Hey everyone! Welcome to the last chapter for Act II, chapter 20! Now don't worry there will be an Act III which is all devoted to something you've all been longing for…answers! Yes we are not too far away from putting all of the pieces together.
Stepup242- Thanks I'm glad you're loving the book. Yes Andy did react strongly didn't he? But I think it's fair for him to do so. He's been through a lot after all and this adds more to that list. It was a shock that Palmer disowned his kids wasn't it? I'm glad you loved the phone catcher. Yes it was a huge reveal. Time will tell what happens from here. Thanks for reading it.
Mdexter2010 – I'm glad you thought it was well worth the wait, I was hoping it would be. Yes the whole Palmer situation does seem rather fishy doesn't it? A great theory about Jay, I'm loving all the theories I'm getting please keep them coming. Time will tell if you are right. And I will keep thanking you for saying how much you love it. I can never read those words too many times, thank you. I think there is something between B and Jay, whether it's romantic love or something else remains to be seen. Thank you, yes the pregnancy was always something I wanted to have in the story, and though we haven't discussed it in a while, it was never going to go away.
Ok guys there are answers and major clues in this one, so read on with a ready eye!
Love Hurts.
Chapter Twenty – I wanted to protect you.
"Morning," Mel said as Andy made his way into the kitchen the next day. "How did you sleep?"
"Don't ask," Andy replied stiffly.
It had been a tough night after all. Not only had sleep been hard to come by, but every time he even closed his eyes, flashes of Jay came into his mind.
How could it be? Andy wondered for what easily felt like the millionth time since finding out. How could Jay, his Jay, the love of his life be T.E?
"That good huh?" Mel asked, pouring a coffee and handing it to her friend.
"I guess I'm still just questioning it you know?" Andy said. "I mean Jay, Mel. JAY?! It's just wrong! I mean wrong doesn't even begin to explain it, but still…JAY?!"
"Hey I hear you sweetie," Mel agreed. "I never once suspected him. Zandra, Palmer…even B at one stage. But Jay? Never saw that one."
"Exactly," Andy replied.
"Oh by the way," Mel continued quickly. "Linds thinks you guys had a fight."
"Oh yeah?" Andy replied skeptically. "About what? Him stalking me psychopathically?"
"I told her I had no idea," Mel went on. "Just that you guys had a fight and that you were going to stay here for a bit."
Andy appreciated Mel being so close by.
"Thanks Mel," he replied. "For everything. I would stay at the Dètendez-Vouz, but I mean…"
"Yeah and run into T.E?" Mel agreed.
"Or worse, be in a place where T.E. has a copy of the key and access to me at anytime! You know B said that they need me?"
"They?" Mel enquired.
"Yeah they," Andy confirmed. "T.E/Jay and his motley crew. Apparently I'm valuable to them."
"Well sure," Mel replied. "How would you not be? You're Andy!"
"Uh-huh and?"
"And so therefore you're like some big key to all of this. Remember last year when Linds took Jay to the warehouse?"
"Yeah it drove me crazy," Andy said.
He paused quickly as a light bulb seemed to go off in his head.
"Oh my god!" he reasoned. "That's it! That's what pushed him over the edge! And to think I ignored his PTSD all this time. I could have prevented this Mel!"
Mel sighed.
"Andy you can't go blaming yourself for this," she insisted calmly.
"Why not?" Andy asked. "It makes sense."
"No that's just it," Mel replied. "It doesn't. It doesn't make any sense at all! Emotionally or logically."
Andy looked at Mel confused.
Granted she was trying to counter-act both sides of his guilt-ridden soul, but he just didn't see how he couldn't blame himself.
"Emotionally it makes no sense," Mel went on attempting to answer the unasked question. "He's your boyfriend and he loves you. And there's the fact that you practically worship him-"
"Um OK," Andy replied. "That's putting it on a tad too thick."
"The point is that T.E. has been a bitch to you from day one!" Mel elaborated. "I mean me I understand. I wanted his torturer released. But you…"
Her sentence hung in the air as she waited for a response.
Getting none, she moved on.
"And on the logical side, Jay's PTSD was because of Linds, not you. If anything he should worship the ground you walk on. After all, if not for your never say die attitude he'd probably still be in the warehouse right now! How does it logically make sense that he'd come after you at all?"
"I guess," Andy sighed. "But it's hard not to toss logic aside," he debated. "It's one of the few times in my over-analytic logical life that reason just seems completely lost on me. If not for my ignoring his PTSD…"
"But you didn't ignore it!" Mel cried. "You told him to get counseling and he did, right?"
"I suppose," Andy sighed, taking another sip of coffee.
But then another thought hit him.
Thank goodness he hadn't eaten anything since last night's popcorn, because right now he could have hurled.
"Mel!" Andy cried. "I just realized! If Jay's T.E. then his knows about…about…us!"
"*"
B glanced at his reflection in the elevator mirror. Yes much had happened to him this month, but if he'd learned anything from his years of working in advertising and schmoozing clients it was that appearance, after all, was everything.
Ding!
As the elevator signaled it had landed on the ground floor, B took one last look and satisfied stepped out. The plan, in theory, was simple. Have breakfast, go to Andy's, discuss the minor details still to be discussed from his time locked up and then if there was still time, take a trip to Lauren's and see if they could catch Palmer in the act.
B had thought about it all night and the more he thought the more he had convinced himself that Palmer was up to something. He may not have killed Rhonda, but even though he hadn't done the deed, it didn't mean he hadn't been the one pulling the strings and organizing it.
B looked over at the reception area, hoping to see Lauren or Jay, but not spying either and having an in with not only the owner, a worker and not to mention the head-chef decided to go directly to the kitchen.
However, just as he got to the door, he stopped as he heard what sounded like a frantic discussion going on inside.
"But it's not me!" came a voice that B recognized right away as Jay.
"So then why does he think it's you?" came the response of a voice that wasn't so familiar.
"Honestly I don't know," Jay replied. "I was just sitting there, minding my own business when suddenly he says you're T.E!"
T.E?! B wondered. But that's not possible!
B had suspected all this time that there was a new Team Evil and everything he'd heard from the closet at Casa de Carmita had certainly indicated as much.
But Jay?
There was no way Jay could be T.E!
Hadn't those people been talking about getting to Andy?! The Jay B knew would definitely not be onboard with that plan. How could he be? Andy was, to put it one way, the earth and sky to Jay. There was no way he would be part of a plot to bring down the man he loved.
Would there?
"T.E?" the unfamiliar voice asked. "But isn't that the person that-?"
"Exactly!" Jay cut off. "Why would I put myself in that position?"
"Well yeah," the other voice said. "I mean you're daring, but not that daring!"
"Sy," Jay began. "Why would I want Andy finding out about us?"
Us? B wondered.
There was an us with Jay and this guy?
"Thanks," the guy named Sy spat.
"You know what I mean!" Jay went on. "I mean, what we had was nice but…"
"But it wasn't Jandy," Sy replied.
"Yeah," Jay confirmed. "I mean obviously the real T.E. doesn't want Andy knowing I tried to help them. Who knows what they'll do if they find out?"
As the sound of footsteps approached the door, B shot off to the staircase. Wrenching the door open he raced back up the stairs to his room.
Jay T.E? Real T.E?!
Boy was he out of the loop.
If what he'd heard was true then much had happened since the 5 had gone their separate ways the night before. To think that last night the only concern was over Carmita, Rein and Emmett's mortality. Who knew that this was where today would lead?
