SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Punette101: Yes it is. Hope this is soon enough.

Iamkagomeiloveinuyasha: Dude! Here ya go.

Bouncerok: Okey-doke. Hope this is soon enough.

Snfan: Thanks. Glad you think so.

Tonee Alto: I take it you like it.

Anne Maxwell: Glad you think so. Of course not, he's a predator. Well, read on.

Windyfontaine: Nice restraint, lol. Of course not, he's a predator. Probably not. Thanks, here ya go. You too.

Supergirl3684: We'll see. Glad you approve.

DISCLAIMER

Belongs to NBC. I only own the plot. I know some of the travel stuff is unrealistic, but it moves the story along. And if anyone's interested, I started a forum in this section called "When You Wake Up In The Morning".

Melanie Morris was primping her hair in front of the mirror when the phone in her hotel room rang. She ignored it and continued fixing her hair. Hey, as long as she had to stay the extra days, she might as well make the most of them. The phone rang again. She rolled her eyes and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Is this Melanie Morris?" a voice asked.

"Yes," the woman confirmed.

"This is Detective Porter with the Bayside Police Department," the voice told her.

"What happened? Are my husband and son all right?" Melanie questioned frantically.

"They're fine, but I am afraid I have some bad news," Detective Porter stated.

"There wouldn't be bad news if they were fine," Melanie shot back. Touché, the detective thought to himself.

"Mrs. Morris, your husband's been arrested for the sexual assault of your son," Detective Porter told her.

"WHAT?" Mrs. Morris exclaimed. Derek wouldn't---that can't be right! She thought to herself.

"We have the statement from your son, Zachary," Detective Porter confirmed. Suddenly, her legs refused to work. Melanie sank onto the bed.

"This---this doesn't make sense. Derek loves Zack. He---he wouldn't---" the woman's confused stammering trailed off as the conversation she had had with her son suddenly came back to her.

"Zack?" she asked.

"Oh, hey, Mom. You havin' a good time?" Zack questioned.

"Oh, it's beautiful out here," she answered.

"That's great, Mom. Um, you're still coming home Monday, right?" Zack checked.

"That's actually what I called to say. My flight got canceled and I won't be able to get another one until Wednesday," she stated.

"Wha---Wednesday?" Zack asked. She frowned, hearing the crack in his voice.

"Zack, is everything okay?" she questioned.

"Everything's fine, Mom. We just really miss you," Zack answered. Melanie gasped softly.

"Mrs. Morris?" the detective questioned.

"Oh, my gosh. How could I have not realized?" she wondered.

"Mrs. Morris, it's okay. None of this is your fault. Your husband was obviously very good at hiding it," Detective Porter said.

"I left Zack alone with him," Melanie stated. Then, "Um, my flight was canceled, I---" her voice trailed off again.

"We can work something out. Just tell us where you are," Detective Porter assured. She did so and he promised her a flight and pickup for later that evening. Melanie hung up the phone and immediately began packing and then left. After she was done, she went about her business, getting the ticket that had been bought for her. When her flight finally came, she was one of the first in line. After the flight landed and she had gotten her bags, she was met by a police officer.

"Mrs. Morris? I'm Officer Carson. Detective Porter asked me to pick you up," the man stated.

"Take me to my son," she demanded. The man led her out to his squad car, and then he drove off. Minutes later, they arrived at a building that the woman was unfamiliar with.

"Where are we?" she wondered.

"The We're Here To Help Hotline. Your son's inside," the man told her.

"Thank you," she said. She grabbed her things, and then hurried in, the man close behind her.

"Zack?" she called, running down the halls. "Zack?" she called again. Hearing his mother's voice, Zack blew out a breath.

"Well, she doesn't sound mad," he noted.

"Zack?" they heard the woman call again, as she came through the door.

"Mom," he said softly, slowly walking up to her.

"Oh, Zack, sweetie. I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so sorry," she said, throwing her arms around her son and pulling him into a hug. He slowly put his hands around her.

"It's okay, Mom. It's okay," he said softly.

"No, it's not. How could I have been so blind to what he was doing to you? How come you never thought you could tell me?" she responded. Officer Carson watched the scene silently.

"Are you kidding? He's your husband. How could I hurt you like that?" he countered. The woman pulled back and grabbed his chin so that he was facing her.

"You're my son. There is nothing more important to me than you---not even your father," she told him.

"He said it would kill you," Zack stated.

"I'm about ready to kill him," Mrs. Morris commented.

"I never thought you'd believe me," Zack admitted hoarsely.

"I will always believe you, Zack," Mrs. Morris assured him.

"Thanks, Mom," Zack said softly. Then, "Can---can we go home? I just---I just wanna get some sleep."

"Oh, Zack. I'm sorry, man. It has been a long day for you, hasn't it?" a man apologized. Mrs. Morris looked at him in confusion.

"By the way, who are you?" she questioned.

"I'll explain everything at home, Mom," her son promised. Then, Zack wiggled out of the embrace and gave Kelly a quick kiss on the forehead.

"I'll talk to you later, okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure. Just take your time," she told him.

"Do you want us to come over later, or---" Jessie began to ask.

"I'd like to spend some time alone with my mom," Zack interrupted.

"Yeah, of course. Take your time," Kelly repeated.

"Let's go, Sweetie," Mrs. Morris said.

"I'll take you home," Officer Carson offered.

"That'd be great," Mrs. Morris commented. The trio walked out. Except for the woman giving directions, the ride home was silent.

"Do you want me to stay?" Officer Carson queried.

"We'll be all right, thank you," Mrs. Morris answered.

"Okay. Here's my card. Call if you need anything," the officer stated, handing the woman a business card.

"Thank you," she said. He tipped his hat and then went on his way. Zack and his mother went inside, where they sat down on the couch.

"I'm almost afraid to ask you how you're doing because I know that'd be a stupid question," she said.

"I'm actually doing okay," he told her. "I mean---you and Kelly believe me---that's enough," he continued.

"Zack, when did this all start?" Mrs. Morris questioned.

"Mom---you---you don't want to know that. It'd just hurt you even more," Zack fudged.

"Zachary," Mrs. Morris said firmly. Yikes. My full name, he thought to himself. He blew out a breath and began his story.