True North
By Jaclyn Parker

"Don't be over self-confident with your first impressions of people."
-Chinese Proverbs
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Carly awoke the sound of silence and sat up groggily in the bed. After a few moments of disorientation, she remembered where she was.

Looking over at the other king bed in the Los Angeles hotel room, she frowned upon noticing it was empty. The large flat screen TV that she, Sage, and Mattie had fallen asleep to was now turned off and a note was stuck to its frame.

Carly half tumbled out of bed and with bleary eyes took in the fact that the girls hadn't wanted to wake her when they got up so they had gone across the hall to the boys' room for breakfast and TV. Putting the note down with a half smile, Carly glanced at the clock. Surprised to see that it was almost quarter after ten in the morning, her half smile disappeared.

Lee would have been down at the convention for at least an hour and a half already and God only knew when the kids had gotten up. With her average morning starting around seven thirty or eight, Carly couldn't believe she had overslept. Oakdale was only two hours difference from LA, not to mention they had gone to bed at a decent hour since they had gotten up so early on Sunday to catch their flight, so Carly knew that it couldn't be jet lag.

"Oh, I don't know, Carly. It could be those persistent and very vivid dreams of Jack that you have every night." She muttered to herself and then winced as she realized that she was talking out loud in an empty room.

Running a hand through her sleep tousled curls she picked up the room phone to dial across the hall. It might have been lazy but it was better than leaving the room and risking someone seeing her in her current bed-headed state.

"Hello?" Parker's voice came over the line.

"Morning, honey. I'm sorry I slept so late."

"It's cool, Mom. We were just finishing up breakfast and then Sage was gonna come wake you up anyway." Parker said, catching a grape that Mattie sent his way. He covered a laugh when J.J. did the same to Sage, only for it to bounce off her forehead.

Carly could hear the laughter in the background and decided that she really didn't want to know what mischief the kids were getting into. As long as the hotel was still standing at the end of the day she was good.

"Well thanks, but I'm awake now. Or should I say, I will be once I hop in the shower. Can you guys hold down the fort for a little while longer?"

"Sure, no problem. Do you want me to order you room service? It would probably be there by the time you're done in the shower." Parker asked and Carly couldn't help but smile. Her son could be the typical pain in the ass teenager but then sometimes he reminded her so much of his father, both biological and adoptive, that it warmed her heart.

"Thanks, Baby, that'd be great. Just some hot coffee and maybe a muffin, okay?" Carly said. "I'm not that hungry this morning."

"Are you feeling okay? Mattie said you were tossing and turning all night." Parker asked, unease lacing his voice.

Carly flushed and shook her head, even though Parker couldn't see her. "No, I'm fine. Just not used to these hotel beds."

As she reassured her son one more time, Carly knew that since his original concern had been appeased that this second round was more due to the worry that their plans to hit the beach would be derailed. Even though both Lee and Carly had pointed out last night that the weather wasn't going to be warm enough to go in the ocean, all four kids had demanded at least going for the half the day to relax on the sand. The rest week would be spent shopping and checking out some of L.A.'s tourist attractions.

Carly was just finishing up blow drying the curling mouse into her curls so they would set, when there was a loud knock at the door. Grabbing the couple of dollars that Carly had set aside for tipping the room service bearer, she hurried to the door.

"Perfect timing!" She said as she threw it open and stopped dead in her tracks.

"As always!" Molly replied, flinging her arms out to the side and striking a pose.

Carly just stared at her, her emotions completely overwhelming her.

"Well, aren't you going to invite your wonderful cousin inside?" Molly asked and Carly snapped out of her trance. Grabbing Molly she immediately pulled her into a huge hug, her entire body trembling.

Molly was now also at a total loss for words, hugging her cousin as tightly as the blonde woman was hugging her. When Carly had bonded with Rosanna and then Gwen, Molly had admittedly been extremely jealous. But deep down she knew that no matter how many long lost sisters Carly found or how many miles away Molly moved that there was a bond between the two cousins that defied logic. It was almost a twin like connection with Molly knowing almost every time that Carly was in trouble or hurting and vice versa. They might not have always been there physically to alleviate the situation but the knowledge that each other existed was sometimes enough.

