Kutee: Pine Valley folk always make things more interesting. Erica might not always hate Frankie…maybe. Yeah, leave it to Kendall to point out the obvious, right? Oh, and tell MelovePezberry that I hope she's doing much better.

AMCGL7: Was it Bianca's relief or your secret relief that everyone was ok? And who said everyone is ok? Hmmm? ;) Erica listen to her granddaughter? Does Erica listen to anyone but Erica? Frankie did say earlier Bianca plays dirty. She should have known she wasn't going to win against her. Has she ever really won, though? Thanks, and glad you enjoyed the chapter. Next chapter - make sure that seatbelt is buckled securely. Better just keep it on for the rest of the story, just to be safe. It is Pine Valley after all.


It seemed all of Pine Valley wanted to talk to Kendall and Zach Slater at the same time. By the time Bianca tracked down her sister and brother-in-law, the waiting room and hallway were packed with various denizens.

"What happened?"

"We heard about the explosion. Is everyone alright?"

"Who did it?"

"Were they caught?"

"The news said it was planned. Is there a psycho on the loose?"

Questions were thrown out left and right. Bianca stayed at her sister's side, helping lead her back to her hospital room. Zach was finishing up with the release forms and watching the boys while Kendall went back to her room to make sure nothing was left behind.

"Funny, it only took an explosion for people in this town to want to talk to me." Kendall quipped as she pushed through the throng of people.

"Don't say that." Bianca bumped shoulders with Tad Martin. The man shot her a contrite look and moved out of the way.

Frankie squeezed beside Bianca, blocking anyone else from touching her. "Bianca," she spoke quietly, "we need to go." This was bad. It was difficult enough ensuring her safety in an unsecured location, but all of these people was making it near impossible to have control of the situation.

"I know." Bianca replied, "After Kendall gets back to the room, we can go."

Frankie sighed in frustration, "Bianca, please."

The younger woman looked at her. The worry in the agent's eyes was profound. Seeing the door to Kendall's room, she nodded her head, "Ok, Frankie. Let's go."

"Thank you." Frankie breathed out, grasping Bianca's elbow.

She steered Bianca in the opposite direction when a voice halted them, "Bianca, where are you going?"

Erica stepped up to them and shot Frankie a dirty look, "Your sister is just getting out of the hospital."

"I know, Mom. She's going to the Inn with Zach."

"Are you going to meet her there?"

Bianca shook her head, "Frankie and I are leaving."

"Leaving?" Erica frowned, "Where? You just got here."

"We have to get back to Miranda and Gabrielle."

"You shouldn't be going anywhere with her." Erica sneered toward Frankie. "Kendall and Zach were attacked. It's not safe."

"I'm safe with Frankie, Mom." Bianca placed a calming hand over Frankie's even though inside her own blood was starting to boil.

"Honey, please, we should talk about this." Erica motioned for Bianca to step away from Frankie.

"There's nothing to talk about right now, Mom. Kendall and Zach are ok. That's all that matters."

"Well, yes. That's true. But Bianca, we need to discuss why she's here."

"She has a name, and Frankie is here to support me and help."

"Hey, can we save this for another time?" Frankie cut in, scanning the room. "This whole mother-daughter catfight that's brewing is great, but we need to go."

"We are not having a fight, Mary-Francis." Erica huffed, "And why do you have to leave so quickly? Have some other poor unsuspecting woman to con?"

Frankie grit her teeth, "You don't know me, Erica."

"Yes, I do." Erica spat out. "I know your type. I knew what you were the second I saw you."

"You mean when you hit me with your car?"

"You jumped in front of it! You wanted to play me to get money."

"Yeah, cause jumping in front of oncoming traffic is the best way to do that." Frankie rolled her eyes.

"Why you…"

"Erica! Bianca!" Krystal walked up to them, her daughter Marissa at her side. "We heard about what happened. Is everyone alright?"

"They're fine." Erica forced a smile on her face.

"Good. We were so worried when we heard." Krystal pointed at herself and Marissa. "Do the police know anything? People are saying it was a bomb."

"I don't know. You'll have to talk to Jessie." Erica clearly did not want to be talking to this woman.

Frankie watched the back and forth with interest. The minute Krystal's voice was heard, Bianca tensed. It only lasted for a nanosecond, but she felt it. Frankie studied the woman trying to remember who she was. In France she had read a lot of reports on the Montgomery-Kane family and anyone who was involved in their lives. So, she pretty much had read about all of Pine Valley. It still hurt her brain to think of the long passages on Erica's love life. Dear god, that woman married twelve or thirteen times.

