Get ready for chapter five! Here it is and I could not be prouder and more excited to release this part of the story to you guys. This chapter is a moment we have all been waiting for. Hold to your horses for here begins chapter five!

-lovelylavenderlady

Three Years Later...

To Madeline McCord, time felt like a dream. You could be asleep for but only an hour, yet in that hour you would feel as though you had lived a lifetime within your dream. How one night of dreams could feel like an eternity but when you wake in the morning you find that this eternity was made up of only one night and you find yourself thinking...impossible. How can so much happen in such a short span of time? How can you feel you have lived a lifetime and yet you wake to find you've barely aged at all? This was a consistent feeling for Madeline McCord.

She had no idea how of long she had truly be gone. Was gone even the word she was looking for? More like been a captive. For a while she had tried to keep track of time by the seasons but the days were too many to number and soon even the seasons she had lost track of. There was no way to tell how long she had been in this hell but it felt like lifetimes had passed and yet she still was alive. She shouldn't be, she would often think. The summers were cruel, the winters frigid, food was scarce if to be attained at all and her captor...well Evelyn was death itself. Following her around everywhere she went, looming over her shoulder, assuring her it was something she could not escape. This place was something she could not escape. Where she would live out the days that remained till death finally came for her as it was the only thing that was a definite. She didn't remember when, but somewhere between the weeks that had turned into years she had given up the hope of ever seeing the world outside again and succumbed to her fate of forever being trapped inside these walls.

How could she not? If hope was a fire then Evelyn had done whatever she could to put it out. Water was dumped, sand was thrown, and no oxygen was to be found. Her coals had turned cold long ago and hope had been extinguished.

Though her heart still beat, the only part of Madeline McCord that was still alive was her imagination. Maybe that's what had even kept her alive. In the moments of her body feeling so cold she thought she would surely freeze, she would picture herself basking in the sunlight surrounded by nothing but warmth. When Evelyn's hand would cause more damage than she thought was possible, she would imagine the hand of her mother extending to her in comfort as she picked her fragile body up off the floor. When she felt so alone that she would see death as a friend, she would picture her family surrounding her. When the house that was her prison, bars that only became more secure, she would imagine she was in the open fields of the farm she could still recall and there were no restraints in sight. Only fresh air and open fields with one warm house that always stayed in view. When the lock would turn and Evelyn would return only bringing pain and suffering with her, for a split second she would think it was her parents about to come through that door. That they had found her and come to rescue her. This was all she had, imagining, and after so long of only that... sometimes it was hard to tell what was real and what was not. In her mind her parents would come to save her and she would be convinced it was finally true and then, then the harsh blow of reality was send her reeling back on the floor and she would realize they had not come for her. She would cry as the thought that they would come and rescue her would always live only in her mind as only that. A thought and nothing more. An image in her mind that would never become reality and this broke her time and time again leaving only an empty shell of the bright eyed girl she had once been.

After days on end of cruelty, after months of only enough food to barely sustain her, and after years of abuse...Madeline McCord was almost gone. While her body was still there in her mind she was giving up the hope of surviving.

The state of her body had worn to but only thread that felt like it was supporting a bridge that covered miles and was tearing even thinner as each minute passed. Her mind no longer had the strength to imagine her rescue or escape. Her body no longer capable of bearing the torture and her heart no longer possessing the will to keep on beating. At least that's how she felt. Madeline McCord had begun to welcome the sweet release of death and death was starting to welcome her. With no end in sight to the hell she was living in, that last flicker of hope was about to go out for good... or so she thought.

After all this time, the chance of escape seemed so far out of her reach, she could no longer conjure scenarios in which the opportunity arose and she was able to take it. That she was able to truly take back her freedom and so on this night as that opportunity arose, her eyes did not see it. At least at first.

