Chapter 5.

An hour had past and the Angels were all still in Jill's hospital room with Cate talking. Coffee cups and soda cans strewn across the coffee table they were sat around. Kris now sat at the other end of the small couch that Cate also sat on.

'I'm sorry,' Kris started 'I just still find it so hard to believe that you have worked for Charlie for so long and we have never been told or met or anything. Why? Why keep you hidden and not tell us about you?' Kris said rubbing her forehead.

'You know Charlie,' Kelly said coolly 'keeps everything he needs to close to his chest until he feels he needs to reveal his hand. Don't get me wrong this is a more extreme thing that he has kept from us than ever before, but it is very Charlie.' Kelly laughed sarcastically picking up her coffee cup from the table.

'You're pretty quiet there Bosley, everything OK?' Sabrina asked.

'Oh fine I'm just trying to absorb this all in. After the amount of years I've worked with Charlie I've never known him to hide something like this from us all and if you'll forgive me, especially me!' Exasperated Bosley got up from his seat walking towards the door. 'If you'll all excuse me I'm going to get some air and then give Charlie a call, let him know that we've all met and see if he has any instructions for a meeting at the agency or something.' With that he left the room, which fell silent again. Jill was the first to speak.

'Where are you from Cate? Where do you call home?' Jill propped her head on her hand as she waited for an answer.

'Right now I call L.A. home as for where I'm from? Well, all over I guess.' Cate started.

'You're an army brat?' Sabrina said with enthused interest thinking they may have a common interest, as she herself is an army brat.

'Um, no. Not an army brat. I don't know really where I was born or anything much like that. I was in foster care from the age of about one maybe two. I went from home to home never really finding a family that would take me in longer than a year or sometimes less than that. I saw most of this country though, I don't remember great deals of it, a lot of it is related to some pretty bad memories for me so I tend to leave it all where it is in the past. Not the best way to get a happy childhood, well none at all.' Cate recalled reaching for an unopened can of Coke. Kelly listened intently not expecting to hear that come from her, in many ways Kelly knew exactly what Cate was talking about having been adopted, she was an orphan and there was always a part of her that felt as though something was missing, Kelly wondered if Cate had that same feeling.

'Were you ever adopted?' Kelly asked, Cate tilted her head looking Kelly in the face with an open sweet expression on her face, she could see the sadness in Kelly's eyes.

'No, never adopted, strange for a young baby some would say but I got passed around so much that I guess each family had their own kids or baggage to deal with and I was just in the way or a ticket to extra benefits. Either way I didn't end up in the Brady Bunch.' Cate smiled, she and Jill both laughing at the last remark. 'You have to try and laugh about things I suppose. I went from broken home to broken home where I found more raised voices than stories at bedtime and fewer hugs and more back hands, fists or whatever else they were throwing around.' Cate candidly said leaning back in her seat sweeping her hair back over her head.

'There must have been someone good.' Jill said looking at Cate with amazement 'I mean look at you now.'

'What hiding in the shadows and getting shot then having my butt kicked for it later?'

'No and yes.' Jill answered with a smile realising how strange that just sounded. 'What I mean is, so many young people go through what you go through but in most cases they themselves turn to crime or other abusive avenues.' Cate understood exactly what Jill was trying to say.

'My last family before I aged out of the system was a good one. I found there was love and affection in life and with that family. We had great fun together doing the normal family things, touch football, board games, reading together, camping. If only they could have found me earlier in life, but the time we had together was the best and I guess that's why I didn't take the darker route in life.' Cate said staring down at the floor lost in her memories of the family she stayed with.

'Did you stay in touch with them?' Kelly asked, she'd been quiet a long time listening to Cate's history.

'Yeah I do, let's be honest they're my family. The only ones I would ever call family. When I left them I worked hard got in to a small college to study, I was working at the same time to help pay my way throughout but it was worth it.' Cate grinned.

'What did you study?' Sabrina asked

'Wow, you guy's just want to know everything huh?' Cate laughed stretching her arms above her head.

'Well,' Sabrina said 'you know so much about us and have been a member of the team for the last two years and we know nothing about you, so when's a better time to find out about you than right here and now.' All the Angels chimed in with 'here,here' in agreement to Sabrina's statement. Laughing Cate raised her hands in defeat and continued to tell them about her self. By the time Bosley had rejoined them they were almost up to date with how Cate joined the Townsend agency.

