DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but Julianna. Mark VII and NBC Universal own everything else.

When we last left the Gage's, Johnny found a note from Julianna telling him she was sorry, but she had to leave. She threw her bags into her car and headed down the highway. When we left Johnny, he was watching out the window, wondering what he'd done. Julianna was on her way to San Francisco. We pick up at those moments.

Joanne and Roy convinced Johnny to sleep at their house, knowing he'd never rest if he went home to an empty house. Johnny had protested, saying he needed to be there when Julianna came home, but that argument had fallen flat because he knew she wasn't going to come home that quickly.

As Johnny lie on the couch, he thought about how much it reminded him of high school. The girl he loved had left him. The only difference, was this time, they were married.

Behind their closed door, Roy asked Joanne what she thought happened.
"She panicked," Joanne said.
Roy looked at his wife. "Panicked?"

"Something happened and Julianna couldn't handle it. And she won't be easy for Johnny to find," Joanne said.
"I just can't believe she'd do this to him, again," Roy said.
"I know and my heart breaks for Johnny, but also for Juli. Something happened and she can't tell Johnny. We have to be there for him. He's going to need everyone," Joanne said.

Roy nodded and wrapped his arms around his wife. He stared at the wall and wondered what could have happened between them to cause Julianna to flee LA and the man she loved desperately.

Julianna turned off the highway at the right exit and drove another five miles to her former apartment building. Wincing at the late or, more precisely, early hour, she grabbed a suitcase and rang the bell for Bob and Beth's apartment.

Without a word, the door to the building clicked and Julianna entered the building and went to the third floor. Her apartment had also been on the third floor, just across the hall from where Beth and Bob were living now.

Before she could knock, the door opened and her friend's large frame filled the doorway.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do," she said, tears falling again.
Bob ushered his friend inside and wrapped her in a hug. "It's OK, Juli-bird. Now, will you tell me what happened? I never thought you'd walk out on Johnny. What did he do," Bob asked.
"He didn't do anything. At least not directly," Julianna said.
Bob guided her to the couch and Julianna looked at him and took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant," she said.
Bob's look of alarm and concern morphed into one of happiness. "That's great. But why are you here instead of with Johnny. I'm sure he's excited," Bob asked.
"Don't you understand, I'm pregnant. For the third time," Julianna said.
Bob stared at her, not getting the point.

"I miscarried Johnny's baby twice now. I didn't tell him I was pregnant. No one knows except my doctor and now you," Julianna said.
"Why didn't you tell him," Bob asked.
"Because I tell him and something happens, he'll never forgive me. I'll never forgive myself if I deliver that happy news only to tell him that he won't be a daddy. I'll lose him for sure and I can't handle that," Julianna said, before breaking down into sobs.

"Hey, what makes you think that? Johnny loves you. You should be sharing these fears with him. You should be sharing this news with him," Bob said.
"I couldn't handle telling him about the baby if there isn't going to be a baby," she said.
Bob knew Julianna believed she was doing the right thing to save her and Johnny the pain, but Bob wanted to call Johnny and tell him his wife was in his apartment and he needed to get her. But seeing the genuine fear in her eyes, he couldn't do it.
"OK. We'll talk about this tomorrow. Beth has the guest room ready for you, so why don't you go and get some sleep. I'll talk to you in the morning," Bob said. "Well, later this morning."

Julianna shared a hug with her friend and headed to the guest room. She changed into a nightgown and fell asleep, exhaustion from the emotion leaving her drained.

A few hours later, the sun peeked through the curtains in the DeSoto living room and fell across Johnny. He wasn't asleep. He was sitting on the couch with a glass of milk, trying to understand the situation that had suddenly befell him.

He wiped his face with the back of his hand, still unable to fathom what had happened. He pulled the note out of his back pocket and placed it on the coffee table. He knew everything the note said and nothing indicated what happened between them or where she might have gone.

Roy came down to the living room and spied his friend on the couch. Roy knew Johnny was lost. He'd never seen his friend in such a state and didn't know how to comfort him.
"Morning, Johnny," Roy said.
Johnny looked at Roy. "Morning," he replied with no emotion.

"Do you want some breakfast," Roy asked, trying to help.
"Not hungry," Johnny replied.

Roy leaned against the doorway between the living room and kitchen. He was about to speak when the doorbell rang. Roy knew Mike would be on the other side of the door. Roy had called Mike after he and Joanne had left Johnny alone. Mike said he'd be at the house first thing.

Roy went to the door and let his friend into the house. "What's going on," Mike asked Roy. Roy ushered Mike into the living room where Johnny was still sitting on the sofa, staring at a random spot on the wall. Mike sat down next to him.
"What happened," he asked his brother-in-law.

Without saying a word, Johnny handed Mike the note Julianna had left on the fridge.

Mike took the note and read it, his face a mixture of shock, anger and sadness.

"You don't have any idea why she left," he asked.
Johnny shook his head. He got off the couch and went to the back door and looked out at the yard. "I don't know what happened, Mike. We didn't have a fight. She wasn't mad at anything that she told me about. I thought everything was fine. We were talking about our future; maybe having a baby. I guess I missed something," Johnny said, not looking at either man in the room.

Mike got up and paced Roy's living room. Joanne had come downstairs and was in the kitchen making coffee. She stood just inside the kitchen, listening to the men in the living room.

