Mary Sue was right on time when she appeared one hour later. Mac led her into the living area where Judson and Gabe already waited. While Judson stood up to greet her, Gabe pretended to be too engrossed in his lab top program to notice her. It was obvious though that he just did not know how to face her.

For a brief moment there was an odd silence, then Mary Sue took the initiative.

"I am so sorry that I caused you so much distress!"

The look she threw at Gabe was so intense that he could feel it burn upon him. Suddenly he couldn't help but gaze at her. What he saw was so much true sorrow and honesty that he instinctively reached out for her. Still unable to speak their eyes met for a second, telling Mary Sue that she hadn't been wrong with her judgment of this young man.

"Why?" The pain that was put in this one simple word seemed to cut through the room like a sharp knife, yet it was dull compared to the expression on Gabe's face.

Mary Sue gently pushed him down onto the couch, never breaking eye contact. She took a deep breath, then started to talk.

"For a long time I wasn't sure if this would be the right thing to do."

"So what made you decide now that it is?" Gabe's question sounded bitter.

"Gabe…!" Judson threw him a warning look but Mary Sue just waved him off.

"It's okay, he has every right to be mad at me!" She gave him a warm smile, then continued, "There were several reason and you need to know all of them. First of all it was my husband. Peter loved children. When we got married he knew we would never be able to have any on our own because of an accident I had been in when I was a little girl. He was content in the knowledge that he was able to save the lives of other peoples children on a daily bases!"

She took a short break, trying to find the right words to go on.

"There had been a threat to destroy his career if it ever should become public that Senator Patterson's twin boy had been born premature and had died shortly after birth. I knew that it would have killed him, so I kept quiet for his sake. But I also kept my eyes on the little boy that had taken the place of the baby that died!"

Again she took a break, this time watching for Gabe's reaction. The questioning look in his eyes encouraged her to continue her story.

"Being the wife of the Chief of Neonatal Medicine at Boston's biggest Hospital gave me the opportunity to meet some very influential people. We lived a fairly quiet life. I continued to work as a staff nurse and we tried to stay away from most events but sometimes we just had to attend some that involved fundraisers for the hospital. I met your parents ever so often and on two occasion even you!"

Seeing the blank look in Gabe's eyes she could suppress a smile, "I know you wouldn't remember, the first time you were only three and the second time your eyes were too much on the more than revealing dress of Senator Eldridge's daughter! You must have been about 15!"

Gabe blushed, while Mac and Judson started to laugh.

 "Sure hasn't changed a lot!" Mac commented.

"To his defense, I have to say, everybody at the party was embarrassed by the way the girl dressed! Anyway, I kept up with your life as much as I could. It seemed strange to look at you and see you look so much like Senator Patterson! The same dark wavy hair, the same build. Sometimes it seemed like I had dreamed the whole adoption thing! And yet I knew it was true and it became more obvious the older you got!"

She stopped when Mac held a cup of coffee in front of her, "Here, I thought you could use this!"

"Thank you!" she took it gratefully and sipped on it before she set it down on the table in front of her.

"You were always different than your siblings. From what I could tell, you never quite conformed to the way of the Senator. Family pictures in the paper always showed you on the side and often you weren't even in them. As your brother's grew up they went to college and followed their father's foot steps, they became lawyers."

"Wait a minute, so did I, well at least I started too!" Gabe interrupted.

"I know but you gave up on it soon, didn't you? Anyway, by that time I already had my mind made up. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I didn't have the right to interrupt your life and throw you of track. There is one thing that I know for sure, nobody has the right to use another person for their own purposes. And this is what has been done to you. You have a right to decide what kind of life you want to live without anybody making you feel guilty!"

Her last words were filled with so passion and warmth that even Gabe couldn't help but agree with her. He suddenly realized that he wasn't the only one that had suffered from this incredible deception. And even though it didn't make him feel less lost, he knew that the actions of the woman in front of him didn't come out of a selfish desire to rectify herself but out of true compassion.

+++++

July 28th, 1978

Susan Flaherty looked around in the small one room apartment she rented. She had just finished hanging the curtains she had sown herself. The material was slightly faded but otherwise in good shape. She had been happy to find it at a second hand store. Curtains had been missing to give the place a finishing touch.

