"Alaney, I obviously didn't make this clear enough. You're very welcome to
stay for as long as you want. Lindsay and I love having you around. You
don't need to go anywhere" Catherine insisted as Alaney packed her stuff.
"Thank you Catherine but I need stability. I need my family and these people are like my family. These people are family friends. They've offered to make me their own" Alaney explained in an almost pleading tone.
"I know what your family are like!. Friends with what part of your family?. They're not dangerous are they?. Are they clean?" Catherine asked.
"Their clean" Alaney insisted.
Catherine sighed. She had to let Alaney go. Alaney was an adult now and Catherine had no right to interfere when Alaney wasn't her child. It was just that she felt responsible for the girl. She felt she owed both Sara and Alaney.
Alaney could see how worried Catherine was.
"Look, here's the number. You can contact me there and I'll visit you guys' loads I promise. I just need to get my life on track. I feel like I'm not moving forward living here. I need to move on from Sara" Alaney told her.
"Don't you think it's too soon to give up on patching things up with, Sara. You might change your mind" Catherine suggested.
"No, I won't" Alaney insisted.
"I'm sorry about bailing on being Lindsay's nanny" Alaney commented.
"Don't be silly. We're fine. I'll get my neighbour to watch her tomorrow and an agency can send one by the next day" Catherine replied.
Alaney had only needed to pack a few suitcases. She put them all down at the bottom of the stairs.
"How are you getting there?. You need a lift?" Catherine asked concerned.
"No thanks. Libby's agreed to give me a lift there" Alaney replied smiling.
Alaney looked out the window. Libby was driving up. Catherine saw this too.
"Well, I better let you go" Catherine declared on the verge of tears.
Catherine held out her arms and they hugged. Catherine managed to keep her tears to a minimum.
"Go, go - before I really get upset" Catherine laughed.
"Lindsay" Catherine called. Alaney and Lindsay hugged.
"I'll come see you all the time. We're still on for that theme park next weekend aren't we?. I'll come see you both loads. This isn't the end" Alaney told Lindsay.
Libby rang the doorbell. Catherine greeted Libby at the door with a smile.
"Thanks for this" Catherine gestured thankfully
"It's the least a grandma can do" Libby replied adoringly.
Alaney picked up her suitcase and smiled nervously at Libby.
"Ready?" Libby asked.
"Ready!" Alaney reassured herself.
When Alaney first got to the Sidles Las Vegas house, admittedly, it was awkward. Not for Boby, who acted like it was so natural for Alaney to be part of the Sidle family. But for Laney and Libby it was weird. Libby did extraordinarily well considering. She was a natural hostess and loved Laney dearly, so making Alaney feel welcome was easy. That didn't stop Alaney feeling unwanted by Libby though. Alaney would overhear Libby questioning why Boby wanted Laney here. Alaney would also overhear Libby pleading Boby to load Alaney on to someone else. This really upset Alaney as she had always really liked Libby. She was so hurt to find that Libby didn't want her, love her or even appear to like her. Libby couldn't wait to get rid of her. Therefore Alaney seriously considered leaving after she had overheard three of these conversations within the first two days of her living there. She didn't want to be where she wasn't wanted. After all, living with the Sidles was meant to make Alaney feel finally wanted.
However, it wasn't Libby's attitude that truly made Alaney feel awkward in her first few days with the Sidles. Instead it was the fact that she didn't know these people. She had lived in the same community as them all her life and yet they had hardly spoken to her. They had just been civil to her. If Alaney was really lucky they would ask her to go get Miranda or tell Miranda something. She got presents and cards from them, but that was as far as the affection went. Yet now, all of a sudden, she was meant to be part of their immediate family. She was meant to be like a daughter to them. That was definitely how Boby was treating her. He would compliment her, gently advise her and make her feel the most important person in the world. He had this look. It was similar to Sara's but not quite the same. Whenever he genuinely smiled at her his eyes would light up. That's the only way she could describe it. Boby seemed to treat Alaney as Libby did Sara. They would follow their princess around catering to her every need, even when she didn't want it, and making sure the girl knew she was loved. He didn't even hurt her. She was looked after about and cared about by Boby. This in itself was weird to Alaney. Boby had after all ignored Alaney for the last eighteen years. But now he felt - well, like a father!. They were building a father and daughter relationship. Boby even told her that if Alaney would replace her then he would no longer consider Sara his daughter only Alaney. Alaney had to decide whether to let it happen or to turn her back on the Sidles. You see alienation was not the only reason Alaney felt awkward living in the Sidles family there was also the issue of Boby's character. Boby was a wife-beating rapist who had no conscience and was uncaring to others. But to her he was so sweet, so caring and so loving. He loved her when no one else did. She used to hate him but now she didn't know what to feel. Could she really just forget who he really was?. Could she really ignore how he treated other human beings?. By day six, she was so desperate for love that, she decided she could.
On the afternoon of day seven Alaney was sitting reading at her vanity table in her new bedroom, when Boby walked in.
"What ya doing?" he asked verbally affectionately.
