CH 4-
"Hey, how was your shift last night?" Paloma asked her sister as she stumbled into the kitchen.
Theresa yawned. "We saw Rick again."
"Really? How was he?"
"Charming as ever."
"What was his B.A.L.?"
"I don't know but I'm sure there were breathalyzers going off all over the city. We took him to the clinic to sleep it off."
"I'm sure he was really charming about that."
"Kay had to deal with him for longer than I did."
"Did he tell you that he didn't like you?"
"Yep."
"Well, he's off the guest list for tonight." Paloma joked.
Theresa giggled. "Is Kay up yet? I didn't hear her come in last night."
"She was pretty late." Paloma agreed. "I saw her when I was doing one last inventory for tonight."
"You've done a lot of work for this, haven't you?"
Paloma shrugged. "No more than I would've done for any party we have here."
"Thanks though. I know we get caught up thinking how important our own projects are but you really pulled this together, so thanks."
"No problem." Paloma smiled. "Look I was debating about whether or not to tell you this."
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah. Uh, our brothers, Kay's father, and your ex-fiancé were in the club last night."
"You had to think about telling me?"
"I didn't want to upset you." Paloma smiled hopefully, as the coffee maker hissed.
"They'll try again."
"Well at least for tonight we don't have to worry about them. They won't get in."
"Famous last words."
HR
"Who are you calling?" Sam asked.
"Hank." Ethan answered. "He's getting us into that party tonight if I have to blackmail him."
"Hank has something to do with this?" Luis raged.
"I don't know for sure, but I'm going to find out." Ethan said. "Hank? It's about time you answered. Where are you?"
"It does mean something to me. Hank, I know about the girls. I know about Cloud Nine, the clinic, Theresa's job as a paramedic, Kay's plan to be a teacher. I know about my son and my daughter."
"Yeah, I know all that. Now the question is, how long have you known and what are you gonna do to make it up to me?"
"I know that's two questions, just answer me."
Luis was glaring at Ethan and the phone. He looked as if he were seriously considering taking the phone from Ethan and confronting Hank.
"Look, if you don't want to talk to me, maybe you'd like to talk to your brother or your best friend."
"Why Miguel?"
Miguel perked up considerably.
"I seriously doubt that but okay." Ethan handed over the phone. "Here you go."
"Hank? How long have you known?" Miguel tried.
"What the hell do you mean since they left?" He shouted a minute later. "She what?"
Ethan snapped his fingers and held out his hand. Defeated, Miguel dropped the phone into Ethan's waiting palm.
"Hank? What did you just say?"
"Theresa called and Paloma had you keep the line open so she could hear what was going on?"
Luis balled his hands into fists.
"Okay, here's the deal. You're going to get us into that party tomorrow night or I'm letting Luis kill you."
"What do you mean Cole won't let him? Cole only likes the girls. Fine. You're hiding behind women? No, not whatever works."
"Gimme that phone," Sam snapped.
"Your brother wants to discuss things."
"Hank? Listen to me: You will get us into that party, or I will tell Grace, Pilar, and anyone else I think might give a damn that you've been lying to them for the past four years."
"What do you mean you don't have that power? Guest lists to these things are always open ended."
"Invitation only? What are they afraid of? Yes I have to ask."
"OK, you can't do the party? Open up the back entrance to us."
"No, I am not letting this go. We want in on that party. I want to see my daughter and meet my grandchildren."
"What do you mean? Of course they want to see me. Stop laughing. My reason is unimpaired."
"No, I haven't told Grace. No, I don't plan to do it before I talk to Kay. Yes I promise."
"I guess that will have to be good enough. We'll do what we can to keep you alive, but do what you can fast, or Luis might blow up."
"Right. Bye." Sam hung up
"What's with the bad cop characterization?" Luis complained.
"You are ready to kill him. I didn't exaggerate there."
"I just can't believe he would lie to us--to me."
"He did it for them."
