Chapter Two-
Lara sat on the curb, head in her hands. Her heart was pounding as she contemplated life without her dear aunt. Dean came over to her, and she stood up, shaking slightly. She felt light-headed and dizzy.

"Lara? Are you alright?" She waved off his concerns.

"I'll be fine, I just need a hug." He pulled her close against his rough rescue uniform. The whole team felt Lara's sadness and despair. Jordan, Lachie, Chase and Heidi packed up in the background, trying to be quiet. Lara sobbed against Dean's chest as he held.

"What am I supposed to do without my aunt? She's the one who would have bought all the baby things, stayed with me the whole time. She's my aunt, she's supposed to be in control. What am I going to do?" Dean stroked her back, holding her close before he spoke.

"Lara, I will always stand by you no matter what. I've told you that time and time again. Michelle will impart her baby wisdom on you whether you ask for it or not, and we'll all help with the baby stuff. Your baby will pretty much become Rescue property, and will be well and truly looked after by loving aunties and uncles." She smiled up at his face.

"Thanks Dean." She kissed him on the lips, and moved away.

"We better help them clean up."

Jordan and Heidi went home afterwards, both lost in their own thoughts. They went to Jordan's house, and sat together on the couch. They needed a rest for a while before even think about lunch. Jordan lay back on the couch, and Heidi nestled in next to him, and intertwined her fingers with his.

"I feel so bad for Lara. I mean, losing your aunt. That's a big thing, especially with a baby on the way." Jordan kissed the top of her head.

"I know how she feels. It's like the biggest hole in your heart." Heidi looked up at him.

"How would you know?" She asked, puzzled.

"My dad died a few years back, before I was rescued by Dean. He was killed in a car accident, the car was hit by a semi-trailer. The other driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. Dad had no chance. After he was gone, I was so angry with the world, convinced that some entity higher than me had just taken him away in some bizarre act of cruelty. That's when I started street-racing. I needed the adrenaline to feel; I was so numb after he died. Like someone had taken away a limb. It wasn't until I had my accident that I realised I was being ridiculous, that while yeah, he was gone, he was still a part of me. It's taken me a long time to get to that point. So I can relate to how Lara will be feeling." Heidi laid her head back on his chest.

"I had no idea; you never told me."

"You never asked me." She laughed.

"Do you think she'll be ok?" She asked.

"Dean will look out for her. She'll be fine."

"I hope so."

Lara sat in the patrol, Dean driving. She noticed her heart pounding, and could feel the sweat beading on her forehead.

"Hey Dean, do you think we could stop for lunch?" She asked, trying to keep her voice steady. He nodded, and pulled into the car park near the local fish and chip shop. She dashed inside, and bought a fruit drink, guzzling it. Dean followed her in at a more sedate pace, and ordered lunch for them both.

"You a bit thirsty there Lara?" He joked. She nodded at him. She needed to avert a hypoglycaemic attack, and the juice was the quickest way to do that. Lunch would help her feel better as well. She didn't want to collapse in front of Dean, and then him find out. She didn't want to stress him anymore than he had been. They sat in their favourite booth, and Dean opened up the greasy paper, spreading it flat. Lara devoured almost half the pile of chips, savouring every bite. Dean looked at her, astonished.

"Geez Lara, I know you're eating for two, but this is a little far." She nodded, and pulled back a little.

"I know, I'm just so hungry." They finished quickly. Dean offered to drive her to the hospital to see her Dad. Vince had given them no news so far. She climbed back into the patrol, eager to get to the hospital, to see her father.

When they arrived, she practically flung herself out of the patrol and dashed inside. She saw Vince, and stopped in her tracks. Tears streamed down his usually composed face.

"What? What is it Vince?" He tried to take a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry Lara. Your dad had a heart incident on the way here. He didn't make it." He cried harder, sorrow filling his heart.

