Chapter 12

It has been two days and Lena's hope has been running thin. She wasn't even up for going to work today. She couldn't accept the fact that Mariana wasn't going to be there waiting for her. Finally getting out of bed, hours after Stef left for work, she trudged down to the kitchen to make herself some tea.

She barely looked at Dana and Sharon, who were sitting at the table as she poured her cup and took a seat herself. "Perk up honey. Things will work themselves out". Lena gave Sharon a skeptical look before her red puffy eyes looked back to her cup. "I judge denied my request. There's no hope or point now. I can't over rule a judge. Having Mariana is practically forbidden".

"And so is your relationship with my daughter," Sharon pointed out, "But that clearly doesn't stop you two. Does it?"

"Sweetheart, let me tell you. There's nothing stronger than the bond between a mother and her child," Dana said grabbing Lena's hand as she watched the tears silently fall down her daughter's face. "Look at us. We both didn't think that we would ever see each other again. But we kept fighting. And look how far faith has brought us".

"And let me tell ya. Me and my Stephanie weren't always as close believe it or not. But we are here for each other. And there's nothing that would ever keep me away from her. Destiny has a way of working itself out honey. But you can't give up".

...

"So why exactly does Rita want you and not you and Lena" Mike asked confused. They were out on patrol in the area and Stef figured that this would be a decent time to make a stop by. Rita called her the previous night asking if she could come by; saying that she had something to talk about regarding Mariana but didn't want Lena to worry or get too upset.

"Something about Mariana I guess. We saw the judge the other night to get a rushed hearing to adopt Mariana. But Hazelwood got to him before us. I swear he knows every slumbag in power. He had Mariana placed in a foster home in god knows where. And denied us any form of custody". Stef said clearing her throat to get rid of the lump that was forming.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?!" Mike yelled. Stef looked at him both shocked and slightly confused. She knew that he was always willing to help but she wasn't expecting this reaction. "I...I don't know. What can we do at this point anyway? We can't fight the chief of police and a judge without something ridiculous happening".

They pulled up to Rita's house and Stef hopped out of the car. "I'll just be a minute. You have to wait out here" Mike waved her off as he reached for his phone.

.…...

" I'm assuming she went to the school looking for Lena. She look so scared and upset so she called me. She didn't have anyone else's number. I gave her yours and Lena's but you say she hasn't called".

Stef's heart was shattering. She didn't want any of this to be happening. She just wanted Mariana home and not alone. "But that's not the reason I called you here. I knew that woman who has her. I couldn't think of how at the time but it finally dawned on me. She fostered on of my other girls when she was younger. She used to keep her locked up for days and sometimes even weeks for the smallest things. I reported her before. But with private fosterization, and the power of Justina Marks I guess anything could happen".

At this Stef jumped out of her seat and ran to the door. " I have to go get her!" Rita ran after her grabbing her arm. "Stef wait! You can't just bust into her house and take Mariana. That's still technically kidnapping". "Rita I don't care! What is the address?"

"Stef..."

"GIVE ME THE ADDRESS NOW!"

...

Mike is pacing the yard, having a heated conversation himself, as he waits for Stef to come out.

"Listen. I have been very cooperative thus far. But if you want me to continue helping you then you have to get me a judge that will approve this adoption, right now. That's all I'm asking".

Mike looked up and saw Stef running out of the house. "I have to go but make it happen. It's an emergency".

Stef ran clear past him and got in the driver's seat as he jumped in. "What's going on?"

"I'm going to get her". She turned the sirens on and sped down the street.

...

Mariana was sitting in the corner of her closet with her knees to her chest as she leaned against the wall. She hid in there earlier that day when she heard the woman down stairs yelling and screaming; and then would start humming. She knew that there was something off about her.

She had no idea how long she has been locked in that room but she knew that it has been at least a couple of days. The woman didn't even bother to come check on her. Not even to see if she needed anything to eat or drink. But lucky for her Rita snuck her a few things to snack on before she dropped her off. But the snacks ran out the night before. Now her stomach was growling and she has been way too afraid to go to sleep.

Part of her was happy that the woman didn't come back because she was too afraid of what she was capable of.

She knew she had to come up with a plan. Maybe once she finally opened the door she could run out. But there was no doubt in her mind that if her door was locked then the house doors had locked to capacity as well.

She could hear the lady stomping up the stairs yelling at the top of her lungs and began to look frantically around the closet for something to possibly defend herself with.

There was nothing besides the old smelly coats that she was hiding behind. She moved them around trying to see if there was anything that she could've missed when one of the jackets fell with a thud. Picking it up she saw an old phone fall from the pocket. It wasn't a phone that she was use to seeing but nonetheless she knew that it was a phone.

"Please work, please work". She held down the power button as the phone came to life. Her eyes went wide with excitement as she went to dial one of the numbers from Lena's planner that she kept. But it blocked her from making any outgoing calls. "No service?" She whispered to herself as she saw low battery flash across the screen. But she remember what Lena once told her. "No matter where you are, every phone can dial 911 without having to pay. Quickly she used her little fingers dialed the three digit number as her eyes welled up with tears once she heard the voice on the other end of the line.

"9-1-1. What's your emergency?"

"My name is Mariana. My new foster parent has locked me in my room. And I have been in here for days. Please send help."

"Days? Ok honey. Just stay calm. Where is she now?"

"She's in the house. I can here her yelling", she whispered.

"Ok. Are there any windows to climb out of?"

"No there isn't any. Send help please, I'm really afraid."

"Ok Honey I'm going to leave you on the line for one second while I connect you to and officer". The few seconds felt like forever as Mariana could feel her heart pounding as she listened for the woman.

"Ok Honey. I have officer McDonald on the line. Can you describe where you are?"

