DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Popular stuff belongs Touchstone Television. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. This story is set at the end of the Popular episode Promblems. And I think I should mention that I haven't seen an episode of Popular yet.

Hidden Depths
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Nicole drove down the road way too fast for her own good. She was drunk and she was furious and that was never a good combination, especially at 100 kilometers per hour. Murderous thoughts flew through her head, fueled by her frustration. She didn't concentrate on any particular thought, she just knew she had been wronged and she wanted someone to pay. Of course, that someone was a certain cheerleader, who definitely didn't look like the terrified five-year-old girl in the middle of the road.

Nicole's feet automatically hit the breaks. The car started to slow down, but not fast enough to Nicole's liking. She watched with horror as the car closed in on the little girl, who stared at the car, too terrified to move. Nicole wasn't a very religious person, but now she prayed that she wouldn't hit the girl, and she hoped that someone was listening.

When the car finally stopped, the little girl was nowhere to be seen. Nicole sat in her car for a minute or so, shocked. Then she finally opened the door and staggered out, terrified of what she would find. She slowly walked around the car, forcing herself to move. First she saw only legs and she gasped, feeling sick. She paused for a moment and then she forced herself to move on. When she saw the rest of the girl, her eyes went wide. The girl was alive. Nicole stared at her, feeling profoundly relieved. Nicole kneeled and took the girl in her arms. She didn't know if it was just luck or divine intervention, but she said a silent thanks anyway.

She held her for a while, sobbing quietly. When she finally calmed down and opened her eyes again, her vision was blurry. She frowned and wiped her eyes. They were wet and she stared at the wetness on her fingertips, surprised. She was crying? That was new.

Then the girl moved and Nicole looked at her.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice raspy, and let go of her.

The girl nodded, scared.

"Are you sure?" Nicole wanted to make sure.

The girl nodded again.

Nicole looked around.

"Where's your mom?"

"She left," the girl said quietly, clutching her stuffed pony more tightly.

Nicole frowned.

"When?"

The girl thought for a few moments and then shrugged.

Nicole took a good look at her and saw that the girl was pretty thin.

"When was the last time you've eaten?" she asked.

The girl thought again and then shrugged as she didn't come up with an answer.

Nicole sighed. She felt angry again, only this time it wasn't Brooke who was the object of her anger, it was the girl's mother.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Dawn," the girl said quietly.

Nicole smiled.

"I'm Nicole. Come, I'll take you to the hospital and then see what I can do to get you something to eat. Okay?"

Dawn hesitated for a moment and then nodded shyly, surprised that a stranger wanted to help her when her own mother did not.

Nicole smiled and picked her up. She wanted to carry her to the car, but the girl's weight and her own drunk condition quickly convinced her that neither was a good idea, not the carrying and definitely not the driving. She walked to the sidewalk and put her down.

"Wait here, I'll just park the car over there."

Dawn stared after Nicole, her eyes tearing up again as she watched Nicole desert her, just like her mother. But then a strange thing happened. Nicole actually parked the car and got out again. Dawn watched her as she approached, hoping against all odds that Nicole was coming back for her.

"I'm back," Nicole said with a smile. "Let me just call us a cab."

Dawn watched as Nicole pulled out her cell phone and called a cab. She didn't understand why Nicole wanted to help her, but she didn't particularly care, she just didn't want to be alone anymore.

"There," Nicole said as she finished her call.

She offered her hand to Dawn and Dawn quickly took it and stepped closer to Nicole. Nicole smiled.

"Don't worry, honey, everything will be alright," she said encouragingly, and Dawn smiled for the first time since her mother had left her.

When they arrived to the hospital, Nicole first took Dawn to the information.

"Excuse me."

The nurse at the information looked at her.

"Yes?"

"I found an abandoned girl in the street. I think she's suffering from malnutrition."

The nurse got up and looked over the counter.

"Hold on a moment," she said and picked up the phone.

Nicole looked at Dawn and smiled. Dawn smiled back.

"Doctor Alvarez will be right over," the nurse then said. "Wait here."

Nicole nodded. She looked around, trying to spot Doctor Alvarez even though she didn't know what he looked like. Or she, she didn't know which. It turned out it was a she.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Alvarez," the woman said when she arrived. "You found the girl?"

Nicole nodded.

"Her name is Dawn."

Doctor Alvarez looked at Dawn and smiled.

"Hello, Dawn," she said, and Dawn hid behind Nicole.

"She won't hurt you," Nicole told Dawn. "She's here to help you. And as soon as she's done, I'll get you something to eat, okay?"

Dawn nodded.

Doctor Alvarez smiled at Nicole.

