The sunlight filtered in the windows forcing Ann's tired eyes open and she sat up with a start. How long had she slept? Was there any news on Emma? Why hadn't anyone woken her up? Where was Bobby? Had he actually been here? She swung her feet off the side of the bed and stood up slowly. Her head felt like it full of cobwebs as she made her way downstairs. Entering the kitchen she found Sue Ellen pouring coffee.

"I could use some of that." Ann said from the doorway

Sue Ellen looked up with a start, "I thought you were still asleep."

"I feel like I've been asleep for days." She looked around, "No one's called? I mean Harris didn't…"

"No, honey there's been nothing yet. If there were you'd know." She handed her a cup of coffee as Ann sat at the counter

"Bobby was here wasn't he?" She asked, "I'm so fuzzy I wasn't sure if I imagined it."

Sue Ellen smiled at her sympathetically, "Yes, he left a little while ago but he said he'd be back soon. I guess he wanted to change clothes and get cleaned up, you know."

"I can't believe he came." Ann said

Sue Ellen squeezed her hand, "You know he loves you."

Ann sighed heavily, "Sue Ellen, I don't know anything anymore. My life is a mess. My daughter is missing and could be…" She trailed off tears forming in her eyes, "My marriage is in a shambles. I don't have a home. I used to be so sure of things."

Sue Ellen hugged her, "It's going to be alright. You'll see. Everything is going to be okay."

/

Bobby walked into the kitchen to find Christopher waiting for him.

"Dad, what's going on?" he asked having gotten very little from the phone call he'd gotten from Bobby earlier that morning, "I told Cal and Rick follow us over to Sue Ellen's."

"Son, I'm going to Mexico with Harris to try to find Emma. Carlos Del Sol is going to help us. I need to you to go to Sue Ellen's and bring Ann back here. You drive back here in my car and one of the guys will drive Ann's car back. I'd feel much better if she were here so you and the guys can keep an eye on her."

"Do you think she's in danger, too?" he asked

"I don't know. But I don't want to take any chances." Bobby said

Christopher nodded in agreement, "How's she doing?"

"About like you'd expect." He replied, "I don't know what will happen if…if something happens to Emma."

"You're still angry with her, though?"

Bobby rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Yes, but that's not important at the moment."

Christopher thought for a moment, "Did I ever tell you about what happened when you told me you had cancer?"

Bobby looked at his son confused, "No, why?"

"Well, you remember how angry I was that you hid it from me, even having surgery without telling me?"

"I remember." Bobby acknowledged

"Well, as I was leaving, I saw Elena. She could tell I was upset and I told her about your cancer and she was trying to, you know, comfort me. But we kissed."

"I see." Bobby said

"So even though I loved Pamela, at the time, I was upset and it just happened." Christopher explained, "I know that might not be the best example given what happened with Pamela. But it didn't mean anything."

"I know what you're trying to say, son." Bobby said, "But if Ann had just told me what happened instead of lying."

"Dad, you're not the easiest person to talk to sometimes." He said, "I love you but you can get pretty angry about things and you'd already had a huge fight with her. Maybe she didn't think she could tell you. Maybe she didn't think it was important because it didn't mean anything to her. You don't think she has feelings for Ryland, do you?"

"No Christopher, I really don't think that." Bobby said

"She loves you. I remember how happy you were when you married her after being alone for so long. Think about the position she was in with Emma. She finally has her daughter in her life after all these years only to find out what she's doing and don't forget you kept what really happened to JR a secret from her. She wasn't keeping things from you to be deceitful."

"Son, she and I had been through all that and then I found out about Ryland. People around here sure have a thing about sending videos." He said, "But I have to know that I can trust her."

"Maybe she has to know she can trust you."

/

Ann was still sitting at the counter in Sue Ellen's kitchen when the doorbell rang. Sue Ellen went to answer it and she heard Bobby's voice.

"Bobby." She said as she came into the foyer

"I'll let you two talk." Sue Ellen said and went back into the kitchen

"Annie, I need you to listen to me very carefully." He put his hands on her shoulders and she nodded, "I'm going to Mexico with Harris to look for Emma."

"If you're going then I'm going." She insisted

"No, Annie it's too dangerous. Now, I need you to pack your things. Christopher and a couple of the hands are coming over here to take you back to Southfork "

"Damn it, she's my daughter and I'm going to look for her."

"Annie, we don't know what we're going to find down there. I'd worry myself sick and I need to concentrate on finding Emma. I won't worry if you're here with the guys keeping an eye on you."

"But…" She began

"Please, Annie."

"Okay." She relented

"Good. I called Harris and he's coming over her to get me. One of the guys will drive your car back and I want you to ride with Chris. Now go on and get your things together." She nodded and headed upstairs

Sue Ellen appeared in the doorway, "Is there anything I can do?"

