Chapter 51: What the hell's going on

CJ opens the door as Linda arrives to pick up Mikey.

"Catherine!" Linda acknowledges her

CJ ignores the look on her face
"Mikey!" she calls through the house " your Gran's here to get you!"
she coughs and rolls her eyes "I suppose you'd better come in!..He's in his room." she sighs "Probably got his headphones on or is ignoring me as usual. I'll go check!"

Linda looks her up and down "Jason gone on operations?"

"Yeah" she nods

"You can tell!... this house is a mess!"

CJ shakes her head "Yeah well other people live here not just me … MIKEY!…" she shouts at the top of her voice "can you hurry please. Your Gran is waiting!"
the sooner she gets rid of Linda the happier she'll be

"Oh!... I'm not in a hurry" she smiles "I was going to spend some time with Jaycee first" She knows it irks CJ by her being at the house. "where is he?"

CJ rolls her eyes as she points to him on the Mat in the living room
"Hey little man Grandma Hayes is here" Linda smiles at him "You're getting so big now"

CJ rolls her eyes again
"yeah JC she loves to play the doting Grandma but then hates your mom! great isn't she!" she shakes her head and she goes the kitchen and pours a coffee "Awww!" she closes her eyes rubbing the pain

"Something wrong with you?" Linda frowns as she notices her holding her back

"No!.. not really" she rubs it again "just a pain in my back. I've had it for a few days now"

Linda nods "So are you back working now?"

"No!" CJ shakes her head "Why? .. You have a problem with that?"

"so, Jason's the only one working?"

She shakes her head
"There's always something for you to make a deal out of!... actually…. You know what!? I did get a job offer .."
she decides to torment her "but errrm…. it's in Washington... so errrmm.. that would mean moving everyone" C.J smiles knowing Linda won't like the thought of them moving, especially to Washington "and with things as they are at the moment it isn't possible but not to say we're not thinking about it. I mean its more money than Jason makes"

Linda glares at her "What Job?" she frowns "What's come up? Something I should know about?"

she smiles to herself
"No doubt Jason will speak to you when he gets back!"

"Hey Grandma"

"Emma!" she kisses her grandaughter "Hello darling, I thought you were going to your friends? Well that's what your dad told me?"
She sees Emma watching C.J "or you could come back with us if you want? If you don't want to stay here!"

"No, I am going to my friends I just thought I'd wait till you picked Mikey up first though, then I'll leave" she looks at C.J again

Emma and CJ don't have any daily contact as such. They try to stay out of each other's way. They're civil in front of Jason but Emma doesn't do anything she says so CJ doesn't bother to talk to her now apart from the occasional "can you watch J.C for me"

C.J makes her coffee and opens some biscuits which she starts to eat straight from the packet

"You know, maybe, if you spent some time cleaning up the house it might give you something to do instead of sitting around doing nothing"

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind!"
as she turns the TV on and lays down on the couch

Linda shakes her head picks J.C up and takes him to look out the window "Will you be alright looking after him?"

C.J frowns at her "What do you mean will I be alright? …He's my son" she laughs "so of course... I'll be fine!"

"I mean I will take him with me if it would make your life easier"

As much as she would like her to take him but because Linda is suggesting it she won't agree "No he'll be fine here!"

Linda watches her laid on the couch.
She shakes her head "you lay around like that doing nothing you'll get fat especially if you're not even training now? I mean is that all you're going to do all day while Jason's at work.. He's risking his life to provide for this family?" she frowns. "I remember a time when all you would do when you were off was run and train. Now you're like this it's a different person!"

"Maybe I enjoy laying here... besides I can't ... ermmm train at the moment! ... Oh and just to remind you... Jason does what he does because he can't be without it? Nothing to do with providing for his family... he does it because he loves it"

Linda bites her tongue to keep the peace "I think need to have a word with my son when he gets back"

"you do that!"

Emma sneers at her
"There's no point Grandma. He'll just take her side" Emma shrugs "especially now!" she looks at C.J

C.J frowns. "you trying to make a point?"

Emma sneers at her "Not now!...Not now they have this NEW baby on the way!"

CJ closes her eyes "shit! EMMA!" she sits up and looks at her "...Emma did your Dad speak to you about that?"