In all honesty B had suspected Jay to possibly have some involvement in something. That was after all, why he had told Andy in no uncertain terms not to tell Jay anything he'd divulged. But to be T.E?
No! he thought. It can't be.
But then he recalled what Jay had said to Sy about the Real T.E.
Unless Jay was lying to this guy it had all been a big mistake. Huge considering Andy had accused his boyfriend of being his tormentor.
B yanked out his cell and dialed Andy's number right away.
"Hello?" came the saddened tone of his friend.
"Andy? It's B, don't say anything just listen," he rushed. "Did something happen last night between you and Jay?"
"What?" Andy asked, a shocked tone now replacing the earlier saddened one.
But B didn't have time to pussy-foot around the issue. If Andy was convinced that Jay was T.E. and it turned out he was wrong, he'd leave himself open and vulnerable.
"Just answer me with a yes or no Andy," B hastened. "Did you accuse Jay of being T.E?"
"Y-Yes," Andy stammered.
"*"
It hadn't taken long for B to ascertain where Andy and Mel were and within moments had arrived on their doorstep panting. Clearly he had run the whole way over.
"You…you've…" B panted, while Andy assisted him inside and Mel raced off for a glass of water. "You've got the wrong…"
B took the glass from Mel and drained it in one gulp before coughing wildly.
"It's just water B," Mel said quickly, surprised he would cough so much with such a natural drink.
"…guy!" he eventually finished. "Jay's not T.E!"
"Wait," Mel began confused. "How do you know about T.E?"
Andy led B over to the sofas in Mel's living room and sat him down. He hadn't said much on the phone other than needing to come over right away.
"Andy," B said rather seriously looking deep into his eyes. "Jay's not T.E!"
"I assumed that's what you meant when you said it the first time B," Mel replied before Andy could have the chance. "But that still doesn't answer how you know about T.E in the first place!"
"I've assumed there was something shifty going on for a while now Mel," B answered. "I didn't know who they were or even the name they were using. I mean after all…T.E. – Team Evil – how original. But everything was confirmed this morning."
B then went into detail about what he'd witnessed outside the kitchen door. He told how Jay was talking to some guy he'd named Sy, which Andy confirmed was one of the chefs Simon. He'd told how Andy had accused him of being T.E, which Andy and Mel confirmed to be true and he ended by telling them what Jay had said about the real T.E.
"So, it's not Jay?!" Andy asked wildly. "But he sent me that text!"
"I always meant to ask you about that," Mel interrupted. "How did you track him down?"
"My friend Alison, remember the one I told you about, from Pittsburg?" he began, using the lie he'd concocted after receiving the device from Linds.
B and Mel nodded.
"She has a friend who's really good at hacking. I told Alison that I was being sent texts from an unknown number – No I did not tell her about T.E.-" he added noting the glaring looks from his friends.
"I just said that I'd been receiving texts from an unknown number and wanted to work out who it was," he went on. "Her friend came through in a big way, giving me a tracking device of sorts. I only just got it yesterday morning otherwise I would have told you guys."
"Wait-" Mel interrupted. "So you had this device the whole time we were bitching about Palmer?!"
"Yes," Andy replied. "But how exactly could I have said anything with Linds and Jay there?"
Mel and B nodded in agreeance, especially considering they all had thought that Jay was innocent at the time.
Presently, there came a knock at the door and on instinct alone, Andy jumped violently.
"It's not-?" Andy whispered.
But Mel placed a hand over his mouth to silence him.
"Andy!" came the cry that everyone was expecting. "Mel?...Anybody?"
The knocking continued and before long impatience seemed to take over as the knocking turned into banging.
"You guys!" he cried. "It's not me!"
As Mel and Andy tried desperately hard not to breathe, B shocked them both by getting up and swiftly making his way to the door.
"B?!" Andy couldn't help but cry out.
"He's not T.E. Andy," B replied simply. "We have to let him in."
"Oh yes," Mel quipped. "Feel free to invite a suspect into my home why don't you?"
But before she had even finished the sentence B had swung open the door and Jay had rushed into the living room.
"Andy, I'm so sorry you had to find out that way!" he rushed, before anyone could have the chance to silence him. "But you need to know I'm not T.E! Seriously! I never was the big boss I was just a-"
Seeming to notice something in the room, Jay immediately silenced himself and boldly walked over to one of the many table lamps, before ripping out what looked to everyone else like an LED light attached to a pin.
"*"
Andy stared wide-eyed at Jay in amazement!
What the heck was he doing?
"Mel, where's your garbage disposal?" Jay asked quickly.
Unlike Andy, Mel was much less concerned about what Jay had done, than occupied with what he was holding.
"Here," she replied, racing over to it. "Wha-?"
But before she could even finish the question, Jay threw the object into the disposal and switched it on. A horrible noise omitted from it as it destroyed the object.
When it finished, Jay looked at each of his friends in turn.
"That," he began calmly. "Was a camera. There are many placed throughout this home and ours Andy."
Andy sat awe-struck at what lay out in front of him. Seeing Jay was one thing, but hearing about the cameras was something else entirely!
Thankfully Mel jumped in right away.
"Our homes have been bugged?" she asked a mixture of shock and disgust evident in her tone.
"Yes," Jay replied. "How do you think T.E. knows and sees everything if not for constant surveillance?"
"I never suspected cameras!" Mel replied sharply. "How could they have even gotten in here? When could they have gotten in here?"
To that end however, Jay didn't even respond. Instead he seemed to be busying himself by looking at a spot on the floor.
"I mean," Mel continued to ramble. "No one but Linds and I have had access to this place since we bought it. Other than…You!"
It was now Mel's turn to round on Jay, since the first time he'd rounded on her at Andy's place for bringing Linds by.
"You did this didn't you?!" she demanded.
Jay very slowly, very guiltily nodded.
"But then-" Andy began, finding his voice at what felt like long last. "You ARE T.E!"
"No A I'm not," Jay replied in a voice just above a whisper as a tear fell down his face. "I'm not T.E. but I did help them out, way too many times. I wanted to tell you."
His voice by now had risen slightly, seemingly out of desperation as he approached his boyfriend.
"I really did. But, it wasn't safe to. With cameras everywhere and death threats every other day…I knew it would be easier to-"
"Sometimes Jay," Andy retorted glaring at him as anger flared up inside. "We have to make the choice between what is right and what is easy."
"Andy please!" Jay begged as more tears spilled out. "P-P-Please! Let me explain!"
"Why Jay?" Andy wondered out loud. "Why should I let you explain? I thought I could trust you. I thought things were finally going well with us. I thought you LOVED ME!"
"I do…" Jay whimpered softly.
"I don't want to hear it Jay," Andy replied swiftly. "You kept this from me, how DARE YOU!"
"Andy…" Mel coaxed, slowly inching towards him from her rooted spot at the disposal. "Maybe we should…"
"Stay out of this Mel!" Andy snapped.
Shocked at his tone, Mel conceded and flopped down into the empty chair next to him not saying another word.
"Andy, please…!" Jay whimpered again. "Let me explain, before-"
"NO!" Andy screamed. "I'm done Jay. How could you-"
But the next movement came from B. For the first time since allowing Jay entry into the home, quick as a flash he stood up.
"Andy that's ENOUGH!" he cried and for added emphasis flung a cushion hard at his chest.
Using this stunned moment of silence to his advantage B continued.
"I get that you two have issues to sort out and one thing Jay seems to be forgetting in your one-sided spat is that he's not the only one who kept secrets here-"
Jay's face went from pleading to skeptical in a heartbeat as he glanced at Andy quickly. But that was all the time he had to do so, as B continued before Andy could interrupt.