"I'm doing some preparatory reading for college next year" Alaney replied friendlily.
Boby laughed.
"You remind me so much of your mother" Boby remarked affectionately.
"Please don't associate me with that woman" Alaney sniped.
"Hey, she's my daughter too remember" Boby responded.
"I thought you'd disowned her in favour of me" Alaney commented.
"Do you want me to?" Boby asked.
"Do what you like. It's your life" Alaney replied coyly.
"Hey, close your eyes" Boby told her.
"Why?" Alaney smiled.
"Just do it" Boby replied coyly.
Alaney closed her eyes. Before a couple of weeks ago, Alaney would have never dreamed of closing her eyes around Boby.
Boby came round behind her and put a necklace round her.
"You can open them now" Boby commented affectionately.
Alaney couldn't believe it. It was an actual necklace from Boby.
Alaney began to cry.
"What's wrong?. Don't you like it?" Boby asked.
"No, it's beautiful" Alaney sobbed
"It's because it's from me isn't it?. You still don't like me do you?" Boby commented disappointed.
"No. You don't understand. I've never received such a sentimental gift from a member of my family. I've never had a family. I really have a family now!" Alaney sobbed.
Boby smiled, put his arms round her, kissed her cheek and hugged her into him.
"Your mine Alaney. Your all mine now" Boby commented.
Alaney took this as a sign of endearment, but knowing Boby who knows what it was.
Sara walked up to Catherine in the break room the following day.
"O.k., I've waited over a week now, will you please give me the name and address of these people now. Who are they?. Do I even know them?" Sara enquired.
"All I have is the telephone number and address. But listen Sara, like I said last week, don't suffocate her because you might make her angrier. I think you guys just needed some time apart" Catherine suggested.
Catherine reached into her bag, took out a piece of paper, copied them and handed the copy to Sara.
Sara looked at the number and address. She recognised it straightaway.
At first, she couldn't believe it. She couldn't understand why. Alaney hated Boby. Alaney didn't even know Sara's parents well. Why would Sara's parents want to risk having Alaney around?. Why would her mother let Alaney be put in danger?.
Then next, pure panic came over Sara. She had to go see them. She had to go protect Alaney.
"You stupid idiot, Catherine!. She's with my parents!. That's the last place she should be!" Sara exploded.
Catherine couldn't believe it.
Sara grabbed her bag and began to leave.
"Tell Grissom I have a family emergency" Sara informed Catherine.
"Wait Sara!" Catherine called.
"What?" Sara asked hostile.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know" Catherine replied.
"I believe you" Sara confirmed.
Sara was reluctant as she approached her parents Las Vegas home. Sara thought everything over in her head. She realised why her mom only ever visited her. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed her mom behaving strangely.
Sara eventually rang the doorbell. Boby answered.
"Give me my daughter, right now!" Sara shouted angrily.
"She doesn't want you. She wants me" Boby replied.
"She wouldn't if she knew the truth!" Sara whispered angrily at him.
"Well unless you tell her how is she going to find out?" Boby whispered back.
"There is no way I am letting her live here!" Sara shouted.
Sara stormed past Boby and into the house. She searched all the rooms and finally came across Alaney.
"Pack your bags now!" Sara commanded angrily.
"No way!. I like it here. I'm eighteen and you can't tell me what to do. If you want to be my mother your nineteen years too late" Alaney shouted back.
"You don't need to live with me - just not here!" Sara replied.
Boby came in and put an arm around Alaney. They looked like a perfect father and daughter pair.
"Why on earth would you want to be here?. You hate him!" Sara asked frustrated.
"Not as much as I hate you. Anyway, he's never hurt me and that's all that matters" Alaney replied.
"What about when he was trying to kill you?. He probably still is!" Sara imploded.
"I've never seen him try to kill me. I only have your word for that and your word doesn't stand for anything with anyone" Alaney sniped.
"I don't believe this!. You've really done a number on her dad! - congratulations!" Sara commented.
Sara couldn't look at them anymore. They made her feel sick. She went out the room and went to look for her mom.
"How could you let Alaney stay here?!?" Sara asked astounded.
Libby sighed.
"It's not as bad as you think. I'm watching him like a hawk, I promise you" Libby insisted.
"You can't watch him 24/7 mom!" Sara imploded.
"Sara, now calm down. Think about this rationally. He's no harm to her" Libby suggested.
"No harm!. What?!?!" Sara rebuked.
"He's a changed man, Sara. I admit he did a very terrible thing to you once. But, he learnt his lesson. It was a one off" Libby explained.
"How?. He didn't even go to jail!. What? You think Daven beating him up taught him a lesson? - that wouldn't stop him!" Sara whispered.
"No, I don't mean Daven. I mean the social unapproval, the daughter, the threat of jail and the effect he's seen it have on your life. He feels terrible about how much it's affected you" Libby whispered.
"Rubbish!. So how come he never tells me that?. Time and time again I asked him if he's sorry and he says no" Sara whispered.
"The hardest word to say is sorry - it doesn't mean we don't think it though" Libby suggested.
