It felt weird not seeing Hayden in the bungalow he shared with her, but again thinking of her laid up in the hospital made him feel even worse. Thankfully, he had not booked any work the next day so visiting her would hopefully brighten her day and his. Purchasing the typical 'Get Well' bouquet of flowers, a card, and stuffed animal, he got dressed and headed out the door. However, as he began to lock up outside, he noticed a stranger coming up his walkway.

"Liam Dunbar?"

Dressed in a leather jacket, a button-up shirt, dark jeans, and boots, the young actor took a good look at the stranger as he noticed his beard, short brown-blond hair, and piercing blue eyes. He was certainly handsome for a man probably in his mid-fifties but something menacing about him gave Liam an uneasy feeling.

"Can I help you?" He greeted the stranger nervously.

"My name is Agent Chris Valet," he answered. "I'm with the FBI." He took out a badge and flashed it before tucking back inside his jacket. "I have a few questions to ask you."

FBI? This must be something big! Liam straightened his shoulders and played the part. He was an actor after all.

"Is this about Hayden's accident?" He asked him. "Because what that Rudy Scottaline is doing to her sucks and he needs to be called out on his bullshit."

Agent Valet shook his head. "Sorry, I don't know anything about a Hayden. This concerns the incident that happened six months ago. The one where you caught your boyfriend, Brett Talbot, cheating on you?"

He could feel his heart race and his pulse being heart. He could feel himself not getting any oxygen. Oh God! Not now! His body began to drop to the ground before a speedy Chris Valet grabbed him by the arms and steadied him.

"Whoa, son!" He said calmly. "Breathe. Relax. Listen to my voice. You're safe. Just breathe."

Liam concentrated and followed his routine.

Breathe.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Repeat.

It took a few seconds for him to calm down before he felt Agent Valet release him from his grip. Liam pushed himself up and stood for a minute to get his bearings.

"Uh, thanks." He said meekly to the FBI agent.

"Don't mention it," Chris smiled. "Didn't mean to scare you there. This is simply routine."

Liam scratched his head. "What do you mean routine? Am I in trouble? What is this all about?"

Agent Valet exhaled. "Look, the boy you broke the nose of when you caught him having sex with Brett, do you know his name?"

Liam sadly shook his head. "No, I just saw my ex and that rando going at it on my dining room table and I lost it."

"That boy is named Walter Krispy," Chris flatly stated. "Do you know who that is?"

Again, Liam shook his head. "No. Should I?"

"His father is a former NFL offensive lineman, Cletus 'The Mack truck' Krispy of Tampa's Gators but his mother is a different a story. She is the alt-right wing, conservative activist, Rowena Krispy."

Liam raked his hair in shock. "Oh shit!"

Forty-eight-year Rowena Krispy was the African American posterchild of extreme right-wing politics. Riding on the coat tails of supporters of Rush Limbaugh and followers of the Eastboro Church, her money was made from protesting the LGBT, Planned Parenthood, science-based communities, Muslims, Jews, and just about anything she believed would be anti-American. She has stolen money from the NAACP and even made disparaging remarks about the black community, event though, she is a woman of color herself.

If Walter Krispy was her son, then any attack on him meant something serious. This surprised even him especially since this Walter was getting railed by his ex, a gay man, who did not fit into Rowena's public profile of conservative, family values.

"Is she pissed that her son was outted?" Liam asked the FBI agent.

Chris grinned. "I think she already knew that but was in denial. You know her whole image and livelihood is building this very clean-cut persona. I think the fact that you attacked her son, and no charges were filed infuriates her because it would ruin this whole anti-LGBT bill she is campaigning for. That is why she used her connections to reach out to me in private to deal with it. She doesn't want it getting out."

Liam's mouth curled. "You think I'm going to say something?" Anger appeared on his face. "I don't regret breaking his nose! But if you think I'm going to extort money, then she more fucked up in the head than her slutty son who goes after guys who have partners! She really shouldn't throw stones when she's living in a glass house!"

Chris shrugged. "Who knows what she is thinking or what insane thoughts pop into her head. I'm here to level the playing field."

