Kenny couldn't move, he could barely think as he sat in the waiting room. His head in his hands, he felt like everything was ending. The way Max had looked at him when she saw them on the couch… Kenny couldn't imagine her ever forgiving him, even if he did explain it to her. Especially if she lost their baby, and he decided that he would give his life for both of them to be alright. All that blood, he could still see the faint red tint on his palms C'mon Max, he thought, you're going to be okay. You're better then this, hang in there. Not for me if you don't want to, but for our kid. We're going to work this out, and I can't live the rest of my life without you, even if we do antagonize each other at least twice a week. He jerked his head up as Jill came back into the waiting room, looking as pale and exhausted as he felt.

"They're both okay," Jill said calmly, seeing the relief spread across his face. "She lost a lot of blood, Kenny, but she battled it out. Max is young and strong, and both she and the baby are fine."

Kenny let out a deep breath he didn't know that he'd been holding, and struggled to reply. "Can I see her?"

Jill nodded. "I'll walk you down there. What happened?"

Images danced through his mind, but considering it was Jill's daughter who jumped him on the couch he decided to be discreet. "Stupid fight and she just collapsed."

Jill could see the guilt in his face, and knew she wasn't getting the full story from him, but she could tell that all his focus was on Max's well being at the time and she didn't want to deter from that. "She should be awake if you want to go in. It's important that she stays calm, so whatever the issue was table it for tonight."

Kenny nodded. "It's something I just want to go away. Huge misunderstanding, we'll work it out."

Jill nodded and pointed towards the door. "Go ahead."

He hesitated, unsure what Max's reaction to him would be before pushing it open. "Hey there," he called to the still figure in the bed. She turned to look at him, and she looked so small to him in that instance. It certainly wasn't the first time he'd seen her in the hospital, but something about the defeat in her eyes chilled him. Continuing nervously. "How do you feel? Jill said that you're both going to be fine."

Max just stared at him, feeling the drugs wearing off. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around him, and just be held, but the images of earlier that night still burned freshly in her memory. She turned her head away, not wanting to deal with any of this right now. Max knew that she was hurting him, but she didn't care at that moment.

"Max," Kenny pleaded, hating this. "I know you're angry, and if this situation was reversed I would be too. I just need to know that you're okay, and then if you want me to go, I will."

"I'm fine," she whispered.

He moved a step closer, not wanting to push the issue right now and knowing that she had just been through a horrendous physical and mental ordeal. "Do you want me to stay?"

Max struggled to respond against her conflicting emotions, and she hated the fact that she longed to have him here with her after everything that had happened that night. Deep down, she knew that he wouldn't cheat on her, and that her being in the hospital tonight was as much her fault as it was his, but she couldn't deal with any of it right now. She needed to believe that they were going to be okay, so she turned to look at him again. Seeing the dark circles beneath his big blue eyes, and the exhausted way he slumped his shoulders, she knew how awful he felt about this.

"Do you want to stay?"

"Yeah," he said carefully. "Max, I don't know what to say. I love you… this whole night was one big misunderstanding, a mistake that never should have happened."

"I can't do this now," she begged, as another wave of drowsiness took overtook her. "Please?"

Kenny nodded, seeing her struggling to hold it together, he settled into the chair next to the bed as she drifted off to sleep.

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"Is she okay?" Jimmy asked as Jill filled him in on Max's almost miscarriage. "And the baby?"

"Both are going to be fine," Jill replied soothingly. "Kenny was vague on what happened though, although there no sign of a fall or physical struggle."

"He would never raise a hand to her," Jimmy insisted. "And Max wouldn't tolerate it for a minute."

Jill agreed with him, as Kimberly came into the kitchen and looked at her parent's tired faces. "What's going on?"
They exchanged a look, and Jill sighed knowing the way news traveled in this town. "Max nearly had a miscarriage tonight, and a lot of people don't know that she's pregnant, they aren't telling anyone yet, but everyone is going to be alright."

"Pregnant," Kimberly asked, shocked. "They're having a baby?"

"That seems to be the general reaction," Jimmy replied dryly.

Panic shot through her mind, as she thought about what she had wanted to do tonight. Kim realized that she had deep feelings for him, and she still wanted to act on them, baby or no baby. She knew he had to harbor something for her, but he was so caught up in Max, and now a baby! Kim cursed her bad luck, and vowed to spend some more time with him.

"When are you heading back to school?" Jill asked. "You've been home for awhile now. You can't miss so many classes if you want to get into med school."

"In a few days," Kim replied vaguely.

