Chapter 36

Five Years Later

Max sank into the chair outside the hospital room in a fit of relief. He hated hospitals. A nurse wandered by and another shouted for a doctor. He didn't think there was ever a time he had been in a hospital for anything good. The only good things that came out of hospitals were babies.

After resting for a moment he decided he needed to go tell everyone how everything went. They were in there cleaning her up and he had time to recuperate.

When he entered the waiting room he tried to ignore the pang of jealousy he got when he saw her curled in Kyle's lap. She rose when she saw him and walked to him. He pulled her to him. "You should have brought your coat like I told you; you know how cold it gets in hospitals."

"I know. Is she ok?"

"Perfect, everything's wonderful."

"Are you sure?" Amy Deluca asked concerned, but with a smile on her face. "There were complications last time."

"I'm sure, she did beautifully." Max answered truthfully. "There was a minor complication but nothing too bad. I was a little worried about her though. It went longer than it was supposed to and we lost a heartbeat for twenty seconds."

"What?" Her brown eyes were shadowed with worry.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, everything's fine now."

She looked up at him. Her long brown hair captured in a pony tail, her eyes full of worry. "Can I see her?"

"Yes, let's go meet your new brother, Hannah." He swung an arm around his daughter and led her back to the hospital room.

Liz was sitting up in the hospital bed with little Holden safely tucked into her arms.

"Hey, Hannah." Liz greeted.

"Hi, Mom." She said shyly as she walked towards the bed.

"Come meet Holden." Liz invited. "Come on, he's perfect."

Hannah looked down at her brother and studied him. "Can I hold him?"

"Sure." Max took him from Liz's arms and put him in Hannah's. "Why don't you sit down?"

She sat in the chair and looked at the little boy in her arms. Her brother. They shared their father's eyes, and ears, they had the same chin, the one Max had said was totally Hannah. He started to fussing and Hannah handed him back.

"Hey, Holden, what's wrong, baby?" Liz asked quietly. The baby settled down in the familiar arms of his mother. "You need to get to know your sister, she's gonna help take care of you."

"No, Mom." Hannah smiled mischievously. "I do believe I said I would help with a sister, Holden is my brother." Then her eyes filled with tears. "Daddy, I wish Kailyn could see him."

Five year old Kailyn had almost been theirs. Max had gotten wind of her being in foster care again, and Kailyn had been placed with Amy and Jim Valenti. They had pushed to get licensed to take Kailyn, but it hadn't been quick enough. Kailyn was put back with her mother. This only three weeks before.

"I do too, princess." Max pulled her to him. "She wanted to see the baby so badly."

Liz nodded as well, she had been the most depressed about it. She was the social worker and she had failed to protect an innocent child. She knew the home was bad but there was nothing she could do.

"Even though he's a boy, Mom, I still love him." Hannah smiled. "You tried."

"Thanks, I'm glad I have your clearance." Liz laughed.

"You're welcome." Hannah sat on Max's lap. "He looks like you, Daddy."

"Thank you." Max was overjoyed. He missed this last time, he was determined never to miss anything of little Holden's life.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Liz called.

"Hello, how are you feeling?" Amy bustled in and set the bouquet of flowers on the table.

"Great." Liz answered. There wasn't any need for an emergency c-section like last time. "I'm going home in two days at the latest." Liz said happily. "Here he is."

"Oh, my little handsome boy." Amy cooed over him. "Look at you, looking just as handsome as your daddy." She picked him up. "What's his name, Liz?"

"Holden Alexander Evans." Liz said proudly.

"Nice manly name." Amy said with a smile. "Jim wishes he could be here but there was an emergency."

"It's alright; I think Holden will forgive his Grandpa Jim this one time."

"Max, um, could I speak to you for a minute?" Kyle said from the doorway.

"Sure." He said uncertainly and nudged Hannah from his lap. "I'll be back."

"What's up?" Max asked. Kyle and him hadn't really gotten along very well. They were good in each other's presence, but there was always some underlying tension.

"Look, I just want to get this off my mind. Take care of them."

Max raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"You ever wonder why I call Hannah, mon papillion?" He asked.

"No, since I have no clue what it means." Max answered.

"It means my butterfly. If you could see the changes Hannah went from when she was born to when she met you at four years old, it is amazing. It was like a whole new person. She transformed, like butterflies do. I never knew how fitting it would be until you came back into the picture. She blossomed under the care and love you and Liz shower on her. Keep it up."

"So are you saying I'm good or bad for her?"

"I'm saying you're good, just continue to be, I'm watching you." He sauntered back into the room, leaving Max to ponder what he had said.

Two years later

Liz stretched; her large belly bumped the desk and made it uncomfortable to sit at it. She was happy today was her last day before she went on maternity leave. They were giving her extra time than normal and she was thankful.

