Olivia's joy and relief over the news of Alex's being safe soon grew short-lived. Just as she finished making the calls that would help her have all of her ducks in the correct ponds, she received a call that had her fuming by the time she hung up.
"Are you kidding me?" she cried.
Amanda jumped, but still kept her focus on the road as she drove. "Are Alex and Diana okay?"
"They're fine, but they're moving Alex from Staten Island to Manhattan right now so that she can be with her primary doctor."
"Should I change directions, and go to the hospital?"
Olivia sighed. "No. Just keep going to Staten Island, please."
"Will do. Was that someone from the hospital on the phone?"
"Yeah. That was the director of communications."
"What all did she say?"
Olivia withheld another sigh at the risk of sounding petulant. "She also said that the people who found Alex are going to go to the local precinct so that they can tell us their version of events. That's why we're keeping on."
"I see. One of those people is Dominick's mother because I heard her through the phone, so who is the other person?"
"Apparently, Donatella Bianchi."
"Of the Bianchi family?" Amanda stammered.
"Yes, but how do you know about them?"
The younger woman's tone went from surprised to one of wry amusement. "Olivia, I've lived in this town for seven years now, and we go out to Staten Island all the time because the rest of the Carisis are all still there. So is the family bakery."
"Did you hear stories about the Bianchis around a campfire, or something?"
"Literally."
Olivia almost wanted to ask when Amanda had been at a campfire with the Carisis, but thought better of it. "Then you know that Donatella is the good one, but her husband is very sly—constantly avoiding prosecution and/or conviction because nobody has ever been able to prove anything."
"Oh, yes. Listen—get everyone on a conference call so you can tell them what's what, and when you're done, I'll make a call, too."
"What about Alex?"
"Just trust me."
Olivia did trust Amanda, so she made the connections she needed, and then watched her partner pull a string of her own.
MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
365 WEST 32nd STREET
MANHATTAN
Even for the week of Christmas, Doctor Larom found that business at the hospital had been dreadfully slow. She was already hoping for something to break the monotony of the twenty-four hour shift she'd just begun.
But then things began to start, and not even twenty minutes after she clocked in.
First, Alex Cabot was assigned to her when she came in as a transfer patient from Staten Island, and then she received a call from Amanda, who was appealing to her for help. The doctor's day had suddenly filled up.
Today was Harper's last lamaze class before she could finally settle in to wait for Xander and Zoelle to be born. She was pleased because she didn't like the sessions anymore—sitting on a hard floor while being so massively with child was far from what she considered as fun. But Sophia was with her today. She was also pregnant, but had a very funny sense of humor and spent half the class cracking her up. It made the time go by even faster.
"Hey, did you two hear me?"
Both Harper and Sophia jumped. The class was finally over, and everybody was beginning to clean up, but the duo had been so wrapped up in a conversation that they hadn't noticed the instructor trying to call to them.
Harper said in an apologetic tone, "Sorry, Lila. What was that?"
"I said, someone has come calling on you both."
Harper and Sophia turned around to see one of the hospital interns in the classroom doorway. She was a little bit younger than them, and seemed to be a little nervous. This last part turned into surprise Harper and Sophia walked up to her.
"I—woah…"
Strangers always found the strong resemblance between Harper and Sophia (and even Olivia) to be very disconcerting. This woman was no exception.
Sophia sighed and pointed from herself to her companion. "I'm Sophia, and she's Harper. We're definitely related, but we're not sisters."
"Wait, really?"
"She's my aunt, and I'm her niece!" chirped Sophia. "What's your name?"
"Robin. I'm one of the new interns here—it's my first week."
"Then is there something that we can help you with?"
She nodded, resuming a professional manner. "One of the doctors has just sent me to fetch you two. Are you all done with your class?"
"We are." Sophia and Harper chorused.
"Okay, then." Robin approved. "Where are your things? I can carry them for you."
So Harper and Sophia have her their bags and jackets to carry, and they followed her out the hallway. Doctor Larom was waiting at the nurse's station.
"Thanks for collecting them, Robin." she said to the intern, taking the things from her when she handed them over. "I'll take it from here. Please go back on rounds now."
Robin bobbed her head and left them, while Harper and Sophia fell in step with Larom.
"What's going on?" she asked her.
"This way, please."
The doctor led them onto an elevator, speaking further when it began ascending.
"Miss Cabot has been found." she finally said.
Harper's heart jumped into her throat, but she turned to Sophia just as quickly. It was widely known that she and Alex were very close.
"Is Alex here?" Sophia managed.
"She is. She was on Staten Island, and after she was found, they sent her here so that I could look for her. As for the squad, and ADA Novak, they're all still headed out to Staten Island."
The lift finally arrived at the correct floor, so the trio disembarked and walked along a new hallway.
"Pardon me." Harper interjected. "This is all well and good, but where do Sophia and I fit in?"
"When Detective Rollins called me to tell me all of what's happening, she also mentioned knowing that you were both already here."
"Because I told her I was hanging out with Harper today." Sophia suddenly remembered. "And what, did Amanda ask that we come keep Alex company?"
"Yes. She doesn't like being alone."
Doctor Larom stopped at one of the doors in particular and set Harper's and Sophia's things on a counter just inside the room beyond.
"Here we are." she turned back to the pair before her. "Alex is on the bed."
At the sight of the security guards flanking either side of the door, Harper said, "Umm, what's up here?"
"An extra measure asked for by Detective Rollins—nothing to worry about. I'll be by again in a half-hour to check in."
"Alright. See you then."
She departed, and Sophia led Harper into Alex's room, shutting the door behind them. She was laid up in bed, wearing a paper gown, and still hooked up to the oxygen and IV she'd told Olivia about. She had certainly looked like she'd been through the mill, and yet in some kind of dire strait, but for the moment, her eyes were closed. Her glasses were even on the beside table.
