Episode 148


Jade paced around the police station straining to find a way to keep her anger caged long enough to make sense of the situation at hand.  While she’d tried to keep her cool about her, there was no denying the rage she was feeling in a moment like this after having walked in on Grady and Susan.  Sure, she had plenty to say about the situation, but when that idiot guard had pulled her out of the room so quickly, it hadn’t left her a lot of room to say or do much for that matter.  Now, however she knew that she wasn’t about to talk out of this police station without having a say.
   
“What to do…what to do,” she repeated placing one foot before the other before finally stepping up and turning to see Susan exit from one of the back hallways, “You!”
   
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Susan remarked snidely taking the moment to wipe at the corner of her lips in an exaggerated motion, “Shouldn’t you be in bed right about now?  Isn’t it past your bedtime?”
   
“You know Susan, I’ve been more than polite with you lately.  I’ve tried being civil.  I’ve tried ignoring you, but you know right about now I think it’s about time that you and I have talk woman to woman,” Jade approached her with a determined look behind her eyes.  “What do you say?”
   
“I don’t have the time,” Susan wrinkled her nose at her, “but Grady wanted me to tell you that you really shouldn’t bother coming around anymore.  He’s more than happy with what he has.”
   
“If you’re referring to that little display you put on for me to find earlier, well I can assure you that the last thing Grady was with you was happy,” Jade folded her arms in front of her chest in a firm posture, “And I highly doubt you bring about any other emotion inside of him, but contempt.”
   
“You don’t know the first of it with Grady and I little girl,” Susan sneered in response, “Anger is just foreplay for us.  What we have together is something that you couldn’t even begin to understand…”
   
“Why would I want to,” Jade wrinkled her nose at her, “What you bring out in Grady is something that he doesn’t ever want in his life.  When he talks about his most miserable moments, well I’ve found that they all include you.  That being said I’m about to give you a word of warning.  Consider it in your best interest to stay away from him.  Far, far away from him.”
   
“Why should I listen to you,” Susan balked back at her with a giggle, “Because you’re what?  Going to yell at me if I’m with him?  Afraid he’ll make his choice and it won’t include you?”
   
“No, not at all,” Jade shrugged her shoulders simple, “I was merely thinking about your best interest because next time, well next time things won’t end up in your favor Susan.  Next time you won’t have a guard to hold me back if you catch my drift.”
   
“Do you really think a little nothing like you intimidates me,” Susan replied in her usual cool demeanor, “That something as pathetic as you could really instill any fear inside of me?  You know you really are wasting your time if you believe that Grady would want to waste his life on a little washed up piece of trash like yourself.”
   
“Oh that’s rich coming from a money, grubbing whore like yourself,” Jade glared at her, “If you had any sense of a soul you never would’ve worked for Cameron nor would you have cheated on Grady.”
   
“Believe it or not Jade, you should be thanking me.  If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have this chance with Grady right now.  He’d still be mine and sooner or later, he’ll be mine again,” Susan stepped in closer to her, “especially considering that the only reason Grady is with you is out of sympathy.  I mean really what other choice did you leave him after you told him your sob story all about what your daddy dressed you up to do all those years ago?  Only, instead of telling the truth about how much you liked being a party girl, you lied and called it rape,” she finished with a mocking laugh.
   
That did it.  While Jade had tried to be calm and somewhat reasonable, Susan had crossed a major line and the next thing she knew she was on top of Susan on the ground pounding the hell out of her and truly not giving a damn.  It felt good to get it out and as Susan struck her in response, the two continued to tear one another apart.
   
“You bitch!” Jade cursed at Susan feeling the cold impact of the floor beneath her when Susan slammed her fist right up into Jade’s abdomen.  It didn’t matter though because Jade was ready to tear her to shreds if need be.
   
“Stop it!  Both of you, that’s enough,” someone called out to the two women in a whirlwind of the moment.  Suddenly Jade felt someone tear her off of Susan despite her bucking and writhing in an attempt to get one last shot at her.
   
“Let go of me!” Susan shouted equally ready to beat the life out of Jade.
   
“I don’t think so,” Dave replied trying to fend off Susan’s wild movements despite the fact that he wasn’t quite sure why he was always around at the worst moments.
   
“You’re going to pay you little bitch.  Do you hear me?  I’m pressing charges!” Susan sneered in response blood in the corner of her mouth as Jade flashed her an icy smile.
   
“I dare you to try Susan,” Jade remarked wickedly after feeling the person holding her ease up, “I’m sure Cameron will really appreciate that one, now won’t he?”
   
Susan remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a huff.  With a stomp, she headed down the hallway making her way to the exit as Dave turned to look at Jade once again with a heavy frown. Waving at her, he motioned to his office.
   
“You and me in there right now,” Dave ordered watching Jade reluctantly follow him inside the room.  She did as instructed and once he had the door closed behind them, she waited for him to speak again.
   
Moving around to the other side of his desk, Dave just watched her, seeing that she’d held her own against Susan and had surprisingly come out of the battle practically unscathed.  Still after having walked out into the lobby to find things going insane around him, he had to ask.
   
“Okay what gives Jade?” Dave blurted out finally.
   
“She was asking for it,” Jade informed him point blank, “I was trying to be civilized, but when that didn’t work, I had to do what came naturally.”
   
“Which meant turning my police station into a wrestling ring,” Dave arched a curious brow.
   
“I did what I had to in order to get her to shut up, yes,” Jade nodded emphatically, “and if you want to bust me for it, then fine.  Go ahead.”
   
“Jade, I’m not going to bust you, but I don’t understand what it is about this town that is making everyone behave like they’re back in grade school lately,” Dave sighed heavily wanting a vacation from the chaos that surrounded him.
   
“First of all I can give you that answer.  It’s plain and simple and can be summed up in two words.  Cameron Stone,” Jade blurted out with a heavy frown, “That man is calling all the shots in this town and he’s done some really horrible things.  He’s the one behind what’s going on with Grady and I’m tired of those who work for him thinking that they own the world.  Susan is more than aware of what is going on, but she’s just as evil as Cameron is.”
   
“Evil or not, you can’t just rip her head off in the middle of the police station,” Dave sighed heavily, “Jade, you know better than to…”
   
“Oh I can’t touch her, but she can assault Grady with your officers standing back and doing nothing?” she huffed clearly annoyed with what he was telling her, “Dave, when are you going to wake up and realize it’s time to take a stand against Cameron and his people?”
   
