Jamie's POV

I couldn't believe it. Dave was flirting with my best friend; I'd barely broken up with him and he was already trying to pick up girls. I just couldn't believe it; I dropped my cup and stormed out. I half expected him to follow me and I heard Alex sending him my way but he didn't come. I heard a door slam and then a few moments later John showed up at my door, making sure that I was okay.

The next few months were hell. Eli was always angry, he wouldn't talk instead he just sat there staring at people. His counselor was pretty useless; she said he had post traumatic stress disorder and Stockholm syndrome. In my opinion it didn't take a genius to figure that out! Eli wouldn't play either, he had plenty of toys, but I couldn't get him to play with any of them, he just sat there, it was all part of the psychological issues.

Eli's 5th birthday was a month or so after I bought him home from the hospital and we were going to have just a family celebration. It'd been a stressful year and so we were having a quiet day. I'd gotten him a small Go Diego Go cake and we had a few presents for him and presents had arrived from Dave's girls. There was nothing from Dave; however a 'big boy' bed had anonymously arrived days earlier. I knew it was from Dave, but I wasn't going to let on. Alex had told me that John, who she was now dating, was giving Dave updates. I was secretly glad that he knew what was going on, but I was still angry, he had betrayed us.

On Eli's 5th birthday, Alex showed up with Jimmy. I hadn't let her bring Jimmy over since we'd gotten Eli back. When I had told her things were just family, I'd forgotten that Alex considered herself family. Alex and Jimmy showed up just in time for cake and for the first time since everything had happened I saw my son's face light up. He actually smiled,

"Jimmy!" he called and awkwardly hugged his friend. I watched in shock as my son transformed from an angry young boy into the kid that he was before everything had happened. After scoffing down a piece of cake the two boys ran off to play. Jimmy pulled out Eli's wrestling toys wanting to play the boys favorite game, but Eli immediately ripped their heads off throwing them across the room. Jimmy didn't know how to respond to his friend's outburst.

Once Eli had calmed down the two boys played with Eli's birthday presents. There was nothing better than watching my son play like the little boy he was. After Jimmy left, my son reverted back to the scowling little boy he'd been since we'd gotten him back.

They found Conner's accomplice, her name was Leah and at trial the two of them were found guilty. They both got jail time, nowhere near long enough though. In 15 years Conner would be back on the streets able to torture more people. My son would only be 20 by the time that bastard got out of jail. He'll barely be a man, able to defend himself if that bastard chose to attack again. I think that helped me make the decision when Uncle Vince called. Uncle Vince wanted me to come back to work, he said that having Eli around the guys might help and they had a really good psychiatrist backstage.

I wasn't going to give in to Uncle Vince easily; there were many phone calls between the McMahons and myself. John, Randy and the Brothers of Destruction also tried to convince me to return to work. I knew that Dave was behind trying to get me to come back and while I wasn't impressed that it was him, I had to look at what would be best for Eli. Everyone had some really good points about how beneficial my returning to work could be. Finally I gave in, but I wasn't going to go back without doing one thing first.

I wanted to go and see Conner; I wanted him to know that this wasn't the end. He might think he was safe in prison, but it is amazing what people do to pedophiles and kidnappers. When I arrived at the prison I was directed through security and into a room that was split in half. Right down the middle of the room was glass panels. On either side of the glass panels were phones, benches and seats. I was directed to a bench in the middle of the room and waited for a couple of minutes before a door on the other side of the room open and a guard bought in Conner.

The moment he saw me Conner's face broke out in a smirk.

"Hey darling," He cooed into the phone and I wanted to throw up, "Nice to see you decided to come and visit. Just like that ex-fiancé of yours,"

"What?"

"He didn't tell you? Oh of course not, he was heartbroken and angry. Davie came and visited me right before he went back to work." I was surprised that Dave had visited Conner,

"What did he want?" I asked.

"Probably the same thing you want, to complain about how I ruined your precious life," Conner laughed and shivers ran down the back of my neck, "I just told him how well you played him,"

"What?"

"Oh I just told him about that little game you played… How you manipulated him and used him, just the way you used me."

"I did no such thing," I hissed,

"Maybe, but he is very easy to manipulate. Just like that little boy of yours. I wrapped Dave around my finger, I said jump and he jumped. Using his little girls, threatening to hurt them if he didn't say what I wanted," I was in shock, Conner really did manipulate Dave?

"What?" I asked getting angry,

"It was so easy, I knew that I wouldn't be able to get you to say what I wanted, but if I threatened his kids Dave would be putty in my hands. And your little boy would believe anything out of his hero's mouth, he just wouldn't shut up about that man. I heard Dave's heart break as he muttered those words, of course I recorded it so that I could play it back any time I needed".

"You asshole," the words came out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Conner just laughed,

"You are too easy, I knew once you heard Dave say that he didn't love your son you'd lose it. Now, did you come just to pay a visit or did you have something to say,"

I felt like Conner had hit me, he'd manipulated everyone. Dave was only doing what he could to protect his girls and to protect Eli the best way that he could. I just wanted to hurt the man, but the more important thing was regaining my confidence so I could express myself.

"I wanted to make sure you knew that you're not getting off easy. When you finally get out of here I will make sure that EVERYONE knows who you are. Every time you try and get a job I'll be there before you, telling them what you did. You'll have no work, no friends and no family, you'll be all alone, and it'll be your fault,"

"Ooh tough words,"

"If you ever try to come near my family again I will rip you limb from limb,"

"Honey, I'm not afraid of you,"

"No threats!" I heard a guard behind me bark. I ignored him; I was completely focused on the man, who'd ruined my life,

"You should be! I have friends in high places; I can make sure you never leave this place. Do you know what they do to PAEDOPHILES and KIDNAPPERS?" I said those final words in a loud voice making sure that everyone heard. Conner's eyes went wide and I knew he was in trouble,

"You bitch! They're going to kill me,"

"GOOD! I HOPE YOU DIE! ROT IN HELL YOU BASTARD YOU TOOK MY SON FROM ME! DEATH IS TOO GOOD FOR YOU!"

