Olivia heard a clatter on Sophia's end of the line, meaning that she had dropped her phone in surprise.

Just as Olivia was beginning to panic, the phone was picked up by someone else.

"This is Violet Novak." said a new, softer, accented voice. "Is this Olivia?"

"Yes. It's good to finally meet you, Violet, current circumstances being what they are."

"Yes." Violet agreed. "What have you told Sophia?"

Olivia sighed. "What all do you know about her story?"

"Everything, including the trouble with her ex-husband."

"This is about her dad."

"Sophia's imprinted on my husband, and he treats her like one of our kids."

Olivia felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. "That's so nice to hear, Violet. Thank you."

Violet smiled briefly, even though Olivia couldn't see her. "Sophia's never mentioned her biological father, except to say that she doesn't know his name, or what he looks like."

"That's all true, and even I didn't know because it was a one-time thing. Unfortunately, we've just found him dead twenty-five minutes ago."

"Oh, dear. I'm so sorry. Were you calling to tell Sophia?"

"Yes, but she blanked out. I don't want to tell her over the phone that he's gone, just that I need her here. Can you convey that message, please?"

"Of course." Pause. "Well, my husband's just walked in. He and I will bring Sophia over. Anything else I should know?"

"My whole squad is here, including Alex and Casey."

"Got it. We'll be along soon."

"See you then."

Olivia hung up and went out to the others, all gathered at the media center. She spoke to Amanda first.

"Have you brought everyone up to speed on who our victim is?"

"Yes, lieutenant. I just finished."

"Good work. Since your family is in town, will you give them a call and ask them to come here?"

"Sure. Should I also call Blue?"

"Please do."

Amanda nodded and headed back to her desk.

Olivia spoke to the rest of her team.

Unable to stop herself, Casey said, "How did calling Sophia go?"

"I got as far as telling her that this was about her dad, and then she dropped her phone."

"But…?"

"Violet picked up—literally—and we talked. She and your dad are bringing Sophia here."

Casey groaned. "Alex met my parents a long time ago, when I was recovering from my injury, but after thirteen years and the squad getting a roster change, this was not how I pictured the rest of you meeting my parents."

Olivia laughed and then shrugged. "It is what it is, Case. Amanda's family is coming, too, so maybe that will distract you."

"Damn, I hope so, because even after eight kids, my folks can still find ways to 'accidentally on purpose' embarrass us in front of our friends."

Olivia gestured towards the screen, where all of the preliminary information was up. "What do we know?"

Fin began to read off a file he was holding. "Floyd-William Langston Enos, fifty-six. He's a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and we're still trying to figure out why he's up here, especially since he hasn't seen his family in twenty-five years."

"Well, a guy like this is bound to have a rap sheet."

Fin handed her the folder. "It's miles long."

Olivia put her glasses on andbegan to skim the records. "Anyone care to throw out a highlight?"

"He was a longtime crack user, and it weathered his appearance. We're still waiting on the autopsy from Melinda, but it already looks like Enos never made any attempts to kick the habit. He could've been up here looking to score more."

"He was also found with his pants down and quite literally exposed. Do we have anything on that?"

"Yes, actually." Carisi pushed a button on the keyboard in front of him, and they were met with a mugshot of a young white woman, who also looked like she'd seen better days. "Everyone, this is Reagan Turner. It's her DNA that's on Enos'… junk."

"What do we have on her? Any records?"

"According to her rap sheet, she's been arrested twice for solicitation and once for prostitution. She does drugs, too, but has no records of possession."

Olivia cringed as she looked over the mugshot again. "The drugs changed her appearance, too—when was Reagan born?"

"December 31st, 1999. She missed 2000 by a little bit less than a day."

"But no trace of her?"

"Not at the moment, no, but we are still searching."

"For who?" Amanda asked as she joined them again.

"The prostitute whose DNA was found at the crime scene."

Amanda shuddered. "I can guess just where her DNA as found."

Olivia looked over at her. "Is your family on the way?"

"Yep, and wouldn't you know it: my mom, Benoît, Blue, my uncle Zoltan, and Kim are all together. They're shopping for the gala later."

"The Novaks are here with Sophia." Alex hissed suddenly, catching sight of new people emerging into the bullpen. "Everyone look sharp, and someone put on the screensaver!"