She had just placed her last case into another foster home. She tossed the folder into her replacement's pile. "Good riddance to that girl," Liz muttered to herself. She had moved the girl six times in the last five months. The next stop for her was a permanent group home but it was no longer Liz's concern because she was going home.

The phone rang and she cursed whoever was on the line. She wanted to go home and play with Holden and ask Hannah about her day.

"Hello?"

"Liz, we have a hospital case, can you meet me down there?"

"Max, I'm not supposed to take anymore cases." Liz said annoyed. Every once in a while they were paired together on certain cases, but it was a rare occurrence because of conflicts of interests. "I was on the way to pick up the kids."

"Liz, you have to come. Remember the foster/adopt license we got, we're going to use it now." He said urgently.

"Max, I'm thirty two weeks pregnant, I don't think now is the best time." She said irritated.

"I know, love, but you need to get down here. I already called Amy."

"Alright." Liz said exasperated and hung up the phone. She was tired and rubbed her hand across her eyes. She had had trouble during the being of her pregnancy which was why she had extra maternity leave time. She knew it must have been urgent else Max would never have pushed her.

She pulled into the hospital, showed her ID at the counter of the emergency room.

They directed her to a curtained off room. She didn't like hospitals no need to explain why.

"Liz!" Max called over to her.

"I'm here." His face showed the urgency he refused to let get into his voice. "What's wrong?"

"My wife's here." Max said to an officer.

"I'm Officer Benson; will you please sit down, Mr. and Mrs. Evans?" He led them to two seats. "I'm aware that you two are quite experts at this case."

"Who is it?" Liz asked already dreading the answer.

"Kailyn Hamilton." He said.

Liz's face paled. "Oh, God, how bad is she, can we see her?"

"Not yet, Mrs. Evans. I understand, but you need to wait while I explain what's going on."

She nodded.

"Early this morning, Kailyn was brought in and treated for multiple bruises, a broken wrist, ankle, and a few cracked ribs. She was treated for concussion and multiple scans performed to make sure she's ok. Her right eye is swollen shut."

Liz whimpered and settled her head on Max's shoulder quietly waiting for the rest. "They're going to release her tonight, but only to you two. They wanted to keep her but the girl is terrified."

"Do they know who did it?" Max asked, venom in his voice.

"Mom's newest boyfriend." He said. "Mom was found dead. Bullet through the head, she was in pretty much the same shape as her daughter. They found the boyfriend down the street a few hours later. Kailyn was found cowering behind the couch. It's a miracle she's alive."

"Can we see her, now?" Liz was shaking. "Please, she knows me; I need to see my little girl."

"Right this way." He took them, "Be careful not to startle her. Talk before you enter." He placed a restraining arm on Max. "She doesn't like men. She cowers. Wait a minute, let your wife talk to her first."

Max nodded. "Alright." He watched from outside as his wife approached the figure on the bed.

"Kailyn." She didn't stir.

"Kailyn. Do you remember me sweetheart?" Liz called softly. Tears came to her eyes when she saw the poor girl.

"Liz?" She didn't want to move her head, it was pounding. "Liz."

"I'm here, sweetheart." Liz crouched down awkwardly. Her face looked horrible. "Oh, sweetheart, I've missed you."

"Liz." A tear dropped from her face and she moved her good wrist. "You're going to stay with me?"

"Yes, baby, I'm going to stay here." Liz answered and squeezed her hand slightly. "Do you remember Max, my husband?"

"Yes," Kailyn whispered. "I do."

"Do you want to come home with us?" Liz asked. "They'll let you leave, but only if you come home with us."

"Yes." She nodded. "Camilla's dead." She stated. She never called her mother 'Mom'.

"I know, honey." Liz said.

"I can't go back with her anymore." She said again. Her voice stated everything as fact, no emotion.

"I know. You'll stay with us, Kailyn, would you like that?"

Again Kailyn just nodded.

"In order to take you home with me, sweetheart, Max has to carry you. I can't, with the baby in here." She patted her round tummy.

Automatically Kailyn's hand reached out to touch the bulge of her tummy.

"I thought you had the baby."

"I did, this is a different baby, sweetheart. The other baby's at home, with Hannah, waiting to meet you."

"Hannah?" There was a small flicker of something in the eye that wasn't swollen shut.

"Yes. My husband's going to come in now, don't be afraid he's not going to hurt you."

"Kailyn." His voice was low.

Her body stiffened. She knew the voice, knew that he wouldn't hurt her but she was still scared.

When he picked her up she went completely stiff. He carried her to Liz's car and buckled her in.

"I'll meet you at the house, Liz, be careful." He pulled her close for a second."I will, you be careful too, Max."

Liz pulled out of the hospital toward home.