"Maybe there was a reason." Miguel suggested. "Remember those men who came looking for Paloma right around the time they left?"
"Whatever the reason, I'm still mad. Hank didn't have the right to take Kay out of my life for all these years," Sam said. "I would've sided with her against Grace."
"There didn't have to be sides." Miguel said. "I don't think anyone actually wanted to take the baby away and give her to Charity. Kay was so out of control I was saying anything I could think of to get her attention."
"Well you got it." Sam said.
Ethan looked pained. "I did believe her. All along. But I was so mad--so mad that she had known from the beginning, so mad that she'd lied so many times that I snapped. I didn't mean it when I said I didn't trust her."
"Guys?" Luis said from the table where the newspaper lay. "Did you see this?"
"What?"
"It's a photo spread of the women behind Cloud Nine."
The guys clustered behind Luis, staring at the photos the way men in the desert stare at an oasis.
"Theresa Soltini-McKay and her two children," Ethan read. "Ethan Martin and Emma Sheridan."
"Let's get out to a newsstand and buy copies." Miguel suggested. "Before they close and it disappears."
"You go ahead," Luis said. "I found this one, so I'm keeping it."
"She's not my baby anymore." Sam whispered. "Look at her--she's grown up."
"Olivia," Miguel said touching the picture lightly.
"Where's Paloma?" Luis asked finally.
"Says here that the fourth was unable to be photographed." Miguel said. "That's not like her. She loves being the center of attention."
"Her son's not there either. But, god would you look at Thomas?"
"Spitting image of Papa."
"And Antonio," Sam said.
"That's who I meant."
"Oh."
"He's a good looking kid." Luis admitted. "And look at his mother."
"She looks just as pretty as she always did."
Miguel met Ethan's eyes. Rationality couldn't be a good sign.
"You guys okay?"
"I think we need to go for a walk to the newsstand." Sam suggested.
"Good idea," Miguel said. "Let's go."
"Luis?" Ethan asked.
"I think I'll stay here."
"Okay," Sam nodded. "Boys?"
"I'll stay here too." Ethan said. His intention was pretty clear: keep an eye on the wild card of the group.
"Okay," Sam agreed. "We'll get you a copy of the paper."
"Thanks," Ethan nodded.
Sam and Miguel left Ethan and Luis alone.
HR
:THWACK!:
Theresa grunted as she took her frustrations out on the punching bag.
She was fuming. It had been a lousy day at work.
"Theresa?" Hank was in the doorway. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Three a.m. last time I checked."
"Try again." He suggested, leaning against the doorframe.
"Four?"
"One more guess."
"How long do I have before the sun rises?""
"Really, I want you to guess."
Theresa turned away from the bag. "Hank, go back to sleep. I plan to do that after I shower."
"You wanna talk about it?"
"No." She said sharply. "Well, maybe, but it's not like you'd understand."
"I'm a pretty good listener. Ask your sister."
"What do you two talk about anyway?" She tried to distract him.
Hank smiled and sat down on the bench press. "It won't work. Evasion might have worked on my nephew and your brothers but it doesn't work on me."
"Sometimes I wonder why do this, you know?"
"You mean being a paramedic?"
"Yeah. I don't need the money, the hours are lousy, and you see some of the worst things you can imagine. Things some people only ever read about in newspapers."
"Did you see one of those things tonight?"
"She was five years old and her father beat her mother to death and then shot himself," Theresa said. "She woke up this morning and she was a little girl. She's not one anymore."
Hank took her hands. "No. She isn't."
"Why do I do this again?"
"Because of the baby you delivered in the middle of rush hour traffic last week, the little boy you talked to last month in the ambulance after he fell and broke his arm, and all the people who have made it because you got them to a hospital alive."
Theresa sighed. "Some days it feels like they're such a small fraction."
"So what are you gonna do tonight?"
"I'm gonna have a good time with my friends and my family."
"And tomorrow?"
