A/N: I had this story in my mind for nearly 4 months. I'm glad I finally found the time to write it. If you have a minute, let me know what you think of it. And in case you wonder, the baby in the picture is me, 25 years ago.

Sharon didn't particularly like Cynthia. She didn't hate the woman either. In fact, she was quite indifferent to Rusty's caseworker. The fact that the woman was sitting in her office was somewhat alarming. Sharon knew that it wasn't a routine evaluation and that she most likely had found something or someone that could erode the stability she and Rusty had settled into. She took a seat in front of Cynthia and apologized for keeping her waiting. Whatever it was, the woman was just doing her job, she reminded herself.

"I have some news regarding Rusty," Cynthia started. "And another possible placement issue." Sharon wondered what that meant. She didn't know Cynthia very well, but the vague statement sounded suspicious to her. She nodded her head slowly, to acknowledge that she was listening. "A few days ago, DCFS was contacted by an attorney on behalf of Sharon Beck. She is under house arrest awaiting a trial and she would like to meet her son."

"House arrest?" Sharon asked.

"Yes, she is charged with felony DUI." Sharon's eyes widened as she heard Cynthia's words.

"She had an accident, didn't she?" she asked.

"Yes, she killed a man and she is expected to get a penalty of two to four years if she is convicted," Cynthia informed her. "And she wants to see Rusty."

"What was the other matter you wanted to discuss?" Sharon didn't want to acknowledge the fact that Sharon Beck presence was about to wreck the constancy Rusty needed so much.

"A child placement issue," Cynthia said.

"Is this about Rusty as well?" Sharon asked. The last thing she needed or wanted was for Rusty to be taken from her custody and placed somewhere else.

"Indirectly, yes," Cynthia replied. "I want to inquire if you might be willing to take in another child." Sharon took a deep breath. She did not expect to hear this.

"Is Rusty being transferred to a different guardian?" she asked.

"No. It seems like he's doing well with you. I wouldn't want to ruin that. I'm asking about fostering another child in addition to Rusty."

"I will need more details before I can answer that," Sharon said, not even comprehending how relieved she was that Rusty was staying with her.

"Well, it's a baby and it's still unborn," Cynthia started. "The mother is Sharon Beck and she asked that the baby be placed at the same home with Rusty." Cynthia's words made Sharon bury her face in her palms for a short moment.

"When is she due?" she asked.

"Any day now. This is the reason she is under house arrest."

"Is the baby expected to be healthy?" Sharon wondered.

"We hope it will be. She drank during the pregnancy and we are suspecting of some minor drug use as well. Captain, you need to discuss this with Rusty and you need to take into account the chance that the baby is not healthy," Cynthia said. "Sharon Beck doesn't have the money to pay for health care and as far as I understood, she was not intending to keep the baby to begin with, the same way she is not intending to keep Rusty."

"Then why does she want to see him? It's going to break his heart," Sharon certainly felt like her own heart was on the verge of breaking on Rusty's behalf.

"We can't prevent her from seeing her son. She never legally gave him up and therefore she has the right to see him," Cynthia replied. Sharon nodded slowly.

"I understand," she said. "Please give me at least 24 hours to prepare him, though. He has an exam tomorrow morning and I don't want him to be distracted."

"I expect to hear from you tomorrow at this hour," Cynthia said.