Thanks to all who reviewed I love getting reviews, a little disclaimer I'm not a social worker and this may not be politically correct but it's my story and it works, sorry if the characters are not themselves, but it's an unusual story:)
Don sat forward in his desk, deeply focused on the social worker in front of him.
"I'm sorry Ms. Kelley I don't have a niece." Agent Eppes argued. The social worker nodded she had expected this.
"As I've already said Agent Eppes, Amita explained everything to Charlie in that letter you are holding." She offered another piece of paper to Agent Eppes. "Original copy of Hannah's birth certificate, note the father's name." Don looked down at the certificate, it was an official certificate with the seal of Colorado and at father's name it read: DR. CHARLES EPPES.
"This could be fake." Don didn't know why he was arguing over the legitimacy of a birth certificate, he could see for himself that the certificate was genuine, he couldn't understand why he was being argumentative. Elizabeth Kelley looked at him and sighed again.
"Agent Eppes you can personally verify the certificate, you can call the state of Colorado if you wish, but as you can tell by the date Hannah Sameena Eppes was born November 5th 2009. If you do the math that would make Amita pregnant in February of 2009, that was two months before she left for Denver. If you continue to have any doubt of the legitimacy of the child we can always do a paternal test today." Don had been lost momentarily in the explanation, but his head snapped up at the mention of a paternal test, not because he was continuing to have doubts over Charlie being the father. Just like Elizabeth Kelley had claimed the birth certificate did show that Hannah was born in November, Amita left in April she would have been around two months pregnant, and Don had no doubt there was any other man, romantically involved, in Amita's life besides Charlie in January/February 2009. No what grabbed his attention was the fact she suggested they take the paternal test today.
"Hannah is here, in LA?" He asked, Elizabeth smiled.
"Did you expect me to leave her alone in Denver? She is actually in this building, she is waiting down the hall, out of earshot but I have been able to keep an eye on her the entire time." She assured, Don jumped up from his desk, still holding the letter from Amita and the birth certificate in his hand.
"Where is she?" He wanted to know, Elizabeth smiled, she saw the anxiety and curiosity in the agent's face.
"Seated right there." The social worker pointed at the small girl sitting in a chair outside an empty cubicle a few feet away. Don moved towards the small girl she of course was around three years old, she heard the agent moving towards her and looked up, a small smile…a smile that reminded him of Charlie's smile, crept across her face. She had black curly hair that fell freely from a loose ponytail, she had a fair complexion and was the spitting image of Charlie and Amita, she was very petit, she wore dark blue jeans tucked into dark brown cowgirl boots she wore a simple red T that had a thick brown belt over it. She had a Disney princess bag at her feet and was clutching a bear that came from one of those build your own stuffed animal stores in the mall.
"Uncle Don." She greeted when she saw the agent coming towards her, she raced up to him, and the agent crouched down so that he was not towering over the child.
'You know who I am?" He asked the girl, while there was no doubt that she was Charlie and Amita's little girl, he never knew that Amita was expecting. The young girl nodded, she dug into the princess outfit that her stuffed bear was wearing and pulled out a folded photo, and handed it to Don. The photo had clearly had been folded and unfold over and over again, judging by the creases. The date on the back was in Amita's handwriting along with the words 'our think tank'. Don unfolded the picture; it was a picture of him, Charlie, Amita, Dad, and Larry in the backyard dated February 4th 2009.
"See that's mommy." Hannah was pointing out the people in the photo. "That's you, and that's Grandpa, that's Uncle Larry, and that's my daddy." She smiled up at her uncle. "Before I go to bed Mommy would tell me stories of you and Daddy and everybody and your adventures." Don smiled down at the little girl, she looked up at him with so much love in her eyes and yet sadness, over the loss of her mom. "She loved you guys a lot." She added tears rolling down her cheek. Don pulled the little girl close to him, there was no need for a paternal test, and even if Charlie didn't take her in he sure would.
"You're mommy loved you too." He assured her, he went to stand only to find the girl's tiny grip was stronger then he thought as she held on to him, he picked her up and turned around to Ms. Kelley.
"Thank you for bringing her here." He thanked, Elizabeth nodded and smiled.