While Evelyn was not old, the years had begun to wear on her as well and her health was not what it once was. Considering the crime she had committed catering to these issues was also not an option. The woman had no idea if anyone truly knew what she had done but she also wasn't willing to take the risk of finding out. Having beat the idea of escaping out of Madeline's head years ago she also had become less concerned with things like locking the house up as tightly as she once did. After the first attempt of Madeline's escape, she had begun chaining the door and hiding the key but she had let this habit fall away and now had returned to simple locks any normal person would use to secure their house for the night. Between Evelyn's health and simple locks, the opportunity Madeline had long ago forgotten could exist, presented itself.

Evelyn had been quieter than normal and her breathing labored throughout the day. She had barely left the chair in the living room she occupied a good portion of the time. Madeline viewed this as the chair she sat guard in. Evelyn had unusually requested no dinner and had instead remained in her chair dozing on and off but had forced Madeline to stay present in case she needed something. After dark had long fallen and the woman showed no signs of waking, Madeline had retreated to her room in hopes of finding the comforts of sleep where she would not have to think about the reality of waking life but just as she was about to find that comfort she heard a thud. A loud thud. One that called her to rise from her bed. At first it had been in fear. She didn't know what it was but if there was a chance it was her captor beginning the spiral of one of her thundering mood changes, Madeline wanted to be alert and prepared so she might be able to dodge the storm if this was the case. As she peeked her head out the door she could sense nothing.

No movement.

No noise.

Confusion filled her mind and so she slowly left the safety of her room and crept down the hallway that led to the living room. Reaching the end, she peered around the corner and was shocked to see Evelyn laying on the floor halfway between the living room and the kitchen. She must've fallen trying to get up Madeline thought. She stood there frozen, not knowing what to do. Then, Evelyn moved, a wheeze coming from her throat as she reached up clutching her chest. Hesitantly, Madeline moved forward staying clear of the woman's hand as she migrated passed her.

"Help me Madeline!" Evelyn said weakly but urgency was laced into her words.

Madeline did not respond in words or movements she simply came a still in front of the woman, looking at her curiously as she stood between her and the door. Evelyn seemed to be in pain which Madeline had not seen often. The feeling inside her heart she could not describe. She had never seen her captor in this state. Evelyn had left Madeline in this state more times than the young girl could count and to see Evelyn in this state left her feeling overwhelmed. Her good heart told to help but as the victim of Evelyn, her mind told her to not go near the woman.

"Madeline help me up," Evelyn said hoarsely as her face was contorted in pain.

Madeline looked at Evelyn long and hard and then it dawned on her. Evelyn could truthfully not move and now, Madeline was the one who stood between Evelyn and the door. Not the other way around. Hesitantly her gaze left the woman laying on her side and it shifted towards the door. There were no chains on it. Only one simple lock on the door handle and that...she could turn.

"Madeline don't!" Evelyn tried to gather her strength as she saw the girl's eyes move to the door. Madeline's attention snapped back to Evelyn and her eyes were wide with fear upon seeing the woman try to move but Evelyn fell back down just as quick as she had tried to sit up. "Don't do it Madeline. You'll never make it anyways..." Evelyn tried to dissuade the girl by making her afraid but still Madeline just stood looking at her attempting no movements in either direction.

Madeline heard the woman's words and quite frankly they did make her afraid. She had been here so long and even though this had not always been her life, it had been a very long time since she had been beyond the borders of these walls and she was only a child after all. How could she make it out there on her own? Her gaze drifted back towards the door and she thought about what might lie beyond it. Her family came to mind. The life she once had came to mind but even more then these things, she thought about sunlight. She thought about seeing the trees and the vibrancy of life up close again and the feeling of real freedom. What would it feel like to run again?

"Madeline you have to help me," Evelyn said and while she tried to say it in a commanding way it came out as more of a plea.

Madeline looked at her and knew that Evelyn could do nothing. She could not stop her this time and slowly, coals turned to embers and hope was rekindled. She backed away from the woman even further, closer towards the door. All the times she had imagined someone coming to rescue her and now here she was and she had the opportunity to save herself.

"Don't you dare do it!" Evelyn said angrily through her pain. "You will never make it without me!"