Sara screamed in frustration.
"He might have something wrong in his head, Sara" Libby whispered.
"So why don't you do something about that?" Sara bit back.
"You're the only one who can do anything" Libby remarked coyly.
There was silence as Sara tried to calm herself down.
"He's never been inappropriate to you or any children at any other time. In thirty-three years!. That sounds like a definite one off to me" Libby explained.
Sara wanted to tell her mom the truth. She needed to for her daughter's sake. She wanted to tell her mom that her dad had molested her when he was little. She wanted to tell her mom that he'd molested other little girls. She wanted to tell her mom that he made inappropriate comments to her or tried inappropriate things in secret. She wanted to tell her mom that her dad had tried to rape her again on several occasions. But no matter how hard she tried, the words couldn't come out her mouth. The reason she couldn't say it wasn't purely because of her own shame but also because if she told Libby then Libby would tell the police. If Libby told the police Alaney would know and it would destroy Alaney. Everyone would end up destroyed. She had to try to find another way to get Alaney out that house and that wasn't it.
"They're quite sweet you know. They bake together, sing together, go for walks together" Libby commented.
"They go for walks alone!" Sara shouted.
"He's trying to kill her and they go for walks alone!. How could you let them?. She would never have gone for walks alone before. I'm always saying that if she goes for a walk with him she'll end up at the bottom of a Lake - and do you know what the irony is? - you live right next to a lake!. Wonderful!" Sara ranted.
"Sara, he's not trying to kill her - it's just all an act!. He'd never kill anyone!" Libby rebuked.
"Your so naïve, mom!. So gullible!. You believe anything he tells you" Sara argued frustrated.
"No, I don't. I'm not as stupid as you think I am, Sara. Do you really think I just let him get away with what he did to you? - No!. There's a reason why he's never tried it again with you. I've got him on reins. He won't hurt either of you" Libby protested.
Sara stormed out.
"Sara!" Libby called out in a pleading tone.
When Sara got to the end of the path she suddenly realised what she'd done. She'd been so disgusted, so frustrated, that she'd walked out and left Alaney living there. Sara considered going back. Could she really leave Alaney there?. Sara thought for a bit. She decided she would go back but she just needed some support. She needed someone who was on her side. Someone who knew everything. Someone who would be as determined as her to remove Alaney from there. She needed to go home and get Michelle. After that, she would never leave her parents house without Alaney. She would watch Alaney 24/7. She would argue Laney down until Laney agreed to leave that place.
Sara stormed into her apartment, slamming the door behind her. Michelle turned round with a start.
"What's wrong?!?" Michelle asked.
"Did you know that Alaney was living with my parents?. With my parents!" Sara shouted.
"What?. No!. Why on earth would either side agree to that?" Michelle asked astounded.
"Apparently they're on the same side now!" Sara snapped sarcastically.
"How can you not know?. You're meant to be best friends!" Sara accused.
"Well she isn't exactly talking to me much nowadays, is she?" Michelle reminded Sara angrily.
Sara sighed.
"Sorry, of course" Sara responded.
"I'm moving in with them. Are you coming?" Sara asked.
"Umm, yeah, of course" Michelle jumped up.
"Do they know your moving in?" Michelle asked out of curiosity.
"Nope" Sara replied.
Sara and Michelle got to the Sidles within an hour. As Libby opened the door, she was greeted by their sarcastic grinning. Sara pushed past Libby.
"We're staying for a few days" Sara gloated.
"Oh, I don't think your father will be too happy with that. He says you're no longer his daughter and you're not welcome" Libby remarked.
"This is your house too, mother" Sara sniped.
"Anyway, who do you love more mummy? - me or daddy?" Sara mimicked child like.
Sara threw her bags down and Michelle followed.
As Sara walked in she noticed a piano. She'd been too angry to notice before.
"You have a piano!" Sara rejoiced.
"I thought of you" Libby added.
"I know you don't have one up here and you never practice anymore. You used to always be playing that thing. It was out ranked only by your science" Libby reminisced.
Sara sat down and started playing Beethoven's midnight sonata . Michelle sat next to her and began to join in down the other end.
Libby smiled.
"Michelle, you haven't seen Alaney all week have you?. Why don't you go see her. I need to talk to, Sara" Libby suggested.
Michelle nodded reluctantly.
"Sara listen" Libby began.
Sara ignored her and continued playing.
"You know I love Alaney right?. I'd never let anything happen to her. I have her best interests at heart. She's so happy here and as long as she's not in danger - which I don't believe she is - then she's fine. I'll try get you two back together but don't go about it this way" Libby explained.
Sara still ignored her.
"Your father told me something last night. For days, I've kind of felt the same way you do. I've had my doubts and my suspicions. But then last night he told me that he wanted Alaney to be his new daughter because he wanted to start afresh like the business between you and him never happened. He wants an innocent, pure relationship with a daughter. Alaney's his only chance of that. He wants to protect her, love her appropriately and cherish her. He said he doesn't think you will ever forgive him so he's given up" Libby explained.