Finally Carly let go and took a step back, furiously wiping the tears from her face. Molly did the same and looking at Carly she let out a laugh.

"Wow, we're a pair." She said and Carly laughed loudly too. Molly's chuckles trailed off and she turned a probing eye on her cousin.

"Something's different, Cuz. I can't put my finger on it…" Molly said then trailed off again, waving a hand. "It doesn't matter. I'll figure it out."

Carly just gave her a weird look before noticing a young blonde haired man standing in the doorway that they had forgotten to close in their excitement. She accepted the room service cart and gave him the tip she held in her hand. About to close the door, she stopped as the one across the hall opened and the kids poured out of it. They were all dressed for the day, happily clad in some of their heavier summer clothing instead of "Eskimo"ed up as J.J. liked to put it.

"Hi, Mommy." Sage said, skipping over to where Carly stood and then squeezed by her into the room. The others followed before Carly had a chance to say anything about her guest. It ended up not being necessary as the kids did the honors for her.

"Molly!" Sage cried, grinning as Molly threw her arms open wide to accept the little girl's enthusiastic hug.

"Sweet!" J.J. exclaimed following suit and even Parker rushed forward to embrace their adult cousin. They might not have seen her much in the past couple of years but she had kept in touch as much as humanly possible. Not to mention she sent fantastic presents for birthdays and Christmas and this always made her a favorite.

"Molly, this is Mattie. She's Lee's niece and pretty much a staple at our house since they moved here." Carly said, tugging playfully on the young teen's long ponytail. Mattie wrinkled her nose at Carly before turning a bright smile to Molly and holding out her hand.

"Hello." She said, her green eyes sparkling.

"Hi. I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally put a face to the name. And a very pretty one at that." Molly said, shaking it and sending a sly glance to Parker. He blushed and shifted on his feet, making Carly raise an eyebrow at him which caused him blush harder.

"Hey, Moll, where's Abigail?" Carly asked, taking pity on her son and changing the subject.

"Oh, Abby had rounds at the hospital this morning so she and Brayden are going to meet us for lunch later." Molly said, hugging Sage close to her side and shaking her head at how fast Carly's kids seemed to have grown since the last time she saw them.

"She still enjoying her job?" Carly asked and shooed the kids to get their stuff together for the day while simultaneously sliding her own shoes on.

"Yeah. I mean, social work is a hard path to follow, but the kids really seem to open up to her and I know she feels like she's making a difference." Molly said, shrugging slightly. "Besides, Brayden makes sure that she gets out and enjoys herself every once in a while."

"So you like this boy of hers?" Carly asked. Noticing all four of the kids were now bouncing on their toes by the door, she rolled her eyes and motioned that she and Molly were right behind them. After making sure there were room keys all around, they headed to the elevators.

"Yeah, I do. I mean, she's getting older and I think she's really in love with this one. They've been seeing each other for over a year and half now." Molly answered Carly's question as they stepped into the elevator.

"You think there are wedding bells in the future?" Carly asked, smoothing a hand over Sage's head as the girl nestled into her side. She loved how, even at almost eleven, Sage was still an affectionate child. Carly knew that she only had a few more years before that was shot to hell in typical teenaged girl drama.

"Oh please, don't even joke like that. I'm nowhere near ready to let her go that much." Molly laughed and the elevator jerked slightly as it stopped to open on the lobby floor. She shot a glance at her cousin's suddenly pale face and frowned. "You okay?"

Carly shook her head and gave a shaky smile. "Yeah, I forgot to eat this morning after your crazy arrival. Plus, I'm not a huge fan of elevators anyway. You know that."

Molly nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. "There's a Starbucks just around the corner. We'll grab you some coffee and a pastry before we catch a cab to the beach."

"Oh, coffee." Carly said, practically salivating. "Liquid of the gods."

"You are so weird sometimes." Molly said, laughing as they walked across the lobby.

"Oh, wait. Let me leave a note for Lee letting him know that we're with you." Carly said and headed towards the front desk.

