HEARTBEAT

RATED T for some theories on reincarnation and romance.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE AMAZING CHARACTERS ON GHOSTWRITER! BUT I SURE DO LOVE THE SHOW AND LOVE TO WRITE ABOUT THEM!

Chapter9- Rally R

Rob looked at his blank screen. Double T had been working longer at the Brooklyn Sun, and with him not around and the gang being a little on their own waiting for Jamal to return with some news, he had found more time to write. Rob began tapping his fingers on the desk. What was there to write about? He gave a small sigh looking at his watch. It was 5:30 in the evening, around the same time Tina was said to have been attacked. He wondered how she was doing and looked on to a group photo he had framed near his bed. It was "Lenni the wise and her friends of five," a group photo taken when they won the Hood Man Contest. Rob slowly picked up the frame and stared into the picture of his friends.

Everyone was growing up. They were all around 13-15 years old now. Though it wasn't necessary that "old", Rob began to wonder how they could have all gone through so much. He knew now that Lenni and Tony, or Tuan as Tina calls him were going out. How it slipped through his fingers he never knew. He always seemed to have an affinity towards Lenni, that seemed more than just friendship, but he was afraid to express it. Rob was never the shy type- he was always quiet, knowing that the places they would go to would only be temporary till he had to pack up and move again. So he never made an effort to establish such intimate relationships, like friends or even girl friends. Through all of Robs travel's there was always a girl or a friend that stuck out to him the most. However no one compared to the personality of Jamal. He was the first person to ever make the initiative to hear him out and encourage him to make friends with the team, especially after Ghostwriter had show himself to Rob.

And then there was Lenni. He didn't realize it then, but on most of the cases when the team split up he would be running around the city with just Lenni the most. She had seemed to always gently push him closer to the group. A jester he could never forget and was thankful of. Though he was unaware of how him and Lenni would frequently hang out and separate from the group during missions, he quietly chuckled to himself how he use to tease Alex and Tina for splitting up all the time when there he was always gallivanting around with Lenni on the cases. If Tuan was what she really wanted, then he was happy for Lenni.

All of a sudden a flash appeared on the screen. Rob smiled- finally there would be something to type about.

: HI ROB:

: Hi Ghostwriter, sorry there isn't much of a case yet:

: WE NEED TO HELP TINA:

:Well we also need to help you find out who you are:

: NO TINA FIRST. HAVE YOU TRIED TO CATCH THE PERSON WHO ATTACKED TINA?:

: No not really. We know two clues only. That he had a blue music note tattooed on the back of his hand that was stabbed with a knife:

Rob realized just then, that Ghostwriter couldn't see pictures- so he kept on typing.

: But he had the Roman Number II tattooed on the back of his hand:

: I HATE NEEDLES:

Rob laughed.

:Me too:

: THE II SOUNDS FAMILIAR:

Rob looked at the blank screen puzzled to what he meant by that. God forbid Rob had to be present when Ghostwriter had a memory. Why couldn't it have been Jamal or Alex?

:What do you mean?: Types Rob reluctantly.

Rob was unsure on what news Ghostwriter was about to tell him. His palms became a little sweaty, so he ran around the corner to the kitchen to get bottled water from the fridge. When he returned, he saw the words typed on his computer.

:TWEEDLE DUM & TWEEDLE DEE:

"What does that mean?" said Rob out loud.

: Where did you find these words?:

:NO WHERE. FOR SOME REASON- I REMEMBER SOMETHING:

Rob didn't know what to type next. He thought to himself perhaps it came from the Adventures of Alice book that Jamal had found in his basement.

: Maybe you remember it from the book that we found that poem in?:

:MAYBE:

: Ghostwriter can I ask you something?:

:YES ROB. OF COURSE!:

: Why did you choose me to be a part of the team?:

: I DIDN'T CHOOSE YOU. YOUR HEART CHOSE ME.:

Rob smiled at the screen. It was great to have friends as caring as Ghostwriter even though they couldn't see, hear, or touch him.

: I'm happy to have a friend like you:

: SAME HERE. HOW WAS THE SCHOOL VISIT?:

: Great I got in. The one good thing that has happened since Tina's accident:

: NO MANY GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, HAVE THEY NOT?:

:Like what?:

:THE LOVE OF ALEX AND TINA HAS BLOOMED:

: You can tell all of that?:

:YES. I CAN FEEL THE EMOTIONS FROM ALL OF YOUR HEARTS, I THINK I FEEL SOMETHING COMING FROM YOU TOO:

Rob swallowed hard. Gulping he hoped that Ghostwriter wouldn't tell anyone.

