Title: The More Things Change

Disclaimer: See Part 1

Part 56: Stiles' Decision

Stiles didn't notice the candles Terri had left throughout the house or the rose petals on the staircase, but he did notice that he couldn't find any of his clothes in his bedroom. "Great! She's moved me out! His stuff better not be in her bedroom!"

Stiles stormed up the stairs and into Terri's old room, except he didn't know it was her old room. He looked through the drawers and closet--noclothes,Matt's or Terri's. Stiles resigned himself to showering and digging something out of his suitcase. As soon as he was in the hall, he noticed that the door to the master bedroom was open.

The first thing he saw when he walked in was the negligee Terri had worn the night before, the one he hadn't seen her it. He picked it up and held it, imaging that it was her he was holding. After daydreaming for a few moments he opened his eyes and saw the suitcase in the middle of the floor and the men's underwear on the bed. "Callan! I'll kill him!" Stiles threw the negligee across the room. He didn't bother to look around the room any more before he stormed out and headed downstairs. If he had, he would have realized that the clothes in the suitcase and on the bed were his.

Stiles was hurt and angry. 'The least she could have done was put the stuff away. She had to know I was coming home last night. Oh, he probably convinced her to stay at his place for the night. "Wait till I get my hands on you Callan. You'll wish you really were dead!"

He was going to take care of Callan today, day off or not. He'd been warned! Stiles didn't care how he looked; the clothes he was wearing were wrinkled, he had 2 days stubble and because his hair had grown while he was in Iraq, it was going in ten different directions.

None of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was the fact that he'd lost his wife and his pride.


The minute Joshua hung up with Stiles he called Chance.

"Do you know where Mr. Stiles went when he left here last night?"

"Home as far as I know; I'm sure he was eager to see Terri. Why?"

"I just spoke with Terri; she said he was with another woman last night."

"What? Stiles? no way! He wouldn't cheat on Terri, especially not now; she's got her memory back, things should be looking up for them."

"He doesn't knowshe remembers.Apparently, he didn't believe what she said to him. He also said that she slept with Matt."

"Gee, this is ridiculous. When did you talk to him?"

"Just hung up."

"I think we're going to have to lock the two of them in a room so they can talk and then send both of them home."


Chance glanced at his desk and the mound of reports he still needed to look through and sighed. They would have to wait; he had to talk to his friend. He tried him at home and got the machine. Stiles finally picked up his cell the third time Chance called.

"What?"

"Hey man, what happened last night? I thought I sent you home to your wife. What's this I hear about you stepping out with another woman?" Chance tried to keep things light.

"What's Joshua doing talking to you about my life? All of you need to mind your own business."

Chance thought it best to ignore Stiles' comment about them minding their own business. He knew he would be lying if he agreed to that anyway. "He's concerned and so am I. What happened?"

"I met a girl and took her home. End of story."

"Are you insane? Your wife tells you she loves you—after a year no less and you pull this? Are you the same guy who was crying in his beer a few weeks ago about losing her? What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking my wife is in love with another man. Come on Chance, I know Carl told her to say that stuff when I was in Iraq, I heard him. Besides, I know the drill, give the hopeless guy hope and maybe he'll try harder to keep himself alive long enough to finish the mission. I told you she didn't care before I left. Nothing's changed."

"No you idiot, she meant it. No one told her what to say. She found out you were in trouble and," Chance banged his hand on his desk. "Just like that she remembers everything. She loves you man. I called her last night right after you left here to tell her you were on your way home. I know she was waiting for you."

Stiles blinked, then squeezed his eyes shut and held he head. 'What was Chance saying—that Terri was home last night? No, she couldn't have been. I would have seen her. Maybe she was asleep when I got home with what's her name. Stiles had to shake that thought out of his head. If Terri saw her she would think… No, she wasn't there, she was with Matt, I know it. He was naked. Her gown was right there. She wouldn't have been there; she doesn't care.

"Chance, memory or no memory, she slept with Matt; I can't forgive that. Did you know about that?"

Chance sighed. He had no idea Terri and Matt had slept together. "Of course not! When did this happen?"

"While I was in Chicago; maybe even last night. His clothes are all over our bedroom and so is one of her little nightgowns. Remember the day you brought me home, the day I left for Iraq?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"He was there, sitting on her bed naked with a towel thrown over his lap."

"Stiles, I'm sorry. I had no idea. Are you sure that's what happened? What did he say?"

"What did he say? What did he say? Come on Chance! He's sitting on my wife's bed naked; he didn't need to say anything. I got the message loud and clear."

"I don't get it. Bailey said she broke up with him, that she was going to work on the marriage." Then it hit him. "Oh boy, that's why… Is that why you said all that about no one caring if you came back and all that about you not caring if you came home?"

Stiles shifted as he moved the phone from one ear to the other and nodded to himself, but didn't say anything to Chance.

"Man, I should have known there was more going on. I can't believe him!" It all fell into place for Chance: Matt's speeding up the mission, his insistence that Stiles get out of the office when he did, the project that required Terri be out of the office that morning.

"Stiles, you gotta talk to her. Whatever happened or didn't happen I know she loves you."

Stiles just mumbled "yeah I bet." and hung up. He planned to talk to her all right, right after he dealt with Callan.