She didn't understand what had happened, but she knew Julianna had panicked about something. The problem was, Julianna hadn't told Joanne what was bothering her before she left. Joanne had a feeling the Bob and Beth knew what was going on, but, if they were like Joanne's close friends, wouldn't reveal anything if Julianna asked them to keep quiet. Joanne hoped Julianna would realize that she needed to trust her husband and her friends and come home.

"Did you call everyone," Mike asked.
Johnny turned around and faced him. "I called everyone I could think of and no one knows anything."

Mike shook his head. He didn't want to think his sister had taken off and not told him anything, but if she was having a problem, she might not want him around.

"What are you going to do," Mike asked.
Johnny shrugged his shoulders. "She's an adult, so the police won't help because she left on her own accord. I guess I'll just have to search every place I can think of until I find her. I won't give up until Julianna is back at home and SHE tells me she wants out. She has to tell me she doesn't love me any more because I won't believe it until I hear her say it," Johnny said.
Neither man said anything. Johnny turned to Mike. "I'm going to head home and shower and think. If you hear from her PLEASE tell me. I just have to know, even if she doesn't want to talk to me. I just have to know she's OK," Johnny said.
Mike nodded. "Of course. If I hear from her, you'll be the first person to know," Mike said.

"Thanks for opening the door at 2 in the morning. If you hear from her, will you call me," Johnny asked his best friend.
"You bet. Do you need anything," Roy asked.
Johnny shook his head. "Can you bring Julianna back? I'll let you know," Johnny said before ducking out of the room and out the door.

Roy and Mike watched Johnny walk out the door. When the door shut behind him, Roy looked at Mike.
"Do you know what happened," Roy asked Mike.
Mike shook his head. "No. I don't know what my sister is thinking. I talked to Juli two days ago and, while she seemed a little tired and maybe a little down, she said it was all the work she was doing at the hospital. I had no idea she was thinking of leaving Johnny. If I had, I'd have talked her out of it. Believe me," Mike said.
Roy poured Mike a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter. He thought about the last time he'd seen Julianna. He'd headed to the hospital to deliver his training schedule to Julianna. He knew Johnny had delivered his schedule to her already and wanted to get the new students scheduled as soon as possible. Julianna had been in her office and had seemed happy to see him, but he noticed how tired she had been.

"Hey, Juli. Here's my schedule," Roy had said.
"Thanks. I should get the students plugged in to the appropriate spots. I'm so glad you and Johnny agreed to be the field supervisors for these guys. Mike's letting several work out of his shift, especially since Gil moved to A-shift. I'll know my students are getting what they need from the right people," she had said, taking the schedule and placing it in a folder among the many on her desk.
Roy looked at her and asked, "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. I'm just tired. I'll be glad when Kel comes back because I'm exhausted. His first shift is tomorrow and I plan to ask for some time off. I feel like I haven't seen Johnny or Mike while I've been working so much," she said.
"Is that everything? You and Johnny are OK," Roy asked. He didn't talk to Johnny everyday like before, but they still talked and, while Johnny had said everything was fine, Roy wanted to make sure.
"Johnny and I are great, Roy. Really. No complaints. Except that we haven't seen much of each other lately. But that will change and I intend to spend as much time with him as I can," Julianna said.
"You sure everything is OK," Roy questioned.
"Yes, Roy. Johnny takes great care of me and I can only hope I do the same for him. Everything is fine," Julianna said.
Roy was convinced she and Johnny were on solid ground, but something nagged him. He felt like something was off with Julianna and he made a note to check up on her and Johnny more often.

"OK. Think you and Johnny can come by for dinner sometime soon? Joanne was talking about how she hadn't seen much of you these days," Roy said.
"Tell her to call me Friday. I should know what Johnny's schedule will be like. His overtime is ending tonight," Julianna said.
Roy was about to say something else, when Julianna's phone rang. "I'll tell her. Take care of yourself. Tell Johnny I'll talk to him later," Roy said.
"I will," Julianna said, before waving and picking up her phone.

Roy headed out of the hospital and drove home. He was slightly worried about his friend, but she had assured him she was fine. He hoped, if there was a problem, Johnny would tell him. He made a mental note to talk to Johnny about it when he called.

Roy wondered what had happened after he left the office and wondered if Julianna had been given news that she couldn't handle or if Johnny had done something, unintentional, that caused her to flee LA.

"Do you have an idea where she might have gone," Roy asked Mike.
"Well, she isn't at mom and dad's because they are on their around the world trip. I don't think she'd head to their apartment, even though she has a key," Mike said.
"Johnny called Dixie, so she's not with Kel and Dixie. I can't understand any of this, Mike," Roy said.
"I can't either. Maybe she went to San Francisco. Bob and Beth are there and, despite Bob's marriage, I know he cares a great deal for Juju and would do anything for her if she asked," Mike said.
"You gonna call him and find out," Roy asked.
"Maybe Bob knows something," Mike said.
"Do you have his number," Roy asked.
"Barb has it. She and Beth were really good friends too before Beth moved with Bob. I'll go home and call him. Will you call everyone else you can think of, see if they've seen my sister," Mike asked.
"Will do. Call me with any news," Roy said.

Mike headed out the door and Roy went to the phone. He called everyone he could think of, but no one knew where Julianna had gone or what had happened. Roy hoped Mike found out something soon.