"I'm gonna go to work," Theresa said, smiling a little. "'Cause as bad is it gets, I love the job. The day that changes I'll be the one on the plane to Tahiti with Ethan and Emma."
"Tahiti, hmm?" Hank grinned, knowing that the crisis was over.
"Absolutely. But it doesn't matter where I am as long as they're with me. They're my home."
He smiled. "Good girl. Go get a shower and some sleep, okay?"
Theresa hugged him. "I kinda love you, you know?"
"I know," he smiled.
"So, for real, what do you talk to my sister about?"
"Get out." He teased.
"I'm going. Night Hank," she said over her shoulder.
"Night Theresa."
HR
"Momma?" Alex touched his mother's shoulder. She bolted up in bed, as if he'd used a cattle prod.
"What is it?" She gasped. "What's wrong?" She threw her legs over the side of the bed and was between her son and the door in seconds.
"Nothing," he said innocently.
She took a breath to steady herself. She hated panic. "What is it sweetheart?"
"Hank said you'd want to see the newspaper. And Aunt Theresa said you'd want coffee."
"Okay. Tell them both I am on my way, okay?"
"I brought it to you." He said cheerfully. "Hank's helping us all with breakfast in bed."
"Thanks sweetheart." She smiled weakly. "I'll help you get cereal, and then we can both come back and eat in here, ok?"
"Okay."
In the kitchen, he tugged on the edge of her t-shirt. "Momma? Why were you scared when I woke you up?"
"Do you remember when there was that thunderstorm and you were a little scared, so you came in to sleep with me?"
He nodded.
"It's like that. I had a bad dream."
"Are you better now?"
"I'll be about a thousand times better if my favorite guy gives me a hug."
Alex smiled and gave his mom a big hug.
"I love you baby," Paloma whispered.
"I love you too Mama."
"Don't jump on the bed this morning? I don't want to spill the cereal or the coffee."
"I promise," he said.
"Okay. Why don't you go and climb into my bed and I'll be there soon."
"Okay." Alex went back to Paloma's room.
"Hey," Paloma greeted her sister when she walked in. "You looked exhausted."
"I didn't sleep too well last night." She admitted.
"Me neither. Wanna talk about it?"
"I already did. Hank's pretty good at nearly dawn."
"Oh?" Paloma tried not to read into that statement, as she found Alex's favorite cereal and poured it into a bowl.
"Yeah," Theresa smiled. "I remember now why I never had a crush on him. He was always too much like one of our brothers for that to happen."
"You think?" She said. "I probably shouldn't start on the coffee yet, should I? I'll need it later."
"Yeah and uh Hank wants to talk to you about the newspaper."
"It'll keep for a half hour. Alex decided to surprise me with breakfast in bed." She smiled. "Seriously, some days I think about his father and I don't know how I got so lucky."
"I think kids get all their parent's good parts."
As always when the subject of Alex's father came up, she changed the subject. "How'd the photo spread turn out?" She asked.
"Pretty good."
"Not great?"
"You're not in it. Poe, I don't get it. You put more into the club than the rest of us. Why don't you want to be part of the publicity?"
"We need to get more whole milk." Paloma said. "Why don't we keep a grocery list on the fridge so we can add to it when we think of things we need?"
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"The evasion thing. No wonder it doesn't work on Hank."
"Where are Ethan and Emma?"
"Still sleeping. We don't all have early risers. Some of us have children who are night owls."
"Must get that from you. I don't know what you're gonna do when they start real school."
"Sometime we're going to talk about this."
"Not today, though." Paloma said. "Go back to bed, Hank and I'll watch your kids."
"They're not up yet."
"Go back to sleep anyway."
"I look that bad?"
"You have good genes, you never look bad. You just don't look your best, which I know would break your heart."
"Fine, good night."
"Or morning." Paloma brought cereal and juice back to her bedroom. Caffeine was her vice. On a day like today, it wouldn't do to start too early in the morning.
