"Leo" Harry called as Leo and Erin entered the lab later the morning "There's a Robert Davies waiting in your office for you. I think he's the social worker" he said looking for Erin's reaction and sure enough Erin grimaced at the phrase 'social worker'
"Thanks Harry" Leo said gently steering Erin towards his where a man in his mid-thirties stood waiting for them
"Hi" he said holding out his hand "I'm Robert and I've taken over Erin's case"
"Leo Dalton" Leo said shaking the man's hand
"And you" Robert said looking at Erin who was standing behind Leo in an attempt not to be seen "must be the girl I've been reading up on"
Erin glanced across at the man who smiled at her and she tentatively shook his hand as she remembered what Leo had told her about staying calm
"Erin do you think we could have a little chat?" Robert said to the girl who was once more staring down at her feet. Erin shrugged
"There's a little room down the corridor that's not being used" Leo said showing them the way "I'll be right here if you need me" he said to Erin as she followed Robert inside
Leo closed the door and walked back to his office leaving the two of them alone for some privacy
"Now Erin" Robert began "I know you don't like social workers but we need to have a talk. So I'm going to give you a proposition" he paused "I promise I wont do the whole stereotypical social worker spiel on you, I will listen to you intently and I will make sure that you're completely happy with the outcome but you have to stay calm for me and you have to listen to what I have to say. Do we have an agreement?"
"Yeah" Erin murmured
"Shake on it?" Erin nodded and took his hand as they agreed on the conditions to the talk
"Now I've been reading up on your file" he said gesturing to the folder he had on his knees "And you've clearly not had a very good time. Now because you don't have any family we can put you with that leaves us with a bit of a problem. You're under eighteen and that means it's up to social services to find you a place to go. We did a check with the housing people and they don't want you living on your own so we've looked at getting you other accommodation which is where Jane was taking you but we had a little hitch didn't we Erin. Will you tell me about that?"
Erin nodded and sighed "Jane kept going on about how this was best for me and how she was trying to do the right thing but…but it's not the right thing for me"
"And why's that?"
"I don't want to go with strangers. I can't trust strangers, Mum brought strangers back to our house and they…they…"
"They hurt you" Robert finished for her and Erin nodded "That's understandable that you don't want to be on your own or with strangers but it leaves me with a dilemma"
"You're running out of places to put me"
"In a manner of speaking yes" Robert agreed "Jane passed this case over to me because she feels its very complex and it needs someone with a bit more experience. Now I know you've been through many horrible things and I want to find somewhere where you feel safe and happy. That is my main priority, nothing else. Will you help me do that Erin?"
She looked up at this new social worker. She hated to admit it but she liked him, he understood her and he genuinely looked like he wanted to help her
"Ok" she said agreeing and Robert gave her an encouraging smile
A little while later Robert was back with Leo in his office whilst Erin waited in the main lab with Nikki and Harry
"You care for her a lot don't you?" Robert asked
"She's been through so much" Leo sighed "I couldn't walk away from her when she needed someone the most"
"Did you feel it was your duty?"
"It's a duty of a human being to help those in need, but I couldn't leave Erin. She needed someone whether it was my duty or not, she needed someone to help her. She's been ignored long enough; all she needs is someone to love and care for her. Someone who she can trust who's not going to turn there back on her when things get too tough"
"And you've been there with her, right from when you found her. It's very commendable"
"It's what any decent person would have done"
Robert shook his head "You'd be surprised how many people just walk past homeless kids these days"
"I'm very concerned about where she goes next" Leo said choosing his words carefully
"We're down to limited options now" Robert sighed
"What if I were to step in?" Leo asked
"As in foster her?" Leo nodded "It's a huge commitment"
"I know and believe me I wouldn't have said it if I hadn't thought long and hard about it"
"I don't doubt that for a second and you don't need to be a social worker to see how calm and relaxed she is around you but as I said it's a huge thing and not to be considered lightly"
"I understand that, I want to do what's best for Erin. She doesn't want to be with strangers and I promised I wouldn't give up on her"
Robert nodded "We'll talk to Erin about it and if she's ok with it we can get the ball rolling"
Leo smiled as Robert scribbled a note down in Erin's file. He'd made a promise to the young girl and he was determined to keep it
"Erin" Robert said as the young girl came back into Leo's office "Leo and I have had a chat, much like the one we've had and Leo's had an idea"
"What?" Erin said looking across at Leo
"If its alright with you, I'd like to consider fostering you"
Erin paused for a moment, mulling over her thoughts "Do you really mean it?"
"Yes" Leo nodded firmly
"Is that ok with you Erin?" Robert asked
Erin broke into a grin "Defiantly"
Robert nodded looking relieved "Well I'll get procedures started then. There are a few things I need to go through with you, legalities and such so Erin if you don't want to stay for the boring stuff. I'm sure it'll be fine if you wait outside"
Erin nodded and practically skipped out of the room with joy
"I think you might just have made her day" Robert laughed
"She's a good girl, I just want her to feel happy and safe" Leo said softly
Nikki and Harry were in the lab going over some toxicology results when Erin walked into the room with a smile on her face
"Well?" Nikki said looking up as Erin came across to them
"Can you keep a secret?" Erin said biting her lip
Nikki nodded "Leo might foster me"
"Really?" Nikki and Harry said in perfect unison and Erin nodded as she picked at the dressing on her arm
"Leave it alone" Harry scolded although the smile on his face betrayed his telling off
"Sorry" Erin said smoothing the dressing back over, wincing as she touched a particularly sore spot
"Do the cuts still hurt?" Nikki said having caught Erin's reaction
"A little, only when I catch them on something" and Nikki nodded
"I take it she's told you?" Leo said coming into the lab followed by Robert
"About your evil plan to take over the world?" Harry teased "I think you're going to have to rethink it slightly, you've been foiled by a seventeen year old with a tendency to throw herself out of cars"
Leo rolled his eyes "You're going to have to excuse my colleague over here" he said to Robert "He seems to be suffering from a lack of paperwork but I'm quite sure that can be fixed very easily"
Harry laughed "I have quite enough thank you" he said pointing to the mound on his desk
Robert smiled "Well I can see Leo's got you two under control already so he should have no trouble dealing with a seventeen year old. I'll get the procedures underway, Erin's a special case and high priority so things should be quick. If you're sure that is?"
"As I've ever been" Leo said and Erin beamed
Robert nodded and made his way out of the lab as he dialled a number into his mobile to get things underway
"Did you her that Erin, you're a special case?" Harry teased
"She's not the only one" Nikki said laughing as she saw Harry's expression
"I told you I was going to get things sorted" Leo said turning to Erin "And I will. I'm not going to let this go Erin Jones, you just wait and see"