"Oh Bianca, it is so great to see you. How long have you been back?" Krystal turned her attention away from Erica.

"Only a short time." Bianca gave her a polite smile.

Krystal's eyes widened as she looked at Frankie, "And Maggie…it's…I didn't expect to see you here. Are you…" her gaze darted between her and Bianca curiously.

"This isn't Maggie." Bianca informed her.

"Not Maggie? Then, who is it?"

Bianca brought a hand to her forehead. Not many people knew who Frankie was. If they weren't around during the three months Frankie lived in Pine Valley or the trial afterward, it was close to impossible for them to know. No one talked about her. "This is Frankie."

Erica exhaled loudly as Krystal squinted in confusion, "Frankie?"

The woman in question felt something click. She remembered who this woman was. Krystal Carey. She was the mother of Babe Carey, who had died in the tornado when Bianca gave birth to Gabby. Babe was Bianca's former best friend…and the woman who raised Miranda as her own for a while. That family kept Miranda from Bianca and made her think the child was dead.

Smoothly, Frankie put herself between Krystal and Bianca, "Yeah, that's me. Nice to meet ya." She tilted her head, "Come on, Bianca."

"Bianca, wait." Erica held up a hand as the two made to move away, "We are not finished."

"Yes, we are. I'll call you later."

Erica reached out and grabbed her arm, "Bianca, this is not right, and you know it."

"God lady, can't you let us leave?" Frankie muttered in agitation.

Erica glared at her, "Pardon me?"

"Frankie," Bianca touched her fingers.

"I am talking to my daughter, Mary-Francis."

"Fuck," Frankie took a breath, "just go. Talk it out. Whatever. Two minutes, then we have to go, ok?" Erica would probably follow them all the way to Maryland if she didn't get to say what she wanted to.

"It'll be one, and I won't move." Bianca assured her.

Frankie nodded and took a few steps back. It gave the illusion they had space, but she could still see everyone around Bianca, and could get to her quickly if something happened. She scratched the back of her neck and rolled her shoulders against the forming tightness. They had to go. Bianca being exposed like this was very very bad. Causing an even bigger scene with Erica Kane wouldn't help either, though. And Erica was the queen at making scenes.

Tapping restless fingers against her thigh, she continued to keep one eye on Bianca and the other on the room. The other two agents were on alert, roaming the room with deceptive ease. She brought a hand to her chest and rubbed lightly, the ache becoming more annoying than anything by this point. Why it hadn't gone away yet was something she would be allowed to think about later when she wasn't scared out of her mind for Bianca's wellbeing. She could feel her eyes wanting to roll as Erica waved her hands and flipped her hair. It was clear that the woman still hated her. You'd think after eight years some of it might have gone away.

"Sorry," a person rammed into her back, making her rock on the balls of her feet.

"Watch it." Frankie growled, unconsciously checking her pockets and hidden service weapon.

"Maggie?"

Frankie turned to see a semi-familiar looking man. He was of about medium height with short blonde hair. He was dressed in a suit, the clothing of choice in this town, and had a surly look about him.

"Maggie Stone, didn't think you'd ever come back here." he said.

"Whatever." Frankie turned back to watch Bianca cross her arms defiantly at her mother.

"Don't tell me you got back with Bianca."

"Listen pal, I don't really care what you think or know. I don't have time for you, so run along and talk to someone else, alright?"

"Wow, you sure have changed…in more ways than one." he looked over her ensemble.

Frankie chewed on the inside of her cheek, "Why are you talking to me? Are you deaf? Stupid? Get out of here."

"Maggie,"

"Stop calling me that. I'm not Maggie." People needed to get over doing that.

"What?"

Frankie tapped her foot, "Name's Frankie, ok? Now, can you go?"

She felt the man freeze, "Frankie?"

"JR! Come over here!" Tad waved at the man.

JR? Frankie slowly turned to look at him. He'd grown up from being the skinny little punk who tried to act tough with her eight years ago, but she could see the resemblance. JR looked at her like she was a ghost. His face paled considerably, "You're Frankie? You're dead."

"Funny that." Frankie drawled.

"You…you…are you really Frankie?"