She smiled when she saw Alex fast asleep in her bed. She climbed in and joined him.
HR
Ethan was whistling as he dialed home. He wanted to check on Rosemary before the day got going.
"Hello, Winthrop residence."
"Mia, hi, it's Ethan. Can I talk to Rosemary?"
"Sure! Rosie, it's your dad. He wants to say hi."
"Hi Daddy."
"Hi Princess."
"When are you coming home?"
"Two days."
"Two?" He could hear the pout in her voice. He hadn't left her alone overnight since Gwen's hospitalization.
"Yeah. I'm sorry but there's something I need to do before I come home."
"When's Grandpa coming home?"
It still gave Ethan a jolt to hear his daughter call Sam "Grandpa."
"He'll be home with me soon, okay?"
"Not before?"
"Not earlier, not later." He promised. "How's Uncle Noah? Did you have fun at dinner with him last night?"
"Yes," she said. "Aunt Whit said I could be a flower girl."
"Did she really?" Ethan smiled. "I'm sure you'll be a very pretty flower girl."
Rosemary giggled. "I saw Grandmother today."
"Oh?" Ethan asked. "What did she say?"
"That I should be at girl's school," Rosemary said quietly.
"I don't want you to worry about that. If you're happy at home, you can stay home with me."
"Thank you Daddy."
"Rosie, which grandma said that?"
"Rebecca."
"Okay. I will see you soon okay? I love you."
"Love you too." She said, more cheerfully.
"Okay, bye sweetie."
"Two days. Promise?"
"I swear."
"Good. Bye Daddy."
HR
"Theresa?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you give me a hand?" Sheridan said. "I wanna check the speakers. Sing for me?"
"Oh no, you're not pulling that one again. Last time I did that you videotaped it and showed it on the screens. No way."
"No video, I promise," Sheridan said.
"This is against my better judgment but okay," Theresa consented.
"Great," Sheridan smiled. She turned on the sound. "Hit it."
"Hit what?"
"Anything."
Theresa laughed before she sang.
I come on babe why don't we paint the town and all that jazz I'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down. and all that jazz. start the car, I know a whoopee spot, where the gin is cold but the piano is hot. It's just a noisy hall, where there's a nightly brawl And all that jazz./I
Sheridan laughed. "That's your fantasy, isn't it? Working a gin joint where everyone's wondering just who you are."
Theresa smiled. "How's it sound?"
She twisted a few knobs. "Try it again."
II pretended I'm glad you went away These four walls closin' more every day And I'm dying inside And nobody knows it but me/I
"That good?"
"Perfect!" A spark blew from the board. "Crap." Sheridan mumbled. "Maybe not."
"One more song and I'll do the whole thing this time if you want."
"Where's Kay? She usually sweet talks this thing into working."
"I don't know. KAY!"
"I am not fixing the damn sound board this time! Someone else has to figure it out." Kay's voice came from the kitchen.
"But not tonight. PLEASE!" Sheridan called.
They heard a few curses as Kay came out of the kitchen. "I want you to know that this is under duress."
"Thank you." Sheridan said gratefully. "I spun the knob and it spit sparks and I don't want to touch it."
"Oh so I get to be electrocuted? Thank you Sheridan."
"I'll go help out in the kitchen."
"Don't bother. Poe's turning into a Nazi about the appetizers. She was about to chase me out anyway."
"Thanks for the warning." Theresa said.
"Okay, Theresa, give us something."
IMy eyes adored you Though I never laid on you My eyes adored you Like a million miles away from me You couldn't see how I adored you So close so close and yet so far
Carried your books from school Playin' make believe you're married to me You were fifth grade I was sixth When we came to be Walkin' home ev'ry day Over Bonnicut bridge and bay Till we grew into the me and you Who went our separate ways
My eyes adored you Though I never laid on you My eyes adored you Like a million miles away from me You couldn't see how I adored you So close so close and yet so far
Headed for city lights Climbed the ladder up to fortune and fame I worked my fingers to the bone Made myself a name Funny I seem to find That no matter how the years unwind Still I reminisce 'bout the girl I miss And the love I left behind
My eyes adored you Though I never laid on you My eyes adored you Like a million miles away from me You couldn't see how I adored you So close so close and yet so far/I
Kay made a little face. With the sudden return of the men from the past to their current lives, the song was especially meaningful and a little bit disturbing. She couldn't help but wonder how their lives would change--or not change after this.