“Just I understand that and believe me there’s nothing I could want more, but you have to do it through the proper channels,” Dave pleaded with her, “I don’t want you to wind up falling for whatever it is that they have planned…”
   
“Dave, listen to me.  The man I love is in jail.  His brother just died a horrible, tragic death and nothing--I mean absolutely nothing is going right.  For me to just sit back and wait for some jury that Cameron has probably bought to have a say in Grady’s fate is killing me.  He should be with his family, not locked up like this.  Then with Susan dropping by whenever she so pleases to bother him…”
   
“That won’t be happening again.  You have my word on that,” Dave promised thinking about Carly’s warning to him about not being involved.  “In fact, well you know I think perhaps there’s a way we could work something out with Grady.”
   
“Such as?”
   
“Such as it’s probably not what you’re hoping for, but after watching you take down Susan like that, I don’t want you walking out of here just yet.  You’re obviously too upset for that and maybe just maybe I can find a way to help remedy this particular situation just a tiny bit…” Dave paused wondering if he was making the right decision.
   
“I’m listening,” Jade nodded taking his words in.
   
“If I do you this particular favor Jade, then you have to promise me that you won’t go after Susan.  You’ll have to let the professionals try to do their job in helping Grady,” Dave began ready to make her an offer he hoped she couldn’t refuse if it meant having a little peace around his part of town…if only for a little while.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Gabe gazed out the window beside his hospital bed seeing the change of seasons surrounding him.  While he’d wanted to be out of this place and off to Europe, one of his doctors had warned him earlier in the morning that it just wasn’t in the cards.  Brittany’s voice had sounded so disappointed when he’d spoke with her.  Even though she’d told him about how she’d done in her championship coming in second in her division, there was nothing like actually being there for her.  How he’d wished he could’ve been there to share in her victory…how he’d longed to hear her voice again…to see her face when she showed him her trophy.  It was just too much…too…
   
“Daddy!” Brittany’s voice squealed in the back of his mind almost as if he’d brought her to him just by wishing it so.  However as he heard her call out to him again, he turned to see her racing over to his bedside.
   
“Brittany,” his jaw dropped in surprise watching her excited little legs carry her right over to the edge of his bed.  Eagerly she hopped up on the bottom of it before crawling her way up into his arms.
   
“Daddy, you’re here,” she hugged him enthusiastically, not willing to let him go.
   
“Of course I’m here, but what are you doing here princess,” Gabe questioned kissing the top of her head gently before bringing his fingers through her golden blonde tresses.
   
“I asked mommy if I could come and help you get better.  Rufus and I wanted to help you get better, so here we are,” she explained holding up her stuffed toy, “Mommy said it’s okay.”
   
“And just where is your mother,” Gabe questioned tilting his head up to see Noelle standing in the doorway, eyeing him with obvious distain.
   
“Don’t think this changes anything,” she stated plainly before crossing the room towards him and Brittany.  “Brit, did you show your daddy your trophy?”
   
“I was just getting to that,” Brittany nodded again before wiggling out of the backpack that she’d carried with her at all times.  Unzipping it, she glanced over at Gabe again, “You won’t believe how big it is.  I mean it’s not as big as first place, but when you see it, you’re going to see just how good I really am.”
   
“I know how good you really are,” Gabe couldn’t help but reach out to hold her once again squeezing her in his arms.
   
“Daddy, I can’t breathe,” Brittany spoke in a muted tone, before tilting her big, dark eyes up at him, “Do you want to see the trophy or what?”
   
“Of course I do princess,” Gabe nodded in response watching her proudly display the trophy in hand.  His eyes widened in response, offering up the extra emphasis that he knew she was hoping for as he curled his arm around her, “Wow, that’s almost as big as you are.”
   
“No it’s not,” she laughed lightly amused by his words, “I’m much bigger.  Do you know I grew a whole inch since you left?”
   
“You did, did you,” Gabe smiled down at her, “Well if you keep that up, you’re going to be taller than your old dad here.”
   
“Not yet, but soon I will be,” she threw her arms out widely, “I’m going to be taller than this and this…” she attempted to stretch her arms out a bit further before she shifted on the bed again, “Daddy, would you like to color?  Mommy said that since you hurt your leg you won’t be able to do a lot of pony riding with me, but if you want to color, I brought all my books.  I’m sure they can help.”
   
“All of your books huh,” Gabe eyed her backpack with obvious interest, “They all fit in there?”
   
“Well, not all of them, but a lot of the good ones,” she nodded pulling out various books to choose from, “So what are you in the mood to color daddy?”
   
“What would you like to color,” he asked seeing the sparkle behind her eyes that he’d missed so very much during their time away from one another.
   
“Hmm, well I like this one, but I also think this one is cool,” she explained pointing from one to the other before scratching her chin in contemplation, “but this one is pretty fun.  Yes, this is it.  This is definitely it.  This is the one I want!”
   
“Then that’s the one we’ll color,” he couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiastic demeanor.  She was so beautiful and everything right in this world.  Holding her was more powerful than any medicine he could’ve asked for.  “Where shall we start?”
   
“First we’ll get my crayons and then,” she fished through her bag again before looking up at Noelle, “Mommy, I don’t have my crayons.  They aren’t in here.”
   
“I’m sure they are,” Noelle waved her hand at her dismissively.
   
“No, they aren’t,” Brittany complained turning the backpack upside down and dumping it out over Gabe’s bed.  “See!”
   
“Well, why don’t you go over to the nurse’s station and see if they have something for you to color with,” Noelle suggested reaching out to pull Brittany off of the bed.  Once she‘d set Brittany back down on the floor, she motioned to the hallway, “See that desk right out there?”
   
“Yes,” Brittany nodded.
   
“Go ask the woman standing there if she has something for you to color with while I talk to your daddy,” Noelle suggested.  “I’ll be right here watching you, so it’ll be okay.”
   
“Well, alright, but promise me that you and daddy won’t fight while I’m gone,” Brittany’s eyes glazed over with concern.
   
“Of course we won’t,” Noelle promised her, “So hurry up.”
   
“Okay,” Brittany nodded before addressing Gabe once again, “I’ll be right back.  Just a second.”
   
“I’ll be waiting,” he nodded patiently before looking to Noelle again, “I really don’t know how to thank you for this…”
   
“Believe me this isn’t my first choice in the matter, but I have a conference that I simply can’t miss,” Noelle informed him bluntly, “This is something that’s been planned months in advance and her nanny is out of the country as well.  There simply wasn’t anywhere else to bring her, but I swear to you Gabe if you even try to pull any funny stuff while I’m away, then that’s it…”
   
“Noelle, I love her and…” Gabe began again.
   