This was the line that made Madeline's blood boil. The only thing Evelyn had ever done for her was cause her pain. Evelyn had ruined her life and whether or not Madeline was going to make it out there anywhere was better than here. She turned, her hand reaching for the door knob but she paused, fear coursing through her veins. Where would she go? How would she find her home and her family? More importantly, would they love her still? After all, this was her fault.

"If you leave, there is nothing out there for you..." Evelyn spoke again seeing the girl's hesitation. "You are ruined. No one will ever love you, not even your family. They have probably forgotten all about you...why would they want a child who abandoned them?"

Though this narrative Evelyn was speaking was not true, Madeline did not know any different. In her mind she was the one who had walked away from her family that day. She was the one who had let it happen. She had not listened to what her parents had always told and this had been the result. What if they did hate her? What if her parents had forgotten about her?

"You know I am right..." Evelyn said her voice growing weaker as her head fell all the way to the floor and she was no longer able to hold her self up at all. "You might as well give up this dream of ever leaving here Madeline. I am the only thing you will ever have."

Freedom or Captivity

Light or Darkness

Death or Life

This is when the gears shifted for Madeline. Whether or not her family remembered or even loved her still she knew one thing and that was that Evelyn didn't and she never would. She would no longer be a captive. She would no longer live in the darkness of this cell. She would not choose death over life.

Letting go of the door knob she turned towards Evelyn and took a step towards her, anger filling her orbs as her fists clenched. She looked deeply into Evelyn's eyes and recalled everything she had ever done to her. Madeline remembered all the nasty things she had said and just how much she had taken away from her and now... now she was going to it back. "AHGG!" A defiant scream left her mouth as she stomped her foot down and towards Evelyn, causing the woman to flinch and close her eyes but Madeline did nothing else. She did not desire to be like Evelyn. The only thing she desired was her freedom and now she had it. Turning, she walked quickly back towards the door and this time she grabbed the handle and turned the lock.

Evelyn's eyes opened in time to see Madeline grasp the handle but this time she did not say anything, she just watched.

Madeline took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She could do this.

She had to do this.

Turning around she took one last look at the the house that she had been trapped in for over three years and thought about what it would be like to leave it all behind. To leave Evelyn behind. Madeline saw Evelyn was looking at her and with all the strength she could muster, she looked at her one last time with a look that said, 'this time you did not win' and with that, Madeline McCord opened the door to the house she had been in for so long and took the first step outside for the first time in three years. The smell of air wafted into her nose and she closed her eyes breathing it in. It was spring air, her favorite air of all. It was crisp and clean and the best thing she had experienced in what felt like her whole life. Opening her eyes everything seemed confusing. It was dark but the streetlights that she could see from where she stood were bright. While going forward seemed terrifying in its own way she was going to do it and she would not look back. Not even once.

She shielded her eyes from the lights and began running. She didn't know where to but she was running. As she tried to pick up pace, her legs were stiff and sore. She had not run in three years and it felt as if her body was incapable of doing so anymore but she tried to anyway. She grunted as she hit pavement and the impact to her bare feet sent shock waves up her legs. The sudden change from grass to concrete stunned her and she tripped falling over her own feet. A sob escaped her mouth as she panicked and begin trying to get back up. She had to keep moving. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and begin to mask the pain she felt and her only focus became getting as far away as she could from this place. As she ran down the street, a car turned directly in front of her and she stopped throwing her arm out to shield her eyes from the beams. It pained her sensitive orbs and disoriented her senses. The car came to a screeching halt and suddenly she heard a voice.

Fear gripped her.

"Can I help you?" the voice called out but she could not see anything.