"But both of you either need to put your stupid differences aside RIGHT NOW or Andy, you'll need to leave," he finished.
"Wait what?" Andy asked shocked. "Me?!"
"Yes Andy!" B replied his voice continuing to flare. "Because this is bigger than a lover's quarrel. This is not about Jay Vs Andy! This…is about T.E! If Jay's willing to explain, don't you think we should let him?"
Andy went to reply, but again B didn't give him a chance.
"That was a rhetorical question Andy," he said quickly. "You're a lawyer I'm sure you know what rhetorical means. Now chose! In and shut-up or out?!"
By now everyone was looking at B.
Andy was pissed-off with the way he was talking to him, Jay was shocked to see B raise his voice to Andy and Mel was actually pleased that B had conveyed what she was trying to moments earlier, just much more efficiently.
"Jay," Mel said soothingly when Andy didn't say a word. "Take a seat sweetie, we're all listening."
"*"
"It all began," Jay started "The day I went to see that counselor guy."
"Dr Kenneth," Andy put-in mockingly.
"Andy," B warned.
"I lied to you A," Jay went on. "Not only did we not talk regression, we didn't talk at all. I never even met the guy."
"Really?" Andy asked genuinely interested to hear that.
"Really," Jay confirmed. "I was sitting there waiting for him, when I received a text from someone named T.E. This…person…was asking if I was sure I wanted to be counseled by this particular guy which was weird."
"What did you do?" Mel asked.
"Well, I found a name block on his desk and realized that the doctor's name was Kenneth Stappord," Jay replied.
Andy nodded thoughtfully, though heeding B's warning didn't say anything. He recalled the picture T.E. sent to him of Jay holding the name block and the nasty accompanying message suggesting Jay was having an affair with the doctor.
"Stappord?" Mel questioned taking Andy out of his thoughts. "As in?"
"One and the same," Jay replied. "Knowing that it couldn't be a coincidence I left the office and went to the library to do some research. It turns out that Kenneth Stappord is Rick's father."
Mel and B were shocked to hear it. But Andy took that moment to chime in.
"There's conflicting evidence surrounding that fact though," he said.
"Wait," Mel replied. "You knew about this?"
"I knew Jay had gone to see a Dr Stappord and put 2 and 2 together. As you guys know I represented Rick in that hearing. I spoke to him about his father and Rick seemed fully convinced that he was dead."
"Obviously he was lying," B replied.
"That's the thing," Andy said. "I'm not so sure he was. When we were younger, Rick told me about his father's death. He'd decided not to go to the funeral because his father had treated him so horribly. But when his mother died Rick had no one left to parent him. It was a tough time."
"It's incredibly convenient," B began. "That he couldn't attend his father's supposed funeral."
"It's not like that B," Andy replied. "Rick was different back then. The Rick we know today is a full 180 degrees different to the boy I knew growing up. He wouldn't lie about his father's death. The man was the bane of his existence. If he wasn't dead, I've no doubt he'd still be hurting Rick."
"It's true," Jay suddenly chimed in. "During my research I discovered a journal…"
"Goodbye to you now I'm free…" Andy replied distantly.
He recalled finding the journal himself when he was younger, again another suppressed memory from his childhood with Rick.
"What?" Mel asked.
"You've read it?" Jay asked in shock.
"Yes I have," Andy replied to Jay. "Cover to cover. It's horrible, dark and difficult to read. But it's honest."
He then turned to Mel.
"Goodbye to you now I'm free is a journal Rick wrote when his father passed away," Andy explained. "It details quite graphically what Rick went through as a boy from his earliest memory up until he was told his father had passed away."
"I don't get it," B piped up.
Everyone turned to look at him in unison.
"If Daddy Stappord is dead, then who's this guy Jay nearly went to for counseling?"
"That's the question I've been trying to answer," Andy replied.
"Me too!" Jay cried.
It was in that moment that the seemingly impossible to Andy had occurred. He looked over at Jay, but rather than looking at him with malice or his trade-mark death stare, he actually smiled at his boyfriend knowingly.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Jay said softly.
Mel, taking her cue from both boys, got up to allow Jay to trade places with her.
The moment Jay sat down Andy hugged him.
"It's ok," he replied. "We both did wrong. But now we know and we can work together."
"Why-" B started, noticing a death-stare coming from Mel for the interruption.
Fobbing it off, he continued.
"Why didn't you tell him Jay?" he asked. "I'm just curious."
"I…I wanted to protect you," Jay replied, though looking at Andy. "You didn't need to deal with that on top of everything else you were going through at work."
Andy smiled, knowing full-well what he'd meant. It was after all, the exact same reason why he'd kept his knowledge of everything T.E related a secret from Jay.
"I get it," Andy replied genuinely. "I do."
As much as the comfortingly sweet moment was beautiful, information was needed even more. If Jay was not in fact T.E, they needed to know everything they could before their psychopathic stalker made their next move.
Jay knew this too and so clearing his throat he continued.
"Though the text was what had led me to finding out about Dr Stappord and eventually working out who he was…or could be," he corrected looking to his boyfriend, before turning back to the group as a whole. "I didn't really give it much more thought. This T.E. person had calmed down and not sent me a text at all for quite some time. That was until Linds' trial…"
Jay recalled the moment sitting in his chair waiting to be called upon to give a statement and feeling his phone vibrate.
"T.E. sent me something while I was sitting there," he said simply.
"You weren't alone," Mel replied. "We all got a text from T.E. that day."
"I didn't," B jumped in. "And I didn't know you did either."
"No offence B," Jay replied. "But considering you were on Team Evil last time, I didn't want to take any chances."
B smiled, appreciating where the blonde was coming from.
Jay continued on with his story.
"Not that it was easy to do, what with B sitting right next to me. But the message shocked me. It was…about you Mel…"
Mel straightened up a little.
"Ah…what about me?" she asked tentatively.
"It was a picture of you lying with Zandra, all snug and cuddling. Sort of made me sick to be honest," he admitted.
"Oh great!" Mel sighed. "Is there anyone that bitch hasn't sent my night at Casa de Carmita to?!"
Jay raised an eyebrow inquisitively to Andy.
"T.E's been sending pictures and info of that night to everyone. Short version? Mel was drugged and we don't quite know the full story. She either slept with Zandra or just laid next to her, we're still working it out."
"Oh wow!" Jay replied.
"Yeah, so if you don't mind," Mel butt-in. "Can we just move on?"
"Ah yeah…sure," Jay replied. "If you don't want to know what actually happened between you and Zandra."
"*"
"What do you mean?!" Andy replied.
"You know what actually happened?" Mel asked.
"Yes!" Jay replied incredulously. "I'm shocked you guys don't. I know everything. Even the unnecessary explanation A was trying to give me earlier."
He leaned over to whisper into Andy's ear.
"Not that I didn't appreciate it beautiful," he said, lightly kissing Andy on the cheek. "But yes, I know what happened that night Mel. Partly because I was there for some of it and partly because T.E. told me."
As the three looked at Jay with eyes that bore right into his soul, Jay took a deep breath and began to explain.
"*"
"More coffee," Lauren whined to Palmer.
She was at his café and having not received another word in regards to Rein all night hadn't slept.
As Palmer poured the liquid into an appreciatively oversized mug, Lauren sighed.
"16 hours!" she cried.
"16 hours?" Palmer questioned.
"Well 16 hours, 2 minutes and 15 seconds to be exact," Lauren replied. "But who's counting?"
Just then, Lauren's phone rang and she hastily fished it out of her purse.