“And if you even try to turn her against me, then I swear to you that I’ll rip her so far away from you that you won’t see her again.  I mean that.  You already have gone too far in trying to keep me from sending her to a place where she can experience life and learn to enjoy herself…”
   
“She’s too young to be away from her family Noelle,” Gabe’s words grew more agitated by the second, “You can’t expect her to just to go off on her own at her age…”
   
“My parents did it with me and I turned out just fine.  Next week we’re having a meeting with the headmaster at the school and I expect you to be there.  When I get back I expect you to come to your senses and do what’s right for your daughter.  She deserves that much,” Noelle snapped back at him.
   
“What she deserves is a chance for a normal life--not for some life where she grows up without ever knowing her family,” Gabe frowned once more hating to see Noelle try to push something like this on their daughter at such an important time in her life.
   
“Gabe, I don’t have time to listen to this,” Noelle explained checking her watch, “The driver is waiting downstairs and…”
   
“And you’re just going to leave Brittany here at the hospital,” Gabe’s eyes widened in confusion, “Just like that?”
   
“Well, if you don’t want her, then I suppose I can drop her off at some kind of daycare or something.  Surely they have something like that around here in the U.S.  Besides, if not, why can’t you just have them set a cot up for her next to you?  It’s not like you have anything better to do…” Noelle waved her hand at him dismissively before reaching into her purse to pull out a compact.
   
“Noelle, it’s just that…” Gabe stopped himself realizing that there was no point in arguing with her any longer.  Having Brittany here was something he’d been dreaming about and regardless of how it happened, he was going to embrace the time he had with her.
   
“I didn’t find crayons, but I got a red pen and a blue one,” Brittany announced reentering the room again.  She climbed up on the hospital bed beside her father once again, “Which color do you want?”
   
“I’ll take the blue,” Gabe decided with a smile.
   
“And mommy will take a good-bye kiss because I have to get going,” Noelle stepped in towards Brittany offering a quick kiss on the top of her daughter’s head.
   
“Mommy, where are you going?” Brittany questioned in confusion.
   
“Mommy has some things to do, but she’ll be back soon.  Be good for your father,” Noelle waved before leaving the hospital room in a haste.
   
“Where is she going,” Brittany curled her lip in a pout before facing her father, “Is she mad at you again?”
   
“No sweetheart, she just has some work to do and she thought that maybe it would be fun for us to have some special time together here at the hospital,” Gabe tried to ease his daughter’s concerns, “She said that you wanted to be my nurse.  Is that right?”
   
Brittany nodded, “I even brought my doctor kit with me to tell me how you were doing.  Want to see?”
   
“Of course I do,” Gabe smiled down at her relieved that his daughter was distracted with the notion of taking his pulse with her medical supply toys she’d toted with her.  For now he was going to ignore Noelle’s blatant neglect and just savor the moment with his daughter as that was the one thing in the world that mattered the most to him at a time like this.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Just one more step,” Blake instructed taking Seth’s hand in hers as they made their way over to the back door of the guest house.  She gently nudged him in against the wall, before teasing her fingers down over his chest, “Don’t you move.”
   
“I’m not going anywhere,” Seth promised with a small smile thinking about the picnic they’d shared with one another.  It had become more of a food fight of sorts between them until he’d thrown Blake into the fountain.  She in turn had pulled him down with her and the both of them were now considerably soaked from the moment. 
   
The impending evening had transformed into a chilly one, but the heat between them had grown, evolving into something urgent and passionate proving great contrast to the evening wind.  They’d clearly spent the day enjoying one another’s company which was a great start to the rest of their lives together.  Not to mention that it was just beginning for them. 
   
Smiling at the thought, Seth reached out to Blake curling his arm around her waist possessively, “Okay, I’m done waiting.  Come here you.”
   
“Right here,” she questioned batting her eyelashes at him suggestively before he let out a low growl, claiming her mouth in a hungry display of passion offering hints of things to come for them once they were inside again.
   
“Blake, you taste like fire,” Seth murmured against her mouth, teasing his fingers in over the damp fabric of her robe, tearing it open to reveal the nightgown she was still in from earlier in the day.
   
“Seth, you have no idea how much I want you right now,” Blake confessed thinking about how last night they’d started to really heat things up, but ultimately had opted to put the bulk of passion on hold for a while after his injuries were still bothering him.  Today however he’d armed himself with some pain pills and they day in the water seemed to help with his aches.
   
“I’m hoping it’s as much as I want you because tonight, well tonight Blake, I want us to make up for what we weren’t getting wrapped up in last night--starting with each other,” Seth pulled her to him possessively, his tongue dueling with hers in a heated frenzy.  She whimpered against his kiss, feeling his body pin her against the wall of the house.  His fingers explored her curves wildly sending her pulse racing through the roof.  How she’d wanted to feel this again--to explore this kind of passion and now, well now there was nothing keeping them from letting loose.
   
“Seth…” she broke away from his kiss, “are you sure you’re up for it?”
   
He smiled wickedly before brushing in against her body, giving her a preview of the evening to come.  Dropping his lips down to her neck, he whispered against her excited skin, “You tell me Blake.”
   
“Oh Seth,” she arched her head back, feeling his mouth working it’s magic upon her.  She was so ready to delve into this with him--to explore the passion that had driven her mad with desire again and again in their relationship, but much to her dismay she heard the sound of footsteps from behind where they stood.
   
“Oh uh, excuse me,” a male voice began causing Blake to spring up straighter than before.  Seth immediately did the same turning around to find Ben standing before them looking rather embarrassed.
   
“Ben, what are you doing here,” Blake couldn’t help but squeal, pulling together the edges of her robe to cover her nightgown from his very surprised eyes.
   
“I was looking for Annie and I guess since I didn’t run into her at the main house, I just thought that…well I just…” Ben stammered a bit, “I mean I saw the light and…well, I should get going.”
   
“No, you don’t have to go,” Blake began sensing something was wrong from the expression on Ben’s face.  “It’s just that well, we, just…”
   
“Just,” Ben couldn’t help but smile as his gaze wandered over to Seth once again, “I take it you two got back together, huh?”
   
“Gee, what gives you that idea,” Seth teased in response feeling his embarrassment transforming into amusement with the way his friend was looking at the both of them.
   
“So tell me, is this time for real or am I going to be stuck in the middle again sometime soon?” Ben probed further shifting his focus between the both of them.
   
“It’s for keeps,” Blake announced proudly, taking a step forward to show Ben her ring, “Seth and I are getting married.”
   
“Married,” he repeated blinking back in surprise before eyeing Seth intently, “Married?”
   
“That’s right,” Seth nodded in response, “Blake and I didn’t think that there was any point in stalling any longer.  After what’s been happening, well we decided not to waste anymore time together…”
   
“Well good for you.  I wish I could say the same about Diane and I, but I don’t see anything even remotely close to what’s happening for the both of you happening for us,” Ben sighed heavily shaking his head at the thought of what he was going through with the woman he loved, “That’s kind of why I came here looking for Annie.  Have you seen her around Blake?”
   
