five - proof

Present

Stef

"I want to do the DNA test right now." Lacey ordered as I walked through the sliding doors and closed them behind me as I saw Lena and Bill with surprised faces. "So we can all find out for once and for all that I am not their daughter."

"Lacey?" Lena whispered softly as she uncovered her mouth and tried to smile but her smile just turned into a sad frown. "We can do it but I don't think you are going to accept it anyway."

"Let's do it!" Lacey replied as she now looked at Bill. "I want the truth thrown into their faces!" Bill turned his attention to me and I nodded to reassure him that I think we should do the DNA test.

"I will call Mike to meet us in the hospital then." I whispered and Lena looked at me then nodded as I grabbed my phone and walked out to call him.

Mike

We stood in the waiting room and I glanced towards Lacey who was sitting in the corner shaking. I wasn't sure if she was cold or anxious for the test to come back. I walked over slowly and kneel to her height. I noticed that she had tears rolling down her face slowly and I gently wiped it away as she turned her attention to me. "Hey.." I whispered and she looked away for a second then looked back at me. "It's not going to mean she wasn't your mother.."

"Will it not?" She muttered under her breath as she turned her attention to Lena, Stef and Bill who were just sitting a few rolls forward giving her space. "Because Stefanie and Lena sure in hell think so."

"They are just upset that you got taken away from them." I explained softly as I took my police jacket off and put it over her shoulders to keep her warm. "So am I and we just can't think of that woman as anything besides-"

"A kidnapper." She finished with a sad tone in it as she looked at me. "But she wasn't.. I am not yours or theirs daughter. I am not." I nodded and decided to take a seat next to her.

"It's okay to do this too." I whispered with a little nod as she stopped shaking because she had warmth from the jacket. "To deny what you can't believe and to believe the things that make sense to you. It is truly okay." She kept silent and I could tell she was thinking. I looked over at Stef and Lena who were looked over at me with a small concern smile. I walked over to them and left Lacey to think.

"Is she alright?" Lena whispered with concern and I sadly smiled at her.

"She is doing alright for somebody who just lost their Mother and learnt she was kidnapped at a young age." I replied back and both of them sighed.

"My sweet, sweet little Cleo." Stef whispered under her breath and held her hand to her heart. We all felt the hurt and pain that Lacey was going through. I know it isn't easy for her at the moment but she is doing so well and I was so proud.

Lacey

"Stefanie, Lena, Mike, Bill and Lacey?" A doctor came out with a small smile on his face as everybody stood up quickly. "Please come through." We all followed him to his small office. I stood against a wall as everybody took a seat or stood somewhere in the room. Stef looked over at me and offered me a smile but I looked away quickly.

"So.." Bill whispered to the doctor who coughed nervously and took out an envelope then placed in front of Bill.

"Lacey?" I turned my attention to the doctor who smiled at me. "Would you like to open it?" I shook my head and looked out the window staring at a bird.

"Just do it, doctor." Lena whispered softly and I looked out to the distance as I blocked out the people in the room carelessly.

Past

"MAMA!" I screamed from the tree house that she built for me.

"Yes baby girl!" She came out of the house as she wiped her hands on her jeans from doing the dishes in the kitchen and I smiled at her.

"Play pretend with me?" I asked and she nodded as she climbed the rope up and came up to hug me.

"I will play pretend with you all day every day!" Mama kissed me all over and tickled me until my face turned red. I love her so much.

Present

"Oh my god." I heard Stef whisper as everybody turned their attention to me and I still stared at the distance. "Lacey?" I ignored her as she came over quickly and tried to touch me but I pushed her now as I looked at her face.

"Baby.." Lena walked over and stood next to Stef as Mike stood back. I walked past them to Mike and looked up at him.

"Lacey?" He whispered as he slowly takes his hand and stroked my blond hair. "My little princess." I took a few steps back and his hand dropped.

"I can't.. I can't breath." I breathlessly muttered under my breath then quickly made the move to run out the room and as far as I can get away from everybody's stares. I ran down the stairs and hid under a staircase then started to cry silently.

Stef

"Lacey!" I screamed out as she soon as she ran out of the office and I quickly followed her but I lost her after a crowd of interns crowded my view of Lacey. I started to cry as I couldn't find her and Mike finally caught up with me. "Is it that bad, Mike? Is it that bad that we are her parents for her to run away from us?" He leaded me to a little section where there was a lounge and we sat on it.

"It isn't about us, Stef." Mike whispered as he wrapped his arm around me as I sobbed into my hand. I slowly stopped as stood as he spoke. "It's the truth that is breaking her, not about having three parents in her life wanting to apart of it after she was taken from us."

"I don't understand what you mean.." I admitted slowly and he nodded.

"It means Lacey isn't emotionally strong enough to admit that her mother kidnapped her.." I whispered as I handed Stef a tissue. "She isn't ready.. She just wants the life she was brought up in and for it to stay normal. But everything is changing and the way she is coping is running away from us." She nodded and I kissed her head. She was my best friend and the mother of my two children. Lacey and Brandon. My phone beeped and saw it was from Lena.

Lena: We found her asleep under the staircase.

"They found her asleep under the staircase." I whispered to Stef and she nodded as she wiped her eyes then stood up.

"My baby girl is going to be okay.. Our baby girl." She said with a smile on her face and I nodded.

"She will be." I replied with a smile.

Happy New Year Friends! -Shaz