-1I do not own Saved By The Bell. Neither do I own any of the original characters or storylines referred too. They all belong to Peter Engel/NBC productions. Neither am I anything to do with those companies. This is just a story by a fan of the show for other fans of the show. Neither is this story meant to express any personal political views, everything that happens is purely for the purpose of the story only.

Chapter Ten

A Stressful Time

Sat in the ice-cream parlour, Zoe happily eating her mint choc chip sundae, Jessie and Slater had both switched their phones off again for a while.

'If anyone wants us they can wait for an hour', Jessie had said.

'All I seem to get is news that's not the best anyway', Slater said, trying to be discreet in front of Zoe.

'You not going to have any ice-cream Slater?', Jessie asked.

'I'm not hungry Jessie.'

Jessie was trying not to show how worried she was, but she was sure Slater hadn't eaten properly for days.

'How about some coffee then?'

'Jessie, I told you, I don't want anything, leave it', he gave her a warning look.

She was going to have to talk to him later, after Zoe was in bed. She had a long day ahead of her the next day herself, a long day in court looming, but right now, all she could think about was making sure Slater was okay. Well, as okay as anyone could be with someone trying to destroy a business you half owned. Plus in two days time it was Janine's anniversary and that was always a hard day anyway.

Then Jessie remembered, the script for the movie about Janine's life was still lying unread on their coffee table, neither of them yet having had the chance to look at it. Perhaps that was something to do once Zoe was in bed. She knew Dan was already waiting to hear their views on it.

Jessie was glad they had brought the car to pick Zoe up from school today, because Slater looked like he had barely energy left, even for the short walk home.

'I'm driving', Jessie insisted 'Your not up to it and you know it.'

'For once , I'm not going to argue with you. I'm exhausted Jessie', Slater admitted.

'Come on, Zoe' s enjoyed her ice-cream, lets all go home and get some rest now.'

'Maybe no rest after all', Slater said when he switched his phone back on and read the text messages and heard the voicemails. They had again done three gyms during opening hours, this time , one in San Francisco, one in Seattle and one across the border in Vancouver. Nobody was hurt, but it would only be a matter of time before that changed if this kept on, surely it was inevitable.

After Slater put Zoe to bed, he watched the news item again with Jessie.

'The managers of those branches can deal with it this time, I'm not rushing off to these places anymore. I've got enough to do with all the paperwork, never mind negotiating membership transfers to alternative gyms. Not that that will be a problem much longer. So many clients have cancelled their memberships with us and who can blame them? Would you want to go to a gym where it is highly likely that someone might try and set fire to the place while your running your five miles on the treadmill?'

Slater was now going through mountains of paperwork he had to sign for the insurance company.

'Why don't you put it away Slater? Tackle it tomorrow when you've had some more sleep?'

'Whats that again? I think I've forgotten wha a good nights sleep is like.'

'Why don't you take a look at the script Dan Taylor sent over instead?'

'I can't Jessie, I've got to get this done.'

Jessie gave up and took out her own laptop. She had a big case in the morning and she knew she wasn't going to get through to Slater tonight.

In the morning Slater got a call from the accountants, for the first time ever, Sampson gyms was operating at a loss and was running at more of a loss as every day went by. Things were looking more grim than ever. Back at the office in the LAX gym, he spent his time refunding memberships to thousands of members whose local gyms had been burnt out. Then he was taking calls from members of still operational gyms that wanted to become ex-members and cancelling their memberships. No wonder Sampson gyms were going down the tubes fast.

Slater was using the LAX office now, because it was the only place safe from attacke, surrounded by the security of a busy airport.

Then he got a phone call from the captain of the college wrestling team.

'Hi Slater, any news on where we can train this week since the main gym went up in smoke?'

'To be honest, Simon, I'm not sure. None of our local gyms have the same facilities.'

'Then we may have to look for another coach with access to better facilities, but they won't be as good as you.'

'Whats wrong with your college coach and your campus gym?'

'Our coach should have given up years ago, that's why we came to you. And our campus sports facilities probably haven't been updated since you were in college yourself.'

'I'm sorry Simon , if there was a way I could still coach you guys I would.'

'Perhaps we could arrange for you to come on to campus and coach us, at least you could still coach us that way.'

