Writers Note: Hi everyone. This is the first time I've ever written a fanfic or ever posted my work so I love that your all reading it. I just want you to know that this is not a regular Jack and Renee story. It's mainly based on the main character Lucy and how she over comes the tragedy that has happened to her, meeting Renee, finding out secrets about her new family and taking on new responsibilities. Thank you Jade, Marina and Emma for your none stop help and support with this story. It wouldn't be here without you! I'm sorry for the short chapter. It took me awhile to figure out what I actually wanted to do with this plot. I hope you all enjoy it. Please comment and review!

Declaimer: I do not own any of the 24 characters. They all belong to Fox and Howard Gordon. Some of the character I do own.

Pain of Love

Chapter 1 - Change

Mood: "So close your eyes and send up a prayer into the dark"

Toronto, Ontario

July 6th, 2006

"Guys, we have to finish cleaning," I heard myself call out as I picked up the broken pieces of balloons and streamers.

"Lucy, I'll get that for you. You're the birthday girl; you shouldn't have to clean up," Riley stated with a mischievous look on her face. "Besides, if I do it you won't be stuck cleaning it up again."

Confusion crossed my face. "What do you…?" Before I could finish, Riley threw the broken pieces of balloons and streamers covering me with them. Lilly and Kate joined in by throwing the pieces they had in their hands, creating an even bigger mess than the original.

"Guys! Cut it out!" I protested between giggles. "We have to finish cleaning. Just because I'm thirteen now doesn't mean my parents still don't have me on a short leash." I confessed, quite annoyed at that fact. The only difference with my parents was they let me walk home alone as long as it was before…

"SHOOT!" I yelled as I looked at my watch. They froze and looked at me, confused.

"What's wrong?" Lilly asked, concerned.

"It's passed 10:15. I promised I'd be home by 10!" I cried as I scrambled for my sweater and shoes.

"That's ok. You head home. We'll finish up here," Kate offered as she passed me my purse. "Wouldn't your parents have called you by now?" she added.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my cell. No missed calls. "Maybe they fell asleep," I figured, though I knew that was very unlikely.

I hugged my friends, thanked them for the gifts and headed for the door.

"Oh, Lucy, wait!" Riley called as she pulled my other friends aside to whisper something to them.

Lilly ran to the cabinet and pulled out a little blue box with a white ribbon around it. "I know we already gave you more then you wanted, but we all pitched in to get you this."

I open my mouth to yell at them for spoiling me but I couldn't fool myself. I loved when they spoiled me and I was also in a hurry.

I took the little blue Tiffany box, undid the ribbon and opened it.

Washington, D.C.

1996

"You're lying!" Renee screamed to her grandmother. She couldn't stop the tears from coming.

"Sweetheart, listen," her grandmother said softly, reaching for her hand.

Renee pulled back and screamed "No! You listen!" she couldn't control the anger in her voice. "You tell me nineteen years later that I'm adopted? That my birth parents don't even know I'm alive, and I'm just supposed to believe you?"

She couldn't even look at her grandmother. She didn't want to believe that the strong, loving, independent people whom she admired and looked up to before they died had no relation to her at all.

Her grandmother stood up and slowly walked over to her, taking Renee in her arms. Renee couldn't resist. She leaned her head against her grandmother's cold, boney shoulders and cried.

It was quiet for a long moment, Renee still in her grandmother's arms.

Finally, when she couldn't take it anymore, Renee let go of her grandmother. She ran upstairs, slammed the door and cried.

Renee had taken out her "Criminal Justice Today" text book for her Law class and studied to try and take her mind off her grandmother's confession.

But everything she did brought back the memories of her past.

"Maybe I am adopted," Renee thought, completely crushed by the idea. It would explain why she had red hair and blue eyes while the rest of her family had neither. Why she didn't have the beautiful voice both of her sisters inherited from their mother. Why she hated chocolate and junk food when the rest of her family loved it.

She then began to think of ways she was just like them. She would pour her milk into the bowl first before her cereal the way her father had done every morning. Her love for kids and tender heart were that of her mother. She even saw some of her rebellious nature in her younger sisters. She supposed all children had a mischievous side to them.

Renee couldn't stop the tears from coming. In her frustration, she threw her law books across the room, pulled the covers over her head and began to sob.

Toronto, Ontario

2009

Elizabeth Ann Lane, 1964 – 2006. John Douglas Lane, 1962 - 2006. Friends and loving parents.

I stare at the white letters etched into the grave stone, trying to comprehend my own emotions. I never visited my parents' grave. I didn't even go to the funeral. I guess I saw it as a confirmation that they were really gone.

I sat on the heels of my leather boots, careful not to fall into the cold snow and slid the tips of my fingers against the cold marble of the grave stone, remembering that horrible night of July 6, 2006.

"Makayla, have you lost your mind?" I asked with a hint of humour in my voice. "Well, it's not like I got caught or anything. And besides, you know how fun she is to mess with." Makayla had prank called her neighbour Ms. Alimo about a phone bill for 450 dollars, knowing she would think her daughter had went over her texting limit again. "You're so bad! Now Miranda is going to get in trouble−not that she doesn't deserve it..." I said, looking down at my feet to make sure I didn't trip.

"You just worry about not getting grounded for leaving the party so late." I heard her giggle on the other end of the phone.

When I looked up, I immediately wished I didn't. Four ambulances and six police SUVs were outside my house across the street. My cell phone fell out of my hand the moment I saw the paramedics wheel two large stretchers into the driveway. What happened? I ran to my house terrified of the answer I might get once I got there.

As I approached the stretcher, I had all the answers. There was a plastic black duffle bag lying on it. I didn't have to open it to know who was inside. I turned around to the horrifying sight of two more stretchers being wheeled out of my house.

I froze in terror realizing I was all alone, until I heard someone cry, "Lucy! Lucy!…"