"Hello?!" she demanded out of desperation.
"Yes, hello is this Ms Gilbourne?" came a voice on the other end.
"Yes," she replied even more hastily before. "This is she."
"Ms Gilbourne it seems we have located your daughter a…" the voice paused briefly. "Ms Rein Gilbourne?"
"Yes!" Lauren cried out. "Yes, she's my daughter! You've located her? What does that mean located?"
"Found Ms Gilbourne," the caller confirmed. "We've found your daughter. She's alive though barely and we need you to make your way to the old Swiss Embassy located on Duke and Pine as quickly as you can please."
"Of- of course!" Lauren stuttered. "I'm leaving right now."
"Excellent Ms Gilbourne," the caller replied. "We'll see you soon."
Lauren hung up the phone and turned to Palmer who looked at her with great anticipation.
"They've found Rein!" she cried. "She's alive, though barely. I need to get to the old embassy now. I think they're going to take me to her or something. Anyway um-"
She seemed to flounder around for what to say.
Did she ask Palmer to go with her? Or did she tell him to stay there? Did she request a lift? Then again, she did have her own car.
"No, go-go!" Palmer cried. "Fill me in as soon as you can!"
"Will do!" Lauren replied and kissing her partner quickly, fled the café in pursuit of the old Swiss Embassy.
"*"
"To truly understand everything I need to continue where I left off," Jay began narratively. "So while I was reading the journal I got another text from T.E. who seemed to think I was looking in the wrong place. It was weird though, the way the text was written was as though they were right there watching me."
Mel and Andy nodded, knowing exactly what he meant while B's eyes widened.
"They were more concerned about Rick then I was, telling me that he 'may be closer' than I thought. I continued my research and found out that Rick was being represented, but of course at the time I had no idea who was representing him."
Andy's face showed a look of guilt. He knew where this part of the story was going to end up.
"Of course not much later Linds was released and I received a text about Andy being in danger. Telling me to get home as soon as I could."
"The day I brought Linds over right?" Mel asked, cleverly putting two and two together.
"Yeah," Jay admitted. "Sorry about the way I treated you Mel. With my fears of her release coupled with the threatening text, I was just so worried about this one."
He leant towards Andy and put an arm around him protectively.
"Of course I thought everything would be over when we went to Pittsburg, but that's where the drama really heated up," Jay continued. "And it was for a little while, but then the night we got back from Carmita's concert something happened that changed everything."
"Wait, I was there after Carmita's concert," B chimed in. "You did look different. I remember wondering about that."
"What you didn't know," Jay went on. "Is that I went to grab a change of clothes. Babylon-style is hot, but definitely not comfortable. So I went to change."
Suddenly Jay looked dazed as though thinking back to the moment.
"I opened up the suitcase and there was a letter there for me. I thought it was from Andy," he admitted. "So I was really excited to read it. But it wasn't…"
"It was from T.E wasn't it?" Mel asked, recalling the experiences she'd had with T.E's letters.
"Yeah," Jay replied. "There were photos of Andy and Rick and a suggestive note from T.E. Of course this got me really worried, because Andy hadn't told me he was representing that jerk and I was very concerned for our relationship."
"I'm sorry Jay," Andy admitted.
"It's ok babe," Jay replied. "But there's more."
"You're right," Andy conceded. "There is. I found out the next day about you and Dr Stappord. Like you said, T.E. was being very suggestive and like you, I wondered about where we stood in our relationship."
"Linds never got involved in people's relationships like this," Mel responded aloofly from out of nowhere.
"Linds was Helen Keller compared to T.E." B chimed in. "So T.E. never sent anything to suggest you and Linds were on the rocks?"
"No," Mel replied. "Never. In fact my texts never really involved Linds at all unless it was bribes to tell her something."
B got up to make coffees telling Jay to continue.
"So then the fight happened," Jay went on turning to Andy.
"Fight?" Mel asked, intrigued.
"Yeah we argued about what we'd found out about Rick and Dr. Stappord," Andy replied to her. "Sorry I didn't tell you Mel, I just wanted to let it go."
"It was pretty bad," Jay admitted. "I even slapped him in the end."
"You WHAT?!" Mel shrieked.
"It's ok Mel," Andy replied. "We dealt with it. Go on Jay, stop being a martyr."
He smiled briefly at his boyfriend to show he wasn't being serious. Jay had apologized so many times about the slap that Andy had honestly forgotten about it for a while now.
B came back with the coffees and passed one to each of his friends. In turn everyone thanked him as Jay continued.
"Andy left not too much later telling me not to contact him and I was a wreck. So I went to-"
"Me," B replied, remembering the moment and turning to Mel. "He got sloshed and wouldn't tell me what was going on. Just that something had happened."
"But the next day," Jay chimed back in. "B asked me all about it and I really didn't want to tell him but-"
"Oh my god," B breathed as it hit him. "It was T.E. that stopped you from leaving."
He could have kicked himself for not realizing it at the time.
"T.E. forced me to tell B exactly what had happened. They had taken a photo of us in bed together-"
"Lying in bed, nothing happened," B quickly corrected in case Andy were to get any ideas.
Not that Andy needed the correction. By that time B was happily with Micah and Andy knew that though his record with monogamy was not exactly stellar that there was no way he'd cheat on Micah.
"B helped me get past the issues I still had with Linds and also showed me how good I had it with Andy," Jay went on.
"You knew it at the time," B chimed in. "You just needed reminding."
"I stayed at B's for a while, but he needed to get back to work, so I decided to take a walk," Jay pressed on, knowing this next part was going to be very hard to say. "T.E. sent me a patronizing text about how easy it had been to tell B and it really got under my skin. I…I just wasn't in my right mind…" he continued dazedly.
"Andy was gone and god only knew if it was for good, B was at work and everything was just a whole mess!"
The others nodded sympathetically.
"It was…" Jay continued visibly shaking. "It was in that moment…I decided…I couldn't live like that any longer. After everything the old Team Evil had done and now this! I just…I just couldn't and so…"
Andy grabbed one of Jay's hands and lightly held it in his own for comfort.
"If you can't beat 'em…" Jay trailed off, as looks of shock now reflected those around him.
"But- how?!" Mel asked.
"I sent a text to T.E…." Jay began recalling the moment.
He stood there in the cold looking around wildly. No more protection…no more shelter…nothing to stop him from being hurt.
A tear fell down his cheek as it dawned on him exactly what he needed to do.
"You told me the truth…about Andy…" he slowly texted. "And you helped me…realize as much also…"
Jay roughly wiped away at the tear and the others that were threatening to spill as he thought back to the secrets he'd learned about Andy. Everything he'd kept from him.
And now, he was mad!
"I'm sick of the games though…" he continued to text. "And…want…to…join…you."
Signing his name, Jay sent the text.
Moments later a response came back, it read:
Ok you're in. And I'm going to tell you
another big secret Jay, but you must
keep this to yourself. Remember I
will know if you've told anyone – T.E.
Jay came out of the memory and looked around at the gaping faces that surrounded him. In this moment of protection, love and fierce friendship, the total opposite to what he was feeling that day, he realized how stupid he had been to even go that far.
Would his friends ever forgive him?
Would Andy forgive him?
It was Mel who found her voice first.
"What was the secret?" she asked.
"What?" Jay asked distracted, having been focused on Andy at the time, the look of disappointment breaking his heart in two.
"The secret T.E. wanted to tell you, that you couldn't tell anyone about?" Mel said. "Was it about Zandra and me?"
"Yes," Jay replied. "And no."