"Molly, can we go look in the gift shop?" Sage asked, pointing to it in the nearby area.

"Sure, we'll come get you when your mom gets back." Molly said and the kids headed off, leaving Molly to wait.

She was looking into her purse for a stick of gum when someone slammed into her back, nearly knocking her off her feet. Molly pin wheeled for a moment, but strong hands reached out to steady her.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention." A definite male voice washed over her and Molly looked up to glare into brilliant green eyes.

"No shit, Sherlock." Molly snapped and Lee drew back, startled by this stranger's caustic tone. He reached out to help her again, but she moved away from his touch. "Don't they teach you to look where you're going down there in the O.Z.?"

"Only when we're not distracted by beautiful women with sharp tongues." Lee answered only to have Molly roll her eyes at him.

"Oh Lord, spare me." Molly muttered, brushing some miniscule dust off of her designer jeans and smoothing her short hair back behind her ear. Catching sight of the medical packet in his hands she read the salutation of doctor but his large hand hid the rest of his name. She pointed to it and gave him a look.

"What? They don't provide enough people for you to treat at your hospital so you have to create hit and run patients?"

At her words, the warm and teasing sparkle in Lee's eyes disappeared to be replaced by a hard glint and a clenched jaw.

"Look, lady, I said I was sorry. What's your problem?"

Molly had obviously touched a nerve with something she said but before she could probe further, they were interrupted.

"Oh, Lee! I just left a message for you. I see you ran into my cousin, Molly." Carly said, coming up to them not realizing just how accurate her words really were.

"This is your cousin?" Lee exclaimed just as Molly turned her own wide blue eyes in Carly's direction.

"This is the fabulous Lee?"

Carly looked from one to the other and frowned. "Did I miss something here?"

Neither Lee nor Molly chose to answer her, just looked at each other for a split second, glaring, and then looked away again. Carly sent them both another glance but chose to ignore the tension as the kids wandered back over.

"Hey, Uncle Lee!" Mattie said and threw her arms around his waist.

"Hey, Sunshine." Lee said, hugging her back. Molly was surprised to see how much he changed in the presence of his niece. His face brightened and relaxed, with his green eyes sparkling again as he beamed down at the young girl. No matter what other opinions Molly had formed of him during their brief interaction, it was obvious that his ward was the center of his universe.

"I'm glad we ran into you before we left." Mattie said and Lee laughed.

"Yeah, because you saw that I took my wallet with me this morning!"

"Uncle Lee!" Mattie rolled her eyes and nudged him in the ribs lightly. Then pausing she sent him an angelic look. "Maybe."

Lee laughed again and shaking his head, he retrieved his wallet and handed her the American Express credit card he had opened in her name but kept on him.

"You're just lucky that it's your birthday next week, Luv." He said and then hugging her to him again he kissed the top of her head. "Okay everyone, have a fabulous day and I'll see you later for dinner."

"Hey Lee, you get the present I left you on the desk this morning?" J.J. asked, as Lee prepared to head back to the convention. Lee winked and opened the thick folder to show them the Car and Driver magazine hidden inside.

They laughed, even Molly, as he turned on his heel to go over to the elevators. Engaging in a conversation with a few other people from the convention as they waited, he sent them a mock salute just as the doors opened.

Walking towards the hotel doors again with the kids leading the way, Carly prodded Molly with her elbow gently.

"See, he's not so bad." Carly said, smiling.

"Yeah, if you like arrogant men who obviously like to rely on their charms and ability to smooth talk a woman when they're obviously in the wrong." Molly said, rolling her eyes back at her cousin.

"And you've never been interested in a guy like that before in your life." Carly said, copying Molly's eye roll perfectly to compliment the sarcastic tone in her voice.

Molly didn't answer, but she did sneak a quick look back over her shoulder towards the elevators. Lee and one another doctor had let an elderly couple take their place in the last elevator up and were just now getting on. Lee caught her stare and their eyes stayed locked, even as the doors closed.

"Nope, never." Molly said softly and the small smile that found its way to her lips made Carly smirk in triumph before playfully pushing her cousin out into the California sunshine.