"No!..." she frowns and pulls a face " I also live in this house and have ears a... a fact you both seen to forget!"

"A baby!? Sorry what?!" Linda is lost for words

CJ shakes her head "I told you he's gonna speak to you when he gets back"

"Tell him he needs to! I'm certainly not happy about this!"

C.J rolls her eyes "Really?... oh there's a surprise… well get used to it! Because it's happening!"

Linda is fuming with her son
"How can the pair of you be so irresponsible … again?" she carries J.C and goes through to Mikey's room. "I can't believe they've let this happen"

C.J glares "Thanks!"
Emma smirks knowing her Grandma is even less impressed.
"isn't it time you went to your friends?"

"When I'm ready" Emma smiles as she pours herself a coffee

"Be careful Emma"

"Why?" she glares back "If I was you... I'd be the worried one!" she laughs "I mean this is my home and if I get my dad to choose… who would he choose?"

"don't play those games with me Emma. I'm warning you… I'm getting a little bit fed up of your attitude around me"

Emma doesn't say anything and just continues to smirk at her.

Linda comes back through with Mikey and his bag she looks at C.J on the couch.
"Emma! would you be a dear and get me a bag for J.C please? I will take him with me and Mikey"

C.J lets out a large sigh and shakes her head.
She would argue about it, but it actually suits her for Linda to take him, so she doesn't argue. "Seriously who do you think you are Linda?"
she's still shaking her head as she gets up and goes to the bedroom "you know what? Do what you want! I don't care"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Some while later

Linda coughs loudly "Right Catherine we're off!"
Emma's at the door with her coat and bag too

"Oh, good you're going as well!" she says to Emma

"Don't forget. Tell Jason to call me as soon as he gets back!"

She nods as she takes J.C and gives him a kiss and cuddle "be good for Grandma Hayes" she stares at Linda "Mommy loves you! See you when you get back!" she kisses him and hands him back

Linda looks at her. Now she looks closer she can notice her stomach is swollen "So how far gone are you?"

She looks away biting her lip before she answers "nearly 4 months" she pulls her T shirt down

"And my son is happy about it?"

C.J grinds her teeth and shakes her head "sometimes Linda .. you push it too far" she sighs "but yes! … Yes, he's happy!"

Linda takes a deep breath she won't lose her cool with her because the children are here "Just make sure you tell him to call me as soon as he gets back"

"Sure!" C.J shrugs

Emma smirks at her again as they all leave. Emma annoys C.J so much though she has to tread carefully round her as Jason dotes on his daughter

She closes the door on them and lets out a long sigh!
"Pheww that was hard work…and Emma's getting too big for her boots" she holds her back that pain is there again "awwww! Shit!"

She looks around at the now quiet house "I need some things if I'm gonna be stuck here alone" She grabs her jacket and keys

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

A couple of days have passed and she's been on her own since the guys got spun up.

She hasn't done anything except lay on the couch watching movies.

Looking around the house "I probably really should clean up in case Jason comes back" she lets out a long sigh. She hasn't felt overly well the past few days so can't muster the energy to bother.

She's just had a shower and is just wearing one of Jason's T-shirts and her knickers.

She goes to the kitchen to put some more coffee on. The empty bottles from Jason's beers that she drank, sit on the side.

"SHIT! I need to replace them before he comes back" she rubs her head thinking wondering if its more effort having to get dressed and go out to replace them or having the argument with Jason about drinking them
"I mean it's not like I drank them all in one go! And I did Google and it said the occasional drink did no harm" she scratches her head. "Hmmm!"

She looks at the brown paper bag on the side and pulls out the new JD bottle it contains.
"Oh well at least I haven't touched that since I bought it"
she bites her lip and closes her eyes as she shakes out the tension in her neck before she puts the bottle back in the bag."Pheww!"

The laptop's on the side she switches it on and opens her emails.
"Hmmmm! ..the normal rubbish" she frowns "what's that?"

It's an overseas bank details and she shakes her head it's the account Wade told her about. She closes the email and then shuts the laptop lid trying to forget about it.
"Shit" she rubs her head with both hands trying to think

As she lays back on the couch she's still thinking about that email and Wade. She opens her cell and flicks through her contacts.