The others looked confused. Even Andy who seemed to be going through a whole range of emotions.
"It was about you," Jay replied. "But not Zandra."
Jay inhaled slowly, this was going to be so much harder to admit then he'd thought.
"It was about…" he began. "You…and Andy."
"*"
As Lauren stood outside of the old Swiss Embassy she couldn't help but wonder what was taking them so long. She looked at her watch for at least the 5th time since arriving and noticed that she had been standing there for over 2 hours. No wonder her feet were starting to kill her.
Maybe I got the address wrong? She thought to herself.
Taking out her phone she searched for the number in her call log, but disappointment washed over her when she realized it was a private number.
Of course it is!
As she sat there, contemplating whether or not to leave, her phone rang.
"Hello?!" she cried desperately.
"Lauren!" came the tone of what could only be Emily. "Do you always answer the phone in that harsh and ridiculous tone?"
"Mom," she replied. "No, I'm just waiting for some people who-"
"People?" Emily replied. "What people?"
Lauren wondered whether or not to tell her mother about her situation. Then again she hadn't even told her what had happened to Rein, so starting that conversation right now would probably just open up an unneeded can of worms.
"Ah, don't worry mom," she replied quickly. "So what's up?"
"The sky Lauren," Emily replied.
"Huh?" Lauren questioned. "What about the sky mom?"
"It's up," Emily simply replied.
"What?"
On the other end of the phone Lauren could hear Emily sigh.
"You asked me what's up Lauren," she replied impatiently. "The sky is up, at least it was last time I checked and I imagine that it will remain that way for quite some time."
Lauren rolled her eyes.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your call mom?" she asked directly.
"Ah yes, the reason for my call," Emily replied. "Well, I was just wondering about something."
"Uh-huh."
"Well, we haven't heard from Rein in a while and since tomorrow is Friday night, I was just wondering why she hadn't confirmed for dinner. Do you know why she hasn't called?"
Yes, because sadly she was involved in an accident and quite possibly lost the use of her arms, legs or both a voice in her head replied.
No wait, that's too convenient of an excuse, another one answered.
"No mom," she finally lied. "I don't know why Rein hasn't called."
"Well I just assumed, you would have spoken to her this week," Emily replied.
"Mom, she's abroad right now, you know this," Lauren quipped.
"Well excuse me for not knowing that Rein's being abroad meant that you two weren't conversing," Emily replied.
"Mom, it's not that. It's just-" Lauren began.
"No Lauren," Emily replied. "You've made yourself perfectly clear. Rein's away somewhere and that means you two don't communicate. I must get with the times. You know, your father's going away next week. Maybe I should tell him about this new social standard. I wouldn't want to commit a faux pas!"
"Mom!" Lauren yelled. "I'm sorry, but this is not a good time! I will get Rein to call you as soon as she can ok?"
"But how can you when clearly people who travel abroad can't be contacted?" Emily retorted.
"Bye Mom," Lauren replied before promptly hanging up on her mother as a white van which bore the letters R.E.S.C.U.E came into view.
A woman with blonde hair stepped out of the van and raced up to her.
"Hi," she said smiling broadly. "You must be Ms Gilbourne?"
"Yes," she replied stiffly. "And you must be late."
"Excuse me," the woman said confused.
"Sure, happily," Lauren replied. "It's just that I've been waiting here for over two hours to get to my daughter!"
"*"
"You…you…knew?!" Andy blurted out.
Yes when he thought Jay was T.E. he had assumed as such. But now that Jay was revealed to be nothing than, well so far, a willing accomplice, the idea had been cleared from his mind.
"Yes," Jay replied, determined to not look at his boyfriend. "I knew."
"Jay," Mel intervened. "It meant nothing."
"I saw the video Mel," Jay answered having no problems looking at her. "But I can't talk about this right now. If I do, I won't be able to finish the story."
"There's more?!" Andy asked incredulously.
"Of course there's more!" Jay replied hotly, before taking a much needed breath. "So naturally I was pissed off about it all and very much willing to help T.E. out. I had no idea why you two would…you know…but it pretty much confirmed to me that out relationship was over."
Andy went to object, but Jay talked right over him.
"It wasn't easy keeping the secret. I was not only repulsed, but also outraged and with a million questions running around in my mind. But T.E. had been quite clear. Tell him and you're dead. So, I had no choice. The following evening I went back to the diner…"
Jay remembered the moment quite easily. Determined as he was to help T.E. get to his cheating boyfriend, he was still confused about the presence of Edward at the diner.
"Um…" he began uncomfortably looking at his ex. "Can we…talk?"
Edward was due for his break anyway and moments later the pair had engaged in a polite chit-chat, before Jay went on to the real reason that he was there.
"Ok so Edward, have you – have you heard from…you know…Team Evil since that day?" he asked tentatively.
Edward put down his coffee cup and looked as serious as the case warranted.
"I haven't heard a word from anyone on the team since I got arrested," he replied. "No one was allowed to talk about it in jail and no one has tracked me down since. In fact seeing you and Andy the other day, was the first time I'd seen anyone since the throne room."
As Jay came out of the memory, he noticed B glaring at him as though not believing he'd fallen for such an obvious lie.
"Uh-huh," he dismissed. "You are aware he saw me way before you guys came to Pittsburg right?"
"B," Jay replied. "I've learned a lot since then. But even at the time, I didn't believe him."
Jay looked at Edward skeptically.
"Come on Edward," he replied. "I'm sure you guys have caught up since. I mean Sam's out of jail now isn't he?"
"Jay," Edward said seriously. "I wouldn't know. I haven't seen anyone since…"
But as Edward droned on Jay's phone vibrated and so he quickly checked it. There displayed, was another text from his new master.
Edward is not on our team. I could
never trust him enough. Stop
wasting your time. Andy's back in
New Haven – T.E.
"Yeah and I saw you with Edward also," Andy announced, bringing Jay right back to the present. "That's probably why T.E. texted."
"Well I got a text from you not too much later saying you wanted to talk," Jay admitted.
He took a sip from his coffee to silence so deafening he knew he could have heard a cotton ball drop, let alone a pin.
"It made sense of course," Jay went on, placing the cup back down. "This new T.E. didn't seem like someone that would have been in league with the old team. So right then and there I knew I could tick everyone from the old team off. Including you B."
B smiled at these words. At least Jay had caught up that much.
"But you told me you spoke to him because of-" Andy began.
"I know what I told you," Jay replied. "But I couldn't exactly say 'Andy I needed to know if he was a fellow minion of T.E.' now could I?"
Receiving no answer from Andy, Jay went on.
"Naturally, I got more than I bargained for at Maya's party in Babylon when she showed me a picture of Sam and Edward together with her. I knew then that he was lying. He may not have been on T.E's team. But he'd lied nonetheless."
"And didn't Maya say something about Edward being Sam's best friend?" Andy asked.
"Yeah," Jay replied. "It was like one explosion after another. The revelation that Edward lied and Andy wanting to mend the relationship. By the time we got back to Pittsburg, I wanted out. But something stopped me."
"What?" Mel asked.
"Remember how I said that I could eliminate everyone on the old Team Evil?" Jay repeated as everyone nodded. "With each passing day, I felt like I was getting closer and closer to working out who this T.E. was!"
"So, they never revealed their identity to you?" Andy asked.
"Not once," Jay replied. "I guess they never fully trusted me. Which good eye, but still…"
"So, how did they get you to do their dirty work for them?" Andy asked.