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Max could hear Kenny snoring, and was surprised that he could sleep sitting up in that hospital chair. Grimacing at the sight of the blood on his jeans, she winced a little bit at the pain below. Running her hand across her flat abdomen, she thought about what she had almost lost last night, and in the light of day she decided to listen to Kenny's side of the story. She just couldn't picture Kimberly jumping him though, and Max wanted to be with him, she needed to be with him. Thoroughly sick of hospitals, Max decided that she would do her best to stay out of them until she went into labor, and knowing this town she thought she would probably end up giving birth in a circus. Hearing Kenny stir beside her, Max cautiously watched him wake up.

Groaning, Kenny momentarily didn't know where he was, and then everything came rushing back to him. Stretching his sore muscles, he met his wife's gaze, and immediately wanted to get down on his knees and beg for her forgiveness. Aching to reach out and touch her he restrained himself knowing that she would fight him on it.

"Hi," Max said nervously, not sure how to broach the subject of last night. "You slept in the chair?"

"Yeah," Kenny replied, just as nervous as her. "It isn't the first time either."

He was rewarded with a small smile, and Max sat up a bit. Eyeing each other warily, they weren't sure how to ease the friction between them.

"Can this hold until we get home?" Max ventured. "I'm just so tired of fighting with you."

Kenny nodded. "Okay, one thing though? I love you Maxine Stewart Lacos, even when you make me crazy."

She reached out her hand to him, and he grasped it. Sitting in companionable silence, they awaited Jill's arrival.

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Jimmy gazed out at the near deserted station before turning back too the Kurt Campbell murder file. He had just ordered another search of their house, and he was hoping that it would turn up some reason why Gina/Troy would suddenly murder her husband/brother. As if living as husband and wife while being brothers wasn't strange enough. Looking up at the knock, he saw Skeeter standing in his doorway, back from the second search.

"They have enough video tapes to open a Blockbuster," Skeeter said without preamble. "Probably one that isn't kid friendly though."
"Anything else turn up?"

"Oh yeah," Skeeter replied ominously settling into a chair. "I'm not sure that it pertains to the case, but they had all kinds of kinky toys lying around, as well as photographs with the faces cut out. And a scrapbook from Fort Lauderdale, that looks like it's full of family pictures. Lots of them from a pier, with two little boys."

"Max said something about a pier," Jimmy replied, thinking of his hospitalized deputy. "And Judge Campbell fell from one… I've been doing this too long to have that be a coincidence."

"Want me to look into it?" Skeeter asked, noting the empty office. "Where are Max and Kenny today?"

Jimmy sighed knowing that the three of them had gotten quite friendly in the last few years. "They haven't told many people yet, but Max is almost three months pregnant… she almost miscarried last night."

"Everyone okay?" Skeeter asked, concerned.

Jimmy nodded. "It seems that way, she's going home this morning and they're both shook up over it."

"I'll keep it to myself then," Skeeter replied. "They can't catch a break, can they?"

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It's too quiet, Kenny thought as he pulled the truck into the driveway that same morning looking sideways at Max. That's never a good sign, as he shut of the engine. Knowing they had to hash this thing out, Kenny promised himself that they would both keep themselves calm. No way was he going to cause his wife that much physical pain again. Being a gentleman, he opened the door for her, and helped her down to the ground. Kenny was reluctant to let go of her because he didn't know if she would be his to touch much longer.

"You still feel alright?" he asked anxiously.

"I'm not made of glass," Max replied without much vigor because her legs still felt a little shaky. "I'm alright."

Kenny regarded her with skepticism, knowing she was likely to fight him if he pushed her on it, but he also didn't want her to over exert herself after last night. "You look like you're going to pass out, here lean on me."

Max hesitated, before settling against him, as they made their way to the house.

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"Wow," Skeeter said viewing the tapes. "Shit. Are they all like this?"

"We're going to find out," Jimmy replied tearing his eyes from the screen. "I can say I've never seen that before."

The dates on the tapes went back twenty years, and when Jimmy, Skeeter and Pete viewed the first one, it was of the esteemed Judge Campbell and his two sons in bed together. Jimmy felt sick in watching it, and as it faded to black he was reluctant to see the next one. Those poor kids he thought, and the thought of watching them go through that at all stages of life nauseated him. Reaching for tape two, he looked at the other men as he began to play it.

"Couldn't we just skip ahead a few years?" Pete asked. "There have to be over a hundred tapes, or work our way backwards?"

"We will," Jimmy said stoically. "Let's just see where these people came from first."

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"I'm ready to listen now," Max said as she sat down slowly on the couch. "Whatever it was last night… I just need to know."

"You sure?" Kenny asked slowly. "I don't want anything else to happen."
"I think it was everything of late, and the shock of seeing… that made it all come to head," Max said quietly. "Please don't lie to me… I need to know."