Seeing no other option she turned and bolted into someone's yard and just kept going. Putting out her hands, she shielded her face as she pushed through the bushes that blocked her way and winced as she felt them slicing her arms but pain did not matter. Only escaping. So she ran and ran and ran. Through yards, through roads, till eventually she came out to what was the middle of the town. In the very center of it and she saw more people and light than her body or mind felt capable of conceiving. Her breath speeding up and her chest tightening she took once off again even though her stiff legs screamed at her for doing so. Panting, she ran down the street not even looking where she was going, she was just so afraid of everything she was seeing and hearing. Cars wizzing by her. Voices all talking at the same time and though she did not see it they all stopped and watched her as she ran by, confused as to what they were seeing. She had to get away from all of this. After so long in isolation, her behaviors were almost feral as she did not know how to handle the situation she was in. Any one of these people could want to do the same thing Evelyn had done to her. This thought terrified her and she knew it was something she could not let happen.

Run Madeline run.

She thought it over and over again. Keep running and don't look back.

This landed her coming to a complete jarring halt as she collided with a young woman and the momentum sent Madeline stumbling back and on to the pavement.

"Woah!" the woman spoke surprised as the collision sent the bags in her hands to the ground and left her unbalanced. "Are you alright dear?" To the woman's eyes it seemed Madeline was shocked that she was even speaking to her. Afraid even. "It's okay honey," the woman voiced as she leaned down, trying help the young girl stand back up but Madeline recoiled at her touch. The girl shrunk away in fear and that's when she saw it. There were bruises marking the girl's arms as well as them being ladened with small minor cuts. There was also a laceration to her cheek. The woman fully took her in now and nothing about the way she looked seemed right. She was dressed in nothing but a sorry excuse for a night gown, she was barefooted, and she was much too thin for a child her age. The whole situation left a pit in her stomach. "Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you, it's alright..."

In Madeline's eyes this woman was closing in on her and again she tried to back away and regain her footing, terrified of what was going to happen. The sounds from all around her overwhelmed her brain and she felt her chest restrict in a painful way. Madeline begin to hyperventilate as she scrambled to her feet but at this point the commotion had drawn attention and when she stood she backed into another person. There was now more than four people who were standing around her but, to Madeline it seemed like she was at the center of a stadium and thousands of eyes were all on her.

Seeing the girl's reaction to other people the woman felt a lump in her throat as she could only imagine what had happened to her. "It's alright sweetheart," The woman whispered as she crouched down hoping to seem less threatening. "We only want to help."

Madeline tried to bolt again but was only met with resistance which triggered all the times Evelyn had held her against her will and she begin kicking. "No!" Madeline screamed as she fought momentarily but there was no way out and her body did not have the strength and the fighting begin to dissipate as her breathing quickened. Madeline was trying to obtain air but air seemed to elude her. It was all too overwhelming and much too frightening. She no longer had trust in humans or the world around her and all she saw was that these people were another threat but she was small and she was weak. There was nothing she could do. As her eyes darted between all the people that were surrounding her and the woman that was holding her, she begin to sob as the reality sunk in. She had gone from one thing right into the next and she was afraid her freedom would be taken once again. This was all it took for the stress and years of mistreatment to catch up with and soon her vision began to fade. The last thing she saw was the faces of strangers surrounding her as she passed out and fell to the ground.

"Somebody call nine-one-one!" the woman who had been there from the beginning yelled as she leaned over the girl praying that she was alive.

Madeline McCord was alive but she needed help for after three years of captivity, she had been found. Whether or not the people around her knew that.

Sirens blared in the back round and red and yellow lights circled around, shining into the night air. Medical personal had been called to the scene and began their work of trying to determine what was wrong with the little girl they were treating.

"Approximately ten year old female, extreme dehydration and malnourishment, contusions present on arms and legs along with lacerations, no fractures present but pulse is weak," the paramedic stated as they wheeled her through the doors of the Hospital.

Madeline McCord was wheeled into a triage room as medical staff begin treating her as they switched her from the gurney to the bed and began trying to understand the true physical state of the girl. There was the obvious things but there was things they needed to rule out.

"Pupils are constricting," the nurse stated as she shined the light into Madeline's eyes and saw they were functioning correctly.

