Rubyjane was taken aback when she learned that she would be leaving her class early. But she didn't mind. Adventures with her parents were fun.

But... she had a bad feeling when they sat with her on a bench not far from her classroom.

"Ruby," McGee began. "We're about about to go see Anna."

"For why?" Rubyjane said blankly.

"Something happened to her, and her body got mixed up."

A dash of trepidation filled Rubyjane. "Where is my Anna?"

"She's in the hospital."

Rubyjane stood at this piece of news and looked her parents in the eyes. Her gaze was magnetic.

"Please can I give Anna a hug? And a present?" she asked very clearly. "My Anna really likes unicorns."

"We can totally get her a unicorn toy." Abby hugged her child. "I think Anna might need hugs later on. Her mommy went to heaven today."

Rubyjane's face fell and she just hugged her mother. She remembered that both of her birth parents were dead, but it wasn't her favorite speaking point. To say that she understood Annalynn's plight was a major understatement. Now she wanted to be with her.

McGee rubbed his daughter's back. "Are you having big feelings right now?"

That was what they called it when Rubyjane was in the mood to express a particularly deep emotion.

But she shook her head solemnly. "No."

"Would you like more hugs?"

"Yes. Please."

And so Rubyjane's parents comforted her, trying not think about what was left to tackle once they went to see Annalynn.


It was their luck that they found a stuffed unicorn in the first toy store they spotted. Rubyjane was pleased about this development.


She hurried into the right room once they arrived on the proper hospital floor. "Anna! Anna, Anna, Anna! Anna! It's me!"

Quite surprised, Annalynn immediately cast aside the book she was looking at and made beckoning motions. "RJ?! How come you're here now?!"

Rubyjane handed Annalynn her present and then climbed up on the bed to join her.

She pointed to the box when she'd settled. "We got you a present."

Annalynn pulled it closer. "Where's your mommy and your daddy now?"

Abby and McGee reached the room just as this was asked. So Rubyjane pointed them out.

Annalynn did a double-take when she spotted McGee.

Turning back to Rubyjane, she said, "That is your daddy?"

"Mhm!" Rubyjane fixed Annalynn's blanket when it slipped. "I love him!"

Annalynn furrowed her brow. "He was at my house…"

"Daddy slays dragons, and mommy helps on her 'puter in her lab." Rubyjane indicated the gift box once more. "Please open it."

Annalynn worked on opening her package, even signing her thanks when Rubyjane held it steady. It was endearing to see their teamwork.

She immediately signed her thanks about her new gift to Rubyjane. Who responded that she loved her.

"Told you I'd come back." Abby sat in the chair next to the bed. "What do you think?"

"I'm happy 'cause RJ is my heart. She even signs!" Annalynn suddenly turned as conspiratorial as a toddler could get when a new thought suddenly popped into her head. "Know what?"

Tickled, Abby said, "Please tell me."

"All the time at school, me and RJ pretend we're twins."

Her innocent admission almost sent Abby into a cascade of tears. It was because of the ramped-up hormones in her body, but Annalynn's words were still yanking on every last heartstring. She and Rubyjane pretended about something that they didn't know was actually real. McGee swooped in before Abby could spiral.

He spoke kindly to Annalynn. "I heard you say that you remember me being at your house?"

"Mhm. What's your name?"

"It's Tim. You can call me that, if you like."

"Okay!" Annalynn held a hand out to McGee. "Hi!"

McGee realized that Annalynn was initiating contact on her own, so he humored her by shaking her hand. "It's really nice to meet you."

Annalynn gave him a smile but then surveyed her visitors. "How come you're here?"

McGee was kept from answering by the arrival of Annalynn's physician. Doctor Balfour.

While Rubyjane had skipped ahead to find Annalynn's room, her parents had put in a word to the nurses about their visit. One paged Balfour from another area.

"Hello again, Abby." Balfour said warmly from the doorway. "Are you able to step out here for a few moments?"

Abby rose to her feet as she addressed Rubyjane and Annalynn. "The grown-ups are going to have a chat in the hallway for a minute. Do you understand?"

The children promised they did.

So Abby followed the others out. They congregated in front of the room's big picture window. McGee spoke to Balfour after proper introductions were had.

"Has Annalynn's health improved? Since Abby left here, I mean. The rest of the team knows her version of events now."

