"Aunt Blair!" Jamie exclaimed when she opened the front door. "I'm so glad you came. Did you see Mom? Is she okay?"
Blair hugged the girl and walked into the apartment, "I saw her," she said softly. She tried not to let her sadness show. "She's doing okay. She misses you."
"I want to see her," Jamie said quickly. "Please tell Dad its fine for me to see her? I need to see her."
"Jamie," Blair knew the worry was apparent in her voice, "Sweetie…I know you want to see her but it's not a good idea. Your mom is…" She didn't know how to say what needed to be said without worrying Jamie even more, "She's not well enough to see you yet."
"She wants to see me," Jamie cried. "I know she does."
"Oh sweetie," Blair hugged her. "Of course she does. But right now, your mom has to focus on recovering from her accident…"
"It wasn't an accident!" Jamie screamed. "It was an attack…a horrible, brutal, awful attack that someone did on purpose. Someone wanted to kill her…and now…I'm scared she'll die and I'll never see her again." The girl leaned against Blair and sobbed. Blair stroked her long hair and held her close.
"What is going on in here?" Rick asked walking in from the kitchen. When he saw Blair comforting Jamie he realized. Seeing her mother's best friend obviously made Jamie's longing for her mother even stronger. "Blair…I didn't know you were in town."
Blair looked at him, but didn't loosen her embrace of Jamie. "Nat, Dorothy, and I flew in this morning. They're back at the hotel. I wanted to come over and talk to Kyle."
"He's not here," Rick answered. He looked at Jamie who finally pulled away from Blair, sniffling and rubbing her eyes as if she were a toddler instead of a young teen. "Jamie…why don't you go finish your homework." Jamie nodded and walked out of the room. "She hasn't been to school since this happened. Kyle went to get her homework last week, but she has to go back Monday. She can't miss anymore. It would be better for her to have that structured routine anyway."
Blair sat on the couch and Rick sat next to her, "Where is Kyle?" she asked.
"He playing backup on some recording," Rick answered. "He's kind of throwing himself into his work. Trying to keep his mind off of things."
Blair nodded, "Don't you have to work?" she asked harshly. "What are you doing here?"
Rick felt like Blair's words were suspicious and he didn't like that she seemed unhappy to find him at Jo's apartment, "I took some time off," he explained. "I was actually touring last month, so after a tour we get some time off. I probably should go back to the recording studio, but Jamie needs someone to stay with her when Kyle's gone…"
"And you think that should be you?" Blair asked in an accusing tone.
"Why not me?" Rick asked defensively. "Jamie and I have always been close. She needs someone who loves her and can help her through this."
"That's Kyle's job, Rick," Blair's voice was bitter. "He's her father."
Rick could feel her anger; the tension in the room was thick. He and Blair had obviously had their differences when he and Jo were married and he knew Blair blamed him for hurting Jo so badly back then. But her anger now seemed unreasonable. He didn't know why Blair would be upset that he was helping out in the midst of all the chaos. "Kyle can't be here all the time," he explained. "And Jamie can't be left alone when she is so upset."
"Tell Kyle I came by," Blair headed towards the door. "I want to know if he called Rose and Charlie. Jo asked about them today."
"How was she?" he asked nervously. "I've been up there a lot, but every time she's asleep. Is she doing okay?"
"No," Blair said sadly. "And I don't know if plastic surgery and time to heal her stab wounds will be enough. She is traumatized by this. She's not going to get over it." She sighed, "I hope you're happy with yourself. This is all your fault!" Then she burst into tears and couldn't hold in the sobs. "You made her join the force…" she sputtered. "It was because of you."
"Blair…I know I hurt her. After the divorce she wanted to do something exciting and I know that's why she chose this," Rick wanted to cry right along with her and it was all he could do to keep from it. "Don't think I haven't spent the past twelve years worrying about her, or that I don't know this is all my fault…"
"She didn't join because of the divorce Rick," Blair looked at him and for the first time realized he didn't know the real reason Jo had joined the police force. It was time he learned the truth. "She joined to find April…to track her down…to get your child back. I don't know why she's stuck with it this long. She could have quit…"
"Oh God…" Rick looked into her eyes and he knew she was telling the truth. "She wanted to track down April?"
Blair nodded, "She wanted the baby back." She looked at him and wondered if he realized that she knew the truth. "It took longer than she thought it would…but we both know she found her."
"She told you?" Rick asked nervously. He had always thought the secret he shared with Jo was theirs and theirs alone. It scared him that Blair obviously knew about it as well.
Blair nodded, "She had to…she needed my help. She needed money to finalize things…move out here and start over."
"I never knew you helped her. She didn't tell me." He looked at her anxiously, "I tried to talk her out of it. I really did. But in the end, I had to help her too," Rick admitted. "It was for the best thing for everyone."
"How long do you think the two of you can keep this secret Rick?" Blair asked seriously. "Kyle has to suspect something…he's not blind."
"I don't think he does," Rick's voice quivered. "He can't find out, Blair. Not now."
"She looks a lot like you," Blair insisted. "I can see it…especially when the two of you are together. Do you really think he hasn't noticed something odd? Do you really think social services just lets someone take in a kid they find on the streets without any training or proof they are related? Or that traditional adoptions can be finalized as quickly as that one was? He was stupid not to suspect something before now, but when he finally comes to his senses and realizes the truth…all hell is going to break loose."