"Looks like it." she couldn't believe this was the man she'd chosen to pretend to cheat on Bianca with. Like she would ever choose him over Bianca.

"What? How?"

"Doesn't matter." She glanced at Bianca before giving the guy her full attention. "What matters is that I'm with Bianca. I never slept with you, even though I see you didn't correct anyone who thought we did. We were never friends, so we have no reason to talk. Oh, and one more thing." She leaned in closer, "I know what you've done to Bianca. So, I suggest you stay the hell away from her and me because if I see you again, I'll kill you." With one last pointed look, she turned her back to him and walked away.

Shoving her hands in her pockets, Frankie made a large semi-circle around Erica and Bianca. She kept her gaze on them, blindly darting through the horde of people. They needed to be going.

"You never could keep your eyes off her."

Frankie stopped walking, "Opal."

Opal walked up beside Frankie, "I remember when you were younger. You'd always try to hide it, but whenever Bianca was around, you'd look at her like she was a pot of gold."

Frankie bit her lip, "Yeah…well…" she shrugged.

"Ya were a sight, you were. Always blustering about like nothing mattered. When she came over, though, your eyes glazed over like a Christmas ham." Opal smiled, "You were good at hidin' it, I'll give you that. I saw it, though. Kinda hard not to when it was always there."

"Opal," Frankie swallowed. She didn't really know what to say.

"What I don't know is why you saw fit to make us believe you were dead for so long."

"Long story."

"I'm sure it is. Eight years worth, I'd bet."

Frankie rocked on her heels, "I had to."

"I see." Opal hummed. "You know Bianca was a wreck afterward. She barely made it. Everyone, including her, thought her momma did it."

"I couldn't help that."

"Maybe, maybe not. I don't know why you left or why you stayed away. But, I know that girl's smile is as big as a boulder whenever she's by you."

"You've only seen us for five minutes."

"Long enough to see what's right in front of me." Opal looked at her, "You know, Frankie, you were welcome in my home. I know I said things…"

"I didn't leave because of that, Opal." Frankie fiddled with her sleeves, "I understood why you wanted me gone. I was just some street kid who lied to you."

"You were not just some street kid, and you know it." Opal sighed, "Maybe I could have handled it better when I found out who your auntie was, but I never disliked you Frankie. You might have a smart mouth and you played that god awful music loud as heck, but you were a good kid."

"Opal, you really don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do. I don't know what you're doing or what's going on with Bianca. So, I'm gonna say it now. I cared about you Frankie. I did. I never wanted anything bad to happen to you. I might have said some mean things when I found out about Vanessa, but it surprised me. You knew who she was to me and you didn't say anything."

"I couldn't."

"I'd stuck up for you to Erica, my best friend in this world. I gave you a job and place to stay. But, you still lied to me. I was angry, I'll admit that. I never should have tried to kick you out, though."

"It wasn't your fault, Opal. You had nothing to do with what happened to me."

A hesitant hand settled on Frankie's shoulder, "I know you were crazy about Bianca back then. I guess…I want you to know if you need something, I'm here."

Frankie coughed uncomfortably to cover the lump in her throat at that, "Yeah…thanks."

"Now, you go save your lady friend from Erica. Looks like they're about ready to go at it like two polecats."

"Nothing new there, huh?"

"With you around, I think I'm gonna have to break out the hard stuff." Opal chuckled.

Frankie offered Opal a grin before speed walking up to Bianca. She rested a hand on the small of her back, "Hey, it's time."

"I know. I was going to find you." Bianca glared at Erica, "Accept it, Mom."

"Bianca,"

Bianca spun away from her and grasped Frankie's hand. She purposefully walked away, keeping her gaze straightforward.

"Do you need my gun?" Frankie asked.

"You know my mother." Bianca clenched her jaw.

"Yeah, that's why I'm asking. If you use mine, it'll come back on me for the murder. You'll be free. It's a smart plan."

"Not funny."

"I was serious."

Bianca rolled her eyes and thrust between two people, "Pine Valley loves their gossip and scandal."

"Tell me about it." It was like being in frikin' memory lane. She held Bianca's hand tightly and walked so close their shoulders and arms molded together.

Finally after ten minutes, they were able to fight through the crowd and get down to the parking lot. With a scowl, Frankie glanced around. Where were the other two agents?

"What is it?" Bianca asked.

"Nothing." Frankie led her out the doors.