Sara slammed down on the keys.
"That's a load of rubbish. I know him better than you and he's lying" Sara remarked.
"Oh yeah and what makes you think that you know him better?" Libby asked.
Sara said nothing. She just turned back to the piano and began playing a new song. She began to play and sing along to 'Butterfly' by Delta Goodrem.
("I won't hurt you. I'll protect you. I won't let the rain fall down. I'll always be around. and baby I will understand if sometimes you just want to spread your wings and fly and let your colours shine. And everyday I wanna be a risk you take, make a promise that will never break for life. You're my butterfly, don't fly away open my hands you're free, praying you'll come back to me. You're my butterfly. Don't fly away. You're my reality. Always be my gravity. You're my butterfly. Come on and touch the sky. You're my butterfly. I won't forget you or neglect you. Won't let no-one take your place. In your eyes I see my face. And baby do you know that everybody watches every time that you take flight, they're blinded by your light. Every day the feeling's gonna be the same. I can promise that will never change for life").
Just as Sara began playing the song Alaney and Michelle were about to come out of Alaney's room. Hearing the song they decided to listen in secret round the corner from Sara.
"It's about you" Michelle whispered excited.
"Did you write it?" Alaney whispered.
"No, it's an Australian but Sara says it reminds you of her and how she feels about you" Michelle whispered back.
When Sara got towards the end of the song, she couldn't continue any longer. She burst into tears and fled the house. Libby was concerned and ran after her. Michelle and Alaney came over to the piano therefore.
"She's such a drama queen. She thinks if she sings the right song and fakes some waterworks then everyone will believe her. She doesn't care about me but she can't let everyone know that because then everyone will hate her. But I see through her!. She thinks she can just sleep around and not pay the consequences. She's so self centred that she doesn't see how much she's ruined my life. She doesn't give a stuff about me! - so I won't give a stuff about her!" Alaney commented.
Michelle sighed.
"How would you know what she thinks and feels?!?. You don't know anything about her!" Michelle lectured.
"That's her fault not mine" Alaney commented.
Michelle sat down at the piano and started to play and sing her song 'If only she knew'.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I'm singing this on the behalf of my dear cousin Sara Sidle" Michelle announced as if she were talking to an audience.
("I don't know whose side I'm taking'. But I'm not taking' things too well
I can see inside you're aching'. But is it still too early for me to tell?. I try to help you out through the hardest of times. Your heart is in your throat and I'm speaking my mind. Though it looks as if it's over. I'm still not over you. 'Cause I still love you like I did before. I know for sure that you still feel the same way I do. If only she knew. Whoa, if only she knew, oh. I try to let it go but I don't know if I can take it. 'Cause the way you looked at me. Made me see that I can't really fake it. I try to help you out through the hardest of times. Your heart is in your throat and I'm speaking my mind. Though it looks as if it's over. I'm still not over you. 'Cause I still love you like I did before. I know for sure that you still feel the same way I do. If only she knew")
"Knew what?!?" Alaney asked cocky.
Michelle looked her straight in the eye and said,
"I'm sick and tired of you blaming her. I'm sick of you making her feel even worse than she does. I'm sick of him getting away with it and her taking all the blame. So I'm going to tell you. I'll tell you why Sara got pregnant. I'll tell you why you're not her responsibility. I'll even tell you why she rejected you when you were born. It's very simple you see. One simple sentence: Sara was raped" Michelle explained.
Alaney wasn't expecting this. She'd never considered that Sara could have been an innocent victim in all this. She felt all the colour drain from her face and an immense feeling of guilt consumed her. What had she done?.
"She was a innocent victim in this, and the way you've treated her has made her horrific nightmare even worse" Michelle lectured.
"O.k., I get it. I'm sorry" Alaney protested.
"Your lucky she even wants to know you after what happened to her!. That takes a lot of love!. And after all you've accused her of, after all your hate and abuse - she still never told you. She wanted to protect you from the truth. Frankly, you don't deserve that kind of love" Michelle lectured Alaney.
"I'm so sorry" Alaney apologised to Michelle.
"Don't apologise to me. Apologise to your mother" Michelle responded.
"I didn't know!. How could I have known, if nobody told me?" Alaney asked.
"If you don't know the full facts then you don't go shooting your mouth off about someone!" Michelle lectured.
Alaney began crying. The guilt, Sara's rape and her problematic future all had got on top of her.
"How can you not have considered it?. I mean this is Sara Sidle we're talking about!. She was a science geek. She wouldn't have sex voluntarily at that age considering who she was. How could you think that?" Michelle continued.
"It seemed absurd - but it seemed the only option!" Alaney sobbed.
After a while, Alaney had an idea.
"I want to write a song" Alaney told Michelle excited.
"What?" Michelle asked.
"That's what she does to tell me she loves me. So I'll write one too" Alaney explained.
Alaney took a deep breath.
"Your right. Those songs are so full of the most amazing love. I was blown away by how much Sara loved that person and that person was me!. I feel so loved. It wouldn't have been so powerful if it hadn't have been a song" Alaney added.
