Disclaimer: If you recognize them I don't own 'em. The OC's are mine as well as the idea for the story. It's fiction, it didn't really happen. Just the product of my imagination. Enjoy! Oh, yeah Italics equal flashback, unless stated otherwise.


Chapter 1

Nervously, she sat, trying not to fidget, while waiting for her companion to arrive. He had called her yesterday to request a meeting and she could only assume he had news for her. She had debated whether to go through with this for so long, now that it could be time to find out, she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. Knowing would change everything, even if she did nothing with the information. Then again, her thinking wasn't exactly clear on the subject. Her emotions had been on a rollercoaster ride for several months now, and she knew it was effecting her decisions on the matter at hand as well. Her mind drifted back in time, recalling the events that had led them up to this moment.

She flew into the hospital doors, dodging patients and staff alike. Her only goal was to find her sister. The phone call from the hospital had not been reassuring and she was desperate to make sure all was well. She skidded to a halt in front of the ER desk.

"I'm looking for information about Katherine Taylor; she was brought in an hour ago. I'm her sister." She gasped out, somewhat out of breath.

The nurse looked at the woman before her and said gently. "Just a moment, I'll get her doctor for you to speak with. If you'll just have a seat, it won't take long."

Nodding, she took a seat as close to the desk as she could find. Her mind played the worst case scenarios over and over. What if it was too late? What if Katie never woke up? What if she didn't remember anyone? The thoughts kept coming until a voice brought her back to the present.

"You must be Ms, Taylor, my name's Dr. Carter and I've been taking care of you sister. Please come into my office and I can tell you what we know so far."

He led the way into a small room that was dominated by a desk and three chairs. She sat and looked at him expectantly, wanting only to be told that her sister was fine and could go home soon. But that wasn't what was said. "Ms, Taylor-"

"Please, call my Crystal." Her voice was shaking almost as bad as her body.

"Crystal, I'm afraid the news isn't good. Your sister was hit by a drunk driver approximately an hour and a half ago. She's suffered broken bones, a grade two concussion, as well as internal injuries. Her responses are weak at best and her vitals keep slipping. Does your sister have heart trouble?"

Near tears, Crystal could only nod her head. It was almost more than she could take. "Doctor, what's going to happen? Will she pull out of this?"

Dr. Carter pinched the bridge of his nose. It had never been easy giving out the news he was about to. "I'm afraid we've done all we can. Her blood pressure and heartbeat are erratic at best. To make the situation worse, Ms, Taylor has slipped into a coma. We revived her twice while we tried to stop the bleeding. We can continue to do that if you want, but I must tell you that each time weakens her heart even more with the strain of restarting again. The more we do, the more likely that she will have a heart attack. The decision is yours, Crystal. I am terribly sorry."

For three days she had fought to keep her sister alive against doctor's advice, unable to let go. Until her brother had gotten there and reminded Crystal that there were other's to consider. Watching them pull the plug on life support and her sister taking her final breath was something she would never forget. She almost felt as if she were dying, too. The next days were all a blur for her. Sights, sounds, thoughts, they all mingled and merged together to create a pain she had never imagined. The day after the funeral her fragile world had been tipped over again…

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you here at your time of mourning. So, I'll get right to it. Ms. Katherine Taylor asked me several months ago to write up a will for her so that her estate could be settled without any hassles for her family. The main thing she was worried about was her daughter and who would care for her in the event that she could no longer do so. Allow me to read her words to you: 'I, Katherine Anna Taylor, being of sound mind and body do so swear that this document is my last will and testament and by so doing shall replace and nullify all other previous documents. In the matter of my daughter, Alyssa Brooke Taylor, I hear by leave her in the care of my sister, Crystal Sierra Taylor until such time as she is able to care for herself. In the matter of my home, I hear by leave…"

Nothing else said registered to her. She was going to be raising her eight month old niece. She had no idea when Katie had changed it. They had talked about Mike, their brother taking Brooke. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, questions, and fears. Was she capable of raising a child? What if she made a mistake and Brooke ended up hating her? Why did this have to happen?

The next few weeks had consisted of Crystal adjusting to her new role in life. It had been filled with tears as she helped Mike clean out Katie's house, sad smiles as she watched Brooke playing or even sleeping and confusion while she attempted to rebuild life after her sister. They had been close, best friends even, Katie had been her source of comfort when she needed it and the one to force her to lighten up when she became too serious. She had never felt alone with Katie around, now that was gone. Even Mike had been forced to head back to his base, leaving her and Brooke behind to pick up the pieces. It had taken her almost three months to finally get up the courage to look through Katie's possessions. Tears had fallen from her eyes freely as, once again; she questioned everything she thought she knew…

She sat in the floor of her home office, boxes, pictures, and letters spread all around her. She tried fighting back the tears, but gave up as she looked at the pictures her sister had treasured. There was the trip to Disney World when she was nine, the Christmas Mike and Katie turned sixteen, and the car with a giant red bow parked in the driveway. Her parents' 40th anniversary just months before they were taken away, the house warming party they had thrown for Crystal when she'd moved in.