“Actually, she had a date tonight,” Blake divulged with a cryptic smile, “She won’t tell you it’s a date, but she and Joseph were going out to dinner and a movie.  Hence, it’s a date.”
   
“Well good for her,” Ben couldn’t help but smile thinking about his aunt’s companion, “I’m glad that one of us is having a decent evening.”
   
A long silence followed as Blake and Seth watched Ben shifting on his feet, clearly uncomfortable and bothered by something.  It didn’t take much for Seth to realize it had more to do with Diane than Ben feeling like the odd man out in the situation he’d stepped into.
   
“Well, I suppose I should be going,” Ben cleared his throat again as Blake and Seth exchanged worried expressions.
   
“Actually, I was just going to go inside and get something warm on.  It’s freezing out here,” Blake announced taking a nonverbal cue from Seth about his need to be there for his friend, “I’m going to go to the mansion and get that thing we talked about.  I should probably be back in a little bit, but if you two want to talk--please go ahead.”
   
With that Blake stepped inside the house, turning on the patio light for both men to talk to one another in.  Ben’s eyes drifted to the door wall before he shook his head.
   
“She’s anything, but subtle, isn’t she?” Ben couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the woman he’d grown up with.
   
“She’s truly one of a kind,” Seth motioned to the table before him, “Want to talk about it?”
   
“Seth, I really don’t want to ruin your evening,” Ben began with a frown.
   
“Trust me, you’re not.  Blake and I will have plenty of together time.  She and I are happy now and that’s something that we want for our friends as well.  I’m sure she’d be saying that to you right now, but instead of her gloating over the fact that Diane’s out of the picture, I think she’s leaving it up to me to see what’s wrong,” Seth confided thinking about his bride-to-be’s hatred for Diane.
   
“Yeah well I think that’s just as well because I don’t want to hear an ‘I told you so’ from anyone right about now,” Ben slumped down into the chair across from Seth.
   
“So spill it.  What’s the story,” Seth probed sending his pal’s need to get it out.
   
“I don’t know,” Ben shook his head again, “I mean everything was wonderful.  Diane and I had this great thing going between us.  Hell, I was going to ask her to marry me Seth.  I went and bought the ring and was planning this big moment when I was going to give it to her.  We were going to go to Florida to spend some time with my parents and while we were down there, well I just kind of hoped everything would fall into place.”
   
“So what happened,” Seth asked again, softening his voice enough while allowing his friend room to speak.
   
“I guess it all started after the shooting.  I mean one second all is going fine and then, well I walked in on Diane and Deidra going at it.  For some reason Diane hates her sister.  I know it’s not really any of my business, but it’s just that when I walked in on them fighting Diane said so many mean and hurtful things to Deidra.  When I watched her lashing out at her sister, well it was like I was seeing a stranger.  For her to be so cold and hurtful--it just wasn’t like the woman I fell in love with so very long ago.”
   
“So what happened?”
   
“I told her that I couldn’t live with that kind of bitterness and anger.  I told her that unless she let go of her hatred for her sister, then things were over,” Ben groaned dropping his head down a bit.
   
“And now you’re regretting saying that?” Seth lifted a curious brow.
   
“Not so much that I regret saying it because I think that Diane needs to let go of that rage to be able to move forward, but the truth to the matter is that I miss her.  I wish like hell that I hadn’t walked away from her.  This has been misery and what’s worse, Diane walked in on me and an associate the other day and she flipped.”
   
“What do you mean she flipped?”
   
“I mean she completely lost it Seth.  She thought that I’d replaced her with someone new and she went off the deep end.  I tried to explain the situation to her, but I was upset myself.  Then to make matters worse she stormed off and now, well now…I can’t stop thinking about her.  I want to go and speak with her--to tell her that this is just stupid, but then at the same time I don’t know if I’m being too hard on her.  I mean maybe she had a valid reason for the way she feels.  I just don’t know and then, who am I to ask her to change?  In loving her, I should love her as she is--not try to make her into something she isn’t,” Ben sighed heavily.
   
“Well, I don’t really see it as you’re trying to change her into something she isn’t.  To me it sounds like you’re merely attempting to help her get over a situation that could potentially keep her miserable for the rest of her life.  I mean, if you’re thinking about settling down and marrying her, then I could see why you would want her to put some kind of value upon family.  Don’t get me wrong, I adore Diane, but she has some hotheaded moments that really have you wanting to strangle her,” Seth continued thinking about his pal’s predicament, “but Ben, if you really love her, then maybe you should talk to her.  You should go to her and explain the situation--not fight about it or place blame.  Maybe after you’ve taken a step back, the two of you can come to some kind of understanding.  Perhaps then and only then can she get over whatever it is that’s keeping her holding onto the hatred for Deidra so that you both can move on with your lives together.”
   
“You know, that actually makes sense,” Ben admitted shaking his head at Seth, “Since when the hell did you become a shrink?”
   
“I call it my gift for insight,” Seth winked back at him, “I think it comes from being on the road to wedded bliss.”
   
“Yeah well if this is what the prospect of being married does for you, then I have to say that you need to stick to it.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this well…” Ben was at a loss for words, “Like this.  I mean to think that you and Blake are really doing it.”
   
“There was a time when I didn’t think we’d even come close to being around one another again, let alone getting married,” Seth reminded him with a sigh, “Sometimes what feels like it’s something to keep you apart forever is really a test of the relationship.  You can either choose to let it break you apart, or you can fight for what you believe in.  Either way, fate has a plan for each one of us.”
   
“Yeah, but I have to wonder if that plan includes a happily ever after for Diane and I,” Ben confessed thinking about Diane and wondering if somehow he could find a way to reach out to her.  Perhaps there would be a way to save their relationship after all.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Diane opened her front door finding Patrick standing on the other side with a wide, teethy grin and a bouquet of red roses in hand.  Stepping in towards her, he offered up the flowers with an even bigger smile than before.
   
“For you,” he explained leaning in to kiss her cheek gently.  “I hope you like them.”
   
“Oh they’re beautiful,” Diane replied with a smile of her own while vowing not to forget the mission for the evening she had.  While her own personal life was stuck in hell, the very lease she could do was try to help Jade regain her life again.  “Just let me put them in some water.”
   
“Not a problem,” Patrick nodded watching her cross over the small living room, “You know Diane, as I said before I really did mean to stop in and see you at the hospital, but I didn’t want things to be too awkward between us.  I mean first when we kind of parted ways, well…it was just…”
   
“Strange,” Diane popped her head out from the kitchen, “I know, but I was hoping that tonight we could work on changing that.  Before, well it was a confusing time in my life.”
   
