Chapter Five: Just A Bench On A Rooftop

Disclaimer:

Mitsi: You know what Susie Q? I think disclaimers are a bit boring…

Susie Q: You do? I don't think so. Because we would never have these conversations, if it wasn't for disclaimers.

Mitsi: I guess you're right.

Susie Q: I know I'm right…

Mitsi: Egooooooo! Well since we already have established that I own nothing, and Susie Q's ego has grown to a very big size, I shall thank my reviewers (who are really the saviors of this fic!)

Kawaii-babi: See I didn't let Danny die! Go me P. I just couldn't do it…

Skylar87: Susie Q and I thank you for your blessings on our disclaimer (even though I write them). P.s. I love the name Skylar!

Lyss02: Don't cry. I don't like it when nice people (a.k.a. reviewers) cry!

Chili-pepper: Thank you! If I was Alex I'd be scared all of the time. Your parents have dangerous jobs, so yeah I'd be scared like hell. But maybe that's because I've watched too many episodes of CSI:NY…

Marian MacKenzie: Thanks for your kind review ;)

Devilla: Me and Susie had a fight over the kids names P Alex is named after Susie Q (just like Rosa's second name) and Rosa is partially named after me.

Fatkat: Bows thank you very much!

Loesje91: Love, your British rules! You should só watch CSI:NY! It should be a part of the school's flipping curriculum! Thank you too for you compliment on my English: I try me hardest!

Susan111/Susie Q: Well that took you long enough (A) P! Better now? And Tiziano Ferro 33

"Hey, little fella!" Someone said. Alex herd it, though the female voice was very distanced. The person shook his leg. "Wake up, it's freezing out here!" Alex grumbled and shook his head. The woman chuckled. "Don't like waking up?" She shook his leg again. Alex grumbled once more, but opened one of his eyes. The day was dawning. The sky was painted with red glows. The could see them very clearly… Wait a minute; he was outside! A stab of pain in his back and neck brought the memories back. He fell asleep on the bench. He groaned and opened his other eye. He tried to sit up but failed. It had only hurt him. The woman, however, lend him a hand. She gently pushed him up. Once seated the woman took place next to him.

"You okay?" Alex nodded hesitantly. "Are you sure?"The woman placed a hand on his shoulder. Alex lowered his head and shook it. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Ah, little one…" She said. One by one Alex's tears fell down. They caused stains on his dark jeans. He shivered: from sadness and from the cold. But then he noticed something. There was a blanket, a black woolen, blanket lying on the ground in front of him. He started to sob. The woman picked it up and handed it to him. Silently, Alex wrapped it around his body.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" The woman asked softly after a few moments. Ales shook his head again. "Okay…" Silence fell. Alex noticed that she had her hand on his shoulder and cringed. The woman got the hint, and quickly withdrew her hand and placed it in her lap. There was something about this woman… Alex just couldn't figure it out. The pair of them still didn't speak. The only sounds that were heard came from the city.

The woman broke the silence by saying: "I'm doctor Hoogendoorn." Alex looked up and opened his mouth to say something, but the young doctor spoke ere of him. "Yes, I helped your dad in the ER." Alex nodded. She was indeed the woman that had saved is father. She had removed her white lab coat and now wore a soft pink turtleneck. Her hears shone in the early morning light. More silence… Alex brushed his hair with his hands. Then he sighed.

"Strange name Hochendorn…" The woman smiled at his American accent.

"Hoogendoorn," she corrected him, "it's Dutch." Alex looked surprised. Her accent was definitely British. He knew this because he had watched 'Harry Potter' a few to many times. He looked at the doctor in disbelief. She just shook her head and smiled again. "My father is a Brit, my mother is Dutch. They got divorced when I was ten years old. My father moved back to London and I got my mother's maiden name. But my dad had already thought me English, with the accent. So…" Alex nodded his head in understanding.

"That explains quite a lot." He coughed. "I'm sorry." The doctor looked confused. "About you parents, ya know, getting divorced." She opened her mouth but then closed it again, instead of speaking she just smiled. "My mother is from Montana. Papa was born and raised here in New York." Alex bit on his lip again. He always did that when he was nervous or anxious. He took a deep breath and continued talking.

"Mum came to New York about twelve years ago. She previously worded as a CSI in Bozeman, Montana. When she came to New York she met my dad. He worked as a CSI too. They met in a zoo, a crime scene." He shook his head and swallowed. He had heard this story so many times, he could dream it. "It took them two years to figure out that they were perfect for each other. Two years! Some people got really frustrated with them…

"One night they made love on the pool table in my papa's apartment. Three months later papa proposed to mum, and she told him that she was pregnant. They got married two weeks after that; in a small chapel near the lab where they work. Everyone was there: Flack and Stella, Mac and Peyton, Sheldon, Sid, Adam, everyone. Even mum's family from Montana; grandma, grandpa, Uncle Jack. Papa's parents were there too. Nonna said it was the most beautiful day of her life. Poppa said that was most likely because my uncle Louie was there too… I like uncle Louie."

Alex held back a sob before continuing. "At the party mum and papa told everyone that in six months time they would become parents. And so it happened: I was born exactly six months later on June the first. Two years after I was born mum started to work again. I didn't know that, I was too young to understand. But I know that if that would happen now, I wouldn't like it. Anyhow, when I was seven my little sister Rosa was born. I had hoped that mum stopped working after that, but she didn't. I don't like it, in fact I hate it. I hate both mum and papa's job. But that don't matter."

Alex wiped his cheeks with the blanket. He suspected the doctor to say something, but she kept quiet. A few moments passed before Alex realized that they were joined by another person. He looked up and saw his mother standing in front of him. She had tears in her eyes…