The front of the hospital was a zoo. The news of Betty's kidnapping and rescue had leaked to the paparazzi so there were photographers and reporters all over. Betty's family, Daniel's family and various others were congregated around the waiting area on the floor that Betty had been taken to. They were waiting to find out from the doctors how Betty was. Hilda, Bobby, Justin, Ignacio, Claire, Tyler, Alexis, even Amanda and Marc were all there.

The elevator door opened and Matt stepped out. Daniel wondered how he found out but then realized it had been all over the news and if he hadn't found out that way, he was certain Tyler or Amanda had probably told him.

Matt looked a little anxious, as if he wasn't sure how people would respond to his showing up. Be he still cared very much for Betty and all of her family and he had to know how she was. Hilda went over first and gave him a hug, followed by Ignacio, Tyler and Amanda.

Daniel's mind was a mess. Now that Betty was back and safe he was relieved but all the other emotions - guilt, helplessness, anger – were overwhelming him. He couldn't stop feeling like the entire incident was his fault. The staggering urge to do whatever he could to protect Betty was pulsating threw his veins and he didn't know how to channel it. Surely there was something he could do to prevent something like this from ever happening again…there had to be. Not to mention he hadn't slept in two days. He needed to be alone. A part of him was thankful for Matt's arrival – it was just the distraction he needed to slip away. He walked down the stairs to avoid the throngs of reporters gathered at the base of the elevator. He slipped out the side door of the hospital and found himself in an alley. He started pacing back and forth, his mind was racing; a dozen thoughts swirling around all at once…and none of it very rational.

He could do it, it was entirely feasible, he had the means…he could take off, disappear almost completely from his current life. He could leave Betty and her family to have a normal life. Not one where his money, and the Meade notoriety would always haunt them – endanger them even.

He was so lost in thought he didn't even notice Matt slip out the same door into the alley behind him. Matt cleared his throat and Daniel looked up. Daniel didn't know exactly why, but somehow he thought if anyone would understand, Matt would. He needed to vent; he started ranting.

"I hate it…all of it; the reporters, the photographers, the invasion of privacy. Why can't they leave us alone? I hate that everywhere I go people know who I am. I hate that we can't even go to a restaurant or out to a movie in New York without being recognized. I hate that all people see when they look at me is the Meade fortune." He'd been very used to the attention and the paparazzi when he lived in New York but since living in London and becoming rather anonymous, he found all the attention, particularly tonight, excruciating. He paused for a moment, sighed heavily and continued along a different train of thought.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid money!" He paused for another second his frustration brewing. "Stupid, stupid company." He kicked a stone that was on the road. "Stupid Meade name."

Matt spoke. "Don't forget your stupid face."

Daniel's head snapped up to look at him.

"Uh…I mean…because that's what gets you recognized in the first place…you know." Matt backpedaled.

Daniel had to laugh. Matt relaxed a little and chuckled too. They sat down together on the steps. It was silent for a minute and then Daniel spoke – he was very serious.

"I was thinking of leaving." Daniel said.

"What do you mean?" Matt didn't understand.

"I was thinking of taking off…quitting my job in London…hiding out somewhere…maybe for a couple of years; at least until Betty forgets about me." He wasn't really sure why he was telling Matt, of all people, this; he just needed to talk to someone.

"Are you serious?" Matt was stunned.

"Yeah. It's my fault all of this happened; because of the Meade money. If it wasn't for me Betty would be safe. Who's to say something like this won't happen again…and have worse consequences?"

Matt didn't say anything right away. He was too astonished; there were too many things about that statement to process immediately. Finally, after gathering all of his thoughts, he spoke.

"Don't do it Daniel." He said. "You're not thinking very clearly right now. It's been a crazy couple of days…all the emotions…the lack of sleep…it's enough to make anyone think a little…irrationally." He looked at Daniel sympathetically, but he had a point and he was determined to make it. "If you leave Betty it'll be the single most idiotic thing you've ever done. And from what I've heard…that bar has been set pretty high."

Daniel looked at the ground.

"Look Daniel…I know you want to protect her and her family. When you love someone, like you obviously love Betty, then you'd do anything to keep her safe. But you can't let some crackpot ruin your life…or Betty's. If you take off, that's what you'll be doing. If you left her she'd be crushed. I don't know how long it would take her to get over it…if she ever could. I know how much she loves you. I saw it when I went to dinner with her in London." He paused and took a deep breath. "Honestly, nobody wants Betty to be happy more than I do. And as much as I hate to admit it…you make her happy Daniel. Don't leave her…for her sake…and for yours. You would regret it for the rest of your life…trust me."

Daniel looked at Matt and saw the sincerity in his face.

Daniel had to ask him; he had to know, "Why did you come down here; why did you follow me?"

"You looked like you could use someone to talk to; someone not so caught up in all the drama." Matt smiled at him. "Guess I called that one."

Daniel was amazed - who knew Matt Hartley was a decent guy? He wasn't the spoiled little rich prick Daniel had presumed him to be and he really wasn't anything like his father. If anyone should have given him the benefit of the doubt, Daniel should have. He'd been judging Matt exactly the way other people judged him – without really knowing him. He should have known Matt was decent; Betty was generally an excellent judge of character – even if she did tend to give people the benefit of the doubt too often.

Matt had something else to say.

"You know Daniel, it's not your fault you are a Meade any more than it's my fault I'm a Hartley. It's just what is. You can't change it but you can't hide from it either…I learned that a long time ago. You can't escape the name or the expectations and there will always be people nosing into your business. And yeah…it's possible, although not very likely, that something like this could happen again. But are you willing to give up what you have with Betty because you're afraid of something that might happen? He paused for a few moments and then added "Truthfully, I don't think you are. If you were really serious about leaving you wouldn't have told me…you would have just left."

There was a short companionable silence. Daniel was thinking about everything Matt had said.

Matt continued. "You have to know though…if you do leave her, I swear…I will hunt you down and kick your ass." He said it with all the authority and testosterone he could muster.

Daniel looked at him skeptically. Daniel wasn't much of a fighter but it was highly unlikely Matt could take him.

Matt grinned, aware of what Daniel was thinking. "Yeah…well…probably not me, personally. But I have the resources…I'll hire someone to kick your ass."

Daniel chuckled.

After a few minutes Matt spoke again as if just realizing something. "You know…you and I are not that different from each other; we have a lot in common. In fact I like to think the real reason Betty fell for you was because you remind her so much of me." He grinned again, got up and went back inside leaving Daniel with his thoughts.

Daniel smiled and shook his head. Enough of his common sense had returned - he got up and followed Matt inside.