"That's it you're out of here, you cannot speak to the prisoners that way," I heard the guard behind me bark as he grabbed me by the arm and directed me out of the room, "even if he deserves it".

I drove back to my place fuming the entire way, but I about half way home something Conner had said finally sunk in. Conner had bragged about manipulating Dave. Here I was blaming Dave for everything, blaming Dave for telling Eli that we didn't love him. I hadn't listened to Dave's claims that Conner had manipulated him, that he didn't have a choice. I had destroyed the best relationship I'd ever had because I was convinced that the real monster was Dave. In reality all Dave had ever done was support me, love me and bring me back my son. I didn't know what to do.

I could apologize; I knew that I had to do that. But, what was an apology after everything I'd done. As I pulled into Alex's place, where Eli was, I realized the most shocking thing.

"I want Dave in my life," I said to Alex, afraid to say it to myself.

"It took you long enough to realize," John said walking in the room,

"You're still here?" I sighed, simply frustrated by the interference.

"Yes ma'am I told Dave I'd keep an eye on you, so here I am. Besides there are definitely some benefits," John winked at his girlfriend. The man may drive me insane, but he was much better than Alex's last boyfriend, the bastard who helped Conner take my son.

"Eli, your mom is here time to get your stuff and go home," John called walking off, I heard my son calling from the distance,

"I don't wanna go home!" Hearing my son's words, I sighed exhausted from the whole day.

"Let him play a little longer, we'll have coffee," Alex called up the stairs.

"So, you want Dave back?" Alex asked,

"Yeah, Conner opened my eyes about a couple of things," I sighed,

"Why do you always listen to him and always doubt Dave? Conner is the bad guy; Dave is the good guy you need to get that in the right order!" Alex pushed handing me a cup of coffee.

"I know, I just, I don't know what it is about Conner his words always get me,"

"Well, it looks like he may have actually said something of worth this time. What did he say?"

"He told me that he'd manipulated Dave into saying those things," I muttered feeling ashamed,

"Everyone, but you could see that. Try listening to Dave for a change,"

"What do I do?"

"Get him back," Alex shrugged, "And let Eli stay here tonight, you should stay too. You need a girl's night,"

"Despite our doubts, John isn't actually a girl,"

"He can stay in a hotel, he'll live. Eli is happy right now, he's happy with Jimmy. We'll put them to bed early then crack out the Kahlua, the Tequila, the chocolate and we'll figure out how to get your man back," Alex smiled. The sound of a girl's night sounded appealing, we hadn't done anything of the like since before Eli got kidnapped.

It was nice to have a chance to relax. At bed time the boys were disappointed to go to bed but were soon out cold, Eli slept soundly with a smile on his face. He'd even said goodnight to me, things were finally starting to look good. We didn't accomplish much in regards to figuring out how to get Dave back, but we certainly made a dent in Alex's bar.

Somewhere around 2 or 3 am when I'd definitely had way too much to drink I made the brilliant decision to call Dave. Seriously, I think that if I'm around alcohol I should have my cell phone locked in a vault that I cannot access. At the time I vaguely remembered that Dave was home that week, his head had been introduced to someone's knee during a match and he'd gotten a concussion and a migraine. The last thing the man needed was a phone call at 2 am. However, it wasn't until after his phone started ringing that this fact sunk into my brain. He picked up and I hung up, losing my nerve and realizing that he didn't want a call from me.

Dave called me back the next day, I didn't answer. He didn't call again, though I knew that he'd spoken to John and he'd explained what had happened.

I went back to work and soon found it difficult to keep Eli with me, especially since I was needed ringside. Eli spent a lot of time with the backstage Psychiatrist, she was very helpful and Eli was slowly starting to respond to me more. However, the one thing that really helped was the time that he spent with Mark and Glen. They said that he spoke to them a lot and was able to relax, however whenever Dave came in the room he closed up and became angry.

I tried apologizing to Dave, I don't know how many phone calls I made only to chicken out and hang up on him. I started a thousand letters, but none of them were right. I just couldn't find the words to say that I was sorry; I loved him and wanted him back. I knew I didn't have any right asking, he'd had as many trust issues as I did. Yet he trusted me completely and I'd totally destroyed him.

In the end there was only one word that I could find to sum up the way I was feeling. After trying to say it on the phone I finally wrote it down on a piece of paper and stuck it in his locker. I made sure his locker room was empty, he now shared with Randy, Mark and Glen, Rey and occasionally some other wrestlers. Then I snuck in, he had a match at the time, I was doing everything I could to avoid him, and I stuck it in his locker. He'd know it was from me, or at least I hoped he did.

He called later that night, I avoided him. I may have finally written a note to him, but it didn't mean I was ready to talk. There was no way I could find the right words.

A/N: Dave's injury in this chapter is based on a true story. Not with him, but me. Unfortunately it didn't happen in a wrestling match, instead it was classroom. I was bored in my theater class and attempted to *head desk* the thing was theater class is held in our theater and we have no desks. In my brilliance I decided to *head desk* on my friends knee. Unfortunately instead of pretending to head butt her knee I actually did. 2 days later I found myself spending 5 hours in urgent care getting CT Scans (which came back normal – YAY) and having I.V solutions (A sweet concoction of saline and three or four different pain killers). The official diagnosis was "a migraine caused by a concussion". For up to 3 weeks, I was in agony and couldn't think correctly.