"What do you mean?" Liam wondered by his remark.

"I'm saying," Agent Valet began. "That I'm on your side, Liam. She's trying to dig up dirt on you without getting her fingers dirty. She's one cunning bitch so I would watch my back if I were you."

Liam flinched. "Why are you telling me this? Isn't she paying you?"

"She offered. I refused." Chris directly responded. "As far as sides are concerned, I work for me."

Liam frowned. "She's not going to like the fact that you're double crossing her. From her constant, hateful diatribes on COX News, she is not a woman who understand reasoning or has any sympathy."

"Let me handle her, Liam." Agent Valet advised. "You just lay low and try to stay out of trouble."

The young man huffed. "What are you getting out of this, Agent Valet? You still haven't answered my question about your reasons for sharing this info with me!"

Turning his back to him, Charles began to walk away. "Let's just say I owe a favor to your mother!" His voice started to trail off.

"You know my mom, Satomi?" Liam shouted at him as he got on the sidewalk.

"No! You birth mother, Harriet Dunbar!"

Liam's eyes widened and he yelled at Chris disappearing down the street. "How do you know my biological mom?"

Agent Valet said nothing and finally vanished. Seeing that he received no answers, Liam shrugged it off and focused on something else.

Visiting Hayden.

Carrying the bouquet and stuffed animal into the hospital, Liam checked into the lobby and was allowed access to the third floor where Hayden was staying in. Taking the elevator up to the hospital wing, he found Hayden's room where Araya Romero greeted him outside.

"Liam, mijo, you came to visit!" Hayden's grandmother hugged him tight, gave him a peck on the cheek before finally releasing him. She then thanked him for the gifts for her granddaughter and accepted them on her behalf.

"Of course, Mrs. Romero," he answered. "I told you I'd stop by to visit. How is she doing?"

"She's awake and they put all the casts on her," she explained. "They're planning to wire her right jaw shut tomorrow afternoon which will last for a few weeks before they can do any oral surgery on her. Right now, she's on tons of morphine and anesthesia so she is acting a bit high so just ignore her crazy ramblings."

"Will do," Liam agreed.

Araya led him into the room where she pulled the curtain to reveal his BFF completely looking like a complete train wreck. Her left leg had been elevated with a limb brace and cast, while her right arm was suspended with a cast above the bed. Her hospital gown covered the brace around her torso where she cracked her back pelvis while a row of bandages wrapped the right side of her head and face. Dark reddish bruising appeared under her eyes while her right cheek swelled from all the cotton stuffed into her mouth. Hayden was indeed a true hot mess.

"LIAM!" Hayden eyes lit up. Even with the cotton stuffed into her cracked jaw, she still manages to get a word or two out of mouth.

"Hey there, Hayden," Liam mumbled, trying to be supportive. "I'm sure you've gotten this a lot but how you are feeling?"

"I'M HORNY!" Hayden laughed. "THE DOCTORS HERE ARE HOT, HOT, HOT! I WANT THEM TO MURDER MY VAGINA!"

Araya gasped. "Hayden! Lenguas! That is not appropriate!"

Hayden frowned and grew quieter. All the painkillers were making her extra loopy. Liam could only cringe.

"Um, I'm sorry about the show, Hayden," Liam apologized. "I'm sure there will be other shows once you're all healed up."

Hayden scowled. "Yeah! Lydia and Natalie told me the bad news! I'm not in Oz! FUCK THEM! They got that cunt from that musical series, Show Choir, to replace me! THAT BITCH, MICHELLINE RACQUEL! Hope her tits fall off!"

Once again, her grandmother disapproved of remarks. "Hayden, alto! That is enough! Stop swearing!"

Hayden rocked her head. "Porque? You know it's true! Everyone knows Michelline Racquel sleeps around on the casting couch to get her parts! I bet she sucked the producer, Rudy Scottaline's…"

"Aye Mis Dios!" Araya exclaimed. "I can't bear to listen to her swearing anymore!" She threw up her hands and turned to Liam. "Liam, I need a break. Can you watch her for a few minutes while I get something to eat downstairs at the cafeteria?"