"You sound great." She said honestly. "I think sound is set, but we'll still do a test with the band's instruments. They should be here in a half hour."
"Okay," Theresa walked off the stage and over to the bar. "Who's tending bar tonight? Shirley or Mac?"
"To be safe we got both. If things go right, we'll be busy enough."
"Okay, great," Theresa reached over and picked up a clipboard. "This is the list of guests. Make sure Benny and Pete get it when they get here."
"Is inviting Cole as a guest really the right thing to do?" Sheridan fidgeted. "I just don't trust anyone quite as much as I trust him. He's more loyal than even Benny and Pete. No one would get past him. No one." She repeated.
"Well, if Benny and Pete want to keep their jobs, they won't let anyone who isn't on the list in," Paloma said, joining them from the kitchen. "Menu is being followed to a T. No pun intended."
Theresa giggled. "Kay, what time is Trisha getting here?"
"I told her to be here an hour before we start letting people in. That way she and the kids can stake out a table in the corner near Poe's office."
"The kids are going upstairs at nine, no debate, no questions." Sheridan said firmly.
"Already agreed upon," Theresa said, going behind the bar. She put out four glasses and a bottle of champagne. "Sheridan, why don't you do the honors of pouring?"
Sheridan laughed, but took the bottle. "We have time?"
"We're a little more organized than we were opening night." Kay said dryly.
Paloma winced. "On that note I need a drink." She said.
"From near disaster to triumph, God willing, right?" Theresa laughed.
"Absolutely. Okay here goes," Sheridan said as the cork popped off and the champagne breathed and spilled out a little. "Glasses!"
"Here," Kay giggled. "Theresa, take that one. Poe, for you. This one's mine. And Sheridan you've got yours?"
"All set. What should we toast to?"
"Success?" Theresa said.
"The future?" Kay pondered.
"I don't know," Poe admitted.
"I know," Sheridan raised her glass. "To the need for drink and music."
"Cheers," Theresa said.
"Salute," Kay contributed.
"Chin-chin," Poe said.
"And to us," Sheridan said.
The glasses clinked lightly. "To happiness for each of us, and our children."
"Speaking of," Sheridan finished her drink. "We should go up and start getting them ready. That way we might have time to get ourselves ready."
Paloma laughed. "That would really be a miracle. I'm just going to go over the stock of liquor one more time. Can't be too careful. I'll be up in ten minutes"
"Okay," Theresa said. "I'll start getting Alex ready for you."
"Thanks T."
"Sure."
Paloma ran her eyes over the labels of the bottles. She might have overstocked, but just for tonight she'd rather over do it than run out. It was a critical time for the club. With the spread in the paper, and the anniversary, they would be under close scrutiny. She wasn't about to mess up something they'd worked so hard on.
She cleaned up the glasses and put the champagne back under the bar before she too headed up to change.
HR
"We're what?"
"You're gonna be with the kitchen staff for the night," Hank said to his nephew.
"You're coming through for us?"
"Yeah and if you ever tell them it was me, I'll break something off that you may want later on in life."
"How crowded is it going to be?"
"It should be quite the scene. By the way, don't go near any corner tables with a redhead and five children sitting at it."
"The kids will be there?" Ethan sounded almost hungry.
"Ethan, if you make a move towards them you'll be removed from the premises. Theresa invited most of the firehouse and some of the local police station."
"I'll be good. I have some self-control. I'm not sure I can vouch for Luis."
