ProblemsNeverEndInASecond

Disclaimer: I don't own anything 'In A Heartbeat' related whatsoever. I only own the story, and the characters that I made up. I'm sorry this took long, but our Internet provider had some technical problems, and I couldn't access the net. Thanks to all that are still reading this story, especially last chapter because I don't think many did. This chapter is for you guys. And for the record, it's DST in Kingsport right now.

Parent Trap

Problems never end in a second

Tyler sat quietly in his room while looking outside the window. It was certainly a different view. They just arrived in Italy a few hours ago and now they were in Milan. The people were different for the most part. The language was indefinite to him. The setting was definitely not the same, yet the mood that surrounded him still remained.

Just a few minutes after arriving at the hotel, Matthew Connell went out with some friends of his to talk about his business. Tyler was now beginning to think that this "vacation" was a business trip. He dismissed the thought to give his dad the benefit of a doubt. He promised Tyler that they would have time to talk without anyone to interrupt them. It would just be him, Tyler, and their hotel room.

It was ten in the evening in Italy, which means that it was three in the afternoon at Kingsport. Tyler grabbed the phone and proceeded to call Val, hoping to catch her this time. He was on the third day of his trip and he still didn't get to talk to her. 'At least I don't live this far from Val. Keeping a long distance relationship must be really hard.' The phone rang three times before someone picked it up.

"Hello?" said an unfamiliar voice from the other line. "This is Val's house."

"Is Val home?"

"Sure thing. Val! Somebody is looking for you."

Tyler heard a short muffled conversation before hearing Val's voice.

"Hey!" she greeted cheerfully. "This is Val."

"It's so good to hear your voice again."

"Tyler?"

"The one and only."

"It's about time you called," she kidded.

"I called but you weren't home. Who was that girl anyway?"

"That was Jen. We're planning our fundraiser. And I remember your little monologue. It sure made Caitie and Brooke crack up."

"What? They heard that? How?"

"Well, Caitie came over, and I had to go to the kitchen, and then Brooke arrived and checked the phone for messages. And everything was history after that."

"Well that was a disaster. I should have known better than leave that message."

"I thought it was very sweet of you. And don't worry. I like you better than Tom."

"Gee thanks," he joked. "That makes me feel so much better."

"I miss you."

Tyler paused and for the first time in minutes, he remembered the reason why he called in the first place.

"I miss you too," he finally replied. "So how was your day?"

"It was all right. The same usual stuff happened. The only difference was that you weren't there, and it was so much more fun. It was a blast."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better or kick me while I'm down?"

"I was just kidding, but is everything all right with you?"

"Everything's great! I couldn't be any happier."

"Where's your dad? Are you in Italy now? How was London?"

"My dad's having a business dinner. I'm in Italy right now. London was an interesting place. I had fun going around the city."

"What did you and your dad do?"

"We did stuff. You know, stuff."

"I see, well, it's really great that we finally talked. I have to go though. We have to finish out planning before I leave for the station."

"Send my regards to everyone. I'll see you when I get back."

"Bye Tyler."

"Bye Val."

Tyler put down the phone, and once again he was alone in the room. Little did he know that it was going to remain that way for more than just a night.

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Hank just finished a grueling session of push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups under General Marshall McLemore's command. He had been under the training program for some time now. A positive side to the course was that it helped him stay in shape since football season was over. For the past few days, things have gone smoothly for him. At the beginning, it seemed like McLemore was on his case all the time, partly because he was dating his daughter and the fact that McLemore seemed to hate his guts.

Nowadays, Marshall was easy on him. At one point, to Hank's surprise, he gave him a pat on the back. If it was an act of approval or a small attempt to push him down, Hank declined to find out. He figured that he should be grateful for the past few days, but this sudden change of attitude scared him. The more mysterious the guy gets, the more dangerous he becomes. Marianne told him not to worry, but she wasn't convincing enough.

He liked her a lot, but can he really commit? It seemed like a simple feat to tell her that he loves her, but some things are easier said than done. His longest relationship with anyone besides Marianne was a week. Now they were almost going out for three weeks. He actually had fun when she was around. It wasn't like when he got together with Jasmine --- that ended a long time ago.