'I decided to join the police force and enlisted at the police academy. All was go well I thought but I ran in to a little trouble with one of the sergeants who was training us.'

'What kind of trouble?' Bosley asked

'Well, he made some moves on me that I didn't appreciate and I knocked on his butt for them. After that I was asked to leave the academy.'

'But he moved on you? I don't understand why you'd be asked to leave' Kris said taking a sip from her soda.

'There's more to it isn't there?' Jill asked, a look on her face that Kris recognised all to well, the look a big sister gave you when she knew you were hiding something and she had a good idea she knew what it was.

'I may or may not have broken his nose when I knocked him on his butt.' Cate grinned a wicked Cheshire cat grin.

'What do you mean you may or may not have you either did or you didn't' Kelly said smiling herself at Cate's revelation.

'Alright I did, I broke his nose but he deserved it! He's an ass and I merely pointed that out.' Cate said still smirking.

'By pointing you mean punching.' Bosley asked.

'Yes Bosley, I mean punching. My temper got the better of me and I lashed out and broke his nose. After that I thought it best to leave the academy, shortly after that I got a call from a Mr. Townsend who had heard about me and the 'incident' and told me I was just the person for his team. So here I am.' Cate finished. As she did so the nurse who had been looking after Jill walked in to the room to announce that visiting hours were most definitely over now and that they all had to leave despite who their boss was Jill needed her rest so they all had to leave. They all stood clearing their empty cans and trash in to the bin as they left.

'Cate can you hang on just a minute?' Jill called. Kris turned to her sister a look of confusion on her face, why did she want Cate to hang around for extra time and not her. 'It's all right Kris I just want a quick word with Cate, you go on with the others, I'll see you tomorrow.' The sister's hugged and Kris turned and walked out with her friends reminding Cate on her way out that Jill needed her rest. Cate walked up to Jill's side.

'Everything OK?' She asked confused as to why Jill asked to wait behind the others.

'Am I OK? Funny that's what I wanted to ask you. Things were a little intense for a while and I just wanted to check in with you.'

'Jill, has anyone ever told you that you're kind of amazing?' Cate asked smiling as she folded her arms across her chest.

'It's been said once or twice.' Jill mused.

'You barely know me a day and you're more concerned about me and my feelings rather than your friends and family. Don't take this the wrong way but that's kind of weird.'

'Not really,' Jill said shaking her head. 'as weird as it may seem to you, I like you, not only did you save my life you risked you your own neck literally to do it and managed not to start a brawl here in my room when the others attacked you. I don't know if it's possible but in the time that you fought by my side and have sat here talking with me and the others you've become a friend and I think a really good one, one I can really trust and laugh really hard with.' Jill said with her biggest smile that she was renowned for. Cate a little embarrassed by all this affection looked down to her feet smiling.

'Right um, well thank you. I don't think it's weird though, I'm more than certain that friendships can be made this quickly.' Silence fell between the two women for a moment. 'Well, I'd best get going, don't want Kris coming in here and dragging me out forcefully.' Cate said picking up her jacket from the table above Jill's bed.

'Don't worry about Kris, her bark's worse than her bite. Just give them all a chance, we're a family, we look out for each other so the defences go up quickly when strangers are around.' Jill reassuringly said, Cate nodding waved as she walk backwards to the door.

'Yeah, I got that impression when Kelly kicked me to the floor. Just let me know when I've been accepted in to the gang. Any sign will do!' Cate joked opening the door about to leave when Jill called after her.

'Cate, make sure you come back tomorrow OK? I want to hear more about ya!' With a nod and a smile Cate left the room the door closing quietly after her. Jill still smiling relaxed back in to her bed, noticing the magazine Cate had brought for her as she did. Reading the titles of the magazines made Jill laugh out loud, Cate had bought her Cosmopolitan, the latest racing car magazine and tucked between the two and what had really made Jill laugh a Wonder Woman comic.

Once Cate stepped out in to the early summer's evening air she breathed it in deeply, as if on cue as soon as she was out of the hospital she felt relaxed and energised.

'You don't like hospitals either then?' A voice asked, Cate turned to see Kelly sat on the bench by the entrance watching Cate as she breathed in the evening air.

'Not my favourite places and that's putting it nicely.' Cate nervously said whilst rubbing the back of her neck. 'You didn't leave with the others for dinner?' Cate asked.