Carisi switched the screen over to the screensaver just as the newcomers noticed them and headed over. Olivia, meanwhile, had a start when she saw Casey's parents. There was no doubt that Casey was their child because the looks alone proved it, but a split second later, it occurred to her that they were probably going to be her parents-in-law in the next year or two. That thought gave her a turn all over again, because if she had to guess, they were within a decade of her in age.

"Who are your friends, Cassandra?" Violet asked when they drew level with everyone.

"Do tell." Senior encouraged, embarrassingly eager.

Casey rolled her eyes at the mention of her actual name. "I'm pushing forty, and you two are still those love able but embarrassing parents who still insisted on walking me to my first class on my first day of school when I was eight, even though I had all the same teachers you two did."

"Your leg was broken and in a cast, so you were hobbling along on crutches. You needed us, and Tiffany had already left you in the dust." Violet laughed and then turned to Sophia, straightening her jacket collar. "You call us when you're done here, alright?"

"Okay, Violet. Thanks."

"Anything for family." she winked.

Meanwhile, Casey's father was being persistent. "Come on and introduce us to your friends, little—"

"Ah-ah!" Casey said quickly. "Do not finish that sentence!"

"Introduce us, then, to your mother and I."

Right on cue, Violet sidled up to her husband and then looked coyly at Casey, egging her on with a mere lift of the eyebrow. Casey caved instantly.

"Okay, fine. You guys know Alex from forever ago, and obviously, you know Sophia, but this is," she pointed to everyone in turn. "Sophia's mother, Olivia, and Amanda, Elliot, Dominick, and Fin. This is the SVU squad, and they're my closest friends."

Casey faced her other family.

"These are my parents, Augustín Senior and Violet."

Casey's friends exchanged greetings with the elder Novaks, and then Violet checked her watch. Patting her husband on the shoulder, she told him something in Slovak and then made a shooing motion with her hands.

"It was lovely meeting all of you." Violet told Casey's posse. "We have to go, but we will see you all around, I'm sure."

No sooner were they gone than Fin said cheekily to Casey, "So your actual name is Cassandra, but what was that that Senior was going to call you?"

"Nothing that Olivia, Sophia, or Alex will be repeating."

"And what was that that your mom was speaking, just before they left?"

"Slovak. We mostly speak that and Irish at home, and in the shop."

"They do." Sophia confirmed. "I'm already picking bits and pieces up."

Elliot turned to Casey. "You have seven siblings, and now come to find out, you speak three languages? Is English even your first?"

"No."

"What is it?"

Seeing that Casey was already blushing, Sophia jumped in to rescue her.

"Someone remind me why I'm here, again."

Elliot, Fin, and Carisi immediately scattered, making themselves busy.

"Okay, what's happening?"

Olivia beckoned to her daughter. "Come along, Sophia. We're all going to go have a chat."

Slightly puzzled now, Sophia followed Olivia, Casey, Alex, and Amanda across the bullpen, into the kitchen. She, Casey, Alex, and Amanda sat together around the main table, with Olivia presiding at the head.

"You said this is about my dad, right?" Sophia asked.

Olivia nodded. "Yes."

"What about him? Did he kill a guy?"

"Not that we know of. As it stands, he was the one killed—I recognized him at a crime scene this morning and I puked."

Sophia was taken aback. "Oh, my God. Are you okay?"

"I'm recovered from that, but I'm surprised, more than anything else because it's been twenty-five years and this is out of the blue. How are you?"

"I can't miss what I never had or knew, but I feel a little bit empty, and I have so many questions now."

Beside her, Casey said, "I have no doubt, and we're all here to help answer them."

"We also have something else to say," Alex chimed in. "But let's get your questions out of the way first."

"Then how did he die?"

"He was 'otherwise engaged' and shot in the forehead."

"What a damn shame."

Trying not to sneer, Amanda said, "Not too much a shame because he did crack and his body was at the point of no return."

Sophia looked around at the women before her, her family. She could tell they were all holding something back, but she couldn't figure out what it was, and it made her curious.

"Who has a picture of my father? There's four of you here, so one of you has to have one."

Amanda slid an iPad mini across the table to Sophia. "He has a criminal record, so I'll spare you the death photo and give you the mugshot."

"Thank you."

Sophia took the device and regarded the mugshot as set eyes on her father for the first time.

They were both so physically different in appearance that it was hard for her to wrap her mind around it that she was half of this this man. But there was something about the mouth. Yes, she had his mouth. Other than that, she was a living copy of her mother.