Sitting down on the daybed, that was covered with the same material,  she protectively put her hands on her rounding belly, lovingly stroking it. A smile appeared on her face. The last 3 month had been tough. She had left her home town with little more than a suit case. The little bit of money she had gotten from selling the furniture in her old apartment had helped through the first few weeks after arriving in Boston. She had found work in a little motel as a maid.

The money hadn't been good but the job had given her a free room and one meal a day. For a while life just drifted by her without purpose. Not even the knowledge of the new life growing in her could tear her out of her depression. And sometimes, when it seemed especially unbearable, she had even thought of ending it all.

Until one day, when the miracle had happened that changed everything. It had happened when she was making up one of the rooms. She was changing the sheets on the bed when she first felt it. At first it was like a tickle but than it became slightly stronger, like a soft tapping from the inside of her abdomen. And it continued until she no longer was able to ignore it. The child in her was kicking, telling her he or she was alive and did not tolerate to be ignored any longer. As she sank down on the bed, caressing her belly, she realized that she did not loose her husband. There was a part of him growing right in her. His legacy would continue in this child and it was her job to secure this legacy.

From that day on she had started to look for something better. After all, she was a teacher. It had not been easy but one day she found exactly what she had been looking for. Strangely it had all started during a check up at the women's clinic. Without insurance and only little money she had been going to the free clinic for her monthly prenatal check ups. The doctors there were mostly volunteers and so were the nurses. One of the nurses had started a conversation with her and after she had found out that Susan was a teacher without a job she had gotten very excited. She told her about a new school for special needs children, which was looking for another teacher. It was privately founded and very small with a year round schedule. The pay wouldn't be very much but enough to provide for her and her baby. And it also would provide insurance.

Susan had instantly been excited and had gone to the school directly from her appointment. Seeing the mostly mentally disabled children play in the school yard had instantly hooked her and she had filled an application out. And the woman she handed it to had turned out to be the principal. She had looked it over and asked her into her office for an interview. Two days later she had gotten the call that she could start the position immediately.

It had been like a dream. Everybody was supportive and she made friends very fast. The work with the children was not always easy but very satisfying. She had found this small apartment just 5 blocks away which saved her transportation costs. The landlady had even let her have the furniture that the last tenant had left behind, even though she had though they were too shabby. But for Susan it had been perfect and now after covering everything with the same material as the curtains were made from it didn't even look that bad.

Life suddenly didn't look so hopeless anymore. In only 4 more months she would be able hold this new little life that was growing in her. There was no doubt in her mind that it would be perfect. She imagined how she would tell her child about his or her daddy, about the short but happy times they had together. She smiled, knowing that she was no longer alone and never would be.

+++++

Present day

It was mid morning when Gabe entered his family home in the outskirts of Boston. Mac, Judson and he had flown into Boston the night before, accompanied by Mary Sue. She had insisted they would spend the night at her house, an invitation that they had gladly accepted. It turned out that the house was only a five minute drive from the Patterson Estate. Gabe had insisted to make the drive by himself while Mac and Judson waited impatiently for his return.

Now as he entered the house, he felt the insecurity creep up in him again, making him wish Mac and Judson would be on his side. For a moment he hesitated, then taking a deep breath he knocked at the door of the Senator's office. For a moment there was no response, letting the hope grow in him that the Senator was not home but then a strong voice from the inside said, "Come in!"

Gabe took another deep breath, bracing himself for the meeting with the man he had thought to be his father. He turned the door knob and entered. As the Senator looked up from his desk Gabe could read the surprise in his eyes.

"Gabriel, this is an unexpected visit, I didn't know you were in town!" he stood up and walked out from behind his desk.

"Until yesterday I didn't know myself that I would come here but I need to talk to you and it couldn't wait!"

"Certainly, if it is this important, I will be able to make time for you my son!" The Senator was surprised when he saw the irritated look in Gabe's eyes as response to his answer.

"Don't call me son, this is exactly why I need to talk to you!" Gabe suddenly felt so much anger that his insecurities disappeared behind it.

"I know that I was adopted!"

For a moment Senator Patterson was caught of guard and speechless, something that rarely ever happened. He was not used being talked to in this way and only after a moment did the content of Gabe's accusation dawn on him.

Gathering himself, he said, "Now Gabriel, you know what those press people like to do in an election year, you can't believe a word they say!"