Kenny joined her on the other couch, both of them avoiding looking the one Kimberly jumped him on and he wisely kept his distance from her. He didn't know how he could go on without her, and he didn't want anything more badly then to erase the last 24 hours.

"Okay. Kimberly stopped by, just to visit," Kenny began. "We were talking, and she wanted to know what would have happened if we… continued after that week of almost dating." He paused, watching for a reaction, but getting nothing from her. "I told her it wasn't meant to happen, and that I loved my wife, you… she just went kind of crazy, and jumped on top. Shit, Max, I didn't see it coming… and I pushed her off. Not as fast as I should have, but… it surprised me. I never though Kim would do that, and it was nothing. You're the only woman I want."

Max processed what he told her, and knew it was the same as what he said last night. And she believed him, she knew him to well to believe that he would hurt her like that. Seeing the pleading in his eyes, she struggled to respond.

"I," Max faltered, feeling the tears stinging in her eyes, and blaming them on her escalating hormones. "I do believe you… it hurt."

Kenny brushed her tears away, and looked at her beautiful face. "We going to be okay?"

Max nodded, not trusting her voice, and they moved closer together. Leaning up against him, she settled into his lap. Kenny pulled her in tighter, and kissed her lightly on the temple.

Jimmy switched off the television, feeling sick and turned to Skeeter and Pete. "That's enough for now. She, he, has plenty of motive for killing her father, but we still don't know about why she would suddenly kill Kurt. I want to look into the pier incident, I know Max started too. We'll finish with the videos later. I personally need a break from them."

Skeeter nodded in agreement, knowing that he wanted to go check up on Max. "I'll finish with the pier report, and it still feels like we're missing a piece of the puzzle."

"It'll turn up," Jimmy said reluctantly. "Pete, go through the scrapbook and journals that you found, and anything that looks pertinent, let me know."

Pete knew he was being dismissed, and was still resentful of being left out of the loop with his co-workers. He knew Jimmy had a real soft spot for Max, Kenny, and more recently Skeeter.

"Sure, fine," he said without much emotion. "I'll let you know."

Jimmy turned back to Skeeter as Pete walked out. "You want to take a ride with me?"

"Yeah," Skeeter said, thinking of his friends. "Lets get out of here."

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"What are we going to tell Jimmy?" Max asked later, feeling content in Kenny's arms. "He'll flip if we tell him the truth."

"He wouldn't believe it anyway," Kenny said, just happy that she did. "And we don't owe anyone an explanation, these things just happen sometimes."

"Come on, you know people are going to ask a lot of questions in this town," Max replied softly, as a knock came at the door. "I think it's just starting…"

"It's open," Kenny called. "We should probably start locking that, with all the crazies out there…"

"You two look cozy," Skeeter said looking at the cuddling couple. "How is everything?"

Seeing Jimmy come up behind him, they knew that Skeeter knew of the recent events, and Max felt Kenny squeeze her hand underneath the blanket on the couch. Reluctant to move from that spot, they both sat up slightly but Kenny wasn't about to let go of Max after almost losing her.

"Everything is fine," Max replied. "So is everybody. It was one of those things."

"It didn't have anything to do with the case, did it?" Jimmy asked, knowing they were having personal issues about it, and it made him feel guilty for pushing Max on so much.

Kenny shook his head. "Hell, we fight all the time, it wasn't anything important."

Jimmy could tell by their voices that they weren't being totally honest with him, but he let it go. He knew from experience that when either of them had their mind set on something, it was like arguing with a brick wall. And he did his best to stay out their personal life, even though he still thought of them both as his honorary kids sometimes.

"Congrats then," Skeeter said sincerely taking a seat. "I wish I found out under better terms… but it's great news. Shocked em a bit, but congratulations."

"It seemed to shock everybody," Kenny said dryly. "Us included."

"Do you know what it is?"

"I'm pretty sure it's a baby," Max said, knowing what he meant. "But in Rome, you never know."

"I think he meant the sex," Jimmy interjected. "But a valid point."

"Not yet, we're going for the surprise," Kenny finished. "At least for now."

"Take a few days off, both of you," Jimmy said sternly. "Max, I don't want to see you until next week."

"But."

"No, buts," Jimmy interrupted. "When he starts to drive you nuts, kick his butt back to the station."

Max wisely held her tongue, as Kenny squeeze her gently around the waist. "That shouldn't take too long."

"I missed you both today," Skeeter said, knowing they wanted to change the subject. "We found a lot of video tapes at the Campbells."