Patrick nodded taking her words in, “Well I suppose we all have our moments.”
   
“That we do, but tonight let’s hope that we don’t slip into one of them,” Diane sauntered across the room flashing him her sexiest smile in the hopes of enticing him to let his guard down around her.  “So, what’s the plan for tonight?”
   
“You tell me,” Patrick wiggled his brow at her suggestively, “This was your idea, remember?”
   
“Well yes, but I thought maybe you might have some idea on how we could break the ice together,” Diane fingered the center of his shirt suggestively.
   
“Actually I do have quite a few ideas,” he curled his arm around her waist, pulling her in flush against him.  His mouth tipped down towards hers with obvious intent, “but none of those really include leaving the apartment or dinner for that matter.”
   
Diane shifted in his arms uneasily realizing that maybe she was coming on a bit too strong for the time being.  Taking a step back, she cleared her throat again, “You know maybe I should be the one in charge of the plans for tonight.  I mean we don’t want this evening to end prematurely, do we?”
   
“Not at all,” Patrick’s dark eyes tapered off over the lines of her body, “as I have every intention of keeping this one going until the morning hours.”
   
“In that case,” she cleared her throat once again, “What do you say to our going out to the Cadillac Ranch?  I know it’s a bit of a rowdy scene, but I’m in the mood to dance…”
   
“Funny thing,” he tugged her in to him once again before a wide grin spilled over his features, “So am I.”
   
“Good, then Cadillac Ranch here we come,” Diane replied hoping that she wasn’t getting herself into a world of trouble by attempting to entice Patrick into giving her information for Jade.  Hopefully before this night is over, Diane would have something substantial to make a different for her best friend.  If not, well then she’d just have to keep trying.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“What happened,” Elliot questioned in confusion watching Kyle ease Avery down onto the couch before them in the middle of the Denton living room.
   
“I don’t know.  I was just walking up to the house and then I heard something out back.  I went to investigate and I found Avery,” Kyle confessed with obvious worry in his tone when she began to stir before him on the couch.
   
“How did she even get out there,” Cheryl questioned thinking about how they’d been trying to keep an eye on Avery.  “I thought she was sleeping…”
   
“So did I,” Elliot admitted watching as Avery tossed around a bit further.
   
“Russ,” Avery spoke her husband’s name, “Russ…where are you…”
   
“Oh Avery,” Cheryl moved in beside her daughter-in-law, feeling her own tears consume her.  Reaching for Avery’s hand, Cheryl tried to coax Avery out of the nightmare she was clearly having.
   
“Russ,” Avery gasped, her eyes snapping open as she looked up at Cheryl, “Cheryl, he was here.  Russ was here…”
   
“Oh honey, how I wish that were true,” Cheryl bit back on her own tears, “but you were dreaming.  You must’ve been sleepwalking out back and then when Kyle found you…”
   
“Kyle,” Avery repeated turning her eyes to see the man before her, “What are you doing here?”
   
“I’m staying here…at least I hope I am,” Kyle admitted honestly before kneeling in beside her, “You were out back when I pulled up and I was afraid something was happening.”
   
“Kyle, I saw Russ.  He was there out back,” Avery insisted with wide eyes, “He was talking to me--asking me to come to him.”
   
“Avery, no one was out there and as for Russ,” Kyle paused dramatically, his gaze dropping to the floor, “Avery he’s…”
   
“He’s not dead,” Avery sat upright refusing to accept that answer, “Kyle, I saw him.  I heard him.  He was there with me at the hospital and now, Kyle I’m telling you he was out there.”
   
“Avery, I looked around and no one was there,” Kyle shook his head poignantly, “I checked…”
   
“Then check again because you were wrong,” Avery argued turning her focus to Elliot and Cheryl, “Russ is still out there.  He’s alive.  I know it.”
   
“Avery, honey you have no idea how much we wish that were true, but the medical examiner said,” Elliot began seeing how hard she was taking her husband’s death.
   
“The medical examiner was wrong.  Russ is still alive,” Avery brought her hand up over her chest vehemently, “He was out there Elliot.  He was calling for me and I know I didn’t just make that up.”
   
“Avery, we’re not saying you made that up, but given the weight of the emotions you’re feeling right now,” Cheryl offered up painfully watching the expression on Avery’s face change.
   
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” Avery snapped back at the both of them, shaking her head in disbelief, “You think I’ve lost my mind, don’t you?”
   
“Avery, that’s not what we’re saying, but…” Elliot took a step forward.
   
“But it’s what you’re implying.  You don’t think that there’s a possibility that I could be onto something.  You don’t believe me when I tell you that your son is still alive,” Avery’s voice raised with emotion, “What is wrong with you?  Why are you so quick to believe Russ is dead?  How could you do this considering that he’s your son?”
   
“Avery, I think you need to calm down.  This isn’t helping anything if you,” Kyle reached out to her touching her arm gently.
   
“No, I’m not going to calm down,” Avery pushed away from him, her eyes narrowing with anger, “My husband is still alive and just because all of you are choosing to take the easy way out in giving up on that belief, when I know in my heart it’s the truth, then shame on you all.  Shame on you for writing Russ off like that, but don’t for one second think that I’m going to do it because I won’t believe that he’s gone.  I won’t give up on him knowing that he’s still out there needing us now more than ever.  I know he has to be in some kind of trouble…”
   
“Avery, sweetheart, you have no idea how much I would love to believe that is the case, but we all know that this horrible tragedy,” Cheryl began tearfully.
   
“He’s not gone Cheryl.  He’s still alive.  I know it in my heart and in time you’ll all see that.  You’ll all understand what I’m saying, but until then, don’t you think that I’m crazy.  I’m not crazy.  I know in my heart that I saw Russ tonight.  He was here with me.  He’s still here with me,” Avery shouted back at them, “and until the day he’s back in my arms again, I’m not going to stop believing that.  I’m not giving up on him because I sure as hell know he wouldn’t do it on me.  You’ll see!”
   
“Avery,” Elliot started watching Avery march out of the living room in a frenzy.  She stomped down the hallway into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.  Looking to Kyle once again, his eyes were clouded over with confusion, “What happened out there?”
   
“I wish I knew Elliot, but the truth to the matter is that when I went out there, no one was out there,” Kyle admitted honestly thinking of what he saw, “Avery was walking around and then later I found her on the ground.  She passed out or something and I wasn’t sure what happened.  I was afraid that someone hurt her, but when I found her, no one else was there.  She was alone.”
   
“That poor girl,” Cheryl wiped at her tears, “Her heart is breaking and reality is something she won’t let in.  Not that I blame her because I’d much rather believe that our baby boy was still with us.”
   