"Sure," Liam smiled, offering a hand to his bestie's grandmother.

"Excellente!" Araya sighed and frowned at her granddaughter. "I know it's the anesthesia talking but I didn't raise you with such a potty mouth!"

"No abuela," giggled Hayden. "It's called a shitty mouth!"

"Christo Jesus, ayudame!" Araya rolled her eyes leaving Liam alone with Hayden as disappeared down the elevator of the hospital wing.

Once again, Hayden laughed. "Remember, kids. Drugs are goooood!"

Liam raised his brows in disapproval. "Maybe a little too good. You're won't remember a thing after it all wears off."

His bestie pouted. "Yeah, I will! I'll remember the harness snapping after I saw Rudy get pissed off at the tech crew guy that was in control of the flight effect on the machine and shouting at him before I fell!"

Liam flinched. "What did you say? Did you say you saw Rudy Scottaline interrupting a tech person who was operating the computer that was controlling your harness?"

Hayden giggled again. "Uh-huh! And Rudy got so mad, he picked up a laptop and smashed it on the techie's head that he got so dizzy that he fell on top of the computerized machine and crashed some buttons which caused my cable to snap and that's why I fell!"

The young actor became excited. "Don't you see what this means, Hayden? This means that Scottaline was at fault for your accident and proves negligence and unsafe working conditions on his part! We should take this to Natalie and Lydia!"

"Nope!" Hayden laughed again. "They made me sign an NDA clause. Scottaline pays off or threatens his employees so no one will come forward. I'm pretty much fucked, Liam!"

"No, you're not, Hayden," he reassured her. "We can fight this! Even if Scottaline has a team of lawyers, we have the legal system on our side! You just have to believe!"

Hayden made a raspberry with her tongue and laughed. "Nope. Not going to happen. Won't testify! Let's move on! Did you do the horizontal mambo with that hot guy, Theo Raeken yet?"

"What? You're all over the place, Hayden," Liam answered with frustration. "Let's focus back on Scottaline. Hayden, I know you're scared. But trust me, the Martins got this and backing you up."

"You're boring, Liam!" Hayden frowned. "Don't want to talk about accident anymore." Her face suddenly laughed as she sang. "Liam and Theo sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"Hayden, stop!" Liam protested. "Be serious."

She guffawed. "I am serious. You waaaant him! You looooove him!"

Her bestie shook his head. "This is getting us nowhere."

Hayden released another giggle. "Do you want to know how I know? It's because I have a secret!"

"What secret, Hayden?" Liam played along.

"I'm the real fucking Beverly Hills 90210!" She declared.

"What are you talking about?" He probed her drug-fueled madness.

"I'm BH 90210!" Hayden stated proudly. "I'm the real author of The Passion of the Christman!"

Liam's mouth dropped. No, it can't be! It's the pain meds! She's completely incoherent. No way can Hayden Romero be the notorious BH 90210!

"Don't believe me?" Hayden smirked. "Check my MacBook at home!"

Tempted by the challenge, he waited and said nothing. He watched and noticed her eyes slowly starting to drift off.

"Ooooh!" She mumbled. "It's time for night-night now!" Suddenly her head on her good side turned to her left and she began to snore.

Hayden Romero had finally gone to sleep.

At that moment, Araya Romero came back into the room with a cup of coffee and a half-eaten pastry folded in a napkin.

"How is she now?" She asked Liam.

"Finally sleeping after all those crazy ramblings," he told her.

"Yeah, she tends to that," Araya nodded. "Don't pay any attention to what she says."

"I know," he whispered.

However, that gnawing feeling concerning her accident and the fact that she is the infamous author The Passion of the Christman still nagged at him.

Back at the UPN lot, Theo studied the pages of his script preparing himself for a ten-hour day ahead of him. Sitting in his trailer, he heard a knock at the door. He went over to open it.

It was Violet Logan.

"Hey!" She greeted him, inviting herself in. She shut the door and sat on the couch nearby.