The men looked at the door of the bedroom where Luis was sulking. He was refusing to talk to Hank for keeping the girls' secrets.
"Good," Hank checked his watch. "Okay, I'm outta here. See you boys later."
"Hey, what did they think of the newspaper?" Miguel asked.
"They loved it. Bye," Hank left, and slammed the door behind him. Luis slouched in after his one time best friend had gone.
"He's pissed at us, isn't he?"
"Just a little." Miguel confirmed.
"Well, at least we'll be there," Sam pointed out.
Miguel nodded. "But what do we do once we're there? Do we have a plan?"
"Get them alone on our own."
"We're just supposed to waltz them from the middle of a crowded club to a secluded place quiet enough to talk, quite possibly against their wills, while security, half a firehouse, and an ex-con who is loyal only to the McKay-Soltinis watch?"
"I didn't say it would be easy."
"Ok, someone creates a distraction. Our girls are fairly hands-on, especially when managing this club, so they come over to check it out and we talk to them then?" Ethan improvised.
"I like that better." Miguel agreed.
"How do you suppose we keep them from throwing us out once they see who we are?" Sam asked.
"Create the distraction in the kitchen? Then into the pantry? Would that work?"
"Better."
"But how to keep them from grabbing a sharp object? The kitchen's full of them." Sam pointed out. "And, as you said, these young ladies are a bit hands- on."
"We follow them," Luis spoke. "We wait for them to go to a part of the club that's not populated and we pull them aside."
"Like there's going to be any part of the club that isn't populated tonight. Did you see the list the paper printed of the expected celebs?"
"Bathrooms, the hallways to the office and kitchen might be less crowded."
"Forget bathrooms. Hallways around offices are better, but there is the issue of getting to them."
"We're new. We get lost."
"Wait, are we cooks or waiters?'
"Waiters."
"OK, then we have options." Sam agreed. "Hallway near the offices sounds best."
"Okay then. Let's get going."
"We should change into the uniforms before we get there."
"I know."
"Maybe we could even hide before they come downstairs."
"That's a good idea."
"Let's get ready."
HR
"Emma, honestly, this wouldn't hurt if you would hold still."
Emma's little face screwed up in a look of rebellion that was kinda adorable. "Don't wanna."
Her mother sighed. "You can't go to the party with half your head braided and the other half unbrushed." She coaxed.
"Okay," Emma grudgingly agreed. "You look pretty."
"Thank you. So do you."
"Thank you," she said shyly. "And thank you for letting me go to the party tonight."
"You're welcome." Theresa eyed Emma. "You know the rules though. Stay with your brother and cousins at the table."
She nodded. "I will. I promise."
"Thank you." Theresa hugged her tightly. "Now let's go show off how pretty we look, and hope your brother's tie hasn't strangled him."
"It's a clip on." Emma looked confused.
"Yes but he's like most men in our family. He hates all ties."
"Alex doesn't hate ties as much as Ethan."
"I know," Theresa said. "Let's get going. I bet we're the last ones to be ready."
"I thought you said Aunt Sheridan always--"
Theresa put a hand over her daughter's mouth. "Oh hush." She teased.
Emma giggled and she and Theresa went out to join the others.
HR
It was about an hour into the party when Ethan saw his opportunity to get Theresa alone. She was heading for the back to take a breather. He followed her at a distance. When she stopped to adjust her dress he grabbed her from behind and dragged her into an office.
"What the-" she spun around once he'd turned her loose. "You!"
"You aren't very good at answering phone calls or emails." He said darkly.
"How did you get in here?"
"Does it matter?"
"I'm gonna fire whoever let you past the front door, so yeah."
"I didn't come in the front."
She looked at his clothes. "Where'd you get that uniform?"
"Costume shop."
"Liar."
"Interesting insult from you."
"Bite me."
"I'd rather discuss a very interesting photo spread."
"You leave them alone. You don't come near them, you understand? You lost that right a long time ago."