'I was waiting for you, we wondered if you might like to join us.' Kelly said as she got up from the bench moving closer to Cate.

'Look, Kelly that's really sweet of you all to ask but.'

'That's that settled then,' Kelly interrupted 'you're joining us for dinner. Which is just as well because I don't have my car, I let Kris borrow it as hers is still with the police.' Cate looked at Kelly amused by her cheek, which was the best way Cate thought she could describe it.

'Well, if it's all settled then we'd best get going, one small kink in the plan. I'm not sure I have enough cash on me so if you don't mind us swinging by to my apartment.'

'No need.' Kelly said. 'We're charging it all to Charlie, we feel the least he can do is buy us all dinner.' Cate laughed with Kelly the rest of the way to her car.

Kelly and Cate chatted throughout the car journey to the restaurant.

'Am I going to be dressed OK for this restaurant we're going to?' Cate asked turning down a road that lead straight to the restaurant.

'Oh sure, you're dressed fine, not a problem. Listen Cate, about what you were telling us about your self today.' Kelly nervously approached a subject of conversation she desperately wanted to discuss since listening to Cate.

'Which part?' Cate asked

'Your child hood, growing up in foster care, do you mind if I ask if you're an orphan? Tell me to mind my own business if you want.'

'It's fine Kelly and in all honesty I can only guess that I am. No one ever really told me or explained much about my birth parents when I was growing up. They either didn't know or didn't care. But I don't consider myself an orphan.' Cate answered openly.

'Really? I do.' Kelly said staring straight ahead to the road they were travelling on. 'I had an adoptive family who very loving.'

'I know.' Cate said quietly. Kelly wasn't surprised that she knew she expected that Charlie had told her a lot about them or as much as he thought was appropriate. 'I don't call myself an orphan because I was never treated as one but then I was never treated much as anything until I lived with my last family who are my family. My foster mother even gave me my surname, Fox, it's her maiden name. I have three brothers, two older and one younger. We even had a dog.' Cate said smiling remembering the old dog.

'Do you get to see them very often?' Kelly asked turning herself to face Cate again.

'Not as much as I would like, they live in Oklahoma so visits are few and far between. I hope to get out there soon to see them it's been a while now.' Cate said solemnly as she pulled in to the restaurants car park. Parking the car the two women headed in to the restaurant, seeing the others they went straight to their table and sat down.

'Oh good Cate, you decided to join us.' Sabrina welcomed her as she sat down.

'Well, I couldn't really resist Kelly's offer now could I?' Cate happily said as she sat down between Bosley and Kelly.

'It would have been a long walk for her if you hadn't of come.' Sabrina joked back winking at Kelly as she did. Kris smiled and sat quietly sipping her glass of water.

'Jill settled down OK?' Bosley asked as he passed Cate a menu.

'Yeah fine, she looked tired but I guess that's to be expected after a day like to day. She said she looks forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.' Cate said glancing over her menu at Kris who sat trying her hardest to look uninterested in what was being said. Chilly, Cate thought. They all ordered their meals and sat chatting waiting for them to arrive. Once they had they all began to tuck in to their meals all still talking and laughing, Kris watched as her friends around the table took so much interest in Cate, especially Kelly, Kris noted to herself, Kelly seemed to be really taking an interest in getting to know Cate.

'Kris?' Sabrina lightly tapped Kris's hand getting her attention quietly. 'Everything OK?' She asked concerned at her young friends distance from the ongoing conversations around the table.

'I'm fine Bri, thanks. Just a little tired myself I guess, it's been a long couple of days especially with Jill and all.' Kris said pushing her food around a little on her plate.

'Jill's going to be OK now, you know that right?' Sabrina said still speaking in quieter tones so that only Kris could hear her. 'What else is bothering you, I know there's something wrong. Is it Cate?' Sabrina said looking Kris straight in the eyes looking for any clues to her friends' problems.

'A little I guess it just makes me feel a little uneasy that she's here with us just fitting in like the last day hasn't happened like she's…' Kris stopped her self and looked away from Sabrina for a moment to collect herself.

'A part of the team? It's all right Kris you can say it, everything has happened so fast. But in all honesty Kris, I think Cate's OK, we can trust her. Charlie wouldn't have put her on the team if he didn't think so. Does it bother you more that Jill seems close to her.'