"This didn't come from the press, I will not tell you my source but I know it is the truth! All my life you used me for your purposes, you tried to keep me from doing what I wanted. And your excuse was always that I was a Patterson! You lied to me!"

 He paused before he continued, now changing from anger to pleading, "Please, just once do the right thing and let me know who I am and where I come from!"

"You are a Patterson, nothing will ever change that!" The tone of the Senators voice was hard, his eyes cold and merciless, showing the triumph

of victory.

Yet Gabe was not ready to give himself defeated, "Fine, this is my life, I have a right to know and if you are not willing to tell me, then I will without your help!"

An unpleasant laugh escaped the Senator, "Who do you think will tell you? Your mother? She doesn't know anything and your siblings have no idea!"

Now it was Gabe's turn to laugh, "You always made the mistake to underestimate me! I am no longer a little boy and even though I didn't follow the Patterson path, I have contacts and more than that, I have friends. Something you lack!"

There was a sense of success in his face as he turned and left the house without another word. He might have been less sure of himself would he have witnessed the phone call his adoptive father made right after he had gone.

+++++

When Gabe returned to Mary Sue's house his anger and determination had been replaced once again by  a feeling of hopelessness. If he was honest with himself, he really had no idea what to do next. The emotional roller coaster of the last few days started to get to him and left him feeling drained.

Mac, Mary Sue and Judson had been expecting him back with some anxiety. Seeing the way his shoulders slumped and his head was hanging down, they knew that things hadn't been going his way. Mac and Judson really hadn't expected anything else. They knew the Senator well enough to know he wouldn't just give in. Yet against all odds they had been hoping for a miracle, for their friend's sake. Now it was obvious that it hadn't happened.

Mac got up and wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder, "Hey Gabe, the old man didn't want to talk?"

He walked away from her and let himself fall onto the couch.

Without looking up, he said, "I should have known better!"

His voice was little more than a whisper and sounded so discouraged that Mac threw Judson a worried look.

Once again it was Mary Sue that came to the rescue, "Gabe, I made a few calls and I think I might some leads!"

She paused and smiled as she saw Gabe's head lifted and his eyes revealing a glimpse of hope.

"I have been working at the hospital for a long time and have lots of friends there. Not just nurses and doctors but people in all departments. One of my friends has been working in the records department for a long time. She retired last year but she might remember something. It is at least worth a try. I gave her a call and she is going to come over this afternoon!"

"You really think she remembers after such a long time?" the doubt in Gabe's voice was clearly audible.

"I hope so, she had a remarkable memory for details, things that nobody thinks of as important enough to remember! As I said, it is at least worth a try!"

"Yeah, and if she doesn't remember we continue to look until we find someone who does!" Mac gave him an encouraging smile "We will find the answer, no matter what it takes. Remember, we are a team and we always get what we go after!"

+++++

August 15th, 1978

Susan had left school at noon today to keep her monthly checkup appointment at the clinic. Everything had gone okay and the doctor had assured her that her baby was growing well and there were no problems. Being done earlier than she expected, she had decided to use the slightly cooler but sunny day for a walk in the park. She took in her environment with pleasure, enjoying the playful screams of the children on the playground and the sight of young mother's soothing their toddlers and infants. Only the young couple sitting in the grass and obviously enjoying each others company painfully reminded her of what she had lost. She walked a little faster until she had passed them, then concentrated again on the playing children.

Visions of herself sitting on one of the benching watching her own child play appeared in front of her eyes and brought a happy smile to her face. She sat down on one of the benches, allowing the visions of the future to engulf her. After a while the playful noises of the present brought her back to reality. It wasn't so bad now that she had found so many caring people. Her colleagues at the school were all great people that made up a wonderful team. And the doctors and nurses at the clinic were wonderful.  She had never experienced one strange look or question. Well at least not till today.

Susan thought about the little incidence at the clinic. When she had checked in the regular receptionist had been off and had been replaced by a man that seemed strangely out of place. He wore a suit and tie and just didn't fit the picture of somebody working at a free clinic. Everybody here was so informal that this man sure stuck out. She remembered how he had looked at her and asked her questions about her husband and her family - questions that she had answered truthfully but sure hadn't been comfortable with. She had been thankful when the nurse called her into the lab for a blood sample. When she had left, the man had no longer been at the desk.