"I hate to do this to you Agent Eppes I do, but I have to get back to Denver, I have a court date, involving two toddlers in an abusive custody battle, unfortunately I cant get the date moved and this is an actual case assigned by the state…you know how it is." She picked up her briefcase; she pulled a business card out of the side pocket and with a pen scribbled down her number on the back. "I'm sorry I have to leave now, here is my cell number on the back feel free to call day and night with any questions." She offered
"Thank you." Don thanked again accepting the card and putting it with the letter and birth certificate.
"My pleasure, Amita was really great friend, I'm so sorry for you loss, but I'm happy for Hannah that she has a family that will care for her. Amita told me that I wouldn't have to worry that all the Eppes men would take care of Hannah in case anything happened to her, but don't think I wont forget you. I will be sure to check in when I get a chance." She smiled and with that she kissed Hannah on the forehead.
"Bye Hannah baby, I will call you later and send you your things ok?" She assured, Hannah nodded, the social worker turned to leave. "I almost forgot here is her car seat." She pointed at the car seat tucked into the empty cubicle with that she smiled and left. Don turned back to the little girl in his arms, he never saw himself as one to have a kid, but he could tell he was going to love Hannah.
"Hannah do you know what your name means?" She nodded.
"Its Hebarew, it means favored grace I think." Don tried not to laugh over her mispronunciation.
"It's Hebrew, and you're right, it's a very pretty name." Don complimented.
"Thank you." She accepted. "Can I see Daddy and Grandpa today?" Don smiled; he might as well leave the case was done, might as well call it an early day.
"How about now?" The little girl smiled and nodded.
"Ok I just have to turn in my report and we are good to go, can you put your certificate and letter to your daddy in your backpack for me please?" Hannah took her birth certificate and letter from her Uncle Don and wiggled out of his arms she went over and slipped them into her princess backpack she flung it onto her bag and looked back in satisfaction. Don lead her to his desk he picked her up and put her on his chair.
"I'll be right back don't move ok." Don instructed he picked the report he was working on before Elizabeth Kelley arrived and headed over to the director's office; it was amazing, amazing how his life changed in a matter of minutes.
Hannah swung her legs over the chair kicking in the air as if she was sitting on the side of the pool, she was still holding her bear close to her chest and watching her cowgirl boots bounce in the air, when a tall man approached her.
"You're too young to be Agent Eppes." The man said, Hannah swiveled in her chair to face the man, his facial expression altered when he saw the girl she was the spitting image of Charlie and Amita. "What's your name sweetheart?" Hannah's turned her head in the direction her Uncle Don just walked off in, she wasn't suppose to talk to strangers.
"Stranger danger." She whispered, the man smiled and leaned forward, the little girl reminded him so much of his favorite math geek.
"Its ok see I'm an FBI agent like Agent Eppes, I'm like a police officer." He showed his badge to the little girl who looked down at the badge it was identical to the one she saw her Uncle Don wearing.
"Like Uncle Don?" She asked, the man gave her a puzzled look.
"Uncle Don?" He looked at the girl, it was impossible Charlie didn't have any children, and he was the only sibling of Don that he knew, the girl nodded in confirmation, before he could ask more Sinclair walked over.
"Hey man have you seen Don I need to give something." Sinclair asked Granger, his attention was then turned to the little girl in Don's seat. "Well who is this?" Hannah looked up at the man who just approached, wishing her uncle would come back.
"Yeah he just went to the director's office." Granger answered, both men were waiting on Hannah's reply.
"You're a stranger." Hannah answered.
"It's ok." Granger assured. "He is FBI too like me and your Uncle Don."
"Uncle Don?" Sinclair asked but at that point Don returned from the director's office.
"What's going on?" He demanded moving towards Hannah, Hannah instantly jumped out of her seat and scurried over to Don arms in the air as a gesture she wanted to be picked up. Don looked down and hesitated for a moment before learning forward to pick the little girl up.
"Hey Don who is this?" Sinclair asked, smiling at Hannah.
"I'll explain later." Was all Don offered he turned towards Hannah. "Ready to go?" Hannah nodded eagerly, and Don looked back at the two agents.
"I'm taking the rest of the day off; I will talk to you guys later." Don them, gathering Hannah's car seat he checked to make sure he had everything and headed out the door for CalSci; leaving behind two very puzzled agents.