"Videos," Max asked, knowing about the tapes the Judge Campbell made of his children.

Jimmy and Skeeter filled them in, as the afternoon went on.

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"So we still don't have a motive," Max said, sitting cross legged on their bed, wearing one of Kenny's old tee-shirts, as he came out of the bathroom.

"You're not supposed to be doing this now."

"No, I'm not supposed to be going to work," Max argued as he joined her on the bed. "I would love to know what she told Jen in the private counseling sessions."

"So much for confidentiality," Kenny replied pulling the covers back. "What are you thinking?"

"Something Gina, Troy, whatever we're calling her now, said in the group sessions… I can't put my finger on it. She talked about going to all these clubs, and I don't know. I always thought she was a lesbian… I don't know why… I guess if she was once a man, she wouldn't be considered one though? Why would she get a sex change?" Max said, knowing that she was babbling. "I really don't know what I'm talking about. Her fingerprints…"

"What about them?"

"If we couldn't find them in the database of female prints, no one else probably could either. There a man's prints… so what if she got the sex change to hide her identity? If they left Fort Lauderdale after their father was dead, who would she want to hide from?"

"Do you think that they killed him?" Kenny asked slowly. "He fell from a pier… through a board."

"It was classified as an accident," Max rationalized. "And Kurt and Troy were each others alibis… it seems too neat to me."

"Let's say they killed him," Kenny began, getting into this. "Or that she/he did, would she/he kill Kurt so he wouldn't tell? Why would he after 15 years?"

"Or maybe she wanted to tell, to get if off her chest, and he didn't. No one wants to admit that they murdered someone," Max replied. "It could be unrelated too, what if one of them just wanted a life away from the other. They were siblings after all, and Kurt could have met someone else… I could see Gina, Troy, snapping over being left like that."

"No girlfriend came forward though, and there wasn't any evidence of one for him," Kenny replied. "Could Gina be covering for someone?"

"I doubt it," Max replied yawning. "She is scared of something though."

"Enough for now," Kenny said seeing the exhaustion on her face. "You need to rest. Don't even think of arguing with me."

Max didn't, and she let him toss the comforter over her. Settling back against the pillows, all she wanted to do was sleep but this case was irking her. Kenny climbed in next to her, and pulled her in tight against him. Max tilted her head up to his, and he kissed her softly.

"Enough for tonight," he repeated, as the phone rang. "It's 11… what now?"

"Swarm of killer bees," Max suggested, reaching for the phone. "Hello? Oh, hi Pete."

Kenny ran his hand down her back, and thought about the guy's crush on her. Not that he was jealous or anything.

"No," Max said, as she realized that the whole office probably knew that she was pregnant now. "Yeah, it was one of those strange things that just happened. Thanks for asking though."

Kenny watched her roll back over one her back, and shoot him a tired look. "Listen, it's kind of late Pete, and I'm exhausted… I'll see you next week."

She listened for a bit, and finally added. "Bye."

"Pete," Kenny asked. "I'm sure he's missed you lately."

Max grinned at him, as he kissed her again. Snuggling up close to him, she let herself drift off to sleep.

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"She didn't say anything?" Kim asked Pete as he hung up. "Neither of them told my parents anything about the other night?"

"No," Pete replied. "She said it was one of those things. They probably didn't want to hurt your parents, I know that they're all friends. So what now?"

Kim shrugged. "I've got some tests next week, but I'll come home next weekend. I really want to be with Kenny, and I know you've got a crush on Max. We can work with this."

Pete studied the young woman in front of him, and he hoped that he might get a chance with that beautiful red head he worked with. He couldn't believe that she was nine years his senior, she looked barely 25. He didn't like the fact that he was going to help break up a marriage, but he rationalized that if they could break it up, it wasn't as solid as it appeared.

"Jimmy gave her the rest of the week off, but I'm sure I can think of some excuse to stop by," Pete said. "I'll work in it while you're at school."

"Great," Kim said, planning for the future.

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"What are you doing here?" Gina whispered to the figure standing in front of her cell door. "You're not supposed to be here! What if someone sees you?"

"They won't," the figure responded, brushing her cheek. "Oh, my love, you'll be free soon. Just as long as you keep your end of our deal. They still have no idea about us."

"And they won't," Gina promised. "Kurt didn't understand that I needed more then he could give me. He was my brother, he shouldn't have had to be my lover too. I love you."

"This will all be over soon," the figure said backing up. "I had to see you though. I'll be back soon, remember not to say anything."

Gina watched her lover depart, and vowed that nothing would come between them again. Leaning back against her bunk she smiled in the darkness, knowing that the Rome Sheriff Department had only scratched the surface of her secrets.