With another pull, Vicki found herself at what seemed to be Mike's house. The sound of a baby crying and children fighting resounded throughout the large house. A woman, a pretty woman, came into the living room where Vicki and Dagon stood unnoticed. On her hip was an infant, no more than a year. It was a beautiful little girl, the spitting image of Mike. Two boys about four and five came barreling into the living room screaming and chasing each other.

"You're under arrest," the older one yelled, another mini-Mike.

"You'll never take me alive," the younger one yelled. This one looked just like his mother.

"Boys! Stop running and yelling in the house, go wash up for dinner," the woman admonished them.

"Yes ma'am," the boys dutifully replied but not before they older one said, "next time, you're all mine." The boys both giggled and took off to get ready for dinner.

"Nice digs, great kids too," Vicki took notice.

"Yes, what a quaint little family," Dagon told her.

"What's the catch?" Vicki asked. The PI in her could tell something was going on but wasn't quite sure what it was.

"What do you mean?" Dagon tried unsuccessfully to sound innocent.

"For one, look at her face," Vicki pointed to Mike's wife, "that's the look of a sad woman. Secondly, it looks as if Mike isn't home too much, that's a sad man. If you're home life is great, why stay gone?"

"You are quite astute, you're good at your job," Dagon offered.

Just then, Mike came through the front door. With a sigh, he hung up his coat and made his way to the living room.

"Ugh Mike, you didn't bring home those files again did you? I told you to stop bringing that shit in the house, Junior and Shelton don't need to see that, here take Katie," his wife handed the baby to him. Mike's face lit up as he kissed and hugged his little girl.

"Hey there," he said as he sat on the sofa with her, "how's daddy's girl?" Vicki's eyes misted with tears. Seeing Mike as a father touched her heart.

"Rachel, I'm sorry. I've got to solve this case, I'll keep the boys out of it, I promise," Mike told her. Rachel started picking up the scattered toys and clothes and tossing them into an empty playpen.

"Yeah, yeah, same song, different verse, we need to talk Mike," Rachel told him. She was blonde, thin but healthy and had deep emerald green eyes.

"I know, we always need to talk," Mike sighed. He was definitely an unhappy man. Vicki realized they hadn't even kissed when Mike arrived home.

"Wow, this is rough for him," Vicki said softly.

"Do you think your life with him would have been better had you chosen to stay with him?" Dagon asked.

Vicki thought for a moment, "I..I can't say. I'm a little more pigheaded and really not the stay at home kinda mom. But, I never thought of Mike as captain either, it's so demanding but I am proud of him. It's something he's always wanted. How did they meet?"

"You never went to the academy, she did but she chose forensics. They dated, fell in love, got married, etcetera, and this is the end result. She didn't want Mike to become captain, she felt it would be too much for their marriage but there are other issues too."

"Like?"

"You'll see, come on," Dagon moved forward in the evening and into Mike's bedroom.

"Oh no, no, no," Vicki put her hands up, "I so do not want to see them having sex."

Dagon laughed, "I can assure you, that will not be happening between these two."

Vicki noted she said between these two and decided to hang on to that thought.

"…and I'm sick of it Mike! You're not here, not physically, mentally, emotionally, it's as if we don't exist," Rachel yelled.

"Look, my job is demanding, what can I say? You know when we have a big case this happens Rachel, I'm sorry." Mike yelled back.

"When is the last time we had sex Mike?" Rachel folded her arms and stood firm.

"What? Hell..I have no idea," Mike threw his hands up.

"Exactly, you have no idea but I do. It's been two months Mike, TWO months," Rachel held up two fingers for emphasis. This woman was frustrated on several planes.

"Whoa..Mike couldn't go two days when we were together, what the hell…" Vicki whispered unnecessarily.

"You wanna have sex now? Fine, let's have sex Rachel," Mike started removing his clothing, grabbed Rachel and began to kiss her firmly, no compassion, no tenderness and certainly not like a man in love.

"Get away from me!" Rachel pushed him off of her and slapped him.

"Go on Mike, go downstairs to your room, drink your whiskey, do what you always do," Rachel was crying and turned her back on him. Mike grabbed a pillow and left the room stopping for a moment to look at his unhappy wife. His heart ached, he knew he was hurting her but something stopped him from reaching out, that much Vicki could see. Rachel plopped down on the bed and began to sob uncontrollably.

"Man, that sucks," Vicki sighed out. She wanted to follow Mike and Dagon must have sensed it because soon, they were in "Mike's room" as Rachel had referred to it as.

"He sleeps here every night?" Vicki asked. It appeared to be another living area that served as a home office. Mike flopped into his chair and ran his hands through his hair.

"Damn," he muttered. His cell phone was vibrating and when he picked up, he was smiling. This was the first time Vicki had seen him smile since being there.

"Hey, yeah, I'm home, where are you? Uh.." Mike peered toward the door, "I'll make something up. See you in twenty." Mike clicked his phone shut, redressed and told Rachel there was information on the case, he had to go out.

"As usual," Rachel muttered and went back upstairs. Mike got into his car and left so quickly Vicki was stunned.

"Where the hell is he going?" Vicki was frowning and Dagon knew she'd figured it out.

"Not where is he going but who is he going to is the question," Dagon asked.

Vicki growled when she realized the gravity of what Mike was doing…