What she's looking for is not there but .. there is text she didn't notice from before.

She frowns it's from Clay she wonders if they're back, but she looks at the date and it was sent early hours just before they got spun up.

She's not sure how she missed it or perhaps because she's been a blur the past couple of days. She hasn't spoken to Clay one on one in ages.
She sits herself up and takes a deep breath, rubbing her face before she opens it.

"we need to talk. I just need to know about the baby"

"Oh shit" she swallows hard."god-dammit"
she screws up her face as a slight panic comes over her. She can't answer him and closes the text. "arrghhh! SHIT!"

"Awww!" she sits up even more straight as the dull ache has moved round to her side now. She leans forward and rubs while the feeling passes. It's like a wave of pain

She walks around till it passes then heads back to the kitchen. She stares hard at the brown paper bag. It's like its calling her willing her to look. She takes the bottle out and removes the lid.

Without even a thought she just takes a large sip
"Oh god!...urggghh!" the taste in her throat burns. It actually makes her feel sick.
"urggghh! That's not good"
She's not sure if it's the nerves of knowing she shouldn't drink it or just that she actually does feel sick.

"Oh god!" she throws up in the sink. "Shit! ...urrrghh!" she puts her hand to her mouth still feeling sick. Her hands are shaking as she puts the lid back on.

She's about to put it away when she notices the Washington house paperwork and the mobile number for Wade on the top

Standing the JD bottle next to it she flicks through the paperwork.
Some offers on the house and some legal stuff. She looks at the number on the front again and takes out her phone and calls it.

She closes her eyes as It goes to voicemail and she's silent for a moment
"Wade…. its Catherine …." She hesitates "Catherine Lewis ….. "she pauses for quite some time just thinking about what to say "Ive ..errrrm been thinking about that offer you made…. Look. Just call me "

She sighs and leans her head back and bites her lip as she looks at the JD bottle again.
She tries to shake it off the feeling of temptation, but she can't it's too much. She takes another long swig out of the bottle.

"urggghh! Shit!" she closes her eyes and puts her hand to her mouth holding it down this time.

There's a loud knock at the door

"Shit!"
she put the lid on gathers the bottle and bag and shoves it in the cupboard under the sink. She clears the empty bottles and puts them in the trash

"Who the hell is that?" she's in a fluster "oh its okay Jason wouldn't knock" she calms herself as she looks at her watch. Though he might be back soon

The door knocks again she tidies herself up pulls down his T-Shirt she wonders about getting some jeans but can't be bothered.

"Coming just a minute… Who is it?"

"Delivery needs signing"

"Okay! just coming"
she finds the key and unlocks the door a habit she's got in since Wade last walked in "what is it I'm not expecting a delive… "

she stops "Oh My god!" she tries to close the door.

Reagan is standing there.

He shoves the door hard to open it and she loses her balance and falls in the hallway.

"Ms Lewis" he smiles "Hello again!"

"What the hell do you want?" She holds her side the pain is back "Awww!" she grimaces

"Get up!" he gets hold of her hair and pulls her up

"aahhhhh! Owww!... don't … "she holds her head, so it doesn't hurt so much where he has hold of herr "What do you want?"

"This!" he holds the flash drive in front of her.. she frowns "I want to know what's on it"

She shakes her head now he's let go. Holding her side, she grimaces

"through there!" he points a gun at her and moves her in the direction of the living room

"Jason will be back soon" well she's hoping.

"And? that matters because .."

"I'm just saying If you want to get out of here alive I'd leave now!"

"No if I want to live I want to know what's on this!" he chucks it on the table "I want to know who's coming after me for it?"

She shakes head. "I'm confused why are you asking me? You worked for Reuben? I thought you knew?"

"No …He never told me what was on it. Just told me it was important and paid me. It was simple. I did what he paid me to do!" he takes a deep breath "but now when I tried to sell it, no one wants to touch it or… they say I need the key codes to open it! But I want to know what's on it first?"

"I don't know" she shakes her head "I guess who ever Reuben worked for is looking for it!" she shrugs "he might have thought he was... but I do know he wasn't ...the top of the chain but…I don't know who they are!" she gulps "that's the truth!"

