Sheridan shivered and rubbed her arms as she stepped into the Boston precinct house.
"Are you okay?" Luis asked, rubbing her back as he moved aside to let Julian and Eve in.
"Yes, I'm just cold." Sheridan pulled her coat tightly around her. "And I'm nervous for my brother and Eve—about what they have in front of them."
"Hey! Look at this! I knew you two would end up together!"
Luis and Sheridan looked up.
"I'm so glad to see you two worked out your differences." Tina smiled as she crossed the room and slid in next to Sheridan. "He's way too hot to let go of, honey."
Sheridan blushed and cleared her throat. "Tina . . ." Sheridan leaned back. "I'd like you to meet my brother, Julian, and his friend Eve."
"Yes, the ones Luis called me about." Tina reached over and shook their hands.
"Julian, Eve, this is Tina," Sheridan explained. "She's . . ."
". . . the cop who helped me out when I brought Sheridan back from Paris . . ." Luis cut in. "Don't worry, Tina." Luis slipped one arm around Sheridan's waist. "I've finally managed to make Sheridan see reason."
"I can see that," Tina smirked, glancing down at Sheridan's ring. "Tell me, Luis, when did you make an honest woman out of her?"
"Not as soon as I would have liked to." Luis's eyes sparkled at Sheridan's. "But we're married now, and that's all that matters."
"Yes, it is." Sheridan squeezed Luis's hand and smiled softly. "But, Tina, we're not here for us. We were hoping you could help my brother."
"I know." Tina turned to Eve and Julian. "Luis told me that you two need to get your hands on some old hospital records."
"Yes," Julian replied. "But what we need to talk to you about—it needs to be handled in the utmost of confidence." Julian hung his head. "If my father found out what we are doing, there could be horrific consequences."
"Of course. I understand completely." Tina nodded toward the sergeant at the desk next to her. "Why don't you follow Zak into the back room, and I'll meet you there in a minute?"
"Yes, of course." Julian bowed his head. "Thank you, Tina."
"Yes, thank you," Eve said. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate your help."
"Of course, Dr. Russell," Tina said. "I'll definitely do what I can."
"Tina, do you know where I could get some tea?" Sheridan asked. "It's really bitter out there."
"Of course." Tina nodded toward a table in the back. "It's right over there. We have regular and decaf."
"Decaf would be perfect." Sheridan leaned over and gave Luis a kiss on the cheek. "Why don't you go with Julian and Eve? I'll meet you back there in a minute."
"Okay." Luis smiled at her. "Just don't be long."
"If you two weren't so cute, you'd make me want to vomit," Tina laughed. "Let me just grab some things from my desk, and I'll be right back there, Luis."
"Okay," Luis said, smiling at Sheridan. "I'll see you in a minute."
Sheridan gave him a small smile and then crossed the room to the tea. Taking off her coat and folding it over her arm, she picked up a tea bag and shook it.
"So I see I was right?" Tina teased, coming up behind her.
"Right about what?" Sheridan laughed.
Tina glanced down at the swell of Sheridan's belly and grinned. "About Luis being sex on a stick."
Sheridan blushed bright red.
"Don't try to deny it, Sheridan," Tina laughed. "The evidence is right in front of my face."
Sheridan blushed harder. "I never thought it would happen this fast." Sheridan smoothed her hand over her belly, her face dropping. "I just wish my mother were here."
"Your mother?" Tina asked.
"Yes, she died when I was just a little girl," Sheridan said. "Or so we thought. I just wish I knew what happened to her. Raising my own daughter is going to be hard enough without knowing that my mother is out there suffering somewhere—without knowing that, if things had gone differently, she could be with me."
"I can only imagine," Tina said softly. "But whether or not she's here, you're going to be a great mother, Sheridan."
"How do you know that, Tina?" Sheridan's eyes flooded with tears. "I'm scared out of my mind."
Her hand shaking, Sheridan put down her tea bag. "My father has spent my entire life telling me that I'm worthless. What if I don't even know how to love my own child?"
"Sheridan . . ." Tina's forehead creased. "Of course you'll know how to love her."
"But what if I don't?" Sheridan cradled her abdomen. "My baby—my daughter—she deserves better than this. How can I teach her to be a confident woman if I'm not even one myself?"
Tina filled up Sheridan's teacup. "Have you ever thought about seeing a therapist, Sheridan?"
"Believe me, I've seen plenty of therapists, Tina," Sheridan said, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Therapists who were all hand-picked for me by my father—the best that money can buy. Trust me, not only have none of them ever helped, but I usually came out of those sessions feeling worse than I did when I went in."
"Well, maybe that's the problem." Tina handed Sheridan the cup. "From what I've heard about your father, he doesn't sound like the kindest person. Maybe you need to find someone on your own, Sheridan. I've had bad experiences with therapists before, too, but, trust me—the right one can be a lifesaver."
"But what if I don't find that person, Tina? What if I come out of therapy feeling worse than I did when I started it?" Sheridan frowned. "Is it really fair to do that to my daughter?"
"Is it really fair to her not to try, Sheridan?" Tina squeezed her arm. "Believe me, I know where you're coming from, but what would you suggest to her if she were in your place? Would you really want her to give up before she started? Wouldn't you want her to do everything in her power to help herself?"
"Of course I would want her to fight." Sheridan caressed her abdomen. "I'd never want her to feel this way."
"Then think about that. If you couldn't live with watching her struggle like this, then why is it okay for you?" Tina's voice softened. "Like you said, she's going to be watching everything you do, Sheridan. If you want her to do something good for herself—then you've got to do the same thing for you."