"So, I want to write a song" Alaney decided.
"Thank you Catherine but I need stability. I need my family and these people are like my family. These people are family friends. They've offered to make me their own" Alaney explained in an almost pleading tone.
"I know what your family are like!. Friends with what part of your family?. They're not dangerous are they?. Are they clean?" Catherine asked.
"Their clean" Alaney insisted.
Catherine sighed. She had to let Alaney go. Alaney was an adult now and Catherine had no right to interfere when Alaney wasn't her child. It was just that she felt responsible for the girl. She felt she owed both Sara and Alaney.
Alaney could see how worried Catherine was.
"Look, here's the number. You can contact me there and I'll visit you guys' loads I promise. I just need to get my life on track. I feel like I'm not moving forward living here. I need to move on from Sara" Alaney told her.
"Don't you think it's too soon to give up on patching things up with, Sara. You might change your mind" Catherine suggested.
"No, I won't" Alaney insisted.
"I'm sorry about bailing on being Lindsay's nanny" Alaney commented.
"Don't be silly. We're fine. I'll get my neighbour to watch her tomorrow and an agency can send one by the next day" Catherine replied.
Alaney had only needed to pack a few suitcases. She put them all down at the bottom of the stairs.
"How are you getting there?. You need a lift?" Catherine asked concerned.
"No thanks. Libby's agreed to give me a lift there" Alaney replied smiling.
Alaney looked out the window. Libby was driving up. Catherine saw this too.
"Well, I better let you go" Catherine declared on the verge of tears.
Catherine held out her arms and they hugged. Catherine managed to keep her tears to a minimum.
"Go, go - before I really get upset" Catherine laughed.
"Lindsay" Catherine called. Alaney and Lindsay hugged.
"I'll come see you all the time. We're still on for that theme park next weekend aren't we?. I'll come see you both loads. This isn't the end" Alaney told Lindsay.
Libby rang the doorbell. Catherine greeted Libby at the door with a smile.
"Thanks for this" Catherine gestured thankfully
"It's the least a grandma can do" Libby replied adoringly.
Alaney picked up her suitcase and smiled nervously at Libby.
"Ready?" Libby asked.
"Ready!" Alaney reassured herself.
When Alaney first got to the Sidles Las Vegas house, admittedly, it was awkward. Not for Boby, who acted like it was so natural for Alaney to be part of the Sidle family. But for Laney and Libby it was weird. Libby did extraordinarily well considering. She was a natural hostess and loved Laney dearly, so making Alaney feel welcome was easy. That didn't stop Alaney feeling unwanted by Libby though. Alaney would overhear Libby questioning why Boby wanted Laney here. Alaney would also overhear Libby pleading Boby to load Alaney on to someone else. This really upset Alaney as she had always really liked Libby. She was so hurt to find that Libby didn't want her, love her or even appear to like her. Libby couldn't wait to get rid of her. Therefore Alaney seriously considered leaving after she had overheard three of these conversations within the first two days of her living there. She didn't want to be where she wasn't wanted. After all, living with the Sidles was meant to make Alaney feel finally wanted.
However, it wasn't Libby's attitude that truly made Alaney feel awkward in her first few days with the Sidles. Instead it was the fact that she didn't know these people. She had lived in the same community as them all her life and yet they had hardly spoken to her. They had just been civil to her. If Alaney was really lucky they would ask her to go get Miranda or tell Miranda something. She got presents and cards from them, but that was as far as the affection went. Yet now, all of a sudden, she was meant to be part of their immediate family. She was meant to be like a daughter to them. That was definitely how Boby was treating her. He would compliment her, gently advise her and make her feel the most important person in the world. He had this look. It was similar to Sara's but not quite the same. Whenever he genuinely smiled at her his eyes would light up. That's the only way she could describe it. Boby seemed to treat Alaney as Libby did Sara. They would follow their princess around catering to her every need, even when she didn't want it, and making sure the girl knew she was loved. He didn't even hurt her. She was looked after about and cared about by Boby. This in itself was weird to Alaney. Boby had after all ignored Alaney for the last eighteen years. But now he felt - well, like a father!. They were building a father and daughter relationship. Boby even told her that if Alaney would replace her then he would no longer consider Sara his daughter only Alaney. Alaney had to decide whether to let it happen or to turn her back on the Sidles. You see alienation was not the only reason Alaney felt awkward living in the Sidles family there was also the issue of Boby's character. Boby was a wife-beating rapist who had no conscience and was uncaring to others. But to her he was so sweet, so caring and so loving. He loved her when no one else did. She used to hate him but now she didn't know what to feel. Could she really just forget who he really was?. Could she really ignore how he treated other human beings?. By day six, she was so desperate for love that, she decided she could.
On the afternoon of day seven Alaney was sitting reading at her vanity table in her new bedroom, when Boby walked in.
"What ya doing?" he asked verbally affectionately.
"I'm doing some preparatory reading for college next year" Alaney replied friendlily.
Boby laughed.