Marianne was different, and now that it was a challenge to keep a relationship with her, Hank was more determined not to let her go. If only he wasn't fighting a battle with himself. Maybe "Scruples" had a point. Maybe he was a "commitment phobic." Just then Jamie came in the room, followed by Val.

"Hey Hank!" they both greeted as Jamie continued to talk to him. "Are we late?"

"You're just in time."

"Did we miss anything?"

"Nothing much happened between me thinking until you guys coming in the door."

"Is there anything we need to know?" asked Val. "Anything serious."

"Can I ask you two something?"

"Sure," they both replied.

"Are you guys happy?"

"What do you mean?" asked Jamie.

"I mean, with Caitie and Tyler. You've told each other that you love them I suppose. Is everything great? No problems at all?"

"Everything's great with me and Caitie. We had a misunderstanding during our anniversary, but we worked it out. I'm having as much fun as I was when we were friends. We still are, just more, you know what I mean."

Hank nodded and looked at Val.

"I'm happy with Tyler. We were good friends before, but I guess I'm happier now. It's always good to know that there's someone out there that loves you as much as you love him or her. Our relationship is definitely good. For me, it sure beats being single."

"I have to agree with her on that last one," added Jamie. "Why the interrogation, Hank? Is everything all right with Marianne?"

"I'm just dealing with some relationship issues. That's all."

"Speaking of Marianne, some guy outside is looking for you. He said he knows her."

"Who is it?"

"I think his name is Jake," said Val. "I'm pretty sure it is."

"Jake McLemore!?! Marianne's brother is here to see me!?! Tell me you're kidding."

"Actually, you're right. It is Marianne's brother. I met him when Caitie and I slept over at their house."

"What are you going to do?" asked Jamie.

"I guess I have to go talk to him," he said as he headed outside the door. "Even if I end up with a black eye."

Hank went out the building, and as expected, Jake was outside waiting for him. Hank approached him slowly as Jake met him halfway.

"Hey Hank! I'm Jake McLemore."

"I know. You're Marianne's older brother."

"Well, I guess you know why I'm here."

"I really don't know why you're here, but whatever you want just say it because I'm on duty right now."

"Hank, I need to talk to you."

"Wh…wh…why? Why…why do you want to talk to me?"

"You're dating my younger and only sister. It's only natural."

"Why…why is it natural?" Hank said nervously even though he made no sense at all.

Jake just looked at Hank as though he was a crazed person.

"Are you all right? You don't look good."

"Why don't I look good? I mean, I'm fine. I'm just tired from practice with your dad."

"That's actually one reason…"

The alarm went off, cutting out whatever Jake was saying. Hank saw this opportunity as a means of escape.

"I better go," he said without saying anything about talking or seeing him again.

Hank hurried to the ambulance and went inside the driver's seat.

"What was that all about?" Jamie asked as the vehicle moved.

"He wanted to talk. You know, since it's natural."

"What did he say?" asked Val.

"We didn't get to talk. Thank God for this call."

"Luckily, he didn't beat you up."

"Thanks Jamie," Hank said as he turned right to a corner. "That's really comforting to know."

"Anytime, Hank," Jamie replied with a smile. "Anytime."

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Another school day ended once again. For Jamie, it was also moments before their next competition. He had to admit that it was really exciting. It wasn't a football game, but it was still fun. It was also one of the rare moments that Jamie would reveal the fact that he has some school spirit in him.

It was probably a once in a lifetime chance for him. No one expected for him to be one of the few students to represent Kingsport High School academically. He would have expected Tyler and Hank to be the one in his shoes. It was a risky move regarding his reputation, but in the end, reputation really had nothing to do with his hesitation to join the team. Perhaps it was the fear of failing and not being able to deliver.

Even his teachers had mentioned in one way or another that he was a disappointment. He usually brushed off the comments and said that he couldn't care less. It was hurtful to be perfectly honest. And it's not good for the moral when the principal of the school sees him as nothing but a "good-for-nothing slacker" as well. These days he wasn't up Jamie's face all the time as he usually did. I guess that's one advantage for being one of the brains in the school.