"Texts," Jay replied simply. "I'd receive instructions and do it for them. For example, I'm the one that wrote the hot-hot-hot text before you left for work that day you told me you were affected by Serena Williams."
"You knew I was lying?" Andy said shocked at the revelation.
"A it wasn't exactly a good lie," Jay replied. "Why do you think I never dug deeper?"
"And the radio announcement?" Mel asked, recalling the same sort of message.
"Also me," Jay replied. "Andy told me what station you guys listened to and T.E. wanted me to take a shot."
"The manila envelope?" Andy asked, now feeling quite hot under the collar.
"What manila envelope?" Jay asked. "I don't know anything about an envelope. Everything I did was a text or the radio thing. I never physically wrote something down for the fear that it would get back to me."
Suddenly B cleared his throat making everyone turn to face him.
"Jay, we can hash out what you did and did not do later," he said darkly. "But for now I believe you still owe Mel an explanation about what happened the night she was with Zandra?"
Jay took another sip from his coffee and sighed.
There was still much to be explained and so little time to do it in. Who knew where Linds was and how long she would take to get back.
But he knew B was right. Who knew how long Mel had been waiting for this information? He had known for quite some time after all, and it was high time she knew herself.
"*"
"Where are we Sophie?" Lauren asked the driver looking around at the ally-way the blonde driver had parked into.
"Where here," she replied. "That door to the left is the entrance to Rescue."
Lauren flung her seatbelt off at once. She couldn't wait to get inside.
What her poor Rein had to endure she didn't know, but she would move heaven and earth to help her through it.
Sophie took out her cell to make a quick call.
"We're here," she said quickly. "Yeah, the private entrance. I have Ms Gilbourne."
Hanging up the phone, Sophie turned to Lauren.
"Let's go," she said.
"I'm sorry you had to wait so long," Sophie went on. "There's so much red-tape we needed to cut through. It must have been tough, sorry."
She held open the door allowing Lauren to walk through, before closing it behind her.
"That's ok," Lauren replied quickly. "Thanks though."
"Sure," Sophie said.
Men and women in light blue shirts and dark blue skirts or pants walked by in a harried fashion. All of them seemed to be in a professional panic mode of sorts.
"As you can see," Sophie went on. "We're all doing everything we can. The disaster is one of huge proportions. Not only for your daughter, but also for Ms Deleon."
"Ah yes of cour-" Lauren began, before she was interrupted by a man with short brown hair and blue eyes.
"Ms Gilbourne I presume?" he asked, though oddly his question was directed at Sophie and not Lauren.
"Yes, this is her," Sophie replied before turning to Lauren. "Lauren this is Stan, he's one of the leaders here. He's going to take you to your daughter now."
"Oh ok," Lauren said surprised at the sudden hand-over. "Thanks."
As Lauren walked away in full chatter with Stan, Sophie's expression went from innocent and sweet to eyes that narrowed and a smile that represented naught but evil.
"Oh you're welcome," she said softly, watching her round the corner. "You're very…welcome."
"*"
"The more I worked, the more I seemed to gain T.E's trust," Jay said, looking at all of them in turn. "It was like a game to them with a whole points system. The only difference being that if you stuffed-up you went to zero and would never be trusted again. But the more I did, the more I was able to find out."
B, Andy and Mel looked on intrigued.
"Finally T.E. seemed to trust me enough to induct me," Jay went on. "They sent me to a clothing store for-"
"Don't tell us," Andy began. "A black hoodie, black scarf and black gloves?"
"How?" Jay started startled. "How did you know?"
"I've learned a few things about T.E," Andy said simply. "I'll fill you in tonight. Go on. We don't know when Linds will be getting home."
"So the more T.E. began to trust me," Jay went on. "The more I felt ok to ask questions. I asked about Rick, I asked about you guys…and finally one day I asked the question that had been bugging me since I'd joined them."
With dramatic emphasis, Jay left his words hanging in the air as he took another sip of his now cold coffee.
"So we came to the night that I babysat Gus," Jay continued at last. "I installed cameras, as you know. But by now, having learned enough to know that I was in this purely to find out who T.E. was and not to hurt you guys, I only installed that one you saw in this room. By the way Mel there are…"
He paused to think for a moment before continuing.
"Two in the bedroom, one in the bathroom, one in the guest room, but none in the study or Gus's room. I'll show you where they are before I leave."
Mel nodded curtly in appreciation.
"So once the task was done, T.E. sent me a text thanking me as per usual and I took the opportunity to ask them about you and Zandra. It had been bugging me for a while. I mean I had only seen maybe 3 seconds of you two in a bed together. Knowing what T.E. was capable of after the photo they sent me of B and I in his loft, I asked for more information. What I received was astounding!"
Jay took out his phone and handed it to Mel.
"It's too hard to say, but if you want to know the truth…" he began.
"Just push play," Mel replied, reading a text above an attachment that clearly had the video.
Mel did as Andy and B crowded around to watch, while Jay, not wanting to see it again, began clearing away the coffee cups.
The video showed Zandra's room at Casa de Carmita's with Zandra getting undressed.
"Ok, this we don't need to see," Andy mumbled disapprovingly.
"Keep watching," Jay replied from the kitchen sink. "There's more."
Getting into a lace night gown Zandra sat at a box seat window surrounded by splashes of pink, a heart shaped bed even visible, if only just in the video's view.
"I found another bottle in the fridge," Mel was saying.
Mel gasped as did the others.
"I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," Zandra replied smiling with battered eye-lids. "Why don't you set that down and come over here?"
Mel set the bottle down on a table that was just in view and made her way over to Zandra. Clearly she was drunk, but unlike her, Zandra didn't seem to be at all.
"Well…" Mel replied slowly making her way over to the other woman. "Don't mind if I do."
It was then that the three saw Mel straddle Zandra as the pair made out quite heavily only gasping for air when needed.
"This…is wrong," Mel panted, between kisses. "I…I have…a wife…"
"Yeah in a sanatorium," Zandra replied casually. "Leaving a princess like you to wait…to starve…you deserve better."
Her response was perfectly done Andy thought to himself. The casual air she held about her, the careful well-timed flattery, it was as though Zandra had been rehearsing the moment for weeks.
Mel seemed to think so too as the kisses continued and slowly but surely it was her, Mel, who took the reins.
"Tell me you want me," Mel moaned.
"I want you," Zandra moaned back.
Mel gracefully got up and pulled Zandra back over to the bed and the proceeded to undress her in a very quick fashion.
Andy chanced a glance at Mel, whose hand was covering her mouth, a seemingly unconscious tear falling down her left cheek.
Moans filled the audio as Mel watched on horrified at what she was seeing…what she was doing!
10 minutes later the scene had played itself out and Mel's arms wrapped themselves around Zandra's body.
"Sleep well princess," Zandra said softly.
"Good night my handsome prince," Mel replied snuggling deep into the nook between Zandra's head and neck.
"I…" Mel started weak and shaking. "I g-guess that a-answers th-that question."
"Mel you were drugged," Andy tried consolingly, for all the good it would do.
Mel's hand was still covering her mouth in shock. She hadn't moved a muscle and was clearly physically frozen by the situation.
Andy looked back down at the video, which for some reason was still playing.
"Was this taken by surveillance?" he asked Jay, who by now had made his way back over to the sofa a new coffee in hand, staring off into the distance.
"What makes you ask that?" Jay questioned.
"Well, why is it still going? Aaaaah!"
Andy screamed as the video, a close-up now on Zandra showed the woman going from restfully sleeping along-side her 'princess' to eyes opening quite wide. Slowly…with great perfection so as not to awaken Mel Zandra moved her arm away from her body and got up out of the bed, making her way towards the camera.