This is how the next hour went for unconscious Madeline McCord. Diagnosis's were made and IV'S administered and lastly, law enforcement was called. There was no doubt in the doctors minds that what ever had happened to their Jane Doe, it had not been an accident and by all accounts it appeared she had been being held somewhere against her will.

Beeping. That was what rang in Madeline's ears her awareness came back into her grasp. Her eyes were closed and yet it felt like she was exposed the brightest light her eyes had ever experienced. As consciousness grabbed hold of her, she begin slowly moving her head back and forth as a whimper escaped her mouth. While she had not fully come to her body had not forgotten all she had endured. It knew she was not in a safe space and all of her senses were screaming at her in confusion. When her eyes did open she flinched at how strongly the white lights pierced through her vision and blinded her. Squinting she looked around still feeling dazed and that was when she saw them. There was strange people in blue and white clothes all around her and much too suddenly all of their eye's found her. One woman in a white coat begin walking particularly close and panic set in.

"Hello sweetie," the woman smiled at her as she carefully came closer but stopped before she truly reached the bed seeing the fear in the girl's eyes.

Madeline went to move away but was only met with the back of the bed which startled her further and she begin to cry. Her eyes darting around she looked for a way out of this room as the nurses closed in on her. While they held no ill intentions, Madeline only saw them as a danger and she tried to push herself out of the bed as her eyes located the door. There was only one and she had to make it around all of them. As she went to go move, she winced at the pain coming from her arm, she cried louder having no idea of what stuck inside her arm, all she knew was that it just hurt her.

"It's alright," the woman who had approached her first said as she gave the people around her a nervous look. "It's just an IV, it gives you fluids to help you..." Madeline shook her head as she reached down to rip it out becoming increasingly agitated by the second.

"No, no, no, don't do that," the doctor voiced as she grabbed a hold of Madeline's hand trying to stop her. This was a mistake on her part.

"NOOO!" Madeline screamed in an ear piercing tone as she tried to hit the doctor and stop her from coming closer.

"I'm gonna need some help here!" the doctor instructed as she knew most likely what the outcome would be if they could not get her to be still.

"NO!" Madeline screamed again as she did her best to shove past her and jump out of the bed but now arms grabbed her from behind and she was forced back into the bed.

"I need forty point five milligrams of propofol stat," the doctor said loudly so she was heard above the commotion. The last thing she wanted to do was sedate the child or terrify her further but right now she was at more of a risk of hurting herself if they didn't and that she could not let happen. The medication was in her hands in seconds and quickly moved into action. "Hold her while I push it!" Her command heard, she quickly administered the propofol into the IV of the screaming child's arm as the nurses held her. "It's going to be okay honey, we are only trying to help, it's going to be okay." The doctor didn't know if she was saying for the girl who looked at her petrified or if she was saying it to herself but either way she needed to say it. Having pushed the medication fast it was barely a matter of five seconds before Madeline's body begin to still and her wailing came to a halt. "I'm so sorry," the woman whispered trying to show care as the girl's eyes drooped and she read how many emotions laid there. Whatever had happened to this girl, to have her react like this...she didn't want to imagine but something told her it was more awful than she could comprehend.

Given Madeline's reaction to waking the first time, the doctor put her on a slow drip of propofol in hope that the next time would be different but for now they watched her and kept pushing fluids and nutrients in hopes begin the long process of setting her body back on track to becoming a healthy ten year old. While she was still out an officer had come to speak with the doctors in charge of her care in hopes to gather more of an understanding of what she had truly endured. They also came for a DNA sample and descriptive data as they planned on running both through the Virginia Criminal Information Network and the The National Center for Missing Exploited Children list in hopes of receiving a hit. It would take time though and the only thing everyone could do was pray they found a match to the young Jane Doe.