"Tell me." Bianca looked around as well, "Where are the other guys?"

"Don't know." Frankie pressed on the communicator in her ear, "Green, Clinton. Where are you?"

Nothing.

"Green, Clinton." She tried again.

No response.

"Damn it," where could they be?

"Frankie?"

"Let's go." They couldn't wait for them.

The two sped along the parked cars searching for their own. The lot was empty of people. The only movement was a slight breeze that rustled the drifts of snow around the light posts and edges of the parking lanes.

"When we get back, no calls." Frankie instructed. "I'll find out from Michaels about your sister and family. He'll get some places set up for them. I'll make sure they're good."

"Do you think it'll be enough?"

"It has to be."

Bianca nervously squeezed her fingers, "When is this going to end, Frankie? I won't raise the kids like this."

Frankie stopped her search of the lot and looked at her, "You won't. I promise."

"I want this to end. I'll do what I need to, to get them. If I have to confront them…"

"No, you're not doing that." Frankie moved to stand in front of her. "You are not going anywhere near them. You got that?"

"Frankie,"

"No," Frankie was grim, "Promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"I won't if you won't."

"God, you and your deals."

"Must be the CEO in me."

Frankie stepped out of the way and started walking again, "Just focus on getting back to the kids and staying safe." Where could those other two be?

Spotting the car, they hurried over to it. A few feet away, Frankie stopped. She jerked Bianca behind her, and the taller woman gave a short startled cry.

"Frankie?"

Frankie held up a hand to silence her. She stared at her car.

Something didn't feel right.

Pulling out her gun, she gestured for Bianca to stay still. Cautiously, she crept forward. The outside of the car looked fine. There were no unusual marks. Her gut told her otherwise.

Dropping to her knees, she peered underneath the vehicle.

Her heart stopped.

In the shadows, she saw a black shape glued to the carriage.

"Frankie!"

Frankie smacked her head on the car as Bianca's terror-stricken voice echoed in the air. She grimaced and crawled out of under the car. She could hear a scuffle behind her. As fast as she could, she stood up to see two people dressed in black with masks on grabbing Bianca.

Frankie raised her gun, but a body rammed into her from the side.

She fell to the cold unforgiving pavement. A boot smashed down on the hand holding the gun, and she grit her teeth against the blinding pain. The boot then kicked at her hand, trying to dislodge the weapon.

Frankie kicked out at the figure, her foot connecting with their calf. She kicked again, this time hitting the side of their knee. There was a crunch and howl of pain as the knee buckled inward and the person fell.

"Bianca!" Frankie scrambled to her feet.

Bianca was doing her best to fight them off, but the two attackers were bigger and stronger than her. She swung her elbows and fists, but they ducked out of the way and grabbed her arms.

Frankie pointed her gun at them, but couldn't get a clean shot. Sensing someone behind her, she bent forward as another person leapt at her back. They flew over her and tumbled to the ground in front of her. She kicked at their temple, and their head flew to the side.

Arms wrapped around her from behind, and Frankie fought to free herself. She smashed her foot on theirs and threw her head back, hitting their face. The person grunted in pain but didn't release her. Using all her strength, she bent her knees and jumped backward, knocking both of them to the ground. The attacker was stunned as they hit the ground, and Frankie used this to break free.

"Frankie!"

"Bianca!" Frankie looked over to see a cloth shoved over Bianca's mouth. Frightened brown orbs met and held. Then, Bianca's eyes fluttered closed. "Bianca!"

Frankie tried to run to her, but a hand grabbed her ankle and sent her crashing to the ground. The gun slid away as her wrist hit the blacktop. She kicked at the attacker and rolled over, punching him in the face. She kept hitting until his hold loosened. Wriggling free, she looked frantically for the gun.

There was a glint of metal, and she dove toward it. One of the attackers moved to block her. She slammed into them, tackling the person to the ground. She immediately punched them. The feeling of cartilage breaking underneath her knuckles was followed by dark splotches splattering the mask the attacker was wearing.

The attacker grabbed at her arms, and they rolled through the snow, hands and feet fighting for dominance. An elbow connected with the masked man's mouth, and Frankie crawled away from him. On her hands and knees, she fought for air. Her chest burned. She blinked against swirling dizziness.

She had to find Bianca. She tried to climb to her feet. Her arms and legs shook.

Pain burst from the back of her head as a gun smashed into her skull, and she fell forward, the world going black.