An evil smile spread across her face.
"I know what you did," she said directly into the camera.
Everyone watching jumped violently.
"Who's she talking to?!" Andy demanded.
"Shhhh!" Jay replied. "Watch, listen."
They did as Zandra continued to talk.
"What do you think nut-house Linds will have to say about this?" she asked. "Good job with the drinks, but do be careful next time. You could have drugged my drink. Thank god I know a thing or two about spiked drinks."
The three adults stared at the video in amazement!
Was this planned?
(EDITED UP TO HERE).
"Come on," Zandra went on. "Turn that thing off. Let's go celebrate."
Like that the video stopped and Andy looked horror-struck at Jay.
"There's more to the story obviously," Jay quickly said.
"Who's she talking to?" Andy asked again. "Who did she toast her 'success' with Jay?"
But Jay had no answer.
"I don't know," he replied. "I wish I did, but that's the last thing T.E. sent me to do with Mel and Zandra."
B seemed to take on the role of consoling Mel, which left Andy free to continue talking.
"But- But that could be…T.E!" Andy replied.
"Don't you think I know that?" Jay retorted. "I asked who it was naturally, but T.E. said it was too soon for me to know."
Beep-Beep, Beep-Beep came the tone of Jay's cell, which he quickly grabbed.
"It's from them!" he alerted the others. "I assigned that god-awful tone to unknown numbers after I joined."
Though still too overcome with shock to talk, Mel glanced around from where she was buried deep in B's chest to look at Jay.
"Well?" Andy demanded. "What does it say?"
But this time it was Jay's turn to begin shaking violently. As though his voice was stuck way back in his throat he simply handed the phone over to Andy, who read the text out loud.
"You betrayed me for the last time Jay," he read. "You'd better sleep with one eye open tonight – T.E."
"*"
Understandably it took quite some time for the four of them to get past the initial shock of everything they'd discovered. Not least of which the video supplying proof that Zandra had actually slept with Mel and the questions that accompanied them. Not only why, but also who as in who was the person she was talking to?
It seemed to be the general consensus that Zandra was talking to T.E. and therefore a contingent plan was created to divide and conquer to find out who the videographer was.
B had decided to stay the night with Mel to calm her down and somehow, miraculously, Mel had stuck to the last minute plan and convinced Linds to take Gus to Carol's for the night.
Not that they weren't counting out Carol as Mel had made a big fuss about sending Linds off to be with anyone who wasn't the four of them and much less, someone she never trusted. But Andy had helped her to see reason, when he reminded her that Carol had never and would never harm Linds or Gus. After all Linds was her daughter and everything she'd done so far that seemed quite mad was done to or directed at Mel, and not Linds or their son.
Andy meanwhile had told everyone including Jay, in no uncertain terms that the pair of them were going home that evening. None of the others seemed to think it was a good idea for the pair to be alone at all, but Andy had convinced them by reminding them about the tracking device and the fact that he and Jay were fine now, planting a much too rough kiss on Jay's lips when Mel and B didn't seem to believe him.
In Andy's mind, he needed a night to be with his boyfriend. Not to have sex, make-out or anything of the sort. Just to…be with him. The revelations the day had brought had been monumental and stressful to no end. But now that everything was out in the open, he wanted to get home and fill in the blanks left out of his side of the story.
It had taken till 10pm for the boys to get home, rip out every camera ever put up and destroy them.
Jay had admitted to Andy that though he was not the one that had originally installed the cameras, he had updated all of them the night Lauren was released, before he'd met them at Skadivas. This had shocked Andy, but the fact that Jay was now coming out with everything he had ever held back about the whole situation allowed Andy to forgive him and move on.
"That's why I was delayed," he said as they took out a particularly difficult camera to get.
"But you left a message on the answering machine," Andy replied.
"Yeah, good cover huh?" Jay laughed.
For comfort and comfort only Andy laughed with him. He may have appreciated the new leaf Jay had turned over since being caught in the act, but that didn't mean Andy didn't feel sick the more he'd learned how sinister Jay had become.
Once the cameras were removed and destroyed, Jay taking extra special pleasure in doing so, the pair sat down and Andy took his turn to divulge everything.
He told of the letter Mel had received at the sanatorium, the Stappord debarkle and all the info that had come along with it. Floral shore and everything it contained…
"That's how you knew about the clothes?" Jay remarked, while Andy nodded.
He advised Jay about B and everything he'd told him before, during and after Casa de Carmita – to which surprisingly Jay seemed stunned.
"You didn't know?" Andy asked.
"No," Jay replied simply. "I had no idea! If I did, I would have said something at Mel's!"
He then spoke of the birth certificates and finally of Lauren's arrest. Having already known about the plane crash and everyone's distrust of Palmer, Andy sat satisfied he'd told Jay everything.
"Now we just need to answer all those questions," Jay said to fill the deafening silence that filled the once noisy discussion filled home.
"Exactly," Andy replied, stifling a yawn that was threatening to come out. "We need to know the obvious, obviously. Like who's T.E and who's working with them. But we also need to work out who Mariana's father is. I'm sure he's involved somehow."
"Definitely," Jay agreed. "And who set off the plane crash?"
"Plane crash?" Andy questioned.
"Yeah," Jay replied. "Carmita, Rein and Emmett's. Do you really think that was a co-incidence?"
"Well, I was beginning to yeah," Andy said. "Why? Do you think T.E's involved?"
"Of course!" Jay replied. "Haven't you been reading the papers?"
Andy gave Jay a stern look.
"When have I had time to read the papers Jay?" he asked. "I can't even have a shower without getting a text-"
He stopped abruptly. Yes he meant T.E, but of course Jay was going to think he was referring to him.
"Sorry Jay," he said quickly. "I didn't mean…"
"I know," Jay replied. "It's just something we'll have to deal with."
"One thing's for sure," Andy noted. "Until we find T.E. and force them to stop, things are only going to get worse."
The boys continued their discussion for quite some time and then noticing the lateness of the hour picked themselves up and made their way to bed.
Five people are better than four…Andy thought to himself as he lay there waiting for what he hoped would be a dreamless sleep to come.
With Jay's insight, the tracking device, Mel, B and Lauren all on their side it could only be a matter of time before they caught this monster right?
Slowly but surely, Andy's eye-lids grew heavy and he drifted off as he had hoped to a nice, dreamless sleep.
"*"
In the middle of the night Jay awoke suddenly. He'd had a bad dream about faceless figures that surrounded him with taunts of how he was useless scum. Andy had been in the dream too and it hadn't taken him long to accept a long black flowing cloak from the faceless mob and accept their nomination for leader. Just as Andy was being coronated and announcing that his first act would be to kill the betrayer, meaning him, Jay had woken up and sprung up in bed.
Taking a moment to right himself, he looked over at his peacefully sleeping boyfriend. Under normal circumstances Jay would wake Andy up and delve into what happened, thereby receiving the comfort he so desperately needed. But this world, just like that of his dreams was one of hell, betrayal and almost loss.
Thank god Andy still didn't know about Simon. Jay had wondered if T.E. had texted Andy about it, especially considering all the bad things they'd done to break up couples so far. But thinking about Simon, joining T.E. and betraying Andy, forced Jay up and out of bed.
There was no way he was going to wake his boyfriend, not now…not after everything.
Whipping on his dressing gown, Jay slipped out of the room and made himself a hot milk. As had become a source of comfort for him when Andy wasn't around, Jay automatically turned on the radio now permanently tuned to a news only station.
