Author's Note: Thanks you fairysk8ter and Englishchick for your wonderful feedback! You really know how to make my day!

PART 12

"All set?" Alex asked. Isabel turned to look at him. He was leaning against the doorframe looking nonchalant.

She zipped up her bag.  She looked around the room once. "Yeah. I guess so."

"Need help with that?" Without waiting for her to answer he picked up her bag and carried it outside where Richard was waiting in the car.

Isabel still had not moved. She stood looking about the room. She glanced at the pictures on the walls, the rocking chair, and the blue carpet. Anything and everything. Something to remember that this was real. She told herself. She heard Alex come back into the room.

"Here." Alex said, handing her a piece of paper. She glanced at it curiously.  "These are all the phone numbers you might need. The Evan's, the Guerin's and mine. You know…in case you want to talk."

He shuffled his feet, not sure what else to say. Isabel nodded. "Thank you." She stuffed it deep into the pocket of her coat.

They stood there in the room, staring at each other. Each not sure what to say or how to say it. Alex opened his mouth to say something but then shut it again, thinking against it. The honking of the horn broke their stare contest.

Alex inclined his head towards the door. "He's waiting."

Isabel nodded. She took a shaky breath. "I should go…"

Still she didn't move. The horn blared again. Isabel shook her head, slightly annoyed. "Yeah. Well…" She gave Alex a warm smile. "Thank you."

Alex half-smiled. "You're welcome."

With a final smile Isabel headed down to the waiting car.

***** 

"So, has she called yet?" Michael asked. They were all gathered at the Guerin household. Max and Liz occupied the love seat, while Maria was leaning against Michael on the couch. Alex was sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch.

"It has just been two days Michael." Maria told him. "She'll call." She sounded more confident than she felt. What if she doesn't? She couldn't stop that thought from popping into her head. No, don't go there. She will call. Of course she will.

"Did you give her the numbers Alex?" Michael asked impatience laced in his voice.

"Of course I did!" He told him. He was worried too. It was driving him crazy to not know.

"Do you want to try dream walking?" Michael asked.

Everyone turned to look at Max. He sat there thinking deeply for a while. Then he nodded. "We give her one more day."

****

tbc…