs tortured and desperate.

Diesel’s hand shook as he stroked Michael’s hair gently, the giant man giving comfort to a scared little boy. And hopefully taking some comfort for himself.

Think of it as a mugging.

Yeah. Diesel’s experience is personal, all right. One had only to look at his face to see the agony there. Yet he was here. Helping.

Dammit, Diesel. Why didn’t you find somebody better than me?

Dani didn’t realize she was crying until Meredith put a tissue in her hand.

“He’s gonna be okay,” Meredith murmured. “We’re going to make sure of it.”

Which one of them? Dani wanted to ask, but of course she didn’t. Instead she cleared her throat. “Does he know about his mother?”

“That she wants Joshua back?” Meredith shook her head. “No, not yet.”

Great. That would be yet another blow. “All right. I’ll tell him. And Joshua?”