Elliot Lightly rapid on the door to Casey Novak's office, Liv stood nervously besides Elliot unsure as to how she was going to explain Lara to her friend.

~~i~~

"Hi Casey sorry to just drop by. But could we talk to you about something?" Elliot asked, as he and Olivia stepped into the office.

"What's wrong? Does it have something to do with the Renold's case?"Casey asks concern seeing the grim sadness on Olivia's face and tear smudged makeup. Casey had just filed the charges against Mia an hour ago and hoped that she didn't have to add to the charges. As Lara had been through so much already, but knew that much worst can happen.

Olivia bit her lip nervously before she spoke worried about what her friend would think. "In a way yes…" she inhaled sharply. "Lara is my daughter."

"What! How is that possible?" Casey questions shocked and confused by what Liv had said.

"It's a long story and I promise to explain later. As far as I'm aware there must have been a switch at the hospital. I just need to know if I can take her home with me." Olivia explains a look of uncertainty and hope on her face.

"Well right now I can grant you temporary custody that way you can take her tonight…" Casey began.

"That's very good but how do I gain permanent custody of Lara?" Olivia interrupted.

.

"Well the next step is to reinstate Olivia's parental rights. Since you are Lara's biological mother and since you never signed away your parental rights, due to what appears to be a terrible mix up by the hospital. Your rights have never really been terminated we just need to have the case looked at by a judge. The main concern is the welfare of the child. However given the fact that Lara's "mother" has now been arrested for child abuse; I don't see any reason for them not to grant it, the hearing is a mere formality." Casey explains.

"Alright so can we get this done now?" Olivia asked wanting to get this over with.

"Sorry Liv there's nothing I can do today and no judge is free until Wednesday. If you come back in, then I well have the papers ready for you to sign." Casey explains confidant that the outcome would be in Liv's favor.

"Ok I'll be here in the morning." Olivia said she was hopeful however she wasn't as sure as Casey was.

"Don't worry Liv I promise that this is going to work out." Casey assured her as Olivia turned to exit.

.

Olivia just nodded her head her mind wracked with worry over the pending out come.

"Thanks Casey. Liv Why don't we go and pick up some of Lara's stuff then go and take Lara home." Elliot suggested as they left the office.


After dropping off Lara's stuff at Olivia's apartment, they arrived back at the hospital to take Lara home.

Lara sat on the hospital bed in the clothes that she wore the day before, she had been told that she would be able to leave today and so waited for someone to collect her.

~~i~~

"Lara may I come in?" Olivia asked as she knocked on the door then opened it to see her sitting on the bed.

Lara looked warily at the man standing next to Olivia when they stepped further into the room.

"This is my partner Elliot." Olivia introduced noticing the look on Lara's face.

"Olivia have... Have you come to take me to the home?" Lara asked fear in her voice, her mother had warned her that she would be sent to a home if she became too much for her to deal with. Where no one would ever care what happened to her, as bad people ran the place and hurt the children there.

"Actually I've come to take you back to my apartment that is if you want to?" Olivia explained hoping that she would say yes.

"But... why I… I don't understand." Lara shook her head confused; she thought girls without parents went to homes.

Olivia let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She spoke before she had a chance to think. "This is going to be hard for you to understand, but when you were born something happened and you… You were giving to the wrong mother…"

.

Lara's eyes widen with shock with what Olivia was saying.

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"NO! This can't be true you're lying! …. LET ME GO!" Lara yelled dismayed as she tried to escape out of the room but Elliot caught her.

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Olivia just stood there frozen in her pain unable to do anything but let her tears fall down her face. Angry at herself for what she thought was her selfish need to tell Lara the truth. She should have known better Lara wasn't ready to hear it.

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Elliot held Lara in his arms trying to calm her down as she struggled to get away. "Lara I know this is hard to understand. But it's not your fault and it's not Olivia's fault… why don't you just go and see how it goes tonight?"

Lara knew she had no other options. It was this or be sent to a home, she didn't know what the better option was at the moment.

"Ok." Lara whispered feeling defeated.


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