'And Kelly too!' Kris whispered a desperation in her tone 'Don't get me wrong Bri, I will always be greatful to her that she saved Jill's life but there's just something that's not right, a niggling feeling you know?' Kris asked. Sabrina tilted her head slightly from side to side.

'I know the feeling Kris but I really don't share it with you over Cate. Just give it some time, give her a chance. We all have to do that with each other right now anyway, Cate too with us.' Sabrina reassuringly said when the waitress came over to their table to start clearing their plates and offering the dessert menu to them which they accepted. With that course chosen and then finished within no time at all the coffee's were brought to the table.

'Well this has been an interesting day to say the least.' Cate said pushing her seat away from the table slightly 'But if you'll all excuse me now I think I'm going to head home, it's been a long day and I'm exhausted but I've had a great time tonight. Thank you, it's been so nice to finally get to talk to you and get to know you all personally at last at not from a far!' Cate began to move to stand up.

'Hey, we're all done here' Sabrina began 'We may as well all walk out together.'

'I'll sort out the bill.' Bosley said moving towards the cash register point. Outside the restaurant the Angels continued their small talk, Cate would glance over to Kris every now and then very aware of Kris's discomfort around her.

'Well, that's the bill organised.' Bosley announced as he joined the Angels.

'Great' Sabrina said 'Because I too need my bed.'

'Kel, you need me to give you a ride home?' Kris asked 'I do have your car after all.'

'Thanks Kris but I'm catching a ride with Cate, her apartment isn't that far from my house so it makes sense for me to go with her rather than put you out of your way.'

'It's no problem Kelly, you know that, really.' Kris said a little annoyed

'I know this is just a little easier is all. I'll see you all tomorrow at the office tomorrow morning and hopefully your car will be there when we get there Kris, Steve left a message to say they'd finished with it and by Charlie's wishes the wiring has been repaired' Kelly said smile beaming.

'That's great' Sabrina enthused nudging Kris who agreed 'Well, we'll see you tomorrow then, Cate you too right?' Sabrina asked as she walked towards her car.

'Yeah, you should see me at the hospital I guess.' Cate said as she Kelly head back towards her car. Kelly and Cate continued talking all the way to Kelly's home.

'Well, here it is. Thanks again for the lift Cate, I really appreciate it.' Kelly said whilst opening the car door.

'Not a problem, I'll see you tomorrow then. Have a good nights sleep.' Cate waved to Kelly as she closed the car door standing back from the car as Cate drove away.

Walking towards her front door Kelly could hear her phone ringing inside. Kelly Rushed to get in to her house hoping to answer the phone before the caller rang off.

'Hello?' Kelly answered breathlessly in to the receiver.

'Kelly?' Charlie's voice came from the other end of the phone.

'Oh, hi Charlie. I've just this second got in from dinner. Is everything OK?' Kelly asked it dawning on her that Charlie wasn't the kind of man to normally just call for a chat.

'I'm not sure Angel. I've just had some information passed on to me that I need to talk to you about.' Charlie explained, a strange tone was in his voice that Kelly hadn't heard before. It was as if Charlie was nervous and unsure all rolled in to one.

'Me Charlie, what is it?'

'Can you come down to the office Angel?'

'What now?'

'I'd appreciate it Angel, it's very important that we speak tonight.' Charlie said with urgency.

'Are you calling the others as well?' Kelly asked realising that she of course didn't have her car.

'Not tonight Angel, just you, Sergeant Collins will be waiting for you.'

'Steve? Why would he be there?' Kelly was completely baffled.

'I'll explain everything when you arrive Angel, there's a cab on its way to collect you.'

'What, Charlie how did you even know when I'd be home.' Kelly asked astounded by her boss's intuition in sending out a taxi for her before she had even agreed to go in.

'I'll explain when you get to the office Angel.' With that he hung up and a car horn sounded from the front of Kelly's house. Confused by it all Kelly sighed grabbed her bag and headed back out again.

Steve sat outside the agency in his car waiting for Kelly to arrive. The cab Kelly was in pulled up along side his car and Kelly exited heading towards the office door.

'Kelly!' Steve called rushing to catch up with her, Kelly turned a little startled.

'Steve! You made me jump.' Kelly said resting her hand across her chest.

'Sorry, just didn't want you to go in without me.' Steve and Kelly entered in to the office, Kelly switching on lights as they did.

'Any ideas what this is all about Steve? Did you find something?' Kelly asked as she went towards the bar to make coffee.

