Chapter 2

As Cal drove, he let his mind wander back to the day Sophie was taken from Gillian.

He had been driving home from dropping Emily off at Zoe's house when his cell phone rang.

"Cal?"

"Yeah."

"Can you come now?!"

Cal frowned at the desperation in his partner's voice. "Sure, what's up, Foster? What's going on?"

"Just come to my house, please!"

"On my way, Luv!"

Cal blinked in surprise when the phone suddenly went dead. He made a quick u-turn and raced to her house. He frowned as he walked up and found Gillian crying hysterically.

"Foster, what happened?" he asked as he ran from his car to stand in front of her.

Gillian handed him a certified letter. "This came in the mail. Three days ago! Alec set it on the table and never opened it…"

Cal frowned as he read the letter. "I don't understand…"

Gillian started to cry harder. "It says Sophie's mom changed her mind. It says they're sending someone to get Sophie and take her back to her real mother today! Today Cal! Someone is on their way right now to take my baby away from me!"

Cal was at a total loss as to what to do. "Where's the hell's Alec?"

Gillian shrugged then her face turned pale as a car pulled up in front of the house. She knew it was someone from social services coming for Sophie and she ran into the house to spend the last few minutes with her daughter.

Gillian was rocking Sophie in her arms and overheard Cal questioning the authorities on the validity of the letter. She had always known the birth mother had the right to change her mind but as the impending day loomed closer with no word; Gillian finally let her guard down and truly started enjoying her baby girl. Now, she stood clinging desperately to her as her world crumbled down around her.

As the police pulled up in front of her house, Gillian overheard the social worker answer Cal. "Dr. Lightman, if I had a choice I would leave the little girl with your partner but it's my job to follow the law…"

Sophie was gurgling happily in her arms when Gillian opened the door and stood on her porch. "Cal…"

Cal walked to her side and looked at her intently. "What is it, Darling?"

"Take Sophie and hand her over."

"Gill…" Cal frowned.

Gillian squared her shoulders and looked at him pleadingly. "If you do it, it won't seem as if they've taken her away from me."

"Gill, I…"

"Damn it, Cal! Please…"

Cal swallowed hard as he saw her eyes when he took Sophie in his arms. He turned and comforted a now crying Sophie on his way to the car. The social worker looked at him gratefully and allowed him to put Sophie in her car seat. With a last sympathetic look towards Gillian, the worker climbed in her car and drove away.

Cal turned to look for Gillian and saw an empty porch. Seeing that there was not going to be a problem acquiring the child, the police followed the social worker and the street was empty again as Cal walked into her house to find her.

Gillian had collapsed just inside the front door and was lying on the floor sobbing hysterically. Cal slid down the wall and sat next to her floor and drew her into his arms.

For what seemed like hours, Cal held her until her tears were finally spent.

Gillian was huddled against him when she took a shuddering breath. "Thanks for being here," she whispered.

"It's all right, Luv. Where's Alec?"

Just then a car door slammed and Cal felt Gillian stiffen in his arms. "Home," she said dismissively as she got to her feet and walked into their bathroom.

Cal got to his feet as well and looked out the front door to see Alec pacing in the driveway, talking on his cell phone.

Cal walked into the living room and started to pick up the baby things scattered around the floor. He turned when the front door opened.

"Cal?" Alec asked with surprise when he walked into the house.

"Alec." Cal answered dismissively.

Alec frowned when he didn't see Gillian. Cal guessed what he was going to ask and nodded towards the bathroom. "She's in there."

"Oh," Alec replied. "So you just came over to pick up Sophie's things?"

"No, I'm picking up the pieces of what's left of Sophie," Cal answered sarcastically.

"What?" Alec asked distractedly.

"Never mind."

Alec grew disgusted. "So why exactly are you in my home?"

"Someone had to do your job," Cal snapped back as he stepped forward and handed him the letter. As Alec glanced at it Cal knew instantly that this wasn't the first time Alec had seen the letter. "You bloody knew…"

Alec couldn't hide his guilt and shrugged. "We both knew it was a possibility."

"No…" Cal shook his head. "You knew it was happening today!"

Alec ignored him and opened a bottle of wine. "Are we done here?"

"Why weren't you here for her, Alec?" Cal sighed.

"I'm here now so…you can go."

Cal frowned and glanced at the bathroom door then turned and walked out the door.

Cal was pulled from his thoughts when a sports car veered into his lane then raced ahead. He glanced at the dashboard clock and sighed as he sped up the car.