Balfour briefly consulted her notes before speaking. "Our friend has recovered from her episode, but is a tad clumsy. Quite normal. She will no doubt sleep it off when she goes to bed tonight."

McGee took this in stride. "Alright. Did she eat?"

"Yes, but I had to keep her company. Annalynn ate so fast that I thought she was going to gorge herself. When did she last eat before that?"

"Some time very early this morning. We just can't be sure when."

Balfour arched an eyebrow. "No? Then what happened? I understand she was a witness but... Her trauma hasn't escaped our notice..."

McGee sighed. "A short version is that Annalynn's mother died by her own hand. Today. She put Annalynn in her own bedroom closet after waking her and feeding her."

"And Annalynn was put in the closet to keep from seeing the bad things, I'll wager. How much did she actually witness?"

"Everything." McGee and Abby said together.

"This must be the longest day of Annalynn's life." Balfour lamented. "She's going to need a lot of rest and a quiet place to unwind. Whose custody will she be in after I discharge her?"

"Ours." McGee said. "Her mother worked in a different department to ours, and she did some curious things to get our attention today."

Balfour grew curious. "How so?"

"One thing Jessica left behind today was a file of notarized paperwork."

"Emergency custody and adoption papers?" Balfour guessed.

"Yes. Everything is fully notarized. They also name Abby and I as Annalynn's new parents."

Balfour was fascinated now. "Please tell me how Jessica crossed your team's path in the first place if she worked in a different department."

Abby answered her. "Jessica and I were site-specific friends, you could say. Even that is pushing it. The hours she kept were insane."

"What's our missing link? The other child on the bed?"

"Correct." McGee said. "She's our daughter, Rubyjane Lily. Her path crossed Annalynn's because they're in the same care program."

"Everything being said being said is more on the weird side of incredible. Wow." Balfour shook her head in wonder. "Then I guess it's not my imagination that Rubyjane and Annalynn look alike. Are... they twins?"

"We think they are." Abby and McGee answered together.

"Come again?"

Out came a highly abridged version of why Rubyjane and Annalynn looked so alike.

Doctor Lily Balfour was utterly astounded by the end. "And now you're telling me that neither of them have any idea?"

"That's right. We're also going to tell Annalynn about Jessica today, plus her new change of address."

Abby handed Balfour the paperwork from her purse.

"Everything is right here, of you'd like to look over it."

Balfour stacked the file on her clipboard. "I'll go do that in my office. It isn't far. Spare blankets and tissue boxes can be found in the closet by the bathroom."

When she had gone, Abby and McGee headed back into Annalynn's room. Time to try again.

Sharp like her sister, Annalynn immediately hugged her toys close. "Where is mommy?"

But Abby couldn't bring herself to answer. It was too hard. McGee draped an extra blanket around Annalynn's shoulders and sat with her.

He spoke slowly so she would understand. "Abby and I are so sorry, but your mommy went to heaven. She's with your daddy up there."

Everyone watched as Annalynn digested this news for a moment. She wholly understood what had been said, but… it was quite a lot.

Unsurprisingly, her shoulders gave a significant sag.

McGee felt his heart break. Annalynn had taken in the news, but her tears were silent. Had she been punished for noisy tears before?

Then Annalynn did the only thing she could think of: hold her arms out for a hug.

Without a second thought, and minding Annalynn's medical equipment, McGee brought her in to his lap.

"Crying is okay. That's a promise." McGee hugged the trembling child. "We all promise that it's okay to have big feelings. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Annalynn moved closer to McGee. "Y-yes. Was I bad?"

"Not at all." McGee wiped Annalynn's tears and gave her a back rub. "You were not bad."

"Promise?"

"Yes, Annalynn. I promise."

The two of them stayed together for a little while.

Annalynn just cried herself out. This new friend made her feel safe.

McGee was mentally pinching himself. Annalynn had sought him for comfort first. He was in awe. This little girl trusted him. So he was absolutely soaking in every moment.

Rubyjane waited patiently beside them. She would give more hugs to Annalynn later. Or sit with her. If she asked.

Abby was having déja vù as she remembered helping Rubyjane cope with Onyx's death. None of it had been pretty. But now it was surely going to happen again.