The next time Madeline woke, while there was still terror in her eyes, the propofol did it's job and they were able to keep her under control but there was still much work to be done on the grounds of gaining trust. She had yet to speak any word other than no or take food from anyone and they were beginning to lose hope of gaining ground with the girl. It was painstaking to say the least. Every time someone walked in the room, the heart monitor would skyrocket and they had found it best to never have more than two people at a time present in the room. There was one nurse though who had seemed to at least be able to speak to Madeline without causing panic. She was blonde of hair and blued eyed, similar to Madeline and tall in stature with a soft voice. Her name was Nurse Joe. The breakthrough between the two had come from Joe doing her best to find things Madeline liked.

"You remind me a lot of myself when I was your age you know?" Joe looked at her kindly with a smile as she sat at distance from Madeline waiting to see the tension and fear leave so she could administer fluids which was normally a very slow process if they wanted to keep her calm. Madeline only looked at her inquisitively and so she continued. "Not only do you look like me, you are one tough bird. I'm not sure I have ever seen a kid as brave as you...anyway when I was a kid I took a pretty big spill off my horse and I ended up being in the Hospital for months going through recovery. "

It was at the word 'horse' that the nurse finally saw a glint of light begin to shine in the girl's eyes and she knew she just might have found a common interest.

"Do you like horses?" she asked with an excited smile. For the first time since being in the hospital, Madeline McCord responded. It wasn't with words or enthusiasm but simply a wary nod of the head as she looked at Joe unsure but, for Joe she might as well been jumping for joy for any response was a win. "I knew I was right eh? I like horses too!"

Madeline made no further move to communicate but seemed to be listening like she was waiting for Joe to keep talking and so she did.

"I started riding when I was about five and have never stopped loving it or horses in general. Taking a spill like that so young certainly shook my confidence but after I came home, eventually I got back on and I haven't stopped since..." Seeing it was clearly something the little girl was interested in Joe wanted to see if this was an avenue that if followed, trust just might be gained. "Would you like to see a picture of my horse? Hmm?"

Another nod. A second response.

"Yeah?" Joe looked excited as she quickly pulled out a small wallet from her pocket and took out a photo. "Let me show you!" Handing the picture to Madeline, she was beyond happy when she noticed a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of the girl's mouth. "His name is Walter...do you like him?"

Madeline looked up at her and nodded for a third time before her gaze fell back to the picture. Joe noticed the hint of a smile faded and longing took its place on her face. Madeline took her finger and gently stroked the face of the horse in the photo.

"Do you have a horse?" Joe asked curiously as she moved closer to the girl and was thankful when for the first she didn't flinch away but her eyes stayed fixed on the picture.

She didn't nod this time but sadness seeped into her features and the question seemed to trigger something and Madeline looked away. She outstretched her hand that was holding the photo wanting Joe to take it. Joe had no way of knowing what Madeline was thinking but one thing struck her. This was the first time Madeline, on her own accord, had been willing to put any part of her body near Joe. So she didn't press the subject any further and simply took the picture back tucking it away safely. "Madeline can I change the fluid bag?" she asked hoping the girl would accept at her own choice. Joe had a feeling more than anything, that the girl was looking for an aspect of control. Any aspect of control and Joe wanted to be the one to give it to her and she was right. While Madeline did not look at her, for the first time Madeline agreed and her heart beat did not climb as Joe stood.

After this interaction, if Joe was on shift it had just become a normal that she was the main one who looked after their Jane Doe. Beyond Joe though, everyone that came into the room or that took place was taxing for both parties but especially for Madeline.

While no one knew truly knew the story of the little girl, everyone had their guesses and none of them were good. It was clear that whatever had happened, had erased the child that she should've been at such a young age and left a traumatized girl who had no ability to recognize friend from foe. Or so they thought.

In a local police station close to the hospital, after years of no answers, law enforcement had finally caught a break in a three year old cold case. With descriptive data aligning along with DNA samples coming to an identical match, the conclusion had been reached that Madeline McCord... had finally been found.