"Look, Violet," Theo sighed. "If you're expecting to hook up right now, I'm not in the mood. I have pages of dialogue to memorize before I start shooting in a few hours."

Violet rolled her eyes. "Get over yourself, Theo. I'm not here for sex. Not everything is about you."

Suspicious, Theo glared at his costar. "Then why are you here?"

"I need a favor," she informed him. "My slumlord is finally fumigating the apartment complex but it's going to take month to finish. I need a place to crash and since you're my only friend in town…"

The lightbulb finally lit up inside Theo's head. "You're wondering if you can stay with me in the meantime."

"Bingo!" Violet smiled. Sensing his opposition, she prepared her argument. "Look, it's only a month! I promise I won't be in your way and no we don't have to hook up! Unless…you want to! I mean I'm cool with that! It's not like we haven't done so already! Theo, I'm asking as a friend because I'm desperate…"

"ALL RIGHT!" Theo yelled. "But let's get one thing clear, Violet! I'm still going to live my life the same way as before! That means I will be bringing dates home and if you're going to be all clingy and possessive…"

"Relax, Tarzan!" Violet clucked her tongue. "I told you already that I'm not interested in a relationship, especially with YOU! Believe me, the last person I'd want to be with is someone I work with! So, chill!"

"Sorry," he apologized. "I'm just under a lot of pressure right now."

"I get it," Violet reassured him. "With the news that Issac is leaving and you having to hold the show, I can see how everything rest on your shoulders. Theo, you need to take time for yourself. Maybe go to spa, do some yoga, or hook up with random stranger on Cruisr if that helps."

Theo scoffed. "Cruisr is not my thing."

She folded her arms. "Well, get laid somehow because all this stress is eating you alive. Maybe a tumble with someone will help you relax and not carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Theo curled his mouth. "I did that a few nights ago and I'll admit it helped."

Now he grabbed her interest. "Really, with who? Was it that Liam Dunbar I made you slide in his PM's?"

Theo nodded. "Guilty."

Violet squealed and clapped her hands. "I knew it! How was he? Was the sex fantastic?"

"Earth shaking," Theo confessed. "I mean for someone who was suppressed, he really let himself go!"

"And?" Violet wanted more.

"And" he paused. "I really would really like to see him again. Part of me doesn't believe this is a one-night thing. There is always a possibility…"

She ended his sentence. "Of something more." She clutched her chest and putting a southern belle dialect. "Why Theo Raeken! I do declare you found yourself a gentleman caller!"

"Frankly, my dear Scarlet, I do give a damn!" Theo matched her joke with low southern drawl.

"Then call him," Violet insisted. "Give him another round."

Theo shrugged. "I don't know. This was supposed to be just one-time hookup…"

A knock interrupted the pair's conversation. A production assistant stepped inside and noticed Violet sitting on the couch.

"Oh sorry, Violet, almost didn't see you there. We're gathering the cast to do the exterior shots. We'll be ready in thirty minutes. Please meet us on the set."

"Will do!" Violet answered.

"Okay, thanks," Theo replied.

The P. A. disappeared outside as Theo and Violet finalized their talk.

"You can your stuff in tomorrow night and stay in one of my guestrooms," Theo explained to her. "Just remember I keep a clean place."

"Absolutely," Violet nodded. She squealed again. "I can't wait to get you and this Liam back together!"

"When hell freezes over," Theo mumbled.

"What was that?" Violet asked unsure of his rude remark.

"Nothing," he responded. "Let's get back to the set."

"This is a surprise, Liam," Dr. Victoria Mays noted.

Seated on the couch inside his therapist's office, he twiddled his fingers and waited to respond.

"You usually don't book me right away unless there is a problem," she stated. "Tell me what's wrong?"

"Plenty of things happened these last two weeks," he replied. "I just need to get things off my chest."

Victoria smiled. "You've come to the right place. Tell me everything."

Liam did. He talked about Hayden's accident. He remarked about his near IED meltdowns. He discussed the acting jobs that he booked and a possibility of another one in the future. More importantly, he talked about his one-night stand with Theo Raeken. The only thing he left out was his strange meeting with FBI Agent Chris Valet.