“Cheryl, honey, we just have to stay strong…for Avery…for Russ,” Elliot wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders hugging her closer to him.
   
“I know, but it’s just so hard sometimes,” Cheryl sobbed into his chest as Kyle heard a knock at the front door.
   
Making his way over to answer the door as Russell’s parents consoled one another with their own grief, Kyle opened the door to find Richard Morrison standing before him.  Richard gave him a brief perusal before clearing his throat.
   
“Who the hell are you,” Richard questioned gruffly.
   
“Kyle Houston,” Kyle offered his hand, “I’m a friend of Russ and Avery’s…”
   
“I see,” Richard nodded politely before maneuvering his way into the house, “Where’s my daughter?”
   
“She’s in her room,” Elliot explained taking note of Richard’s presence.  “I’m afraid she’s not taking this well.  She just had an episode.”
   
“What kind of episode,” Richard asked looking around the group.
   
“She believes she saw Russ,” Kyle offered up.
   
“She what?” Richard blinked back turning his attention to Kyle.
   
“She was out back when I arrived and she’d clearly passed out.  She claims that Russ was here and he was calling out to her,” Kyle continued poignantly, “I really wish there was more than I could do…”
   
“I think we all do son,” Richard sighed heavily before looking to Cheryl and Elliot, “I think I’m going to go in and speak with her.”
   
“I’ll go with you since I think I might know something that might help,” Cheryl decided guiding Richard down the hallway leaving Elliot and Kyle alone with one another.
   
“Damn, I wish that this didn’t happen,” Kyle cursed wanting to take his anger out on something--anything if it meant he could turn back time.
   
“So do I Kyle,” Elliot cleared his throat uneasily, “but since we can’t change it, I was hoping that you could help me understand.  You see while I know that the airport bombing wasn’t part of the plan, well…I realize that my son was up to something before hand.  Grady implied that something was going on behind the scenes and before now I’ve never really had an opportunity to question you on it.  However, I was hoping that maybe you could help provide some answers for me.”
   
“Actually,” Kyle began with a heavy sigh before nodding, “Sir, I believe I owe you that much considering what has happened.”
   
“I’d appreciate that Kyle,” Elliot nodded as Kyle took in a long breath ready to reveal the secrets that had lead up to Russell’s demise.  He just hoped that he’d have the strength to own up to the situation with Russell’s father now that Russell was gone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Brooke sat in her Coral Valley based offices going over some last minute rearrangements for the party she and Marc Ashley were hosting.  While they’d planned on this event happening months ago, it seemed that something had always come up.  Time and time again it appeared that there was always something happening, yet this time Brooke was set on giving Beholder the publicity.  She needed it and she wasn’t about to let her company fail at getting this opportunity again.
   
“We will make it this time,” she vowed from her dimly lit office.  She’d sent her assistant home over an hour ago in the hopes of getting a few more things now, but the office and it’s eerie silence had her less than eager to stick around much longer.  Closing the folder before her, she reached out to turn the light off.  She clicked off the light, looking up to see a shadowy figure before her.  Gasping, she switched the light on again to find a dark, auburn haired woman standing before her.
   
“Well, hello Brooke,” the woman smiled at her sweetly, “I’m so glad that I caught you here.  I hope you weren’t planning on leaving just yet.”
   
“Who the hell are you,” Brooke snarled at her, “and what are you doing sneaking around my offices?”
   
“Actually I wasn’t sneaking around, but more so checking up on you as it seems you’ve been a bit sloppy lately,” the woman explained with a slight scowl before taking a seat across from Brooke, “So I truly hope you’ve got a few minutes for me.”
   
“Look I don’t know who you are, but if this is about Beholder, then you’re going to come back in the morning when office hours are open,” Brooke replied dismissively reaching for her briefcase.
   
“Actually this has nothing to do with Beholder and everything to do with you,” her guest explained, “You see we have a mutual acquaintance and he’s sent me here to discuss the little matter of the elimination of your son-in-law from your daughter’s life.”
   
Brooke paled slightly before regrouping, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
   
“Oh but you do,” the woman chuckled, “as I’m sure you’ve realized by now that our mutual acquaintance has taken it upon himself to make a move in pushing your plans a step forward.  He sent me here tonight to make sure that you were doing the same and not slacking off.”
   
“As I said before, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Brooke repeated watching the woman before her with a skeptic eye.
   
“Then I suppose you won’t understand what this is for either, will you,” she questioned reaching for the bag she’d carried with her.  Pulling it up off of the floor, the woman set it in the center of Brooke’s desk.
   
“What is this?” Brooke questioned wearily.
   
“Why not open up and take a look,” the woman suggested, “I mean I believe this was in part what you were seeking out, no?”
   
Brooke reluctantly moved forward unzipping the bag to find various bundles of cash before her.  Turning her eyes upward, she eyed the woman once again, “Who are you?”
   
“A friend of a friend who came here tonight to tell you, he did his part, now you do yours,” her guest explained before rising up from the chair.  She moved over towards the door, turning around to toss her hair back over her shoulder, “Oh and for future references I will be sticking around town to make sure that everything runs…oh how shall I put this?  Smoothly perhaps.”
   
“Smoothly,” Brooke repeated fingering the money beneath her fingers, feeling the hunger for power growing with each and every touch.
   
“There won’t be any room for mistakes this time as our friend would like you to put a move on getting the wheels in motion so to speak,” she explained before giving Brooke one last look.  “Given what he’s offered you, I would strongly suggest you work on making it happen sooner rather than later.”
   
With that Brooke’s phantom arrival disappeared, leaving Brooke to gush over the little package her companion had delivered.  Reaching into the bag, she pulled out a few bundles of money.  So things were most certainly looking up after all.  Sinking back down into her chair, she reached for her phone.  After two rings the familiar voice answered.
   
“I take it you got my gift,” he spoke smoothly on the other end of the line.
   
“That I did, though you really could’ve done without the middleman in this case,” Brooke explained with a slight frown, “That was taking quite a risk.”
   
“Our being seen together would prove to be a bigger one and given the media frenzy that’s surrounded you and your family, well I just thought we’d skip over that installment of the drama,” he informed her point blank, “We wouldn’t want anyone knowing the truth before it was time, now would we?”
   
“No, not at all,” Brooke agreed licking her lips as she felt a bloodlust consume her.
   
“Good, then I trust you’ve been moving towards the next step with Avery, yes?” he questioned with an eagerness that he hadn’t possessed until now.
   
“I’ve been working on it and with Brant, well the two are closer than ever.  Just the other day he was with her at the hospital while she was mourning that pathetic husband of hers, which by the way I should thank you for eliminating…” Brooke squealed enthusiastically.
   