"Looks like she likes you."

Nicole smiled back.

"I guess."

"Come, this way."

Dr Alvarez led the way, and Nicole and Dawn followed her.

"Okay, put her on the bed," Doctor Alvarez said when they arrived to their destination.

Nicole did so.

"Now take off her top."

"Dawn, give me Mr Winky. I'll hold him for you while the doctor examines you."

Dawn glanced at Doctor Alvarez, hesitating, and then gave the stuffed horse to Nicole.

"Okay, you have to undress now. You think you can do it yourself?"

Dawn nodded and started to take off her top. When she was done, Doctor Alvarez started to examine her. Dawn was scared at first, but then Nicole took her hand and she calmed down.

"Well, looks like you're as healthy as you can be," Doctor Alvarez finally declared.

"Are you sure?" Nicole asked. "She looks thin."

Doctor Alvarez nodded.

"Nothing a good meal won't take care of."

Nicole breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?" Doctor Alvarez asked, smelling the alcohol in Nicole's breath.

"I've been better," Nicole said. "Dawn, honey, can you stay with the doctor for a few moments, I just need to run to the toilet," she then said quickly, feeling her stomach rebel against alcohol. "I'll be right back, I promise."

She gave Dawn her stuffed horse and then ran to the ladies room. Dawn clutched the toy, scared.

"Don't worry, she just needs to throw up," Doctor Alvarez said with a smile. "She'll be okay. You can dress now, I'll wait here with you."

Dawn hesitated for a moment. Then she put Mr Winky aside and started to dress.

In the ladies room, Nicole ran to a stall and threw up. When she was done, she rested for a few moments and then went to a sink to wash herself. When she was done, she looked at her reflection. She remembered what had just transpired and she wondered what the freaking hell she was doing taking care of an abandoned child. Who cared what happened to the girl. Then why was she suddenly so worried about her? Why was she so nice to her? Why did she care?

She didn't know. Maybe it was because her own mother didn't care about her. Maybe she wanted, needed, someone in her life. And the most incredible thing was that she wanted to help Dawn, she wanted her to have a happy life and for the first time in her life, she didn't think, or care, about what other people would think. She took a deep breath, knowing it won't be easy.

Outside, Dawn was getting worried. Minutes had passed and Nicole still hadn't returned. Dawn felt that she would return, just like she promised, but the longer Nicole was absent, the more worried Dawn became.

Then Nicole finally returned and a smile lit up Dawn's face. Nicole smiled back.

"Hi. I'm back."

"Feeling better?" Doctor Alvarez asked.

Nicole nodded.

"Yes. Can I take her somewhere to eat?"

Doctor Alvarez thought about it for a moment.

"The social services have sent someone over," she then said.

Nicole froze for a moment, worried. The social services? She hadn't thought of that.

"We'll be in the cafeteria." She noticed that Doctor Alvarez was hesitating. "Look, I want the best for her, just like you do. I'm not planning to run away with her. And besides, right now she's starving."

Doctor Alvarez nodded.

"Okay, but I still have to let the security know."

Nicole nodded.

"Okay." She looked at Dawn. "Okay, let's get you something to eat," she said and helped her off the bed.

In the cafeteria, Nicole had eyes only for Dawn, who was eating like she'd never eaten before, and she had to slow her down occasionally. She wondered how a little girl could come into her life and break down the walls she'd spent years building. And the funny thing was that she felt better because of it, more relaxed, and she didn't even care about her quarrel with Brooke. Well, she did regret it and she decided to see what she could do to mend her friendship with Brooke.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the social worker.

"Excuse me."

Nicole jerked, startled, and looked at the woman.

"Yes?" she said, dreading the answer.

"I'm Veronica Dalton, from the social services."

"Hi. I'm Nicole Julian. Sit down."

"Thank you," Mrs Dalton said and sat down. She looked at Dawn, who was looking at her, obviously feeling that the woman was bad news. She smiled. "Hello, Dawn."

Dawn looked at Nicole, who smiled at her reassuringly.

"What's going to happen to her?" Nicole then asked Mrs Dalton.

Mrs Dalton looked at her.

"You found her in the street?"

Nicole nodded.

"Yes," she said and quickly recapped the events so far.

"I see," Mrs Dalton said, thinking.

"What will happen to her?" Nicole repeated her question.

"Well, if we can't locate her parents, or if they turn out to be unsuitable for raising a child, she will have to go into a foster home."

"What? You can't be serious," Nicole said, upset.

"I'm afraid I am."

"I can take her," Nicole quickly offered.

Mrs Dalton raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You?"

Nicole nodded.