"You remind me so much of your mother" Boby remarked affectionately.
"Please don't associate me with that woman" Alaney sniped.
"Hey, she's my daughter too remember" Boby responded.
"I thought you'd disowned her in favour of me" Alaney commented.
"Do you want me to?" Boby asked.
"Do what you like. It's your life" Alaney replied coyly.
"Hey, close your eyes" Boby told her.
"Why?" Alaney smiled.
"Just do it" Boby replied coyly.
Alaney closed her eyes. Before a couple of weeks ago, Alaney would have never dreamed of closing her eyes around Boby.
Boby came round behind her and put a necklace round her.
"You can open them now" Boby commented affectionately.
Alaney couldn't believe it. It was an actual necklace from Boby.
Alaney began to cry.
"What's wrong?. Don't you like it?" Boby asked.
"No, it's beautiful" Alaney sobbed
"It's because it's from me isn't it?. You still don't like me do you?" Boby commented disappointed.
"No. You don't understand. I've never received such a sentimental gift from a member of my family. I've never had a family. I really have a family now!" Alaney sobbed.
Boby smiled, put his arms round her, kissed her cheek and hugged her into him.
"Your mine Alaney. Your all mine now" Boby commented.
Alaney took this as a sign of endearment, but knowing Boby who knows what it was.
Sara walked up to Catherine in the break room the following day.
"O.k., I've waited over a week now, will you please give me the name and address of these people now. Who are they?. Do I even know them?" Sara enquired.
"All I have is the telephone number and address. But listen Sara, like I said last week, don't suffocate her because you might make her angrier. I think you guys just needed some time apart" Catherine suggested.
Catherine reached into her bag, took out a piece of paper, copied them and handed the copy to Sara.
Sara looked at the number and address. She recognised it straightaway.
At first, she couldn't believe it. She couldn't understand why. Alaney hated Boby. Alaney didn't even know Sara's parents well. Why would Sara's parents want to risk having Alaney around?. Why would her mother let Alaney be put in danger?.
Then next, pure panic came over Sara. She had to go see them. She had to go protect Alaney.
"You stupid idiot, Catherine!. She's with my parents!. That's the last place she should be!" Sara exploded.
Catherine couldn't believe it.
Sara grabbed her bag and began to leave.
"Tell Grissom I have a family emergency" Sara informed Catherine.
"Wait Sara!" Catherine called.
"What?" Sara asked hostile.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know" Catherine replied.
"I believe you" Sara confirmed.
Sara was reluctant as she approached her parents Las Vegas home. Sara thought everything over in her head. She realised why her mom only ever visited her. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed her mom behaving strangely.
Sara eventually rang the doorbell. Boby answered.
"Give me my daughter, right now!" Sara shouted angrily.
"She doesn't want you. She wants me" Boby replied.
"She wouldn't if she knew the truth!" Sara whispered angrily at him.
"Well unless you tell her how is she going to find out?" Boby whispered back.
"There is no way I am letting her live here!" Sara shouted.
Sara stormed past Boby and into the house. She searched all the rooms and finally came across Alaney.
"Pack your bags now!" Sara commanded angrily.
"No way!. I like it here. I'm eighteen and you can't tell me what to do. If you want to be my mother your nineteen years too late" Alaney shouted back.
"You don't need to live with me - just not here!" Sara replied.
Boby came in and put an arm around Alaney. They looked like a perfect father and daughter pair.
"Why on earth would you want to be here?. You hate him!" Sara asked frustrated.
"Not as much as I hate you. Anyway, he's never hurt me and that's all that matters" Alaney replied.
"What about when he was trying to kill you?. He probably still is!" Sara imploded.
"I've never seen him try to kill me. I only have your word for that and your word doesn't stand for anything with anyone" Alaney sniped.
"I don't believe this!. You've really done a number on her dad! - congratulations!" Sara commented.
Sara couldn't look at them anymore. They made her feel sick. She went out the room and went to look for her mom.
"How could you let Alaney stay here?!?" Sara asked astounded.
Libby sighed.
"It's not as bad as you think. I'm watching him like a hawk, I promise you" Libby insisted.
"You can't watch him 24/7 mom!" Sara imploded.
"Sara, now calm down. Think about this rationally. He's no harm to her" Libby suggested.
"No harm!. What?!?!" Sara rebuked.
"He's a changed man, Sara. I admit he did a very terrible thing to you once. But, he learnt his lesson. It was a one off" Libby explained.
"How?. He didn't even go to jail!. What? You think Daven beating him up taught him a lesson? - that wouldn't stop him!" Sara whispered.
"No, I don't mean Daven. I mean the social unapproval, the daughter, the threat of jail and the effect he's seen it have on your life. He feels terrible about how much it's affected you" Libby whispered.
"Rubbish!. So how come he never tells me that?. Time and time again I asked him if he's sorry and he says no" Sara whispered.
"The hardest word to say is sorry - it doesn't mean we don't think it though" Libby suggested.
Sara screamed in frustration.
"He might have something wrong in his head, Sara" Libby whispered.