“What happened to Russell Denton will be nothing compared to what I’ll do to you Brooke if you don’t come through,” he warned in a menacing tone, “I don’t want Brant at her hospital side.  I want him in her heart, in her home and most of all I want him in her bed.  Things can’t be compromised by any lingering traces of her late husband.  Do I make myself clear?”
   
“Of course,” Brooke nodded enthusiastically while fanning herself off with a bunch of hundred dollar bills, “Consider it done.  Avery and Brant will be together one way or another.”
   
“They’d better be because we haven’t much time,” her companion reminded her sharply, “If this is going to work, we need to jump on it.”
   
“We will,” Brooke vowed leaning back in her chair, “and when it all follows through, it’s going to be everything we dreamt about and more.”
   
“It had better be or else we’ll both be out of luck,” her companion warned before hanging up the phone and leaving Brooke to plot out her next plan of action in eliminating the one lingering piece of Russell Denton that was still left behind in Avery’s life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Blake closed her bedroom door behind her before moving towards the stairs of the mansion, armed with a few necessities for her night with Seth.  While she’d planned on them already having been lost in their love for one another, she realized that there was one missing aspect she hadn’t thought about.  After having left Ben and Seth alone to talk, she’d headed up to the main house, to her room to snag the box of condoms she’d kept in her dresser.  How uncomfortable it would’ve been to not be ready for that one if she and Seth had been able to follow through.  Now making her way down the stairs, she noticed Brant just beyond the foyer.  Quickly tucking the things she’d collected inside the jacket pocket she was wearing, she approached him.
   
“Hi Brant,” Blake waved at him quickly, “What are you doing home tonight?”
   
“Blake,” he nearly jumped at the sound of her voice.  Spinning around she could see that he held an empty bottle of vodka in hand.
   
“Brant, what are you doing,” she questioned seeing that he had a box on the floor full of empty bottle.  Suddenly worried about her brother she stepped forward again, “Please don’t tell me you’re drinking.”
   
“No,” Brant admitted shaking his head, “Truth be told I was cleaning out house.  I think it’s about time we got rid of these old things.”
   
“Old things,” she repeated in confusion, “Brant, you just bought this one and that…”
   
“It’s just not really important,” Brant admitted with a slight frown, “I just think right now we should probably not have all of this around the house.”
   
“What are you talking about,” Blake questioned in confusion sensing there was more to the story than what her brother was telling him, “What’s going on?”
   
“Look Blake,” Brant paused eyeing the staircase before reaching out to her arm, “Come with me.”
   
Blake did as instructed wondering where this was all leading as Brant pulled her into the library.  Closing the French doors behind them, Brant faced her with worry evident in his features, “Look Blake, this might not make sense right now, but the truth is that I’m getting rid of that stuff for Ken.  I just don’t think that it’s a good idea for him to have the alcohol around at a time like this.”
   
“I don’t understand,” Blake blinked back at him, “Did something else happen?”
   
Brant raised his hand over his lips to urge her to be quiet before he waved for her to follow him.  Opening the other set of doors, he pointed to the couch in the next room that Ken had passed out on.  As her eyes fell upon him a worried gasp fell from her lips.  Sensing her concern, Brant pulled her back into the library closing the doors once again.
   
“Oh my God.  Brant, is this because of what happened to Caitlin?” she questioned already knowing the answer without saying.
   
“Blake, he’s taking this pretty hard and I’m worried about him.  When I was around earlier, he was drinking and Blake, I’ve never seen him this far gone,” Brant confessed bringing his fingers through his hair, “I’m really worried.”
   
“I knew he’d be taking things hard, but Brant, I guess in all of my happiness, I never thought to really see what’s happening with him,” Blake confessed guiltily.  “I mean I know he needs me, but selfishly I was thinking about my wedding and…”
   
“Whoa, backup,” Brant’s eyes widened in response, “what wedding?”
   
“Seth and I are engaged,” Blake revealed watching her brother’s reaction.
   
“Engaged!  Since when?” he questioned in confusion, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time we spoke about him, you two weren’t even together.”
   
“Yet it didn’t stop you from saving his life,” Blake pointed out matter of fact, “Brant I know you did it because I love him and you know he and I were meant to be together.  I told you that I made up my mind and my heart is with him.  He’s the man for me.”
   
“In that case, I’m happy for your Blake, but if he hurts you again, I’ll kill him myself,” Brant replied pulling her into his arms for an embrace, “I’m just glad that something good is happening for you sweetheart.  You deserve that.”
   
“And so does Ken,” Blake admitted with a soft sigh, “He loved Caitlin so very much and I know this has to be killing him.  I mean I know that my heart has been ripped away from me considering that my best friend is gone, but with Ken…those two were meant to be together…”
   
Brant nodded not adding much more to her statement, “Ken’s got a long, hard road ahead of him Blake and I’m worried about what this will do to him.  Do you remember what he was like when Wendy left?”
   
“I never thought he’d pull himself out of that depression,” Blake thought back to the first time her brother’s heart had been ripped away from him, “When he lost her, he thought it was the end of the world--that is until Caitlin got him to open his heart up again.”
   
“And with Caitlin, there isn’t a way for him to go back and find a way to remedy this situation.  With her dying…” Brant sighed heavily turning his eyes towards the door where Ken was once again, “Blake I’m just so afraid that I won’t be able to help--that we won’t be able to give Ken what he needs right now.  Time and time again when we’ve had a problem Ken has been the rock.  He’s been the one in the family who has held everything together--he’s the one with all the answers and now…”
   
“Now we have to be strong for him,” Blake finished realizing that there was a long, hard road ahead for her brother.  With Caitlin’s death there were so many situations that weren’t around before.  Blake knew that there had to be more going on than met the eye for Brant to express such a worry.  As she thought about the deep despair that Ken felt at the hospital when Caitlin died, she knew that it would be a long time before her brother would ever feel right again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So what do you say to a late night ice-cream stop," Joseph questioned with a small smile leading Annie over to his old store.
   
"Oh I don’t know about that…after dinner, well I think I may have overindulged just a bit," Annie smiled at him, bringing her hand up over her stomach.  "I’m not so sure if…"
   
"You can handle it," he insisted punching in the security code and opening the door to the small store, "Besides the owner and I have a bit of an understanding between us."
   
"You don’t say," Annie smiled following him inside the small store before taking it all in,  "Joe, this place is really amazing."
   
"I’m just glad that Ken was able to see the potential I saw in it," he admitted proudly, "he’s done such a wonderful job with this."
   
"That he has," Annie nodded in agreement before thinking to Ken and his current state of mind, "though I have to admit I’m worried about him Joe."
   