"Hmmm!... funny what you find out now! Reuben was convinced you could open it and went to some extreme lengths to keep you alive.. So…. I'm also convinced you can, so I want you to open it …NOW!"

She swallows hard "Trust me it won't help you knowing what's on there!... You wanna live just leave it here! Forget about it .. it's not worth the money"

"No! you want me to think that but so many people wanting their hands on it I think it's got to have some value" he smiles "and I want a piece of that and you're gonna help me get it!"

She sighs in he points a gun at her
"Fine! If that's really what you want Money not peace of mind fine have it"

For once Reagan seems to be on the back foot he even looks worried and scared he obviously didn't understand what he was getting in to."So, who's' involved in this thing? Who did Reuben work for?"

"Trust me you really would be better not knowing that. I told you I don't know who they are!"

"But you can open it?"

She swallows hard and reluctantly nods
"Yeah!... Pheww! "she calms her breathing "but what's that going to achieve?... you know Ive already had people here looking for it!"

"When?"

"couple of days ago,"

"look just OPEN IT!" he points the gun at her

"I Need to get the laptop …" she points to the doorway "it's in the kitchen"

"Fine get it!"

"Awww!" she holds her side again she closes her eyes in pain

"Look Don't be trying anything stupid!"

"I'm not I've really… got a pain … "she thinks for a moment before she speak "Look Please … I'm. Errrrm.. pregnant so just give me a minute"
she holds her tears back

He frowns not sure if she telling the truth

"I'll get the laptop" she nods.

She sets up on the table and plugs the file in!
"I need run a programme to open it ….it errmm.. takes a bit of time but…" She swallows hard holding her nerve "Can I get a drink first?" one or two tears run down her cheek she wipes them away

He falters seeing her cry "Yeah Okay!" he nods waving the gun forward

"thanks!" she nods "errrm …the programme it's running"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

She goes to the kitchen and runs the tap but instead of getting a glass of water she opens the cupboard and takes the JD bottle she hid and takes a big drink out of it.

She checks the doorway "Pheww!" she lets out a long sigh, then she switches the tap off.

She lets out another long sigh.
Then taking a glass out of the cupboard she pours a large measure of the JD into it.

Reagan is at the doorway. He takes her by surprise.

"Shit!" she takes a deep breath "errrm…. Do you want one?" she holds the bottle up

He nods. "Yeah .. okay! but ...errrm... Are you even supposed to drink that?"

She lets out a tension relieving laugh
"given the circumstances?... Really? you're asking me that?" she shakes her head "hmmm!... Okay your concern is noted"

He smirks at her "I suppose you have a point" he turns and heads back to the laptop

"I'll get a glass"

As she opens the cupboard door to take another glass out, a gunshot goes off! "FUCK!"

she drops the glass. Swallowing hard she puts the bottle down. She slows her breathing and very quietly and cautiously goes to the doorway.

Reagan's body is on the floor

"What the hell?" as she looks towards the doorway "Oh my God! ... What's going on?"

"Well It's not like we need him now is it! We have all we need"
Wade smiles at her

She stands frozen to the spot. She shakes her head "What the hell's going on? ... How did you know he was here?"

"I told you we've been looking for him. Well….. not him… that" he points to the laptop "it was his foolish mistake him coming here!"

"You've been watching me?" she frowns

"Seriously Catherine! you're asking me that?"

"So Now what?"

"Now?...Now you open it for me and then…. then I'm gone!... well unless…" He smiles"unless... well I got your message"

She shakes her head slowly "That's it?.. you're gone?"

"That's it!" he takes a seat "though do I have a feeling you wanted something else?" he smiles "look... why don't you get us that that drink. You look like you need it"

He gets up and checks the laptop.
He then kicks Reagan's body over so he's on his front so they can't see his face.

Back in the kitchen she's trying to get her head round everything. "SHIT!"

He's right she does need that drink ad she pours two and gulps one down then refills the glass and heads back through to the living room. But she's stopped by the dull ache which is now more of a pain and puts the glasses down on the kitchen side

"Awww! oh God! owwww!" She leans forward resting her elbow on the work top. "Awww!" hShe breathlessly rests her head in her hand while the pain subsides "Oh…. God… Owwww!...Jeez!"

Wade stands in the door way "Is something wrong?"