Leaving behind a dream of her beloved, and returned to the present, the ADA opened her eyes and sat up.
"Olivia?" she tried as she sat up.
"It's actually me and Harper, mom." Sophia moved to Alex's bedside and helped her put on her eyewear. "See? We came to be with you."
Tears welled up in Alex's eyes at the sight of two people she really loved.
"Come here." she beckoned to them. "Let me hold you two."
Sophia and Harper squeezed themselves onto Alex's bed, and gladly obliged her in her want for hugs. Alex looked around curiously when they pulled apart.
"The doctor said that Olivia is busy, but where is she?"
Harper made tracks to the armchair beside the bed, lightly tapping Sophia's shoulder as she went. "I'm tagging you in on this one, okay, niece? The babies don't like when I sit upright for too long."
Alex looked to Sophia. There was a rather imploring expression on her face.
"Well?" Alex pressed.
"We were already at the hospital because I kept Harper company at a lamaze class, but all we know about the rest of the situation is your transfer over here from Staten Island, and that Olivia and the others are headed to the local precinct."
"I'm glad they're all going." Alex ran her fingers through her hair. "They're going to need as much manpower as they can get..."
"Why? Where exactly were you found?"
"The Fine Lion, of all places."
"Oh, my God." Sophia said in surprise. "Are you serious?"
Alex nodded. "Absolutely, Soph."
From her chair, Harper spoke up. "You encountered the Bianchis, didn't you?"
"I did, and it was news to them that Garrett had hidden me in one of their longterm storage rooms at the tavern. He knows the Bianchis well enough to play them because he's from that neighborhood."
"Who brought you to the Bianchis' attention?"
"Solomia Carisi."
"Dominick's mother?!" Harper and Sophia squawked together.
Amused, Alex told them the rest of her version of events.
"I have no doubt that Garrett will be found and arrested before the day is out," she finished. "But I'll bet that you two coming to my room here, is the detectives killing two birds with one stone."
Sophia cottoned on to what Alex was thinking. "Harper and I keeping you company, and also the three of us being together—those are the birds, and the stone was being directed into this room. The three of us will be safe here, especially because of the security guards at the door."
"Bingo."
"Casey is at the precinct on Staten Island, and Melissa is at the florist with Casey's parents, but I know that they're both very safe. Olivia and her squad would protect each other at the drop of a hat. Harper..."
They both looked over at her. Not only was she in the armchair, but she'd found a footstool to prop her feet up on, as well. She looked very comfortable.
When she saw that she was being watched, she finished their train of thought.
"I have my whole family here." she patted her middle. "We're as free from danger as the two of you, Agnes, Esme, and Diana all are."
At the mention of her baby sister, Sophia motioned towards Alex's baby bump. "How is dearest Diana?"
"Kicking almost nonstop," Alex heaved a dejected sigh and tried her best to muster a smile. "But all things considered, your sister is happy and healthy. She's being obnoxious because I'm restricted to the bed."
Sophia cast a glance at the IV. "You can start eating again when it's done?"
"Yeah. I think the last time I ate was yesterday, so I have to ease myself back into it." she looked over at the clock on the wall. "Just before the doctor went to look for you two, she said I had thirty minutes left on the drip."
"And that's when she told us that she'd be back to check in. Is there anything that you need right now?"
"I haven't seen myself in a mirror because I don't want to, and this," she touched a hand to her hospital garb. "Is better than what I was found in, but I just know that my hair is full of knots. Would it be too much to ask for help to get them out?"
"Uh-uh." Sophia said. "I'm happy to help you."
Harper handed a comb to Sophia and pointed to an open bag on the surface of her bump, which served her as a small tabletop these days. "I just found an amenities kit, and ta-da, it had this. There are other things, but let's just go one step at a time for now."
Sophia thanked her and turned to Alex. "I'm going to prop you up on the pillows before I start on your hair. Now don't mind me…"
She stood stretched, but after making quick work of the pillows, she made a pit stop to the ensuite bathroom.
"What do you want to know?" Harper said to Alex when they were alone.
"Garrett said that he took another person in addition to Trevor and myself. Do you know who it was?"
Harper nodded. "Zacharias."
"Give me the bullet points. Olivia can fill in the rest later."
Harper ticked the bullet points off on her fingers. "Garrett had an old grudge with Zacharias but abducted him out of spite, and then Zacharias developed an unexpected allergic reaction to a medication at the hospital. He's probably home now, taking it easy."
"Wow. And the summary on Trevor?"
"Broken arm, but it's in a cast. He's already home."
"Wow." Alex repeated. "Our lives are never quiet, are they?"
"Nope." Harper affirmed, patting the older woman on the arm. "So how about we focus on cheerful things, hm?"
"What was that about being cheerful?" Sophia had returned from the bathroom.
"We need to tell Alex cheerful things now." Harper said to her in a pointed tone.
Sophia resumed her seat on the bed. "I have a story from last night, about how Melissa accidentally made a flour bomb while we were cooking, but I know for a fact that Harper stayed with Olivia and the kids at your place."
Alex lit up at this and gave Harper her full, undivided attention. "How is everyone?"
"They miss you, and the kids acted out about it, but Olivia and I got them to calm down in a unique way."
"Oh, please tell me something about my babies!"
Harper happily launched into a full account of what had happened at the Benson-Cabot house. Alex grew so engrossed that she barely flinched when Sophia got to the harder knots as she combed her hair. She was glad to hear anything about the goings-on that had gone down in her absence.
She listened even more when Harper and Sophia took turns telling her stories.
Listening helped with not wondering about what Olivia was up to.