She brushed the shiver of that the memory of the stranger had given her. He probably had been just somebody that had stepped in to help. Very likely a very nice man, just inexperienced in how to deal with expecting mothers. She almost smiled, thinking that she probably was a little over sensitive. Pregnancy seemed to do this to her.

Feeling a fairly strong kick from the inside of her stomach, she padded her abdomen and smiled, "Hey you little monster, if I go by the strength and the amount of kicks I already get, you are going to be a football player or something!"

+++++

August 16th, 1978

James Patterson was a man that was used that people would come to him at the push at a button. If he ever decided to go out to see someone at their place, it had to be either something of high importance or of some not quite kosher nature. Or as in this case both.

It was only 7:30 AM in the morning when he pulled his Mercedes up in front of the slightly run down office building. The earliness of the hour made his business seem even more important. The sign on the front door of the 1st floor office suit read – Thomas Jameson, Lawyer – nothing more, nothing less.

He entered without knocking, knowing none of the office staff would be present at this time of day.   The man behind the desk was in his late thirties, dressed in an immaculate three piece suit that very obvious came from the rack. His face showed mild signs of alcohol abuse and his eyes were the ones of a man that knew his career would never amount to anything. He got up to greet him, but Patterson ignored the stretched out hand and proceeded to sit down.

"What have you got that is so important to make me come here this early in the day?" The look in his eyes told the other man he better could prove the urgency of his call or his career would be finished.

He swallowed hard before he found the nerve to speak, "Mr. Patterson, I think I might have found you a baby!" He stopped, waiting for a reaction from the older man. When he didn't get one, he continued, "I spent several days at the free clinic downtown and also at the women's clinic on the other side of town. At first I didn't find anyone that might even fit the profile but yesterday I came across this woman!"

He handed Patterson a picture. After studying it for a moment the expression on his face changed, he looked at Jameson, "She might do, she does have a strong resemblance to my daughter in law!"

"Indeed she does, you should see her in person, her heights and stature match almost perfectly. And look at this…!"

He handed him another picture which showed a young man that could have very well been a younger version of his son.

"This is truly remarkable, is this the father?" he questioned.

"It is or better it was, he died several months ago!"

"Perfect!" for a moment the emotionless face of James Patterson showed almost excitement. "And I would guess the due date for the baby matches also?"

"Yes, it is only about a week after your daughter in law's due date!"

"Good, I want you to pursue this very carefully. Find  out everything you can about her, especially if she would be willing to give up the baby for adoption! I except your report by the end of the month!"

Without another word he got up and left, leaving the other man with a smile on his face. If he played this one right, he would have an ace in his hand that would come in handy in the future.

+++++

Present Day

The team had been anticipating the afternoon with mixed emotions. Mac and Judson pretended to read while actually keeping a worried eye on their younger friend. Gabe was sitting on the couch with his lab top open. He had announced he would be working on a program he was developing to improve the underwater monitor, yet by the way he continued to shift positions and the sounds of disgust that came from his mouth from time to time, they could see that his mind was not at the task at hand.

Mary Sue had excused herself after lunch to make some personal phone calls. Now she entered the room accompanied by another woman.

"Martha, these are Mackenzie Previn, Judson Cross and Gabriel Patterson!" She pointed each of them out as she said their names, then she continued with the introduction, "Guys, this is Martha Sullivan, my friend I talked about!"

All of them had stood up and now found themselves starring at the woman. After Mary Sue had told them her friend had retired a few years ago, they had expected someone in their mid sixty. Now they found themselves across a woman with silver hair and a face that told them she was much older than they had expected. Yet her stature was straight and her eyes had a sparkle of amusement in them.

While Mac and Judson tried to disguise their surprise with a warm welcome, Gabe was unable to tear his eyes of the woman. After she greeted the others she walked over to him and smiled, "Young man, the way you look at me, you must think I am either way old or I am the hottest chick in town."

Relaxing a little, he blushed, "I'm sorry, I didn't know what I thought!"

"Well young man, or may I call you Gabe? I seem to have this effect on a lot of people. I can assure you I am beyond the age where you try to pretend you are 39! Actually I will be 87 next month and mighty proud of it!"