"It just a pain" she shakes her head "I get them now and again" she takes a deep breath while it subsides "just give me a minute"

he nods and goes back to the living room taking his drink with him.

She puts both hands on the worktop and presses down as the wave of pain reaches its peak she tries to breathe through it.
"oh... Sh..IT! …Phewwww!" eventually it starts to subside.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Jason pulls up in the yard he's got Clay, Sonny and Ray with him

"Just wait there I'll just check she's alright then I'll come back with you"
he unlocks the front door

"Why can't you just answer your damn phone!" He calls out as he comes through the door

"JASON!" she lets out a relieved sigh

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Wade lets the gun drop to his side

"What's going on?" Jason looks at Wade "CJ.." he calls

She comes through "Jason its fine just stay calm!" she puts her hand up to reassure him

he sees Reagan's body on the floor "What the hell is going on? are you hurt?"

"Sit down Mr Hayes" Wade points the gun at him

"CJ?... What's going on?"

"Jason It's fine!... just sit down" she nods calmly to him

She leans forward against that pain again! "oh!... SHIT!" she shakes her head trying to keep it to herself

Jason notices something is wrong "CJ ?... are you alright? you in pain?"

She nods "Yeah! Yeah.. it's nothing I'm good" she struggling to contain it now, but she does

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Rays outside he looks at his watch "whatever is he doing in there?" he sighs.

Sonny raises his eyes "I'd more ask what the hell's she been doing that's keeping him in there?" he laughs

"Oh I'm gonna find him. I don't know he's been in there ages!"

Sonny looks at Clay who shakes his head "I think I go with your theory there Sonny"

"10 bucks says it's her causing some problem that he's having to sort" Sonny laughs to him

"Hell, I'm not losing my money on that!"

"Go see what she's been doing Ray!"

Ray sighs "if she has been up to something he'll be fuming!"
he gets to the door.

He's about to knock but sees the doors still ajar. He can hear a voice he doesn't recognise. "Something's off"
He pushes the door a little to see if he can see anything and he stops as he sees the tall skinny looking guy pacing around "Shit!"

He backs up quietly to the Truck "Sonny we got a problem "

"Oh, now you surprise me! What's she done now?!"

"No!... No not C.J there's someone in there with them" he gets on the phone "Eric its Ray we have a problem... I need you to send Trent and Brock to Jason's. There's someone in the house"

"Hang on I'm putting you on speaker so the others can hear. …. Do we know who"

"No, he looks like a really tall skinny guy ...I've not seen him before but English voice"

Mandy's listening as its on speak phone." that can't be right?" She frowns "That sounds like Wade the agency guy that was here when they released Reuben"

"What's he doing at Jason's house" Davis looks at her

"I don't know?

"Do you reckon it has something to do with C.J or the Reuben thing"

"Look we're outside. I don't think he's aware we're here. How you want me to proceed"

"Hold Ray let's just have a quick look at the situation see what intel we can pull up"

"Okay!... holding for now Just makes sure Trent and Brock are on way and bring some gear"

"Yeah they're already on route to ya"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Where's J.C?" Jason's concerned

"It's Okay!... he went with Linda earlier .. he's fine"
She has a lump in her throat "Look. Wade.. Just let Jason go...! I will open the file for you" She looks at him "I promise"

"NO! I don't think so… How about instead I threaten to kill him if you don't open the file? Maybe that will get me a quicker outcome?"

She Gulps "Don't... please!"

"Just Get it open!"

She nods "Okay!" she knows Wade will not mess around threatening "Okay... I'm doing it"
she wipes the tear off her face as she starts to type the start programme to get it to run

"So…. You going to kill us after this is done?" she bites her lip

"That wasn't my intention… unless you make me!... Just don't do anything stupid"

She nods her head

"Oh, by the way that offer is still there" he smiles " come back to Washington?"
he smiles at Jason "Did you know she left me a message about it"

"CJ?" Jason frowns "Is that true"

She closes her eyes she nods "Yeah I did think about it briefly... I'm Sorry... it was just a stupid moment thing.."