In a different part of Virginia, in a farmhouse on the edge of town, a picture perfect family moment was taking place in the McCord house. Laughter filled the home as they all spent time together after dinner had come to an end. Henry and Stevie were playing a game of checkers, Jason was playing with his toy soldiers and Alison was watching her father and her sister intently as she hoped to learn the game as well. The casual night shared between the family was special because for years moments like these had been hard to find. While they had found their way back to learning to live again, the missing piece of their family had never been forgotten. Especially for Henry and Elizabeth. While feeling joy without guilt had been obtained again, it was hard for the them to move forward and so they focused on shining a light on the fact that they still had three beautiful children who were counting on them. The three children that had slowly overtime eased the pain they felt over the child they were missing.

"The padawan surpasses the master," Henry pretended to be gut wrenched as he jokingly hit his heart as if he was wounded when Stevie had beat him in their game.

At her husband's antics and her daughter's laughter, Elizabeth let out a hearty chuckle as she stood and began clearing the table. "You should've known she would pick up all your tricks and learn a few of her own!" Elizabeth smiled as she sat the two plates down and picked up a towel to begin drying the dishes that were already present in the drainer.

"Don't mock me," Henry laughed as he looked up at his wife. "My ego is already wounded enough without your antagonizing comments."

At this, Elizabeth laughed, a laugh that had been rarely seen over the past three years and had only started to return in the last year. It was the laugh Henry had fallen in love with. "Don't be a sore loser honey, she beat you fair and square!" Elizabeth smirked as she watched her daughter grin as well, clearly proud of her accomplishment. "Good job Stevie baby!"

To this Stevie cheered and Alison laughed alongside of her, both kids enjoying the win and the banter between their parents. "Yeah, yeah, rejoice in the fact that your father is getting old and doesn't have it anymore," he smiled jokingly as he reached out and begin tickling both girls causing screams and laughter to erupt and the sound filled the kitchen.

Elizabeth shook her head with a smile on her face as she looked at her family with pride and love. This was all she needed from life. Seeing her children happy and her husband being the most loving father and husband. She did not deserve this level of happiness. Sometimes it still felt too good to be true, that after everything that had happened she had found happiness again.

The house phone begins to ring.

"Okay quite for a sec!" Elizabeth hollered over their laughter as she threw the towel down and grabbed the phone. "Hello?" she spoke but the sounds of her family had not quieted and she found herself unable to hear the person on the other side of the line. "Shhhh!" she waved her hand at them with a smile as she backed away slightly.

"Okay we gotta be quiet for a moment," Henry whispered trying to get the girls to soften their laughter but he was still giggling as well.

"Hello" Elizabeth answered again with a smile as she stood in front of the window looking down at her feet. "Yes this is she."

Silence momentarily filled the house. Silence that was deafening.

"What?" The word fell out of Elizabeth's mouth like she had just been punched in the gut and Henry turned quickly sensing the change. "Are you sure?" her tone tone lowered as her hand reached out grasping the counter top to steady herself. Henry stood with his brows furrowed in concern and he slowly moved towards his wife. As soon as he was close, she looked at him and Henry could not explain the look he saw on her face. It was like all the life had been drained from her and yet he saw something he had not seen for a very long time. He saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes. This could be only one thing he thought. "I uhm-" she tripped over her words as her hand now outstretched for her husband's. "Thank you for calling...we will be there as soon as we can." With this, the phone slowly fell away from her ear and she turned looking at her husband, shock seemingly enveloping all of her.

"What is it?" Henry asked as he gulped as he felt her hand shaking in his own. Slowly Elizabeth McCord lifted her gaze and locked eyes with her husband as she felt tears welling and a lump rising in her throat. She could not believe the words she was about to speak. They were words she thought she would never say. Words she had always imagined would forever stay out of her grasp but now that they were here, she couldn't seem to speak them. "Elizabeth?"

"They found her Henry..." Elizabeth said so quietly he barely heard the words. "They found her, they found our baby."

That is a wrap to chapter Five! Breathe and breathe deeply for this story now takes a different direction. Things are moving and this family is on their way to finding answers. Chapter Six will be up soon so you won't have to wait long. Please review and let me know what you think!

-lovelylavenderlady