"So why don't you do something about that?" Sara bit back.
"You're the only one who can do anything" Libby remarked coyly.
There was silence as Sara tried to calm herself down.
"He's never been inappropriate to you or any children at any other time. In thirty-three years!. That sounds like a definite one off to me" Libby explained.
Sara wanted to tell her mom the truth. She needed to for her daughter's sake. She wanted to tell her mom that her dad had molested her when he was little. She wanted to tell her mom that he'd molested other little girls. She wanted to tell her mom that he made inappropriate comments to her or tried inappropriate things in secret. She wanted to tell her mom that her dad had tried to rape her again on several occasions. But no matter how hard she tried, the words couldn't come out her mouth. The reason she couldn't say it wasn't purely because of her own shame but also because if she told Libby then Libby would tell the police. If Libby told the police Alaney would know and it would destroy Alaney. Everyone would end up destroyed. She had to try to find another way to get Alaney out that house and that wasn't it.
"They're quite sweet you know. They bake together, sing together, go for walks together" Libby commented.
"They go for walks alone!" Sara shouted.
"He's trying to kill her and they go for walks alone!. How could you let them?. She would never have gone for walks alone before. I'm always saying that if she goes for a walk with him she'll end up at the bottom of a Lake - and do you know what the irony is? - you live right next to a lake!. Wonderful!" Sara ranted.
"Sara, he's not trying to kill her - it's just all an act!. He'd never kill anyone!" Libby rebuked.
"Your so naïve, mom!. So gullible!. You believe anything he tells you" Sara argued frustrated.
"No, I don't. I'm not as stupid as you think I am, Sara. Do you really think I just let him get away with what he did to you? - No!. There's a reason why he's never tried it again with you. I've got him on reins. He won't hurt either of you" Libby protested.
Sara stormed out.
"Sara!" Libby called out in a pleading tone.
When Sara got to the end of the path she suddenly realised what she'd done. She'd been so disgusted, so frustrated, that she'd walked out and left Alaney living there. Sara considered going back. Could she really leave Alaney there?. Sara thought for a bit. She decided she would go back but she just needed some support. She needed someone who was on her side. Someone who knew everything. Someone who would be as determined as her to remove Alaney from there. She needed to go home and get Michelle. After that, she would never leave her parents house without Alaney. She would watch Alaney 24/7. She would argue Laney down until Laney agreed to leave that place.
Sara stormed into her apartment, slamming the door behind her. Michelle turned round with a start.
"What's wrong?!?" Michelle asked.
"Did you know that Alaney was living with my parents?. With my parents!" Sara shouted.
"What?. No!. Why on earth would either side agree to that?" Michelle asked astounded.
"Apparently they're on the same side now!" Sara snapped sarcastically.
"How can you not know?. You're meant to be best friends!" Sara accused.
"Well she isn't exactly talking to me much nowadays, is she?" Michelle reminded Sara angrily.
Sara sighed.
"Sorry, of course" Sara responded.
"I'm moving in with them. Are you coming?" Sara asked.
"Umm, yeah, of course" Michelle jumped up.
"Do they know your moving in?" Michelle asked out of curiosity.
"Nope" Sara replied.
Sara and Michelle got to the Sidles within an hour. As Libby opened the door, she was greeted by their sarcastic grinning. Sara pushed past Libby.
"We're staying for a few days" Sara gloated.
"Oh, I don't think your father will be too happy with that. He says you're no longer his daughter and you're not welcome" Libby remarked.
"This is your house too, mother" Sara sniped.
"Anyway, who do you love more mummy? - me or daddy?" Sara mimicked child like.
Sara threw her bags down and Michelle followed.
As Sara walked in she noticed a piano. She'd been too angry to notice before.
"You have a piano!" Sara rejoiced.
"I thought of you" Libby added.
"I know you don't have one up here and you never practice anymore. You used to always be playing that thing. It was out ranked only by your science" Libby reminisced.
Sara sat down and started playing Beethoven's midnight sonata . Michelle sat next to her and began to join in down the other end.
Libby smiled.
"Michelle, you haven't seen Alaney all week have you?. Why don't you go see her. I need to talk to, Sara" Libby suggested.
Michelle nodded reluctantly.
"Sara listen" Libby began.
Sara ignored her and continued playing.
"You know I love Alaney right?. I'd never let anything happen to her. I have her best interests at heart. She's so happy here and as long as she's not in danger - which I don't believe she is - then she's fine. I'll try get you two back together but don't go about it this way" Libby explained.
Sara still ignored her.
"Your father told me something last night. For days, I've kind of felt the same way you do. I've had my doubts and my suspicions. But then last night he told me that he wanted Alaney to be his new daughter because he wanted to start afresh like the business between you and him never happened. He wants an innocent, pure relationship with a daughter. Alaney's his only chance of that. He wants to protect her, love her appropriately and cherish her. He said he doesn't think you will ever forgive him so he's given up" Libby explained.
Sara slammed down on the keys.
"That's a load of rubbish. I know him better than you and he's lying" Sara remarked.