"I can relate all too well what he’s going through," he offered up sadly, "When my wife passed on, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it through another day.  She was my heart and my soul and in losing her, well it turned my world around in so many ways.  There isn’t a day when I don’t miss her."
   
"I’m sure that one day you two will be able to be together again," Annie offered up hopefully, "and when that day comes again, I’m sure she’ll tell you how proud of you she is."
   
"I’m not so sure about that," he sighed heavily, "Don’t get me wrong.  I’ve tried to live my life in such a way to keep things the way I’d promised her I would, but still so many things are different now that she’s gone.  I mean take Susan for example.  She and I are worlds apart.  She loved her mother so much and after her mother died, well Susan just hasn’t been the same since."
   
"Hopefully she’ll find peace with herself one day," Annie offered up reaching out to take his hand in hers, "because I know despite what she’s said and done, you’ve been a wonderful father."
   
"And you’ve been a wonderful mother to those kids Annie.  While I realize that they aren’t your own, you’ve been what they’ve needed in their lives.  You’ve been there through thick and thin and I’m sure that Victoria would be proud," he smiled down at her, "If he saw how wonderful her boys turned out…how Blake grew up to be a beautiful young woman so full of spirit…"
   
"I see that part of Victoria each day with the children," Annie admitted with a small smile, "They are really wonderful and I’m hoping that eventually they will be able to find the peace that’s slipped away from their lives."
   
“I understand that completely,” he nodded walking behind the counter and scooping ice cream into the cone, “That’s what every person wants for their loved ones.”   
   
She smiled as he walked over to her with the ice cream in his hand, “I hope that’s for you.”
   
“It could be, but I was planning on sharing it with you,” he smiled with a slight shrug holding out the ice cream to her. A smirk came over his face as she took a lick of it.
   
Outside, Susan watched from the window outside. As she watched she became angry and furious with her father. She walked over to the door swinging it open.
   
“Susan what are you doing here?” Joseph questioned surprised.
   
“I could ask you the same question. What are you doing here with her?” she spat out.
   
“We’re out for a date,” he lightly got out before Susan gasped.
   
“How could you do this dad? How could you do this after mom died?” she wondered throwing her hands up in the air.
   
“Listen Susan…” he got out before she cut him off.
   
“It doesn’t matter,” she started, “You were never a good father anyways.”
   
Joseph watched as she threw open the door and walked out in a hurry.
   
“Oh my, you should go after her,” Annie worried putting her hand on his shoulder.
   
“I don’t understand…she needs time to cool off. She will understand later,” he assured her.
   
“Are you positive? I don’t want your daughter to be caught in between us,” she stated as she shook his head.
   
“No it’s fine, she will be okay later,” he promised attempting to try to salvage the evening, “Susan just well…she’s had a hard time dealing with things and this, well this is something that goes well beyond us…”
   
“Joe, if you want to talk about it…” Annie started sympathetically.
   
“Not tonight,” he offered up a sad smile, “Can we please just enjoy this?”
   
“Joe,” she opened her mouth to speak up again before finally nodding, “Alright.”
   
“Thank you,” he smiled at her hoping to find a way to salvage the rest of the evening, but knowing full well that Susan’s brief tantrum would be something that would continue to haunt him long after tonight.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grady argued the entire way to the meeting room.  There was no way that he was about to step into that kind of awful situation with Susan again and he didn’t care who he had to argue with to see to it that it didn’t happen.  Spotting Dave up ahead, Grady let out another long protest.
   
“Dave, come here.  Dave, I need to talk to you!” Grady shouted down the hallway.
   
“Quiet down Denton,” the guard grumbled at him.
   
“I’ll take care of this one,” Dave explained stepping in to wave the guard away, “You can go back to work.”
   
“You sure Chief?” the officer asked.
   
“I’m positive,” Dave nodded again dismissing the man before him.  Once Dave was sure the man was out of earshot, he addressed Grady once again, “You and I need to talk.”
   
“Look Dave, I don’t know if you know what happened earlier, but if Susan is in there waiting with a bag of tricks…”
   
“This isn’t about Susan,” Dave replied taking Grady’s handcuffs off and opening the door before them to reveal a darkened room, “Let’s just say you owe me huge.”
   
With those words Dave urged Grady into the room closing the door behind him.  Grady spun around wondering what had happened to the lights when suddenly he spotted a small candlelit area of the room.  Taking a step forward he tried to adjust his eyes to the quick change, but still he was completely baffled by the scene before him.  Moving in closer he noticed a small table had been set up in the corner of the room and beside the candle lay what appeared to be a romantic dinner for two.
   
“Did you really think I’d go home tonight without getting to see you,” Jade’s voice rose from the darkness.  Turning around Grady spotted Jade close to him, a soft smile spreading over her features.
   
“Jade,” he gasped her name reaching out to pull her into his arms.  Hugging her tightly, he felt as if the weight on his shoulders had been lifted.  “Thank God you’re here.  About before…”
   
“I know it was all Susan,” Jade explained turning her sad eyes upward, “I know that you had nothing to do with her madness.”
   
“I don’t know what she was trying to do, but…” Grady began desperately.
   
“But it didn’t work.  Grady, I love you,” Jade confessed tipping up on her toes to throw her arms around him, “and the thought of being without you tonight was driving me mad.”
   
“But how did you get in here?  How did you…” Grady blinked back at her.
   
“When Dave saw me kick Susan’s ass, he said he didn’t want me leaving the station until I was calm.  Apparently he realized that the only thing that would calm me down other than my taking you home with me, was to be with you tonight.  He helped me put all this together,” she confessed with a sheepish grin, “and while I’ll admit it’s not exactly the most romantic of places to be, I was hoping that maybe together we could salvage this night.”
   
“We can more than do that,” Grady nodded in agreement sweeping her into his arms as he tried to lock in every second of their stolen moments together, “Jade, I love you so much.”
   
“I love you too Grady and I swear to you that we’re going to find a way to win this one,” Jade promised behind tear-filled eyes, “We’ll get you home soon and when we do, well nothing is ever going to stop us from being together.”
   
“Jade, you just have to face the fact that I might not…” he began feeling her press her finger against his lips to silence him.
   
“Tonight we’re going to try to ignore the fact that we’re in a police station--that at any time someone could walk in and chew us out for this.  Tonight, we’re just going to enjoy one another’s company and be thankful that Dave is on our side,” Jade suggested desperately.
   
“Tonight, there’s nothing I could want more,” Grady confessed ready to share this evening with the woman he loved all the while knowing that if Cameron had his way, the time Grady and Jade would spend together in the future would be far and few.  He just prayed that somehow, someway someone would be able to help him clear his name before he lost his freedom forever.

 

...to be continued...