"And you should be!" Judson now interrupted, "You don't look a day older than 79!"

"Charmer!" she gave him a big smile, then her face turned serious, "But I don't think this is why I am here. Mary Sue told me what you are trying to find out. I might be able to help you out!"

She sat down on one of the chairs, waiting for the others to follow her example.

"Why don't you talk and I get the coffee, it is ready to go!" Mary Sue said before she disappeared into the kitchen.

There was a moment of static filled silence before Martha Sullivan started to talk, "I worked in the records department of the hospital for almost forty years. I have seen a lot of things and forgotten almost as many. But there are a few things that stuck out and I never forgot them. One of them were the events that surrounded the birth of the Patterson babies in 1978. There were just to many things that seemed funny!"

She stopped as Mary Sue reentered the room with a tray of cups that contained the steaming black liquid. She offered one of them to her who took it gratefully then went on to the others. Martha waited until everyone had their cup before she continued.

"I seen the records in August of '78 that indicated that Mrs. Patterson had given birth to one of her twins prematurely, a boy that died within hours of being born. I felt sorry for her and could help but praying that the other twin would survive. When she gave birth to a girl on November 2nd, I was really happy for her. How wonderful that she at least got to take one healthy baby home. But then on November 7th there suddenly was a record of a baby boy in the chart. This was just strange enough to spark my interest and I read the rest of the chart. It was clearly indicated that this had been an adoption but no birth mother was named. There was also no record of someone giving birth at the hospital and giving their baby up for adoption."

Gabe had been listening to her story with increasing interest and anxiety. Now when he heard the last words, his heart sank, "So this is another dead end!" It was meant as a statement rather than a question.

"Not necessarily!" Martha gave him an encouraging smile. "I know there was a lawyer involved in this adoption but his name was never actually mentioned in the chart. Yet there was a young woman that seemed to be some sort of courier between his office and the Patterson's. I knew her because she had been working in the record department for a few months before that. She wasn't very serious about her work and didn't show up on many occasions, so they finally let her go. Her name was Ellie Miller. But I have no idea what happened to her since then!"

"That doesn't matter," Judson seemed excited. Turning to Mary Sue he continued, "If she worked at the hospital, there might be still some records about here there. A birth date and a social security number should be enough to find her if she is still alive."

Gabe's hope had flared up again and he couldn't contain his excitement any longer. Maybe there was a way to find out about his past after all. He jumped up and hugged a surprised Martha, then pressed a big kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you so much, you have no idea what you just have done for me, I never will be able to repay you!" For the first time in days there was a sparkle in his eyes.

Martha smiled, "I hope I really helped you and as for payment, it's not everyday that a handsome young man throws himself at me and kisses me. My grandkids usually just go "yuk' and wipe their face with their sleeve."

There was a laugh from all of them, then Mary Sue said, "Well, I guess the next step is up to me. I will hang myself on the phone with someone in the personal department. Maybe I can pull some strings and get us the information we need." She left the room once again to immediately make the promised call.

+++++

The call came around 10 AM the next morning. As Mary Sue answered the others watched with anticipation as she picked up a pen and scribbled something on the note pad that was lying on the table. When she finally laid the receiver down the silence in the room was deafening.

"I got what we needed!" She waived the note pad, showing the numbers she had written on it.

Gabe took it from her with more enthusiasm than anyone had seen him with in days. He looked at it for just a moment than started to hack around on his lap top. It took him only 5 minutes before he looked up with a satisfied look on his face.

"Got it! The address is 1604 Terrace Drive, Apt 4a."

"Wow, how did you get this so fast?" Mac threw him a look admiration.

"Hacked into the DMV computer! Her drivers license gives this as her address, hopefully it is still current!" 

"What are we waiting for, lets go!" now it was Judson who took over the lead.

All of them started to head for the door, when Judson realized that Gabe still was sitting on the couch. Is face once again had taken on a look of uncertainty.

"What if she doesn't want to talk to us?"

"Gabe", Judson had walked over to him and now laid his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "we will deal with it when we get there. I know this is getting to you but we are backing you up all the way. You won't be alone!"

Gabe lifted his head until his eyes met the one of his friend. What he saw there was all he needed to regain the balance that he had just lost.

While he threw Judson a look that said 'Thanks!', he stood up and followed the others out the door.