"Oh yeah and what makes you think that you know him better?" Libby asked.
Sara said nothing. She just turned back to the piano and began playing a new song. She began to play and sing along to 'Butterfly' by Delta Goodrem.
("I won't hurt you. I'll protect you. I won't let the rain fall down. I'll always be around. and baby I will understand if sometimes you just want to spread your wings and fly and let your colours shine. And everyday I wanna be a risk you take, make a promise that will never break for life. You're my butterfly, don't fly away open my hands you're free, praying you'll come back to me. You're my butterfly. Don't fly away. You're my reality. Always be my gravity. You're my butterfly. Come on and touch the sky. You're my butterfly. I won't forget you or neglect you. Won't let no-one take your place. In your eyes I see my face. And baby do you know that everybody watches every time that you take flight, they're blinded by your light. Every day the feeling's gonna be the same. I can promise that will never change for life").
Just as Sara began playing the song Alaney and Michelle were about to come out of Alaney's room. Hearing the song they decided to listen in secret round the corner from Sara.
"It's about you" Michelle whispered excited.
"Did you write it?" Alaney whispered.
"No, it's an Australian but Sara says it reminds you of her and how she feels about you" Michelle whispered back.
When Sara got towards the end of the song, she couldn't continue any longer. She burst into tears and fled the house. Libby was concerned and ran after her. Michelle and Alaney came over to the piano therefore.
"She's such a drama queen. She thinks if she sings the right song and fakes some waterworks then everyone will believe her. She doesn't care about me but she can't let everyone know that because then everyone will hate her. But I see through her!. She thinks she can just sleep around and not pay the consequences. She's so self centred that she doesn't see how much she's ruined my life. She doesn't give a stuff about me! - so I won't give a stuff about her!" Alaney commented.
Michelle sighed.
"How would you know what she thinks and feels?!?. You don't know anything about her!" Michelle lectured.
"That's her fault not mine" Alaney commented.
Michelle sat down at the piano and started to play and sing her song 'If only she knew'.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I'm singing this on the behalf of my dear cousin Sara Sidle" Michelle announced as if she were talking to an audience.
("I don't know whose side I'm taking'. But I'm not taking' things too well
I can see inside you're aching'. But is it still too early for me to tell?. I try to help you out through the hardest of times. Your heart is in your throat and I'm speaking my mind. Though it looks as if it's over. I'm still not over you. 'Cause I still love you like I did before. I know for sure that you still feel the same way I do. If only she knew. Whoa, if only she knew, oh. I try to let it go but I don't know if I can take it. 'Cause the way you looked at me. Made me see that I can't really fake it. I try to help you out through the hardest of times. Your heart is in your throat and I'm speaking my mind. Though it looks as if it's over. I'm still not over you. 'Cause I still love you like I did before. I know for sure that you still feel the same way I do. If only she knew")
"Knew what?!?" Alaney asked cocky.
Michelle looked her straight in the eye and said,
"I'm sick and tired of you blaming her. I'm sick of you making her feel even worse than she does. I'm sick of him getting away with it and her taking all the blame. So I'm going to tell you. I'll tell you why Sara got pregnant. I'll tell you why you're not her responsibility. I'll even tell you why she rejected you when you were born. It's very simple you see. One simple sentence: Sara was raped" Michelle explained.
Alaney wasn't expecting this. She'd never considered that Sara could have been an innocent victim in all this. She felt all the colour drain from her face and an immense feeling of guilt consumed her. What had she done?.
"She was a innocent victim in this, and the way you've treated her has made her horrific nightmare even worse" Michelle lectured.
"O.k., I get it. I'm sorry" Alaney protested.
"Your lucky she even wants to know you after what happened to her!. That takes a lot of love!. And after all you've accused her of, after all your hate and abuse - she still never told you. She wanted to protect you from the truth. Frankly, you don't deserve that kind of love" Michelle lectured Alaney.
"I'm so sorry" Alaney apologised to Michelle.
"Don't apologise to me. Apologise to your mother" Michelle responded.
"I didn't know!. How could I have known, if nobody told me?" Alaney asked.
"If you don't know the full facts then you don't go shooting your mouth off about someone!" Michelle lectured.
Alaney began crying. The guilt, Sara's rape and her problematic future all had got on top of her.
"How can you not have considered it?. I mean this is Sara Sidle we're talking about!. She was a science geek. She wouldn't have sex voluntarily at that age considering who she was. How could you think that?" Michelle continued.
"It seemed absurd - but it seemed the only option!" Alaney sobbed.
After a while, Alaney had an idea.
"I want to write a song" Alaney told Michelle excited.
"What?" Michelle asked.
"That's what she does to tell me she loves me. So I'll write one too" Alaney explained.
Alaney took a deep breath.
"Your right. Those songs are so full of the most amazing love. I was blown away by how much Sara loved that person and that person was me!. I feel so loved. It wouldn't have been so powerful if it hadn't have been a song" Alaney added.
"So, I want to write a song" Alaney decided.