"Stay with her." He said, "It might help."

"Of course." She assured him

Upstairs Ann got out her suitcase and began to pack and when she returned from getting her things in the bathroom Bobby was in the doorway, "Bobby, what happens when all this is over?"

"What do you mean?" He asked

"I mean, when Emma is found what happens with us?"

"Annie, let's take this one step at a time." He said, "And concentrate on finding your daughter."

"You didn't answer my question." She replied

"Annie…" He said looking into those blue eyes with all that hurt and confusion rising to the surface and he'd sworn he'd never be the reason for that again

"Look, I know you've probably given up on me, on us. But when I got the call to come to the hospital I knew you were okay but all I could think about was what if I had lost you. Nothing else mattered but getting to you and that you and our family were okay. I just wanted… want to come home." And the tears burst forth like a dam

He took her in his arms, "It's alright. You're coming home." He whispered rubbing her back

They came back downstairs just as Harris arrived looking no better than he felt. He'd been up all night with Tantangelo getting things ready.

"Are you ready, Bobby?" He asked

He nodded, "My things are in my car."

Harris looked at Ann wanting nothing more than to take all the pain away he had caused her, "Annie, I promise you I'll find Emma." Tears formed in his eyes

She looked at him, two people with years of pain between them, "I know. I'm sorry I.."

He shook his head, taking her hand, 'You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Please be careful, both of you."

He nodded, "We need to get going. They have the plane waiting for us."

Bobby nodded, "Honey, I'll text you when we get there. It'll be a code just in case anyone's monitoring our calls. I'll text 'Hawaii' and you'll know we're there."

She nodded, "Okay." Not missing he chose the place they honeymooned to give her the signal all was well

"Now, Sue Ellen is going to stay with you. It's going to be okay. Christopher and the guys should be here any minute." He said and she nodded, "Alright." He kissed her forehead, "Just wait for my text."

She nodded as they left and Sue Ellen put her arm around her.

/

The drive from Sue Ellen's to Southfork seemed to drag. Ann stared out the window as Christopher drove along the freeway, her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. He would glance at her every now and then and each time the pain on his stepmother's face ate at his soul.

"They're going to find her." He finally said

She sighed continuing to stare out the window, "Christopher honey, I'm not gonna fall apart if everyone is just honest. We don't know that."

"We don't know they won't." He countered

"These are dangerous people. We don't know what they've done…or will do." She replied unable to mask the fear in her voice

Christopher sighed, deciding to drop it, but felt he needed to say something else, "He does love you, you know."

Her head snapped in his direction, "What?"

"My dad. He loves you." He replied, "He's just…I don't know."

She smiled slightly, "I don't want you in the middle of this or worrying about it, honey."

He took one hand off the wheel and took her hand and squeezed it as they sped along toward the ranch.

/

Three grim faces greeted Carlos Del Sol when he met them at the private airfield.

"Bobby, I'm so sorry about this. But we'll find your stepdaughter." He said

"Thank you, Carlos." He shook his hand, "This is Harris Ryland and Agent Tantangelo."

"We will find your daughter, Sir. Rest assured."

"But we're keeping this under wraps?" Harris asked nervously

"Absolutely, we have been dealing with the Mendez Ochoa cartel for a long have our men searching discreetly." Carolos assured him, "Now, let's get you settled. You'll be staying with a friend of mine. We cannot risk checking you into a hotel."

Tantangelo nodded, "Good, we will need a private place to meet."

"Then let's be on our way."

/

Two days later their searching was still in vain. No sign of where the cartel could be and no sign of Emma. No dead bodies had been found matching her description. They were going out again to search when there was a knock at the door. Bobby went to answer it and found a very somber looking Carlos.

"Carlos, what's...is there news?" He asked as Harris and Tantangelo joined them

"I'm so sorry but there was a body brought in overnight matching Emma's description." He explained

Harris felt his chest constrict, "No, it's a mistake. It can be my daughter!" He grabbed Carlos by the shirt, "It's not my daughter!"

Bobby got between them, "Let's just go and make sure. We'll all go."

"I'll stay here. I've got some phone calls to make." Tantangelo said feeling like his presence there would make things worse

The others nodded, "Let's go." Carlos said

Arriving at the morgue the three of them stood by as the medical examiner pulled the sheet back on the body of a young blonde female.

"Oh God no!" Harris screamed and turned away

Bobby looked at the face of the stepdaughter he barely knew and who had brought much chaos in to his life and nodded, "That's Emma." He managed and the medical examiner pulled the sheet back up

"No, I want to see her again." Harris said and the examiner pulled the sheet back again and Harris looked at her, "Oh Emma, my darling girl…" Was all he managed and Bobby put his hand on his shoulder as Harris sobbed like a baby

The only question was: who was going to tell a woman back in Dallas her world has ended?