:Please don't tell Lenni:

:I WON'T. BUT WILL YOU TELL LENNI?:

: No because I'm not sure myself about how I am feeing:

: WHAT YOU'RE FEELING IS TRUE AND PURE EMOTION. TIME WILL TAKE ITS COURSE:

:Maybe, but for now, I guess I have to let time tell me what will happen:

:TIME ALWAYS TELLS THE WHOLE STORY- IT'S INEVITABLE:

The next day Rob met up with Alex, Gaby and Lenni for a movie. Afterwards they came back to Lenni's. It seemed like the hottest day in the summer. Lenni handed them all ice lemonades, and checked her phone messages.

"Hi Lenni, its Tuan. I wanted to know if you wanted to catch a bite to eat tonight. The Leaping dogs will be practicing till 5pm- want to meet around 6ish? Call me I'm at Doug's place practicing."

The message left Rob a ringing in his ears.

"Well we better go. Looks like you need to get ready since it's a quarter to 5," said Gaby as she looked at her watch.

"Yeah. Hey Lenni, would you mind asking how Tina is for me? I've been calling but she never returns my phone calls," asked Alex.

"Sure thing Alex," said Lenni thoughtfully. "You must be really missing her huh?"

"You have no idea. I know she's ok, but I never know what she's up to. I don't know why she is afraid to talk to me."

Lenni reassured Alex that she would let him know of any news. As Alex and Gaby left towards the Bodega, Rob picked up his book bag.

"So you and Tony. An item?" asked Rob thoughtfully, without looking directly at Lenni.

"Yeah. We have a lot in common. Music- "

"Yeah you do. He seems like a really nice guy," said Rob.

"He is," said Lenni as she smiled and put the empty glasses in the sink.

Rob sat down at the breakfast table as Lenni washed the glasses.

" But you know," started Lenni, " I feel a little guilty. I mean Tony hasn't really told his parents about us. Tina and Alex like each other a lot, but her father forbade them from going out."

"Yeah I heard. You think maybe Tina and Alex could've been together if they just did better in keeping under wraps?" asked Rob.

"Well maybe. That could've saved them both a lot of trouble, but you know how honest Tina is. I feel like, Tony would be ashamed of introducing me to his family as a girlfriend. At least at this time."

" No guy should ever be ashamed of you Lenni," stated Rob.

"I know that. I think it's just hard for Tony. He's already dealing with the fact that he's a musician and his family didn't take to kindly to that at first. Now they compromised that. Having a girlfriend though, that could take a while. Maybe he just needs time."

"That's true. Cultural values, beliefs, they all play a part in the equation," said Rob as Lenni nodded.

"Yeah plus, he's a great guitarist. We're just really sync. I know you weren't here Rob, but we played for the Hurston Prom together, and we just really clicked since then, I've always been crushing on Tony. But you know he's so much older. He just graduated this year and he's taking a year off before going to college."

"Yeah I heard about the prom. Why is he taking a year off though?" asked Rob.

"I think he just wants a break in school and devote more time for his music really," said Lenni as she took off her dish gloves.

"Well I think that's awesome, I hope you guys are really happy together," said Rob looking into Lenni's eyes smiling.

"Well I better go you have a hot date tonight, catch you around,and "started Rob," Oh by the way! I got another memory from Ghostwriter," continued Rob.

"What was it?" asked Lenni as she raced to casebook to write down the clues.

"Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum," replied Rob with a smirk.

"Come again?" stated Lenni, as she paused her pen from writing in the casebook.

Rob laughed, " I know it how it sounds, but GW said it sounds familiar but when I mentioned the Roman numeral II he said that the tattoo of that reminded him of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. I asked whether it was his memory from finding it in the Alice book that he found in the poem, I mean the song in but he wasn't exactly sure."

"Okay well, I guess I'll write it down anyway. Thanks Rob."

"Well I better go you need to get ready and everything after all- where's he taking you?" asked Rob.

"Uh I don't know probably some burgers or something- the usual."

" Well if you can twist his arm try Noizza- it's an Italian place. Really nice and strictly candle lit in the arena for evenings during dinner. My parents and I use to go there."

"Sounds romantic, I'll give it a shot," said Lenni.

"Ok well bye," said Rob.

"Bye ," said Lenni as she shut the door. For some reason the conversation felt awkward but sweet at the same time. She wasn't use to getting advice like that from Rob. Lenni began to get ready. Combing her hair in the mirror she noticed a purple and white bandana on the corner of her dresser. She picked it up smiling, as she remembered all the bandanas that Rob would wear. She folded it and intact the ends forming a headband for herself with the bandana.

"Cute," she said out loud.