The pain had become almost bearable over the months, but reading her sister's words in her last letters to them was almost more than she could take. She didn't even remember the lawyer giving the envelopes to them, but there they were tossed among the pictures. Tears blurred the words so much that she wasn't sure if she was seeing the words Katie had give then lawyer for her or if her mind was playing tricks on her.

'Dear Crystal,

By now you've found out why Mr. White called you into his office along with Mike. Please, don't be upset that I didn't tell you. I know you, sissy, you'd just doubt yourself and try to convince me you weren't good enough. And that simply isn't true. I know that Brooke will be raised with love and understanding, because it's who you are. Don't think for a second that there was something you could have done to change whatever happened to me. All things happen for a reason and at the exact time when they are meant to. Don't mourn me, Crystal, instead live your life for me, knowing I love you and am watching over you. I know you're thinking that I'm another one that's left you, but I haven't. As long as you keep me in your heart, I'm there. Every rain drop that falls, know I'm crying with you, every bird that sings is me laughing with you.

The other pages in this letter contain information that you may or may not decide to use. Either way, I know you'll make the right choices. I know you'll be confused as to why I didn't tell you these things in person, to be honest, I don't know. If anything kept me from telling you, it was the fear that you would think less of me, and I couldn't stand that. So, I hid the truth of what happened the night Brooke was conceived. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, it has weight on my mind for so long, but I could never force the words out.

I love you, Mike and Brooke so much, don't ever forget that. Love my daughter as if she were your own, but don't let her forget about me…

All my love,

Katie'

Crystal had been stunned at what the other pages had said. Her mind unable to wrap around the idea that Katie had kept this from them all instead of letting those that loved her help. She went on to describe what transpired that night so long ago. The thought that anyone would want to hurt Katie was insane to her. She never named who had saved her, but Crystal felt she owed them her thanks and so much more. The rest of the letter was vague on details but she understood what was being said. Her sister, too shaken up to stay alone in an unfamiliar city, had went back with her saviors to help her calm down. 'I wasn't forced to; I want you to know that,' her letter went on to say.' I wanted to, even if that makes me a bad person. I knew it would only be a one time thing, but I didn't care. It was worth it to have my angel. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, know that now.'

It had taken her days and many phone calls to Mike for her to decide what to do. She knew that she couldn't keep the information to herself in good conscious. She had to at least find him and let him know he was a father, even if he wanted nothing to do with Brooke, at least Crystal would have done what she could. This led her to why she was sitting in a café, waiting for the private investigator to show up. Whatever information he had for her could change everything, yet she was still willing to risk it. It was something she had to do.

She was snapped out of her reverie as a shadow loomed over her. Looking up she recognized the man she had hired to help her. After quick greetings and ordering drinks, he started talking. "Before I tell you what I've found out, why don't you tell me why you want to find this man?"

Crystal looked him straight in the eyes before replying simply with, "because he has the right to know he's a father. Why Katie didn't do this is something I can't answer, but I know I have to."

"You're willing to lose custody of your niece to let him know?"

Fear filled her eyes as she said in a soft voice, "what do you mean lose her? He can't take her away. I have the adoption papers…"

It was her worst fear that doing the right thing would cost her Brooke. In the past few months, she had become even more attached to the baby than she was previously. Brooke had become her reason for waking in the morning, her source of happiness as she watched the baby grow and try new things. The idea of being without that child was terrifying. .

"Crystal," Tyler Mann, the private eye, said patiently. "According to the law, he can file for custody since he had no knowledge of the child. He never gave up his parental rights. He can, and may petition the court to reverse the adoption, or allow him visitation rights. Are you prepared for that possibility?"

She sat for a moment in stunned silence. Her mind waged war with her heart. Her mind told her it wasn't fair to keep it from this stranger, while her heart cried out at the idea of losing her. Instead of answering, she posed her own question in a voice that was far calmer than she felt.

"Have you found the man my sister talked about in her letter?" When Tyler replied in the affirmative she continued. "Tell me about him. If he's anything but an upstanding citizen, he'll never know of her. I won't let that little girl be hurt or used."

Tyler smiled inwardly at the fierce look that came into the twenty year old eyes at the thought of someone hurting her niece. It was hard to tell that she wasn't a mother, but he wasn't sure how this information would affect her world. Still he opened his mouth and found himself telling Crystal about the man that had fathered Brooke.


A/N: Now tell me what you thought by hitting the little button for a review. And I'll update as soon as possible.