Alex was the first one to really challenge him to do better. Now he was a certified EMT. Mrs. Lowry was the other person who believed in him and made him do his best. She wasn't his favorite teacher to begin with, and she wasn't fond of him in return, but they developed a mutual respect for each other.

Jamie walked across the football field towards the bleachers where a bunch of his friends were hanging out, including Caitie. The brief stroll amused him as he was mistaken more than once in less than two minutes as a teacher or a colleague. He was wearing a burgundy long sleeved shirt with black tie and black pants. This time, however, he was wearing his leather jacket. He looked like one of the coaches in the school. He only had a few minutes before the competition starts, which is held at the school's auditorium.

"Hey fellas!" Jamie greeted his friends as he moved next to Caitie.

"Whoa," said Kenny. "You're not turning 'overachiever' on us now, are you? I see you wearing the clothing of the dark side."

"Not in this lifetime," replied Jamie. "I have a competition in a few minutes. I was hoping you guys can come and see me do my stuff."

"Of course we're coming," said Caitie. "Right guys?"

"Why are we coming again?" asked Brianne.

"Because we want to see Jamie beat the hell out of those overachieving preps," said Kenny.

"Come on, guys," said Jamie as he and Caitie began to leave. "We're going to be late."

"We're coming, Mr. Vocab," said Brianne and Kenny as they followed the two.

"Now guys, remember to act normal for a change," said Jamie as a joke. "You remember those days."

"We'll try, but we can't promise you anything," laughed Kenny.

"Don't worry, Jamie," said Caitie. "We'll root for you."

Jamie smiled and nodded, but something tells him that worrying is not a bad idea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The competition started with Mr. Carlson as the host of the event. The opposing school was Dover High School.

"We're starting this competition with a category we'd like to call a 'Double Take.' Our two subjects will be science and English. The first part will require the science delegate of each team to answer the question correctly. If a team is successful, the English delegate will then try to spell the word. If he or she misses, the other team will have the chance to spell the word, unless the other team missed the first question. Was that clear enough?"

Both teams just nodded and the competition began.

"Here's the question: What substance causes red blood cells to clump?"

The Kingsport team buzzed in.

"Hemagglutinin," replied Vladimir Eidelman.

"That is correct."

There was applause in the crowd before Carlson spoke.

"Now Mr. Waite," Carlson began before looking at Jamie in the eye. "Spell 'hemagglutinin.'"

"Hemagglutinin. H-e-m-a-g-l-u-….can I start all over again?"

Carlson asked the judges for approval before giving Jamie the nod.

"Hemagglutinin. H-e-m-a-g-g-l-u-t-i-n-i-n. Hemagglutinin"

"That is correct," replied Carlson.

An applause was once again heard from the crowd, but one cheer was from someone Jamie knew all too well.

"Yeah Jamie!" cried Kenny. "Dover preps suck!"

A few rounds of laughter emerged the crowd. Mr. Carlson wasn't very pleased from his facial expression. Jamie dropped his head on the table.

"This is going to be a long," he muttered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the third time, Tyler found himself sitting alone in a hotel room. Mr. Connell was at the main desk getting some information about tourist spots. It had only been the fourth time that Tyler visited France; the second time in Paris. Matthew Connell was loaded with money, and like the other five-star hotels that Tyler and his dad stayed in while in Europe, their hotel in Paris wasn't any different. Their room was huge, directly parallel to the infamous Eiffel Tower. It was at the pinnacle of the building, so they obviously had a great view of most of Paris itself. Everything about it was perfect.

They only had a few more days before the so-called "father-and-son-bonding" trip was over. For the most part of the trip, there hasn't been any father-and-son-bonding happening. Tyler looked at the mini-calendar sitting on one of the tables. Val's birthday was in less than two days, not to mention their anniversary. A part of him was regretting the fact of ever going to Europe in the first place. It seemed as if his dad wasn't even there.

"Hey son," said Mr. Connell as he got back in the room. "You want to go out?"

"It's already ten-thirty, Dad."

"So? Paris has a lot to offer at ten-thirty."

"Like what?"

"Clubs, clubs, and clubs. Unlike back home, you can go to some clubs and actually get to drink for a change."

"No thanks. I'm not interested, and I don't drink."

