Saint Vincent's Hospital, Children's Wing
West 82nd &12th
Manhattan
9:15 am
Rubyjane woke from her seizure very disoriented, and when she realized that she had wet herself and that Lilyjoy had passed out, she began to cry because she was embarrassed for herself and sad that she couldn't fix her twin's misery.
The arrival of the ambulance didn't help, either, and she became positively hysterical, quieting only when she was put under a full sedation, just so they could get her on to the gurney.
When her twin came to, she was still under the effects of the anesthesia a tad, and that made her calm, but Amanda noticed quickly that the Lilyjoy was just a little too calm, even when the doctor gave her a check-up.
Maybe it was just her maternal instinct coming into play, but it really concerned Amanda.
But then Olivia arrived with Zara in tow, as well as all of the luggage the precinct's trio of pint-sized visitors.
Realizing that she should stay out of the way, Zara hopped on a chair by the window of Lilyjoy's room and waved to her through it, wanting to see how she was.
Olivia stood a few feet away with her detectives, conversing in quiet tones with them.
"I made sure to bring Zara's and the twins' luggage because I thought you two would be able to find more about why they're all here, and even more about who Lily and Ruby are as people by going through their things."
"Good thinking, sarge." Nick told her.
When Amanda didn't immediately tack anything on in support, Olivia looked over at her.
"You alright, Rollins?"
"Uh-huh." she nodded. "Something just seems a little off about Lily, but I don't know what it is."
"The doctor should give us a report when she's finished."
Amanda only nodded absently, so Nick asked their CO a question of his own.
"Where are Fin and Carisi?"
"Just before Zara came to get me, I was going to tell you that we caught a case involving an off-duty cop from the tenth and her friend."
Nick winced at the mention of a fallen cop. "Any details like names?"
"Lilah Malcolm, and her best friend, Zoë Hugo."
"How did they fare?" Amanda chimed in.
"Officer Malcolm passed away, but Zoë made it, although not without serious bodily violations, including a concussion." Olivia said, choosing her words carefully so Zara didn't overhear the wrong thing. "She's in recovery, and I'm going to see her after this, but I'm on extra alert because because of how the doctor told me Zoë described her attackers: 'a crazy Southern Belle sporting a tire iron,' and an 'older man who kept calling her Kimmie.' Sound like anyone you know?"
"Kim and my dad." Amanda sighed.
"Fin and Carisi are the still in The Ramble at the park with CSU, because that's where the crime scene is, and if the tenth precinct starts getting iffy about turf, I might have to call Barba." Olivia explained. "There is one good thing, though—Melinda is the ME on this case, and we all know that she is the best of the best."
That was very true, and knowing that meant things would be handled very efficiently and professionally.
"That is a relief."
Olivia nodded and then perked up when she saw the doctor emerge from the twins' room; this was Doctor Cook, and she worked often with the SVU, especially when children were involved. One of the things they liked about her was that she always remembered their names and ranks.
"Good morning, sergeant, detectives." she nodded to each of them in turn. "Who brought Lilyjoy and Rubyjane in?"
"Detective Amaro and I did," Amanda said. "And the twins are my nieces, but up until an hour ago, none of us knew that they even existed."
"I see. Which one of their parents is related to you?"
"Their mother—she's my little sister."
"Do you know where she is?"
"That remains to be seen because she abandoned Ruby and Lily at our precinct before anyone came in, so if nobody saw her then, she could be anywhere by now."
"Do you know who their father is?"
Amanda had to bite her tongue for a second on that; Kim was a slut, and while she didn't know her exact number, she knew it was high enough that it would be impossible to guess right off the bat.
"I honestly have no idea." Amanda subconsciously rubbed her baby bump, taking time to stroke it with her thumbs when she felt her babies wiggle around. "I'm Lily's and Ruby's guardian for the time being; are my nieces alright?"
Doctor Cook shifted her weight from one foot to the other; delivering unpleasant news about children was never easy, especially to their families. Olivia immediately chose to leave to go check on Zoë, knowing that Amanda and Nick would fill her in later.
"Rubyjane should be waking from her sedation within the next twenty minutes, and when she does wake, the first thing I would advise is to give her a bath—but before you ask, there is a bathtub in the kids' bathroom."
"We can handle that."
"Good, because the real battle will be getting them to eat."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"
"Those hearing aids they have don't come cheap because they are brand new on the market."
"Oh?"
"They're lightweight—perfect for kids." Doctor Cook elaborated. "It seems that your sister fell upon hard times financially, because while everything is in working order with the hearing aids, Lily and Ruby are underweight. They haven't been getting enough to eat, and for awhile, it looks like."
"It isn't severe, is it?"
"They're not absolutely starving, but they aren't far from malnourishment."
"Oh, my God," was all Amanda could say, instead of swearing filthily like she wanted.
Nick nodded towards the window, where Zara yet remained, playing peekaboo with Lilyjoy through the glass.
"Will the girls be able to eat?"
"Yes, but make sure they know to pace themselves, and that it's alright if they don't finish their food. Lily signed to me that she's hungry, so I'm going to go make sure that she gets food." she told Nick before turned to Amanda. "Were you watching the check-up with Lily?"
"Mhm, and I noticed that she seemed a little too laid back. Do you have any ideas why that could be?"
"I can't say for sure without seeing any of her medical records, but Lily is displaying a form of high-functioning autism. Further testing would pinpoint exactly where on the spectrum she is. We can talk about that at another time, but I'll go now and get food for Lily."
The doctor's news was a lot for Amanda to swallow, so she just nodded in thanks and watched with Nick as she left.