Reluctantly Slater agreed to get down to the college campus the following morning for a training session and to do so regularly. Though the last thing he felt like doing right now was wrestling. But at the same time, he didn't want to let them down and the money was much needed right now.

On the day of Janine's anniversary, as usual, Slater stayed behind after his parents had left the cemetery. That was when he spoke to Janine like he always did.

'I still miss you Sis. It don't get any easier as the years go by. We just learn a little more how to live without you. Their going to make a film about you and what a hero you were. Soon everyone in the world will know what an amazing sister I had.'

On the way home, he switched on the radio in the car and then wished he hadn't. This time their had been a ram raid on the Sampson gym in Denver and another arson attack on their gym in Calgary. Just as he was about to switch the radio off, they got more news in , firefighters were currently attacking a large blaze at one of the Sampson gyms over in central London. He didn't know how he got through that drive home, but somehow he did. Surely this all had to stop soon, surely they had to have an idea on someone to make an arrest. But so far the police hadn't come up with anything at all. He was also sure that soon they would have achieved what they set out to do anyway and destroyed the entire Sampson gym chain completely.

He arrived home the same time Jessie came in with Zoe from school.

'We picked up some Chinese takeaway on the way home', Jessie told him.

But as they all sat down to eat together, it was only Jessie and Zoe that ate, Slater just pushed his food round the plate, he still couldn't eat a thing.

'Zoe , before you go to bed, why don't you read out loud from your book for Daddy? Then you can tell your teacher how good you were with your homework tonight.'

Jessie just hoped that would take Slater's mind off everything for a little while. While they did that Jessie finished reading Dan Taylor's script and had to agree with her parents in-law that it was real gripping stuff and as accurate as possible.

Later on, when Zoe was in bed asleep and when they couldn't bare to watch or listen to the news anymore, Jessie broached the subject of the script again.

'Slater, I think you will be really pleased with this script.'

'Jessie, I really don't want to read that now, especially today.'

'Perhaps you should read it, especially because its today.'

'Oh, you do remember what day it is then?'

'Of course I know what day it is. What was that supposed to mean?'

'It means where the heck were you? The cemetery. Why weren't you there? We always meet there every year.'

'Because you hadn't mentioned it. I presumed maybe you didn't want me to come along this year.'

'I have had other things on my mind. Besides I shouldn't need to remind you about the most important date on the calendar.'

'Oh really, what about our wedding day, our daughters birthday?'

'Don't start that Jessie, changing the subject, you know I didn't mean it like that.'

'That's what you implied. And yet here you are making such a big deal and you won't even read the script that's going to tell the world who she was.'

'You always do this don't you Jessie. Try and turn it round. You should have been there and you weren't. Why?'

'I already told you.'

'Not good enough Jessie. Even the captain of the college wrestling team text me to say he was thinking of me today. You didn't say a word when you left this morning.'

He was taking it out on her and he knew it, but he couldn't help it. He had really needed her at the cemetery earlier and she hadn't been there.

'Slater with everything else going on, I just didn't think you would want reminding of Janine's anniversary as well.'

'Like I need reminding, unlike someone else I know.'

'I told you Slater, I didn't forget. I know what a difficult day this always is for you.'

'Strange way of showing it, you really have.'

'Slater, what do you want me to do?'

'Nothing, its what you didn't do.'

Slater switched the baseball match on loud then and she booted up her computer, though she couldn't really concentrate on her work. She was glad she had no more court cases for a couple of weeks. She had plenty of emails enquiring after her services though. When she thought Slater may have calmed down, she shut her computer back down and went over to where he was pretending to watch the baseball match.

'Slater, I'm sorry I got it wrong about the cemetery today.'

Without saying a word he pulled her towards him and pulled her tight in his arms.

'I'm sorry Jessie, I shouldn't have taken it out on you.'

'It's okay, I know this is always a tough day, never mind whatever else is going on.'

'If only everything was okay'.

'Slater listen to me, I'm okay , your okay, Zoe's okay, that's what matters.'

'Doesn't keep a roof over our heads though does it?'

'No, the profits from the hotel pay for the small mortgage we took out for what we didn't pay in cash. As long as the hotel is fine, we will be fine. I think my husband needs a good nights sleep and some decent rest though'.

'Some hope of that'.