"What do you want to do then?"

"How about if we walk around town and talk?"

"Talk? That's boring."

"Well, that's basically the only thing we haven't done since this trip started."

"Why don't we go somewhere else? Anywhere you want. We can buy stuff. I'll give you anything you want. The clubs here are great."

"I just want to talk, Dad. You said we'd be able to have time and talk."

"How about if I make you a deal? Let's go to a club. Let's have a drink. You can have a soda or whatever you want. I'll buy you stuff. Anything you want. We'll go to the Eiffel Tower. Let's have fun. You know, not just sit and talk."

"How about the talk?"

"We'll do that tomorrow."

"Are you sure you don't have any business plans? No meetings?"

"I'm positive."

"What are we waiting for?" Tyler said as he grabbed his jacket. "Let's have fun!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jamie came to the station along with Caitie. The competition just ended, and Kingsport won by a point. It had been out of the ordinary, with Kenny criticizing and putting down the opposing, not to mention cheering Jamie on more ways than one.

"Jamie…what are you doing here?" asked Alex. "You're not on duty."

"I just wanted to see the guys," he replied while nodding towards the main room. "Is that okay?"

"Yes, but try not to distract them in case there's a call."

"I'll try."

"By the way, did you guys win?"

"By a point," answered Caitie. "Jamie missed A question though."

"Only ONE," added Jamie. "Those were hard words. I mean, Alex, do you even know what 'terpsichore' means?"

"It's an art of dancing."

"You don't even know…wait, how did you know that? You don't dance."

"Why would you say that?" asked Alex curiously.

"You're Alex. You're like a…a robot. You're boring. You're strict. You never have fun."

"Well, you'll be surprised what I do Saturday nights if you think I'm that stiff."

"Like what?"

"That's for me to know and you not to," Alex replied as he repeated Jamie's words from the other day. "I'm not the only one who keeps secrets."

"I'm bound to find out," Jamie told him. "You better watch out."

"I think I will."

Alex gave a small laugh before leaving Jamie and Caitie.

"Hey, my fellow EMT's," he greeted as the two looked up from their paperwork.

"Hey Jamie!" greeted Val. "Caitie, what are you doing here? And I should ask you the same thing, Waite."

"We're just visiting," said Jamie for the both of them. "Any tough calls?"

"There's been a drought of calls lately," replied. "Not that I'm complaining. It's bad enough that we're missing one person and you're off duty for the day. We're off duty in a few minutes though."

"How was the match?" asked Val.

"We won by a point. It was insane. Kenny kept standing in the middle of the room and shouting either cheers to our team or insults to the other."

"I wish I had been there," Hank said. "It's so boring here."

"It doesn't help that you're with Lanier either," Caitie said as she smiled at Val.

"Very funny," Val stated and smiled in return.

"Where's Marianne?" asked Caitie.

"She's probably studying at home," replied Hank. "We never get to talk much these days since I'm always with her dear father during school hours."

"Have you figured out whatever your problem was?" asked Jamie.

"No, not yet, but I'm getting there…hopefully."

"Well, I hope you solve it soon," said Jamie as he began to get up. "We better go. I have to get her home, and my dad is probably throwing me a surprise party."

Jamie gave Hank and Caitie a knowing look as the word "surprise party" came up.

"It's probably from winning today, right?"

"Let's hope not," Jamie said. "The last thing I need is for him to bug me and make me tell him that he was right in the first place."

Hank and Val just nodded as Jamie and Caitie bid their farewell. They both got back to their work when a soft knock came from the door. Val looked up and saw who it was, followed by Hank who immediately stood up.

"I better go," she said as she quickly grabbed her things and dashed for the door. "Bye."

Hank moved from the couch and motioned him to sit. 'What the hell is he doing here? He's going to beat me up. I saw this on television. First there's the talk, and then there's the big bruise on the face.'

"Jake," he said before regaining his calm. "What brings you here?"

"We need to talk,"

"Uh huh," Hank managed to choke out. 'Here we go…'

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That was it for this chapter. I believe there will be two or three more chapters left. Don't forget to review! "Realization of Fate" should be out soon. I hope you guys liked it. I'll be back! ~ Scarlet182