"Nick," Amanda said to her boyfriend when they were on their own. "Lily and Ruby now make two more kids in the family now who have special needs; what if they become ours? What if these little ones," she touched her hands to her middle. "Are also different like Lily, Ruby, and Maggie all are?"
Nick planted a kiss on Amanda's forehead. "Then we'll face it together."
Amanda was comforted a great deal by that and followed Nick over to Zara, and they took turns explaining the situation to her in the least traumatizing way possible. Zara's heart broke for Lilyjoy and Rubyjane by the end of the explanation, she vowed to be good to the little girls and look out for them, just like a big sister.
Little did Zara know that she was going to be one.
Lilyjoy turned and Zara came to adore each other, forming a bond of trust almost immediately. When the food came, Lilyjoy got frustrated with herself because her hunger was making her clumsy, and instead of asking for Amanda to help, she asked Zara. Flattered, she helped new friend and was very patient about it.
Rubyjane, she slept on.
That gave Amanda and Nick time to sort through the kids' belongings, hoping to find clues as to why they were all in the Empire State.
Amanda didn't have to look far because she picked up Lilyjoy's backpack and when she opened it, she found a manila folder with her name on it. When she opened the folder, the first thing she found was a handwritten letter, also addressed to her.
The familiar, untidy handwriting told her that it was from her sister.
Dear AJ,
If you're reading this, then you've encountered my girls, Lilyjoy Amelia and Rubyjane Clara. They are the best accomplishments of my life, but I can't keep them because I've run out of money.
Lily and Ruby were both born almost entirely deaf, and it wasn't until a month ago that I was able to afford a set of hearing aids for both of them. Daddy even helped, but like I said, I'm broke now because the operations drained me of my money. If I had to, I would do it all again.
Since I have no money, I'm going to stick with daddy, because he offered, and it's better than being in a shelter. I won't ask to stay with you because I don't want you to get into trouble, and I won't go to see mama because it feels like I failed as a daughter. There is also no stinking way that I'd ever go back to Georgia. Ever.
Lily and Ruby have always known how to talk and sign because I taught them how, but they've never been hear themselves until now, so that's why they sound a little off-beat at first. They're also both a little slow and Lilyjoy is autistic, but I could never love them less.
I know with absolute certainty that Beau Lane is their father, but he doesn't want anything to do with either of the girls or me, and I'm perfectly fine with that. We both know that Beau's parents both kicked the bucket years ago and that it's Beau, Hattie, Charlene, and Thelma left, but don't worry, none of Beau's idiot sisters or even his wife will come knocking because the Lanes are bigger losers than I am. Lily and Ruby wouldn't be able to get a proper education if we kept hanging around them. The girls need to do something good with their lives, just like you did with yours.
This is the part where I say why I'm writing to you: will you please include my babies in your future plans? I can't take them with me and they've had it rough, so I won't put them through anything else. The twins love each other very much, but they would probably die of broken hearts if they were ever split up. You are their last best hope.
I'll probably never come back to Lily and Ruby, but we've said our goodbyes. If they ever ask about me, remind them that I love them forever and that I brought them to New York City because I wanted them to have better lives than they could have had in Georgia.
And in case I don't see you again, then please know from the bottom of my heart that I'm sorry for every bad thing I've done to you and your friends. Please tell mama that I also love her and that I'm sorry for all I've done to her, too. Thank you if you take Lilyjoy and Rubyjane, and I love you so much. You're the best big sister anyone could ever have.
Love,
Kim
Amanda was in tears by the time she finished the letter, and when she turned to Nick to show it to him, she saw that he was leaning back in his chair, lost in thought with what looked like a letter from Maria in one hand.
She started to ask him about it, but got totally derailed when she heard a scared voice shriek her name all of a sudden.
"MANDY?"
Rubyjane had finally woken up, and she was feeling really scared. Amanda set her letter aside and hurried over to her niece, immediately sitting with her on the bed.
"You're okay, baby." Amanda kissed her forehead. "I'm right here, and Lilyjoy is over there."
Rubyjane followed where Amanda was pointing and signed 'I love you' to her sister, who immediately signed it back to reassure her that everything was going to be alright.
When she turned back to Amanda, she became the one distracted when a smell reached her nose, causing her to wrinkle it.
"Me 'tinky, Mandy." she giggled.
She isn't wrong about that, Amanda thought as she took off her jacket and rolled up her sleeves. "How about we fix that by giving you a bath and getting you something to eat?"
Rubyjane like the sound of that and let Amanda carry her to the bathroom.
Downstairs, Olivia was leaving the hospital and heading back to her car, but feeling scrambled.
She'd just come from Zoë Hugo's room, and though she was recovering from a serious concussion, she was with it long enough to give a description of one of her attackers to a sketch artist, but almost right after, she experienced a sudden case of cardiac arrest and her body gave out. She was gone in the blink of an eye.
Now, as Olivia was heading out to her car, she was armed with a composite sketch of a man whom she was quite certain was Odis Lee Rollins, as well as the knowledge that Zoë's occupation had been that of postal worker, and postal workers were federal employees, meaning that harming one always came with serious consequences.
That, coupled with a dead cop, and Odis Lee and Kim were screwed, anyway.
(Unless—and Olivia almost hated to say it—Kim had something like a mental break)
Now she had to go find Bedelia to show her the sketch. Amanda wouldn't be able to ID it because she'd just freak out, plus… her memories of her father were more than twenty years out of date.
All Olivia could do was pray that the picture wouldn't make Bedelia spiral.