"Stef. Stef Foster."

"Stef Foster?"

"Yes she's a cop. She knows me. I want Stef and Lena". Mariana heard the phone begin to beep as she looked to the phone. "The phone is going to die. Please hurry."

"Ok honey they are on their way. Just listen for the sirens ok. I'm going to stay on the line. Do you remember the color of the house? Or what's outside of the house?"

...

Lena is sitting in what would be Mariana's room at the desk just wishing and hoping that things would be different. She knew that what Sharon and her mother were saying was true. For Mariana was her daughter, no matter what. And things would find a way to work themselves out. But she could just give up. She heard the doorbell ring downstairs but it didn't dawn on her until she heard Sharon calling her name.

She came running down the stairs a bit confused, when she saw a smiling older woman and a gentle man who looked a bit more solemn escorting her. "Hello. Are you Lena Adams?" Lena stepped forward looking around at Sharon and her mother who seemed just as confused as her. "Yes, I am. Who are you?" The woman smiled bigger as she spoke, "I'm Judge Davis. May I come in?"

"Yes, please, come on in". Lena showed her to the kitchen table and offered her and the gentleman with her something to drink. They declined but the whole time the judge couldn't help but smile and look around. "This is quite a lovely home you have here".

"Thank you," Lena said taking a seat herself. "May I ask what brings you here?"

"Oh yes. Time is of the essence, isn't it. It was brought to my attention that an ex-fiancé of yours, Mr. Mason Hazelwood, had a few connections with a colleague of mine and Justina Marks. Wicked people, that trio. They've done and gotten away with some of the most of the most terrible things. But myself and a few of my pals like Detective Bryson here are working on that. We have been keeping a close eye on things, and we are hoping for things to begin changing pretty soon".

The judge took Lena's hand into hers. "I'm so sorry about all of the things you had to go through. But best believe that you have quite a few angels looking out for you. But now, I believe there are some papers that you need me to stamp and sign".

Lena was still so confused as to what was happening. She felt like she was dreaming. But when she saw Judge Davis pull out her glasses and pin she ran to get Mariana's adoption forms.

….

Stef practically fell out the car, almost forgetting to put it into park. "Stef wait!" Mike said running in front of her. "You can't just go in there and take her. We can ask to see her, make sure she's ok and assess the house but we can't take her".

"Mike that is my daughter in there."

"Stef not yet. I am working on it. But legally she is not yours".

Stef heard enough. She ran around Mike and continued to bang until the woman came to the door. She looked normal to say the least, but Stef could tell how stern she was through her eyes. But everything in the house was quiet. Glancing past her she couldn't see any sign of Mariana or even any other person for that matter.

"How can I help you officers?"

Stef put on her best serious face trying not to show the tension and anxiety she was feeling. She knew damn well she couldn't legally barge into this woman's house. But she needed to at least see Mariana and explain what was happening.

"I'm here for Mariana. I'm here to get my daughter".

The woman looked at her a bit confused before saying, "I'm sorry. But I believe you have the wrong house".

Before she could say anything else Stef and Mike's radio started blaring. "Dispatch to Foster". Stef held up her hand to excuse herself for a moment as she took a step off the porch. "This is Foster."

"We have a call from a little girl named Mariana. She's asking for you on the scene. She's locked inside a room at what we believe to be 1325 Peacock street. She's been looked in there for days. Back up is in pursuit".

So much hate, and rage, and fear washed over Stef as everything seemed to move in slow motion. She began to hear the sirens speeding in closer as she looked to the number about the woman's head '1325'. It wasn't Mike rushing past her to handcuff the woman with his hand prepared by his gun, but it was the scream that she heard coming from inside.

Mariana heard the sirens stop in front of the house. The dispatcher stayed on the line all the way up until the phone died. She tried to describe the house to the best of her ability and hoped that they were able to track to the line. But when she heard the knocking on the door she knew that someone must have been here for her. They must have found her. But there was silence, and she couldn't hear anyone coming through the door. But she heard the sirens in the distance and thought that the officers must have thought they had the wrong address and her little body was filled with panic.

She began to cry as she started pounding on her room door. "STEF!", she yelled, "STEF!" She heard a rushing of feet ascending the stairs. She wasn't sure if it was Stef, another officer, or the old woman; that is until she heard her calling her name, "Mariana! Mariana! It's Stef baby. Where are you?"

She ran up to the door and put her ear to it. "Stef! I'm in here!"

Stef saw the room with the jimmy proof deadbolts and padlocks from the outside, heard Mariana's little voice yelling from the other side. "Sweetheart. I'm here. I'm going to get you out of here ok". Stef unlocked the locks that she could but could not knock the door down.

At this point the back up was there and they brought up the ram. Stef instructed Mariana to move to the furthest corner. Mariana grabbed her doll and the one bag that she came there with and anxiously waited. As she heard the officers outside the door. She saw the door crack with the first hit. The second hit caused her to jump, but it got one of the hinges off. With the third hit the door came crashing down and Stef ran in pushing the broken pieces out of the way.

She ran straight to Mariana, scooping her up and hugging her tight. All Mariana could do was cry.

Stef carried her out to the waiting ambulance, so she can be checked out and given water and granola for the time being. Once she saw that Mariana was safe and taken care of she looked to her phone and saw the numerous missed calls from Lena. She checked the messages and walked away to make sure that she was hearing what was being said correctly.

"Mom! Don't leave", Mariana said jumping down from the ambulance. Stef was suddenly hit with so much emotion at once as she lifted the little girl back to the EMTs. "I'm not my love. I will never leave you again. I get to bring you home". Stef said as tears started to stream down her cheeks.

"Wait. You mean..?"

"You are now Mariana Adams Foster".