Annalynn's voice broke through her thoughts. "What's going to happen after this?"

Abby smiled at her. "Your mommy asked us to do something that will make you and RJ very happy."

Both little girls halted and gave her their utmost attention.

"What?" they chimed in perfect unison.

"Annalynn, your mommy asked Tim and I to look after you." Abby told her. "Do you understand?"

The little girl nodded after a moment. Abby's words brought her joy. Her heart was also doing many cartwheels.

Eyebrows raised so high they almost vanished into her bangs, Annalynn held on to a corner of McGee's shirt before speaking to her other savior.

"I'm going with you?" (Out of the corner of her eye, Annalynn could see that Rubyjane's mouth was hanging open) "For real?"

Abby nodded. "If you want to."

Annalynn nodded slowly. "What about my bed? And my toys?"

"We'll work on getting them." Abby said seriously. "Do you still want to come?"

"Yes, please!"

Annalynn tried to remove her oxygen supply to prove her willingness.

"Easy does it, kid." McGee fixed the tube for her. "You need to keep that in."

"But it keeps making me sneeze." Annalynn's words were immediately followed by the act happening.

Abby handed her a tissue box. "If you can keep that tube in, Anna, we'll talk to the doctor about getting you some new things to wear."

"What about shoes?" Annalynn tried to wipe her nose on a tissue, but missed. "Mine are way small."

"We'll also get you some shoes that fit." Abby wiped the spot Annalynn had missed. "I promise."

Annalynn signed her thanks and then moved out of McGee's lap on her own. Rubyjane had noticed her new medical bracelet. She decided to show it off. Maybe her buddy could get a matching one.

By this time, Doctor Balfour had already returned. Now she was just watching.

Abby and McGee noticed Balfour watching. They were quick to join her again.

"Everything checks out." Balfour happily reported she handed the files back. "Has Annalynn been told…?"

Abby put the papers away again. "Yes, but we're anticipating some kind of nuclear meltdown later on."

"That is also perfectly normal. Do you have any more concerns for Annalynn right now?"

"Clothes and shoes that fit are next on the the list." McGee said. "What clothes Annalynn was wearing were inventoried. And she was barefoot. Is there any way that you can help?"

"Yes. I can gather some items now." decided Balfour. "Then we can talk about another exam, and discharge procedures."

"Okay, great. Thanks." Abby said graciously. "We'll talk to Annalynn in a minute."

Balfour excused herself away again one more time.

Abby moved back to the door of Annalynn's room. It seemed peaceful.

She had always wanted to be a mother. But in recent years, the dream had completely died.

Now two little girls had fallen out of the sky for her to love and mother. She was also carrying their sibling.

And... her fiancé was with her for the adventure of a lifetime. She couldn't imagine it any other way.

Her greatest joy in the moment was watching Rubyjane and Annalynn. They were signing to each other. Very fast. Back and forth. Abby wasn't sure what they were talking about, but Annalynn had the titters. Her sister was cheering her up.

McGee stood beside Abby. "Our lives just got more noisier than ever, didn't they?"

Abby leaned against him for support; baby Riversong was heavy. "It absolutely did. Now our kids are going to grow up together. Let's not tell Anna and Ruby the finer details until they're older."

"Yes. Today is probably about all they could handle." McGee gestured to Abby's baby bump. "When do we tell River any of it?"

"God only knows. Right now, I just want to focus on Anna and Ruby."

"Alright. No need to bite off more than we can chew." McGee kissed Abby's crown as she continued to lean against him. "You know… explaining Anna to Sarah, Clementine, and the rest of the family will be fun…"

Abby heard the sarcasm and laughed a little. "You're not wrong."

"But…?" McGee prompted.

"Let's just get through the rest of the day. Or maybe even the next hour. We've actually been down this road before."

McGee nodded. "With Ruby."

"Mhm." Abby then heaved a sigh. "Anna will need a lot of help, but so will Ruby. I think some of her closure could be ripped open. You ready?"

"Oh, yes. I'm with you on all of it." McGee hugged Abby. "For better, or for worse."

This last part made Abby's heart skip a beat. What had she done to deserve this man?

Absolutely nothing about their lives together was conventional. Whatsoever.

Yet… it still made perfect sense for their lives now.

Neither of them would ever change a moment about it.