"Why? why the hell would you even think about it?... I thought you wanted out of of all that"

She takes a deep breath and shrugs "I don't know!... I don't know … a moment of madness .. oh cos I …was bored, cos I didn't know if this was for me? Sitting here all day" she shakes he head "maybe I thought I just ..needed more" she shakes her head

Wade laughs "Seriously Mr Hayes? Did you think she was going to sit here and play house all day?"

"I thought this is what you wanted?" Jason frowns "you said Normal.. normal was what you wanted? And What about the baby" Jason's confused

"I know! I know!" she rubs her head "that's why I can't take the job I know that!... I do want this"

"Baby?" Wade looks at her with a frown

"Yeah She's pregnant! Oh!... did she not tell you that in her message?"

She shakes her head "Jason don't!"

Wade laughs "Really?... oh, dear Catherine.. you do like to make things difficult for yourself. You don't change"

"Don't laugh at me" she's angry
She closes her eyes the pain is back "this needs five more minutes. Can I get a drink of water"?

Wade nods "why not!"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

She's in the kitchen and she keeps an eye on the doorway as she picks up the JD bottle back up and pours another drink "Oh man!" she takes as bigger drink of it as she can.
Then there's a ping. It's the file finishing its upload "The file .. Shit!"

She finishes the drink "urggghh! … god damn" she coughs as she knocks it back too quick
"Urggghh!" she closes her eyes wondering why she's doing this to herself it's not as if she's even enjoying it.

She runs a glass of water which she takes with back to the living room with her "It's done just need the passwords input"
she looks at him as she drinks the water.
she doesn't take her eyes off him. She's wondering what will happen when she opens this file.

Jason shakes his head "CJ... don't do it"

She looks back at him "I have to"
she stops to think "Look... Let Jason go…." she wants to cry "Please?" her head is all over the place.

She's worrying about Jason, the drink and trying to hide the pain she's in.. Her hands are shaking as puts them on the keyboard and starts to type the passwords. "SHIT!"

"C.J are you alright?" Jason's concerned now she looks awful the color has left her face

as the last one is ready to input she takes her hands off the keyboard . She gulps and stands up "SIT DOWN! and finish it" Wade indicates with the gun

"I need to use the bathroom …..Please.." she grimaces "I'm gonna be sick" she reaches and holds her hand in front of her mouth

Wade nods he looks at her she does look unwell "Go!... just don't try anything stupid"

Jason frowns "C.J are you Okay?" he stands up

"Sit down Mr Hayes" Wade points the gun at him

she nods she can't hardly speak "I just feel sick… sorry" she puts her hand to her mouth again and is gone to the bathroom

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

She closes the bathroom door Just in time she lifts the lid to the toilet and throws up

She doesn't know if it's the drink she drank too quick
"What the hell? ...Urggghh" she sits on the floor her had is spinning she leans back the feeling passes. She gets up to wash her face "Oh god!"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Wade looks at the computer and the files that are partially open.
He can see the final password entry waiting. He smiles at Jason, but he doesn't say a word

Jason sits staring at him looking at him "give me one chance and I'm gonna kill you!... Know that!"

"I'm sure you'll try Mr Hayes" he laughs "A lot a of people have!"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

She looks in the mirror the pain is back. She doubles over trying to ease it.
Its excruciating now and she grips her knees together trying to work through it but it won't stop. She puts her hands between her thighs hoping to ease it "oh god … oh please!...arrrghhh! please just stop..."

she pulls her hands away and puts one on her hip rubbing her side where it hurts as he she looks at her other hand is shaking she sees the blood

"oh shit! oh god .. no!"

She takes short sharp breathes as she comes over really faint.
She grabs at the shower curtain to steady herself but as she collapses down on to the floor. She knocks all the toiletry bottles over as she goes down. They make a hell of a clatter of noise

"Oh god! … help me!" she lands on the cold tiles "arrrrrgghhhh!"
She sobs leaning her head back against the wall as a wave of pain comes over her

Jason and Wade hear the clatter of noise from the bathroom

"What was that?" Jason asks

Wade frowns. He's distracted by the noise and looks towards the bathroom door as he does Jason sees his opportunity and makes his move. Driving himself into Wade head first taking him off balance and pushing him over

The Gun goes off with a loud CRACK!

"What the hell was that?" Sonny looks at Ray and Spenser

"That was a gunshot! We need to get in there!"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o