"That's a lot to process," Victoria remarked. "Why don't we begin with your roommate's accident? Are you feeling some semblance of guilt over it even though this had nothing with you nor was it preventable?"

Liam sighed. "I mean it could've been preventable. The fact her harness broke was negligence on Rudy Scottaline's part. Now that douchebag is trying to sweep it under the rug at the expense of Hayden's health."

His doctor nodded. "True, but this isn't your fault. You had nothing to do with Hayden's harness breaking nor could you do anything about Rudy Scottaline's involvement in all this. You don't have to play the hero all the time, Liam. Leave that to your agents, the Martins. They have their legal team and connections to make sure retribution happens to this evil producer. You just worry and take care of yourself. Now you said your near IED meltdowns. On scale of one to ten, how bad was it?"

"The first one," Liam admitted. "About an eight. After that heinous text Brett sent me, it put me over the edge. I could feel myself blacking out, but I followed your exercises about breathing control and pulled myself out of it."

"That's what I want hear," Dr. Mays smiled. "It's about having full control and beating this disorder. You don't submit to the impulse. You take charge of it and not allow it to possess you."

Liam exhaled. "But how do I not allow all anxieties and apprehensions get to me? I mean the second time was when Hayden's accident caused a bit of a reaction." Naturally, he fibbed. It was caused by exchange with Agent Valet, but he did not want his therapist to know that.

"Once again, you managed to pull yourself out of it, right?" She asked the young actor.

Liam nodded.

"Then it means you're doing well with managing your IED," she stated. "Tell you what, Liam. If the anxiety and the fear is starting to affect your impulse control, then up the dose of your Docilein to twice a week. Personally, I don't believe you need to but with all stressors you've been under, just a little might help with the edge. Do you think you need two doses a week?"

Liam shook his head.

"I didn't think so either," she grinned. "I think you have a better handle on your aggressions than you realize. You just need a boost of confidence. Speaking of…" She paused. "Congratulations on the acting gig you booked. I saw the Progressive-Farm commercial the other night and I must say the red jumpsuit looks quite fetching on you!"

"Thanks," Liam giggled. "Comedy seems to do well in marketing, especially the insurance industry."

"And now you mentioned an audition for television series?"

"Yeah," Liam replied. "Beacon Hills on UPN. It's hit fantasy-horror show. I have a reading for a major part."

Victoria clapped her hands. "That's wonderful, Liam! I hope you book it! Finally, it seems you're putting yourself back on the market. You've had an intimate date recently with another actor?"

"His name Theo Raeken," Liam admitted. Then he realized his mistake. "Whoops! Are these sessions confidential?"

"Of course," laughed his therapist. "Whatever is said here is strictly patient-doctor confidentiality. No one will know."

He inhaled a sigh of relief. "Good. Yeah, I was with him the other night. After the horrible stuff Brent texted me and the meltdown, I didn't want to be alone, so I agreed to go over to his place."

"As you should," Victoria agreed. "No one needs to be alone and what your ex-boyfriend did was absolutely horrendous. You were in the right to seek solace and attention elsewhere."

"So, I went over and did the deed, so to speak," Liam explained. "I even surprised myself. It's so out of character for me."

Victoria leaned in. "And were your expectations met? Was it everything you hoped it would be?"

Liam blushed. "Yeah, that and more. The sex was great! Even better than what I had with Brett. I just…"

"Just what, Liam?" Dr. Mays cocked her head to side.

He sighed again. "Part of me really wants to call him and see him but the other half is telling me this is a one-time thing. I mean I knew this was basically a hook up and nothing more and I don't want to be this attached person…"

"Then don't," Dr. Mays suggested. "We're all humans. We all have needs. Sex and love don't have to equate. You're single now. Have fun. You don't have much experience because you've only been in one relationship that ended badly. It's time to explore your options and learn about yourself."

"I guess I still need some more growing up to do," Liam noted. "Some more life experience, you can say."

