Chapter 10

"Ciara honey I was just about to come get you. I am so sorry but something bad has happened" spoke Casey softly as everyone got out of the mini-bus. She had a dreaded look on her face. She continued "Ciara its your grandma she she" stammered Casey. "Ciara your grandma died last night. I only just found her. I am so sorry" by this point both Casey and Ciara were in floods of tears.

Ciara couldn't believe it. She knew her grandma was going to die but didn't think she would go so soon. Then it hit her. She was now alone. She had nobody left.

She was brought out of her thoughts as Liz and Olivia enveloped her in a big hug. Olivia and Liz both knew that Ciara was now on her own and knew that they needed to help this girl through her hard time.

Ciara had wanted to go and see her grandma for one last time. Liz and Don offered to take her to the hospital. When they reached the hospital Ciara asked if Liz would come with he because she didn't want to be alone. Liz caringly took Ciara's hand as they walked into the hospital. Don waited in the car.

As he sat waiting he took a small velvet box from his pocket. He had planned to propose to Liz today. When he woke up this morning it just felt like the right time. He had bought the ring after he and Liz spent their first night together. He knew from that day on that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this spectacular woman. Now he wasn't sure if it was the right time or not. It might seem a bit insensitive towards Ciara he thought. He also thought about how his gut feeling had never let him down before and he knew that if he couldn't trust his gut instinct that maybe he was in the wrong line of work. After a further 10 or so minutes of contemplation he decided that tonight was the night, he was going to ask Judge Elizabeth Donnelly for her hand in marriage.

Not long after Liz and Ciara appeared from the hospital. It was obvious that Ciara had been crying but that was to be expected. Liz and Ciara both got into the back of the car and Liz gave Don a nod as he looked at her using the mirror. They wanted to go straight home. Although the drive was only short Ciara fell asleep. Don carried her up to her room and Liz tucked her into bed and gave her a gentle kiss on the head. Even though she had only met this girl she felt like they had a special connection and already cared deeply for her.

When the returned downstairs they noticed that Fin and Melinda were missing.

"Where are Fin and Mel gone to?" inquired Don.

"Melinda wasn't feeling well so she went to bed and Fin went with her to keep an eye on her" replied Olivia.

Upstairs Fin was waiting nervously for Melinda to reappear from the bathroom. As she walked through the door she just nodded at Fin and walked over to the bad and sat beside him.

He looked at her and she looked back at him with the widest of grins.

"Its positive isn't it baby?" he asked excitedly.

Melinda couldn't even speak. She just nodded and began to cry. She was over the moon and was even happier that she would be carrying Fin's baby. He really was the love of her life.

She had thought for a while now that there was a chance she was pregnant but didn't want to say anything until she was sure. Now that she was sure she wanted to shout it from the rooftops but new that it wasn't the right time to tell. She and Fin both decided to wait until after Ciara's grandma's funeral.

As they returned to the living room they were glad to see that Don and Liz had returned.

"How are you feeling now Mel?" asked Olivia

"I'm fine now I think I was just a little overwhelmed by today's events" she replied with a reassuring smile.

Everyone continued with small chit-chat until John interrupted everyone.

"I know that today has been a long day but seen as we have Casey back with us again I think she owes us an explanation" stated John boldly. He got a few not so pleasant looks but he needed to know what was going on with his friend. He turned to look at Casey.

"Guys I am so sorry for dragging you all here and for worrying all of you. I am really sorry but I just had to get away. I guess I am going through some sort of mid-life crisis. After watching that movie I just thought that I am wasting my life away I wanted to live a little and get away from paedophiles and rapists and just expand my horizon a little. I didn't call anyone because it all happened so quickly but I knew that once I got here that my life wasn't so bad and that I really missed you guys. I think I'm over my crisis now" she finished with a little giggle.

"So you are coming back to New York with us at the end of the trip?" asked Elliot.

"I was going to fly back with you guys but I don't know if I can just leave Ciara guys, she has nobody else we've checked"

"We?" asked John while peering over the top of his glasses suggestively.

"Yes John we, as in Ciara and I" she giggled lightly and continued "her dad is dead and so is her mother and her grandma was the only person she had left and now she is gone too. She is only 16 and she hasn't got it easily. She can barely go to the local shop without getting teased or beaten up. I feel so bad for her and we have really connected I can't just abandon her now" explained Casey.

"We understand how you feel Casey, from the first time we met Casey I think its safe to say we were all immediately drawn to her. There is just something about her" said Liz. Everyone nodded in agreement. There were a few moments of silence while everyone thought about Ciara and what was going to happen to her. The only person not thinking of Ciara was Don. He thought this would be a good time to ask Liz to marry him. He slowly got to his feet and everyone turned to look at him. He walked over to where Liz was sitting and went down on one knee. Everyone's mouth dropped open – they were not expecting this.

"Elizabeth Donnelly will you do me the biggest honour and become my wife?"

"Donald Cragen you know I will" replied Elizabeth with the widest of grins before leaping on him and giving him a passionate kiss.

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