"I'll… I'll…" she started, clearly not liking the decision she had just come to. "I'll even give up cheerleading," she said and gulped.

"You're a cheerleader?" Mrs Dalton said.

Nicole nodded.

"Yes. Kennedy High."

"I see," Mrs Dalton said and sighed. "I'm glad you're worried about her, but I can't let you take her."

"But…"

"You're too young."

Nicole slumped.

"What… What about when I graduate? From college, I mean."

"Then I suppose you could adopt her, yes, but you'd have to have a job."

Nicole smiled for a moment, but then she frowned.

"What about in the mean time?"

"She'd have to go into a foster home."

Nicole sighed.

"Could I visit her?"

Mrs Dalton smiled.

"I can't see why not." She thought for a moment. "Do you have time?"

"Now?"

"Yes."

Nicole frowned.

"Yes, why?"

"We can go to my office and I can show you where Dawn will be staying until we find her a foster home. You'll have to give me your address so I can find her a foster home as close to you as possible."

Nicole's face brightened.

"Thanks."

Mrs Dalton smiled.

"You're welcome, honey."

An hour later, when Nicole knew everything she wanted to, it was time to say goodbye. She kneeled in front of Dawn and caressed her.

"Honey, I have to go now." She gulped. "I'm still too young to take care of you, but you will get a temporary home and I'll come visit you every day. I'll even give you the number of my phone so you can call me any time you feel lonely or scared, okay?"

Dawn nodded, her eyes tearing up.

"Shh, it's okay. Everything will be okay. And in a few years, I'll be able to adopt you and take care of you. But until then, you'll have to be a brave girl, okay? For me?"

Dawn nodded, and Nicole smiled, her own eyes tearing up as well. She kissed Dawn on the forehead.

"Good night, honey. I'll come back to see you tomorrow."

She wanted to get up, go out and cry, but she was stopped by Dawn, who hugged her tightly, bursting into tears. Nicole also started to cry.

Mrs Dalton watched the moving exchange from a few steps away and her eyes started watering up as well. She quickly wiped a stray tear that managed to slip out of her eyes. She didn't know Nicole well, but she liked her and she liked the way she and the little girl had bonded. If Nicole would actually keep her promise and keep visiting Dawn, then she swore she would see to it that Nicole would be able to adopt Dawn when she met the criteria.

The girls finally stopped hugging, and Nicole wiped her tears. Then she caressed Dawn again.

"Be brave, honey, okay?"

Dawn nodded, and Nicole wiped her tears.

"I'll see you tomorrow. I promise."

Five years later.

Nicole was ecstatic. She had graduated from college and she had found a job within a month. She had spoken to Mrs Dalton, who had assured her that she met the criteria for adoption and then helped her through the application forms. And today was the big day.

She came to Mrs Dalton's office an hour later and the woman let her wait there. She kept glancing at the clock on the wall. She tried to will it to move, but the clock didn't seem to listen. In fact, it looked as though it was slow on purpose. But the big moment finally came and Nicole smiled when Dawn was brought through the door by her foster parents.

"Dawn," she said and got up.

"Mommy!" Dawn said and ran to her.

"Hey," Nicole said and they hugged.

When they stopped hugging, Dawn glanced at Mrs Dalton.

"Is this it?" she then asked Nicole.

Nicole nodded, smiling.

"Just a bit more paper work and then you're all mine."

Dawn smiled, happy.

"Em, if you're ready," Mrs Dalton said with a smile.

"Yes, sure," Nicole said, glancing at her. "Sit down, honey, this will take a few minutes."

Dawn sat, and Nicole and the foster parents went to Mrs Dalton's desk to take care of the paper work.

A few minutes later, Nicole was officially Dawn's mother.

"This is it," Mrs Dalton said.

"You sure?" Nicole said.

Mrs Dalton smiled.

"Absolutely."

Nicole smiled back. She got up and went to Dawn.

"Okay, honey, it's official now."

"It is?" Dawn said excitedly.

Nicole nodded.

"Yes."

Dawn hugged her and Nicole hugged her back.

"Can I still visit Grandma and Grandpa?" Dawn asked when they stopped hugging, her face serious.

Nicole smiled.

"Of course, honey," she said and caressed her.

Dawn then went to her foster parents, who observed their interaction, smiling.

"Will you come visit?"

"Tomorrow, honey," her grandma said.

"Okay," Dawn said. "I'll see you then."

She gave both of them a quick hug and then returned to Nicole.

"Ready to go home?" Nicole asked with a smile.

Dawn beamed.

"Yes."

"Then let's go," Nicole said and took her hand.

The End