Part 4

Disclaimers: See part 1

Special thanks to Eleanor, again

It seemed that the only thing Mary could concentrate on for the rest of the day was the birth certificate in her bag. During Mr. Dewey's Political Science class, Ms. Johnson's English, and finally Mrs. Cameron's Math class it was the sole object of her thought, the sounds of her teacher's voices a slight buzz in the background.

She was so deep in thought that she nearly walked directly into Morris Towner when she walked out of the school at 3 o'clock that afternoon.

"Oh, sorry Morris. I didn't see you," she apologized.

"Mary, we have to talk. Come on, I'll give you a ride home."

"Ok," she said as she turned towards his green sedan.

They got into the car in silence and it was not until Morris had pulled out of the parking lot did either one speak.

"I suppose you know why I'm here," he started. "I need the copy of the birth certificate."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because it'll take me a week to get another copy and Mr. McGarry is anxious to get this whole situation resolved," he explained.

"Is he my father?" she asked in a small voice.

"I'm honestly not sure but it is his right to petition the court for a DNA test to confirm the accusation,"

"Accusation?"

"Your mother's accusation of him being your father," he concluded.

"My mother," Mary mumbled.

She didn't have to many good memories of her mother. Mary had been so young, not quite 5 when her mother had died from a crack overdose. She could still remember trying to wake up her mother, because she had been hungry, when unsuccessful, she left the apartment to try and look for something to eat. She had been wandering the streets when the policeman found her. After she had taken him back to her home where her mother's body was lying on the floor, both were taken to the hospital and Social Services had been called to come and get Mary.

She was lucky in one sense. Her grandmother was still living at that point so she was sent to live with her. At 54, her grandmother was a young woman but a stroke had killed her in her sleep when Mary was six. Ever since then, she found herself among the ranks of the many foster children of DC, who have no family and home permanent home.

She was now faced with the opportunity of having a family.

'A real family,' she thought.

"Here," she said handing the envelope to Morris.

"Thanks. This will make things go a lot faster. I'll call you when we get the court order, ok."

"Yeah. Thanks. Morris? Does he want to meet me?" she asked with big brown eyes.

"Very much. But I told him that it wasn't possible until after we get the results of the test. It would be too hard on both of you, to get attached and then to loose that. It's not fair, to either of you. I'll be in touch," she said as eh pulled into the driveway of the group home.

"Bye," Mary said as she got out of the car.

Morris waved to Mary as he pulled out and headed back to his office. When he arrived, the courier envelope was sitting on his desk. He opened it and saw that it was the completed forms from Leo McGarry. He smiled and picked up the phone.

"Family Court, Stephanie speaking," the voice said on the other end.

"Hey Steph, it's Morris Towner calling. Listen I need to get in to see the judge. I need to get a court order for a DNA test for one of my kids. DO you have any openings?"

"Sure thing Morris. Do you have all of the paper work in order?"

"Yeah, I have a copy of the birth certificate, and the forms filled out by the possible father."

"Judge Smith has a late opening today at 6. Can you make it?"

"Yeah. I'll notify the potential father and see if that's ok, with him. Can I call you back in 5 minutes?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks Steph. Talk to you soon."

Morris hung up the phone a dialed the number that Mr. McGarry's assistant had given him earlier that day.

"Leo McGarry's office," the woman replied.

"Hello. This is Morris Towner calling from DCFS. May I please speak to Mr. McGarry?

"One moment please."

About 15 seconds later, Leo picked up the phone.

"Mr. Towner, did you get the information I had sent over?"

"Yes I did, thank you. I got the birth certificate from Mary and there is an opening to see a family court judge at six tonight. Can you make it?"

"Yes I can. Thank you. Where do I meet you?"

"At the court house on Connecticut Ave. Can your attorney make it?"

"Yes, that's not a problem. Will Mary be there?"

"No. She doesn't need to be there. Besides she volunteers on Thursdays."

"I see. I guess I'll see you tonight."

"Good bye Mr. McGarry."

'It was nice to be reuniting a family for a change' he thought.

Meanwhile, in the White House, Leo was on the phone to his lawyer's office.

"Hey Bruce, everything is set for this evening. You can make it right?"

"For you Leo, no problem."

"Thanks. See you then"

Leo hung up the phone and smiled. This was the first step and hopefully, I wasn't going to be the last.

TBC…