The Rabbi and the Cheer leader Captain.

The next day, James took time off from the Space Center. Kim had left early, something about meeting with Bonnie to plan out the next series of cheer routines. Ron had left with her, muttering something about Lawn Gnomes.

Margaret didn't ask. Ron was a collection of odd phobias and screaming fears…and underneath that, battle steel and armor plate. Besides, she had her own fears.

They were going to meet Rabbi Katz. He received them both graciously at the synagogue and ushered them into an office.

"Johnathon."

"Rabbi." He paused, "I understand that one of the reasons you are asking me to help is because I am fully acquainted with all aspects of this case, correct?" They both nodded. "Very well. This will be difficult—perhaps one of the most difficult things you have ever done." He paused, "So, I have to ask. Do you consider your marriage worth saving at this point."

"Yes!" They both said.

Katz nodded, but his next words were serious. "I believe you both feel that way. Very well. This is not going to be pleasant. I wish it would be, but we are not talking about some minor problem here. Johnathon, do you trust your wife?"

"I…" Margaret's husband opened his mouth and closed it .The silence stretched out. "No." Margaret wondered if a single word had ever hurt someone so badly. Worse, because he was right. She had lied to him.

"And you Margaret."

"I..I don't know." She said.

Katz nodded. "You both must understand that these issues have been growing, for anyone with eyes, since Kim's torture." He paused, "You kept them under control, because you both had to take care of your children…but you remembered every word, every cutting phrase…and now that Kim and Ronald are entering a recovery phase, it's all bubbling back to the surface. This is going to be very hard." He said, "And, understand this, it may turn out that a temporary," he stressed the word, "Separation may be for the best. I don't know, but understand that if I advise that, I am not trying to bring in divorce by the back door. If we get to the point where in my professional opinion, your best option may be dissolving your marriage, I will not disguise it by talking about separation."

Dissolving… oh god, Please no. Margaret didn't…couldn't…even now.

Katz leaned back and continued, "That being said, I believe you two can save your marriage, if you work at it." He shrugged, "I cannot do it for you. To many people come in expecting to have me give them the magic word, or a book on more fulfilling sex, or some other way to quickly and simply solve their problems. That is never the case. I'm a facilitator, but it is up to you two, and you must understand that this is not a place where you may find your own opinions vindicated. You are both in the right, and in the wrong." He paused, "And very stubborn, which is where Kim gets her 'Kimness' as Ronald so elegantly put it."

"And because of that, I need to tell you something. What happened to Kim was not your fault." Margaret tensed. "Yes Margaret."

"If we'd put our foot down… had a more normal life-" She stopped looking at Johnathon who tensed, but Katz smoothly intervened.

"Kimberly could have died in an auto wreck, or been raped…and she would not have been early as prepared as she was. What happened to her and Ronald would have destroyed 99 out of a hundred people on this planet." He looked at her, "And even if she had died, once you confided in my how proud you were of her, of all the work she'd done helping others."

"I-" She continued, "She didn't have to do it that way, we should-"

"Have kept her from using her gifts?" Now Johnathon was speaking, angrily, "So she could just find someone to date, and get a part time job? She saved the world-"

"And look what it cost her. That's what we're supposed to have police for- and are you going to say the same thing if the Twins manage to blow themselves up-"

"Oh, now it's about-" Rabbi Katz whistled, cutting the two off.

"Yes, Johnathon, and yes, Margaret, it is, at least partially about them… or at least the two most worthless words in the English language—'if only'." He paused, "And you're both angry. Johnathon, regret at what happened to Kimberly doesn't make you a hypocrite… you don't need to feel guilty about your support for her." Kim's father started, "Nor do you need to take it out on your wife." He turned to Margaret, "Margaret, you knew, intellectually that it was possible for things to go wrong, and you didn't stop her. That doesn't make you a bad mother, nor do you need to feel guilty about it. Besides, the real point is that you're not talking to Kim about this, but each other. That's the core of your problem."

"Okay Kim." Bonnie asked, "I'm here early…so what is your great new plan?" Kim looked over to Shelly and nodded.

Then she told Bonnie.

"WHAT?"

TBC.