4

Jennifer cleaned off her desk as she got ready to leave for home.

"Good night Jennifer!" Andy called out as he walked passed her desk.

Jennifer just looked up and smiled. "Good bye Andy," she replied.

Andy stepped back as he grabbed his coat. "I think Les needs something before you go," he announced.

"Oh?" she asked as she looked up at him.

"Yeah, he needs you to settle some kind of argument that he and Bailey are in. Something about stealing his stories," Andy said.

She just stared at him with a blank expression. "Okay," she said and then grabbed her purse and headed towards the office. Herb came from the door and stopped before her. "So, Jennifer, what are you doing tonight?" he asked. She smugly smiled in return. "Not you," she remarked and then continued on her way. Herb turned back and watched her and then looked over at Andy who was smiling. "Was that called for?" he asked.

"What do you think Herb?" he asked.

"It's not my fault if her mind's in the gutter," Herb answered and then walked into Mr. Carlson's office. Andy just shook his head and left.

"Now Herb! I don't want to hear it," Mr. Carlson said as he walked out and closed the door behind him. As he walked out, Jennifer walked out with Bailey and Les. "Now Les, I'm sure that if it was your turn at if wasn't going on right then, that Bailey would have let you handled the story," she explained.

"Believe me, I would have," Bailey said getting annoyed.

"But it's not everyday day that a pig runs loose in the city roads Bailey! Can you imagine how long it will be until another event like that happens?" he asked.

"Les, I'm sorry, I don't know how many times I need to tell you that, but I'm sorry, you were busy and it was my turn, so how about tomorrow," she stopped and thought about what she was saying, "you take all my turns for me."

"Okay," Les reluctantly agreed. Bailey rolled her eyes and then said goodbye to Jennifer and left.

"Good bye Mr. Carlson," she said waving to him as she noticed him by the coat stand. He was staring out the door towards Les and Bailey. "I guess he never will get used to sharing the news will he?" he asked.

"No, I guess he won't," Jennifer said.

"Well, see you Jennifer," he said and then walked out the door.

Herb stayed in Mr. Carlson's office and stood over by the desk as he was looking for something.

"I think every one else besides Venus has left if you're ready," Johnny said. Herb perked his head up as he stared towards the door.

"Well," she was hesitant. "I guess now is as good a time as ever."

Herb immediately walked over to the door and stood with his ear against it. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Something wrong?" Johnny asked.

"Well, I don't know," she said.

Herb stepped back and cautiously opened a small crack in the door just big enough for him to see through. He could see Jennifer sitting in her that was turned away from the desk as Johnny stood before her. Jennifer looked worried about something. Almost like she was about to cry.

"But this morning you sounded like you wanted this over with as soon as possible," he said. He was starting to get irritated, but tried to hide it since he didn't want to upset her. She already looked vulnerable. He knew there was something wrong, he just needed her to tell him.

"I know," she said as she stood up and walked over towards the opposite side of the room.

Johnny sighed as he looked down. "Okay, let's try this again," he said and then looked up "is there something wrong?" he gently asked. Jennifer slowly turned and faced him. She could hear the concern in his voice and it seemed to help her a little.

Herb wanted so badly to rush out there, but he knew that if he did, they would stop talking. That they would simply yell at him to get out.

"There is something wrong," she said and then looked down. She could feel him watching her as he waited for her answer. "Last week I ran into this weirdo at the store. He asked me out and I turned him down. He was upset, which I expected, but I didn't know how upset until I realized that he had started stalking me. I wanted to call the police, but I was afraid that he somehow watching me and that he would hurt me if I did," she said as she nervously stared into the distance. "And then I figured that maybe if I could show him that I was married that he might leave me alone," she explained.

"There was more to last night then I thought," he said.

"Actually, I don't remember last night, but I guess that would make it a lot easier for me to agree to get married. I probably told you the story," she said.

"We can hold off an the annulment for a while if that's what you want," he said.

"Thank you," she said staring down towards the ground as she tried to hold back tears.

"You want to stay with me tonight?" he asked.

Herb crossed his fingers as he hoped that she would say no. That she would turn him down.

"You promise not to try anything?" she asked.

Johnny thought about that for a minute. "I guess," he said with defeat.

Jennifer softly smiled. "Thank you," she said.

Herb cringed. He couldn't take it anymore. "No! You can't stay with him! He won't keep his promise! My wife will be home! I'll have to behave!" he yelled out.

They both froze as they stared at him. Johnny didn't mind so much that he knew, but it was killing Jennifer. "What are you doing here?" she asked trying to keep her self from yelling.

"I was just looking for something," he said.

Jennifer just stood there and stared. She had known that he would have listened if he were there, and she did think that every one had left. She then looked up at him. "Please Herb, don't tell any one else," she begged.

"Promise," he said as he held his hand up.