Sophia looked around at the others again, well too aware of their eyes on her.

"What was my father's name?"

"Floyd-William Enos." Olivia provided. "I swear up and down that I had no idea until today. I didn't even know where he was."

"Mom, I believe you."

Olivia breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Thank you."

Casey gave a pointed cough and said to Amanda, "Time to tell her the other thing."

Amanda turned her wheelchair to face the younger woman's own chair. She had to take a few steadying breaths, but soon, she spoke.

"Sophia, I had no idea of this, either, and it's as much a shock to me as it will be to you, but Floyd-William Enos was also my dad."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat as she processed this latest tidbit. First, her father turns up dead after being absent for her entire lifetime to date, and now, it turned out that she was the long-lost baby sister of one of her friends. This was turning out to be quite day, but at least she was learning more about who she was.

Finally, she looked to Amanda. "Really? You said we're bonded for life, but it turns out we already have been for twenty-five years."

Amanda nodded. "Fate is a funny thing that way. I haven't seen the man in that picture since I was twelve, but that's him. That's my father."

Sophia surveyed the photo and then looked at Amanda again.

"You are totally Blue's mini carbon copy, but you look like him, too."

"So do you, around the mouth, but you've still got most most of your mama's genes and the like."

Sophia made a humming noise. "You're my sister, huh? We're already friends, but this must be why we took to each other so fast."

"Which is exactly what I was thinking. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes. It's all a lot to process, I'll admit, but it would be for anyone, wouldn't it?"

Amanda nodded. "Totally."

"Then I'm excited, but it's… just a lot, you know?"

"I do, and I'm feeling the same way, but I'm excited to have a new sister."

Sophia offered her a smile. "Me, too."

Amanda patted Sophia's hand. "I'm going to look after you the way a big sister should but I promise that whatever goes down during this case, I will protect you."

"Thanks, Amanda, but what makes you go that far?"

"My family is coming here in a minute, and we have to tell him about Floyd."

"Wait—so who am I about to meet?"

"Blue is coming, but so is her husband, and my mom and my stepdad, and Kim."

"Wow." Sophia said dazedly. "Blue is my friend, so I know her, but will everyone else like me?"

"Yes, but my mom will probably be snooty for awhile before she sees the light of day and comes around."

"I can understand that."

"Good, and like I said, I'll protect you if things go too sideways."

"Thanks again."

"Hey, is that them?"

Casey was pointing to the small knot of well-dressed people Carisi was leading across the bullpen to them. Elliot and Fin were following behind. Amanda sighed as she turned her wheelchair and their direction.

"Yep, that's them. Brace yourselves, and don't say I didn't warn you."

The words were scarcely out of her mouth when Carisi reached them and led everyone inside. Suddenly, the room was very crowded.

Beth Anne Rollins, as dignified and regal as ever, approached Amanda first. Olivia was immediately on tenterhooks because as far as she recalled, the last time these two had even spoken was when Kim had been sent to jail after the Flute Incident. Beth Anne had turned on her own child, and Amanda had arrived on Olivia's doorstep a few hours later, Jesse on her hip, in tears. Olivia spent the night consoling her, and she promised herself that she would try a little harder to be protective, if or when Beth Anne turned up again.

"Amanda," she said, genuinely surprised at the sight of her firstborn in a wheelchair. "What's wrong? What didn't you call to say that you were hurt?"

Amanda rolled her eyes. "Nice to see you, too, mom. Yes, I'm hurt, but it isn't a big deal—I told Blue."

Beth Anne made to retort thatt telling her sister news wasn't the same as telling her, but Benoît Rollins intervened, moving forward, physically steering his wife away. He spoke to Amanda, and his voice was warm and gentle, steeped in southern twang and charm.

"We can catch up on your maladies later, treasure, but you would've called home if it was worse than what it is, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now, wh—Beth, what is it?"

Beth Anne had caught sight of Sophia, and she was looking at her like she was the ghost of Jacob Marely, from A Christmas Carol. She had seen the same resemblance in Sophia that Amanda had.

Beth Anne spoke to her firstborn again. "Amanda, who is this?"

Reading the cold and calculating look in her mother's eyes, Amanda strategically placed herself between her and Sophia, who had stood.

"Mom, this is Sophia Benson. She's my sister."