Disclaimer: You'll recognize select scenes and dialogue from the Season Two finale in here. ABC owns everything. I own nothing. This is simply their story taking a slightly different turn in my imagination.

Chapter One

Janet pulled into Sully's and rested her head on the steering wheel. The tears were going to come sooner or later, she knew that. She didn't know how to stop them. So why was she coming to her workplace, where everyone would inevitably see her and start gossiping?

Because she couldn't bear to go home to an empty house. She had tried to reach Pizza Girl, but she had to work tonight. Hannah had immediately wanted to come over when she heard how upset Janet was, but when Janet remembered her friend was in the middle of a soon-to-be family dinner with Ray and Sam, just the three of them, she assured Hannah she'd be fine and told her not to worry. Janet didn't even tell her what she had witnessed on Eddie's porch. She didn't want her problems to ruin Hannah's night the day before her engagement party.

Yeah, I'm fine alright, she thought as a tear fell down her cheek. Never been better.

Janet walked inside and ordered a shot of tequila.

Two hours and what felt like half a bottle of tequila later, Janet stood up to go home. Rooster immediately grabbed her keys.

"You're not driving anywhere tonight, Janet. Hang out here for another half hour. I'll bring you some coffee, and drive you home after we lock up for the night."

Janet shook her head in agreement. "Thanks Rooster."

When Rooster left to get the coffee, Janet looked around. Even in her drunken state of mind, she could tell half the bar was looking at her. Worse, she knew they were talking about her as well. Just as she resolved to ignore it, she overheard the conversation one table over.

"Look at her. No doubt drowning her sorrows over Latekka. But did she really think he'd stick with her when Rory's back in town?"

That was the last straw for Janet. Forgetting Rooster and her coffee, she walked out the door.

It's not that long of a walk home, she thought to herself, and started walking.

Having put Sam to sleep for the night, Hannah walked back downstairs and joined Ray on the couch.

"What's on your mind Hannah Jane?"

"I just can't get that phone call with Janet out of my head."

"I thought she told you everything was fine."

"That is what she told me. It's what she didn't tell me that I'm concerned about. I could hear it in her voice, Ray. Something was wrong."

"Hannah, I think you're overreacting. If something was wrong, Janet would tell you."

"On a normal day, yes she would. But this is the night before our engagement party, and she knew I was having a special dinner with you and Sam. I know Janet, she wouldn't have wanted to interrupt that."

"So give her a call now."

"I just did, she's not answering at home or on her cell," Hannah paused. "Would you mind staying here with Sam while I go check on her?"

"Tell you what," Ray kissed her cheek. "I'll drive by her house on my way home. If her car's in the driveway and the lights are off, I'll call and let you know. She's probably already asleep. If the lights are on and it looks like she's home, I'll come back here to stay with Sam so you can drive over there."

"Thanks Ray."

"Anything for you, Hannah Jane."

Darn, Janet thought as she looked at her cell phone. Forgot to charge it again. Oh well, probably better off not to have access to a phone right now, she realized. Her luck she'd drunk-dial Eddie, and wouldn't that be great. She could just picture it:

Eddie, is that your phone?

Forget it Rory, its no one important.

Her mind lost in pain and anger over just what might be so important to him right now, she barely heard the noise in the trees to her left.

Just my imagination. Knight's Ridge is probably the safest town in America, she assured herself. Still, she was starting to wish she hadn't cut through the backroads just to save an extra five minutes on her walk home.

When she heard the noise again, closer this time, she knew it was not just her imagination. Instantly sobering up, she started to walk faster. But even as she pulled her cell phone back out in the hope that her battery had magically recharged itself, she heard the voice behind her.

"Hi Janet."

"Janet! Are you alright? Janet, wake up!"

Janet opened her eyes to see Ray crouched over her. She didn't know how long he had been there. She didn't know how long she had been there. All she knew was that her body hurt more than it ever had before.

"Janet, can you hear me?"

Mutely, she nodded her head. Except even that small movement sent a wave of pain through her body.

Ray pulled out his cell phone and called for help.