"And of course tax payers would have to expect no less," an announcer was saying. "The mayor has vowed to take a stance and time will tell how it all works out."
Jay took a sip of his drink grateful for Andy's mother's recipe.
Grateful for Andy.
"No news on any survivors from the TSY flight from Tuscany to Switzerland which crashed a few nights ago," the reporter went on. "Rescue workers have arrived on the scene but as yet have not identified anyone who has survived the crash. This obviously leaves fans of Carmita DeLeon in doubt as the singer had boarded the flight headed to Zurich for her next concert on her world-wind tour."
Jay finished the last of his hot milk and turned off the radio. His thoughts turned to Lauren and how tough it must've been for her to go through all of this. She had, after all, done so much for him. The least he could do would be to return the favor and he vowed to see her the following day.
Jay returned to the room and quietly slipped back into the bed, grateful that Andy slept on the far side so as not to waken him as he slipped in.
He knew he was lucky to have this man by his side. A lesser person would have completely fobbed Jay off and probably even kicked him out. But not Andy, as Lauren had once said, the pair were star-crossed lovers, destined to be together for all time.
Jay rolled over carefully as to not wake Andy and went to put his arm around the man's body.
But no one was there!
Not only that, but his hand landed on Andy's side of the bed into something warm and moist.
Jay rolled back over and flung on the bed side light, but what he saw shocked him!
No Andy, but there, where Andy's body normally lied was a tiny pool of blood.
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!" Jay screamed and violently jumped out of the bed.
Where was Andy?!
"Andy?" he called out worried. "Andy?!"
But there was no reply at all.
"Andy where are you?!"
Beep-beep Beep-beep! came the sound of his phone indicating a text.
With shaking hands Jay picked up his phone, there displayed was a text that read:
I told you not to cross me Jay, too late. Guess you better start looking for a new boyfriend – T.E.
"*"
T.E. knocked 3 times on the grey door that stood in front of them. It didn't take long to get a response, after all everyone knew who it was. Only one person knocked 3 times.
"Welcome back," said a woman with long blonde hair.
"What name do you go by here?" T.E. asked sternly.
"Sophie," she replied simply. "My outside world name is-"
"I don't need to know," T.E. said cutting the woman off. "Do you have the patient?"
The woman nodded and holding the door open allowed for T.E. to step through.
"Ah good morning Teliam," a man with short brown hair said dropping down into a bow. "I can't help but thank you for everything you've-"
"Yes, yes," T.E. shook off "I've had thanks enough."
Grabbing a clip board used as a sign in sheet T.E. quickly signed their name.
Teliam Vendees.
"Show me the woman," T.E demanded looking at the woman named Sophie, who nodded and started walking ahead.
"And what name do you go by here Mr. Grateful?" she asked the man in a demeaning fashion.
"Scott," the man replied. "Your…holiness?"
"Oh," T.E. laughed an evil laugh that chilled Scott's spine. "I'm no holy person believe me."
"Of course not, your greatness," Scott replied quickly.
Scott and Sophie lead T.E. around a few corners.
"Patient number 1 is reacting well," Sophie piped up, anything to stop her fellow team-member from embarrassing himself more. "Everything is going according to your predictions and specifications."
"Ah good," T.E. sighed. "Some good news at last."
As they rounded another corner Sophie stopped outside of a door way with the number 1 clearly marked on it.
"Is this the woman you thought it would be?" she asked.
An evil smile spread across T.E's lips.
"That's the one," T.E. replied satisfied. "You're looking haggard as usual Ms Lauren!"
Not that patient 1 could hear T.E. thanks to the silencing glass. Taking a clipboard from a pocketed shelf next to the door T.E. scrutinized over the findings.
"Ah yes," they said out loud to themselves. "Yes…oh yes that's to be expected…"
Signing their approval, T.E. looked now at Scott.
"Everything seems to be in order with this one, but I hear we have a new patient that's just been brought in."
"Yes," Scott replied quickly smiling gleefully. "Just twenty minutes ago."
"Take me to him," T.E. demanded. "You-"
They rounded on Sophie, who seemed to be taken aback at being addressed as 'you'.
"Monitor this one, I want round the clock reports do you hear?" T.E. demanded.
"Yes Ms Vendees," Sophie replied. "Round the clock."
"Good," T.E. replied, nodding curtly at the woman, before being led off by Scott to patient number 2.
The pair walked down a long corridor and turned another corner.
"We thought it would be better to keep them separated. Just in case," he confirmed.
"Naturally," T.E. replied. "Naturally."
Once again T.E. found themselves standing in front of a door with a number, this one with the number 2. Looking in T.E. smiled.
"You were happy to get this one I assume?" Scott asked.
"Oh yes," T.E. replied. "Though he doesn't know it, this one is the key to everything. My life's work is because of him."
T.E's evil laugh could be heard once more as they looked in on patient number 2 as though studying a very interesting insect.
"Hello Andy," T.E. said maliciously. "And welcome to my hell!"
"*"
And that's the end of the chapter!
So what did you think?
Seems some of you guys were right to think Jay was not T.E. after all! Who do you think 'Sy' is and what is his involvement? Did you suspect Jay to have put up the cameras? Had you guessed that Jay already knew about Mel and Zandra? What about him knowing about Mel and Andy? Do you forgive Jay for joining Team T.E. or do you think he should be hung out to dry? Where has Lauren been taken? What was the evil smile from Sophie all about? And where…is Andy?
Next time on an all new Love Hurts.
Jay thought he'd done a good thing revealing the truth to everyone, but next Monday….
(Mel): "Jay? Where's Andy?"
(Jay): "Gone!"
(Mel): What do you mean gone?"
(Jay): "T.E's got Andy."
Has Jay's attempt at reconciliation by telling the truth done more harm than good?...
(Jay): "My boyfriend's been taken away from me! I'm not exactly in a let's find T.E. kind of mood."
(Mel): "The moment Andy found out you were gone, he stepped up to the plate!"
Or is this the start of something even bigger?...
(Jay): "Contact Lauren, see if she's heard anything about Rein."
(Lauren): "What's going on?!...Hello?!...Who are you?!"
(B): "I think we need to track down the limo driver."
(Jay): "I'll go with B."
What lies in waiting….
(B): "Linds told me once that you were close with Sam Hogan."
Will astound you!
(Driver): "Yes Sam and I are close; we've known each other a long time."
(Jay): "How long?"
(Driver): "I've known him since…"
(B and Jay gasp!)
For chapter 21 promises….
(Jay): "Canoodling?"
(Driver): "Humping, Jeeping, Horizontal refreshment, a bit of how's your father."
To deliver….
(B): "Are you sure?"
SHOCK!
(Driver): "Just last week I was asked to get some tasks done."
AFTER SHOCK!
(Jay): "Who was asking you to do these Malicious evil tasks?"
AFTER SHOCK!
(Driver): "Some blonde pageant looking thing and a guy that smelled like 3 day old ganja!"
AFTER SHOCK!
(Jay): "Can I help you?"
(Person): "Do you know Andy?"
(Jay): "It smells like something…almost smells like…"
(Person): "Yeah I slipped in something a little extra for Andy. We ah, used to smoke together back in the day."
And just when you thought the shocks were over…
(B hearing a knock): "I'll get it."
BEAT-BEAT-BEAT-BEAT-BEAT-BEAT…WHO-HAS-ARRIVED-AT-JAY'S- DOORSTEP?!
(Jay): "You stole him from me! In the middle of the night!"
(Jay and B gasp!)
All new Love Hurts Next Monday.