Dr. Mays nodded. "I think you're on right track, Liam. Only you can figure that part of yourself and what you want. Remember, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find Prince Charming."

"What if Prince Charming doesn't exist?" He asked her.

"I don't believe that for a second," Victoria remarked. "There is someone for everybody. For now, my advice is to have fun. You're a single guy. Live a little."

"Thanks, Doc," Liam smirked. "I guess I just needed a pick me up."

"Absolutely, Liam," she grinned. "I'm here if you need me."

Shooting the second commercial took almost a full day of production. Liam checked his phone to see that they had finally wrapped at eight o'clock at night. Exhausted and famished, he left the set and drove his car through the drive-thru of Bluto's Fish Fry, opting for a combo meal of popcorn shrimp, fries, and a drink. After eating in his car, he arrived home late, parked, and headed inside the bungalow.

Since Hayden would be recuperating at her grandmother's house for a few months, he had the place all to himself. He made a deal with Araya that he would cover the full rent for the next few months while Hayden was on medical rehabilitation. Thankfully, the six-figure deal with Progressive-Farm Insurance provided that financial stability.

Lounging on the sofa, he streamed Theo's blockbuster sophomoric comedy, Frat Boy Rush, on Amasmile Uno Video and snickered at some the gross out, slapstick humor. Theo had a couple shirtless scenes in the film and Liam could not help but ogle him in those sequences. God, I miss him. He said to himself.

Bored with watching television, he shut off the screen and passed through Hayden's empty room that was closed. Don't do it, Liam. Don't do it! Curiosity overtook him. Fuck it! I must know! He turned the knob, realized that she had not locked her door, and let himself inside. Turning on the light, he found her MacBook at her desk and sat down to open it.

Once her laptop was turned on, he tried a four-digit random pin. Nothing. Come on, Liam. He told himself. She wouldn't try to overcomplicate her security code. An idea came to him. Birthyear! Like his phone, he kept his pin as his birthday! And since they share the same birthyear…

He pressed the four-digit year on the keyboard.

1-9-9-6.

Suddenly the screen opened to reveal the desktop menu. Scrolling through her documents, his eyes noticed the words HB. He clicked on it.

A long list of documents appeared with the title The Power of the Christman beside each chapter from the beginning to the most current. Liam's mouth dropped.

Holy shit! My best friend really is BH 90210!

He closed the folder and shutdown the MacBook. Sitting quietly at dark screen, he tried to take it all in. What could this possibly mean? More importantly, how he can betray Theo Raeken like that knowing his best friend writes erotic stories about him?

There was only one thing he could do. Keep his mouth shut.

Just then he felt his phone inside his pocket buzz. Pulling it out, he checked the caller to see Lydia Martin's name on the screen.

"Hey Lydia," he greeted her. "How's Hayden's case going?"

"Still a little slow," his agent informed. "But already, we've reached out to Actor's Equity and OSHA who are looking into it. But this isn't about Hayden. Remember the reading I got you for Beacon Hills that will be happening in a few weeks?"

"Yeah," Liam was excited about this upcoming audition. "I can't wait."

"Sadly, Liam," Lydia added. "It got bumped up to this weekend."

"This weekend?" The young actor gasped. "That doesn't give me enough time to prepare."

She exhaled a breath. "I know, Liam, but the producers are wanting to cast right away because they want to begin filming Season 5 once the finale wraps up. I guess there is some scheduling conflicts. Can you make it?"

Luckily, Liam had no plans. "Of course, I'll be there. What is the appointment time?"

"Ten o'clock in the morning," Lydia answered. "They want trendy casual so maybe a stylish hoodie and some jeans."

"On it," Liam told her. "Anything else?"

Lydia giggled over the phone. "Just the usual, champ. Trust me, Liam, you go this!"

"Thanks, Lydia," Liam grinned. "I'll talk to you soon and give you an update."

"Awesome," his agent replied. "Talk to you later and break a leg!"

She hung up the phone leaving Liam both nervous and excited about the upcoming audition this weekend. He was confident he was going to nail it.