'I found something all right.' Steve said nervously

'Really, what is it?' Kelly asked waiting for the kettle to boil

'I think we'd better wait for Charlie to call.' Steve said dodging the question until he had the back up of Kelly's boss. As if on cue the phone rang, Kelly went to Bosley's desk switching on the speakerphone.

'Hi Charlie, Steve is here and I'd really like to know what's going on now please.' Kelly said sitting down in Bosley's chair.

'I hope you're seated Angel this is going to be a shock and well, I'm not quite sure how to start.' Charlie explained, this made Kelly nervous, she'd never heard Charlie like this before.

'Do I need to call the others Charlie, is Jill OK?'

'She's fine Kelly, this isn't about Jill it's actually about you.'

'Me?' Kelly said getting even more confused

'Kelly do you remember this morning I took a sample of your blood?' Kelly nodded her head starting to really dread what could be coming next. 'Well the test showed something I never expected to find.'

'What?' Kelly blurted out in urgency

'Kelly, how much have you been able to learn about your birth parents and family?' Charlie asked.

'Not much at all Charlie, you know as much as I do. Why what's going on? What did you find wrong with my blood?' Panic began to rise in her voice as her patience began to wear thin.

'There's nothing wrong with your blood at all Kelly, it's not about a medical condition well, not exactly.' Steve babbled skirting around what he needed to tell Kelly.

'Not exactly? That doesn't make me convinced there isn't a problem Steve.'

'There were similarities between your blood sample and that of the mystery girl's on Jill's jumper.' Steve started to explain

'Similarities between mine and Cate's blood, what does that mean?'

'Cate?' Steve asked confused not realising that Kelly now knew the mystery girl.

'Cate is the mystery girl Steve.' Charlie explained 'And from what Steve has told me Kelly, she's also your sister.' The room fell silent. Kelly was dumbfounded by what she had just been told.

'My sister, how is that possible, well I know how it's possible but..' Kelly tried to understand everything but it was just mind blowing for her to comprehend 'Charlie did you know this before hand is that the reason you hired Caitlin?'

'I had no clue Kelly I promise you but knowing the pair of you the way I do it makes complete sense that you are related.'

'I'm sorry but I'm having a little trouble processing all of this. Have you called Caitlin about this yet Charlie?' Kelly asked realising that this was going to affect Cate just as much as it was affecting her.

'No I thought it best to tell you first to see how you want deal with it.'

'Deal with it?' Kelly repeated confused by the comment 'How do you mean deal with it?'

'Do you want the others to know, do you want to take some personal time with Cate to look in to this some more?' Charlie offered.

'I need to talk to Cate. Steve is there any doubt that the test could be wrong?'

'No Kelly, you can have the test run again of course but I found all the markers there in both of your blood samples. There's no doubt about it you and Cate are sisters.' The room fell quiet again, Kelly spoke with Charlie and Steve a little more repeating the facts over and over again until it really sank in with Kelly. Steve left leaving information for the best people to get in touch with to have any other tests run should Kelly and Cate want to even though the test he had run was true he had even brought copies of the paper work that proved his findings.

'Angel, will you be all right?' Charlie asked concerned.

'I think so Charlie, it's just a shock is the only way I can explain it. I'm going to call Cate and arrange to see her as soon as possible.' Kelly explained.

'All right Angel, stay in touch and Kelly, bring the other Angel's in on this as soon as you can, you'll need their support, you both will.' Charlie said warmly.

'I will Charlie thanks.' With that Charlie hung up. Disconnecting the call to Charlie, Kelly picked up the phone and called Cate straight away, ignoring what time it was.

'Hello?' A tired voice answered

'Cate, it's Kelly.'

'Hey, is everything OK?' Cate asked instantly alert.

'I'm not sure. Cate can I come round to you early tomorrow morning I really need to talk to you?' Kelly asked nerves coursing through her voice.

'Of course you can, you have my address right?' Cate asked

'Yeah, I have it here in front of me. I'll be by at say seven.'

'That's fine, I'll see you then and Kelly, whatever it is I'm sure it will all be OK, don't worry, we'll sort it out whatever the problem is I promise. See you tomorrow.'

'OK, see you then. Bye' Kelly hung up the phone and placed her hands over her face not sure what to do next. She moved over to the bar picked up her handbag and walked out of the office back to the taxicab that took her home.