Rob turned the corner finding non other than Tony. Guitar case in one hand he comes up to Rob and shakes his hand.

"How's it going Rob?"

"Great. I uhhh take it you're coming by to pick up Lenni?"

"Yeah man how'd you know?" asked Tony.

"Well we all came to her place after seeing a movie. How's Tina doing by the way?"

"She's great. She's been going to some group counseling classes. I think that 's really helping her out the most. She has some nightmares and anxieties about walking to and from home by herself, so I usually drop her off and pick her up from the sessions."

"Well you know the gang and I, one of us are always happy to help out with that as well-"

"Thanks man, but I rather do this. You know, I just don't want one specific friend there to always help her out if you know what I'm saying," replied Tony as he placed his free hand in his pocket.

"Well I better go on, Lenni's expecting me," finished Tony.

"Right," said Rob, "but you know Tina needs her friends too."

Tony turned.

" Just like you have Lenni, everyone always needs that special someone."

"Man you don't get it, Alex kind of screwed up that end of the deal," replied Tony his mouth clenching.

Rob didn't back down, " how did he screw up? He was there for her at the hospital man. He's always been the sweetest to her. You know what's screwed up? Tina and Alex were open about their relationship when Tina was in and out of consciousness. Everyone could tell that something was going on between them, because we could all feel their emotions. Their hearts were pouring out and you stopped it! Did you even tell your parents about Lenni? Were you open about you two?!"

Tony, surprised at Rob's passionate speech of Alex and Tina's professing love left him completely dumbfounded. "Rob man, it's different. We're Vietnamese we have expectations to live up to-"

"I get that alright," stated Rob as he walked closer to Tony, "but you need to be honest to Lenni."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about taking a year off from beginning college. What do you have up your sleeve?" asked Rob.

"What are you- What are you getting at Baker?"

"You tell me."

"That's none of your business ok- besides you just came back. You don't know what's been going on between me and her."

"You're right. Well then, I apologize Tony. Give my regards to Tina alright?" asked Rob as he shook Tony's hand.

"Its cool man," replied Tony puzzled, "take care."

If only Tony knew what was going on inside Rob after he left Lenni and the gang. The conversation between him and Tony left a bad taste in his mouth. He saw the Bodega open and decided to walk in.

"Hey Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez, Gaby or Alex home?"

"Yes Rob, Alex is in his room, " replied Alex's mom.

"Thanks," replied Rob as he escorted himself onwards to the back.

Alex was reading on his bed.

"Hey Rob what's up? I thought you went home after us?"

"Not really man," said Rob as he sat his book bag down. Rob grabbed a spare chair and sat down across Alex.

"Gaby around?"

"No she went to go see Tina. I didn't feel like going," replied Alex.

"Well I hope I didn't make your chances of ever seeing Tina again slimmer."

"What do you mean?"

"I crossed paths with Tony. We kind of got into a heated debate. You're my friend Alex, had to defend you. I just feel like it's a little unfair that Tony gets to hang out with Lenni but you can't with Tina. When I told him how much you and Tina meant to each other he just got in big brother mode and began to shrug off everything I said to him. I'm sorry, I just got a little mad."

Alex set his book down. "It's ok Rob. Tony he's just looking out for Tina. I can understand that I mean I'm a big brother too. I don't think what you did made a difference for the better or the worse for me and Tina anyway."

"Well I might have also ruined it for Lenni."

"What? Ok man, now what are you talking about?"

" I just think Lenni deserves better. He didn't really say why he took a year off from beginning college, he hasn't even told Lenni to his parents even though Tina did."

"It's the culture man, their just looking out for their daughter. And even if it's not a culture thing it just might be their family looking out for Tina. You know Tony and Tina's family is their pretty liberal, but they have those values. Even my mom wants me to settle down with someone from the similar ethnic background one day. But in the end every mom wants to see their children happy."

" I know. I just, I think … I just got mad because I thought Tony was being hypocritical."

"Well he is that's for sure. But as long as Lenni is happy that's all that matters- right Rob?"

"Right." Rob began to tell Alex about the Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee clue that Ghostwriter professed to him yesterday. With that Rob vacated out of the bodega book bag on one arm heading home. Alex saw himself in Rob. He knew what was happening to Rob. He recognized the same emotions and actions he was feeling when he first knew that he cared about someone special. Tina. Rob was falling for Lenni. Unexpected? Perhaps, but Rob was known to always be the sensitive quiet type. They never knew exactly what was going through Rob's mind at times. But this one was blatantly clear, and for Alex that meant he wasn't alone in feeling this way. Someone else was going through all the internal heart wrenching escapades like him.