"No. He was still alive when he left the accident site!" She spun on her heel and ran out the door, tears blurring her own vision. She ran past Dean, who called her name. She didn't look back at him. She didn't know where she was going to go, she just had to get away. She now had no family, no-one to really turn to when things got rough. Her baby would never know it's grandparents. She sobbed harder, but kept running. She might be almost eight weeks pregnant, but it wasn't going to stop her. She pounded the pavement, struggling to see where she was going. She stopped when she finally got to a park, and sat under one of the leafy tree's, and cried harder than she had ever cried before. She knew the stress wasn't good for the baby, but her heart was aching so badly from the loss of her family that she didn't care. She gasped as she sobbed.

"Why me?"

Dean stayed with Vince for a little while longer, then offered to drop him back to the station. Kate would take him home from there. After checking at HQ, and not finding her there, Dean started scouring the streets for Lara. He didn't want her to be alone with her grief. He had no idea what she would do. He tried calling her phone, but she didn't answer. He grabbed Chase and Lachie, and got them to come help him look for her.

Lara tried to dry the fast-flowing tears, but struggled. She could feel herself shaking, and felt faint. Her stomach growled quietly at her, and sweat beaded gently on her forehead. She knew something was going to happen, and knew it would happen soon. She pushed herself up the trunk of the tree, struggling to stand. She tried to walk back to civilisation on unsteady legs, and knew it wouldn't work. She realised she needed Dean, and with shaking fingers, dialled his number. He picked up on the first ring.

"Lara, where are you?" He asked, concerned.

"I don't know, I need you though. Something's going to happen."

"What's going to happen?"

"I don't want to tell you, you'll be angry." Her voice was wavering.

"Lara, I'm conferencing this call to Chase and Lachie in the other patrol." He pressed his phone, and brought Chase and Lachie into the confusing conversation.

"Did you find her?" Asked Chase.

"Well, yes and no. She's on the line now, and she won't tell me where she is, or what's going on," said Dean angrily.

"I'm in a park. I can't remember how I got here though." Lara sat down quickly, feeling her world spin around her.

"Describe what you can see." She did so, her words starting to slur.

"Lara, stay with me," said Dean, now concerned more than angry.

"I'm trying." Her head ached, and all she wanted to do was sleep. She struggled to keep her eyes open.

"I know where she is Dean, it's the park near the hospital," said Chase suddenly. Dean swore, and pulled a U-turn in front of traffic. He flipped on the sirens. Something was happening to Lara, and he had to get there now.

Lara watched as her world swayed and tilted in front of her, confusing. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her head felt like someone had smashed it in. She rubbed her slight baby bump.

"I'm sorry baby," she murmured. She closed her eyes, her body feeling like it was tilting a swaying in a strong breeze. She leaned back, and lay on the ground. At least if she did faint, she wouldn't fall very far.

"Dean, where are you?"

The wheels spun on the patrol as Dean pushed it to its limits. Lachie and Chase followed closely behind, their own siren blazing. He screeched to a halt at the curb near the park.

"Grab your medi-kit's," he instructed, jumping the low fence.

"Lara!" He called. He couldn't see her. Lachie and Chase fanned out, trying to cover as much ground as possible. They would have given up, had they not noticed the crowd of people at the far side of the park. The three Gallagher brothers sprinted towards the throng of people.

"Move, get out of the way!" They got to the centre, only to discover they were breaking up a fight between two adolescents. Dean continued scanning the park, until he spotted a shaking figure in the opposite corner.

"Lara!" He yelled. Chase and Lachie followed him as he dashed toward the person. As they got closer they saw the blonde hair and the rescue uniform, and they knew for certain it was Lara. Dean got to her first, sliding across the grass. Her necklace was choking her in the midst of her convulsions. He ripped it off and handed it to Chase, who pocketed it. She gasped involuntarily. Lachie pulled out his mobile and dialled triple 000. They arrived in minutes. Dean watched as they loaded her into the ambulance, and got in with her. Chase could take back the other patrol. He held her hand, rubbing it gently as she lay on the stretcher, unconscious.

"Oh Lara, what have you done?"