"You can't lose a right, Theresa. It can be denied to you, or seized, but not lost."
She opened her mouth to protest, but before she said a word, he continued. "Do you know what you have done is called? Kidnapping, Theresa. You kidnapped our children."
"I thought they weren't yours."
Ethan flinched. He regretted a lot of things between himself and Theresa, but that was what kept him up at nights. He'd denied being their father.
"No quick retort Ethan?"
"We both screwed up Theresa." He said. "I'll be the first to say it. But I think momentary anger and denial pales next to leaving town without a forwarding address."
"You wanted nothing to do with me or Ethan. You don't have any room to tell me what I did was wrong."
"Christ, Theresa." He said. "When did you turn into my mother?"
She slapped his face practically as the words left his mouth.
He rubbed his cheek, and shook his head. "You, know that could be billed as assault. If I were like Julian or Alistair, I would use this and the kidnapping to prove that you're violent and unstable." Fury washed over Theresa. Ethan continued, "But I don't really believe that, and I don't want to do that. But I really don't want to look at Ethan twenty years down the road and know what it feels like to be in Sam's shoes. Would you do that to me? Leave me to face my grown son, and not know a thing about him? More importantly, would you do that to your son? And please don't forget our daughter. I have never seen her face, Theresa."
"Ethan-" She was interrupted by a beeping sound. She quickly found the noisy object lifted it to see who was paging her. "Shoot." She picked up the phone and dialed. "Max? It's Theresa. What's up?"
"Oh God. Yeah okay. I'll hitch a ride with someone. I assume you paged most of the people here."
"No, no one's had more then a beer yet. It's too early. Okay. Bye." She hung up and looked at Ethan. "This is gonna have to wait till later. I have to go."
"Go where?" He asked as she sailed out the door.
"Work. A building just collapsed."
"When you come back, we will continue this discussion." Ethan promised. "Be careful?"
But she was gone.
HR
"Sheridan?" Theresa found her. "I gotta go."
"I figured. I just saw most of the guys leave. What happened?"
"A building that was set for demolition just came down. Max thinks one of the detonators went off by accident. There are some people inside," she pulled her jacket on.
"Be careful," Sheridan hugged her.
"I will. Tell Poe I'm sorry to do this."
"She knows." Sheridan told her, as she quickly pressed a kiss to Theresa's cheek. "We all know. Do you want to leave your shoes here? You always complain that they're never the same if they stay in your locker overnight."
"Yeah," she took them off. "I think you might wanna get someone to open up the clinic. If the casualties are what Max thinks they are the local ER's are gonna overflow and we're gonna need somewhere else to take them."
"Your sister's gonna throw a fit that she can't help tonight." Sheridan acknowledged. "I'll be down there in about twenty minutes."
"Alright and don't do it by yourself. Call Dr. Walters."
"Don't have to. He's here tonight."
"Poe is going to throw a fit. We're taking most of the party."
"She'll understand. Go before you have to take the bus to the house."
"Bye," Theresa said as she ran after some of the guys.
"Bye," Sheridan said as she went the other way. "Kay? I have to go," she said when she found her.
"Same reason most of the firehouse is leaving?"
"'Fraid so."
"Need an extra hand?"
"Poe will kill us if we leave her to do everything."
"She's gonna kill us anyway. Most of the party just left."
"What is going on?" Paloma asked as she walked up.
"Building came down."
"Dammit. Go, both of you. I'll get Cole to help and then I'll leave him and Hank in charge and see you at the clinic."
"Paloma, you put so much into this. One of the hostesses has to be here, it's our trademark." Kay protested
"I think you guys will need me more."
"If we get in over our heads, we'll call. Promise. Right now, we should go change," Sheridan said.
"Good idea. Hey, take the kids up with you."
"It's 9:30. They should already be up."
She blushed. "They begged."
"You're such a softy."
"Yeah," Paloma nodded. "Go!"
Kay and Sheridan disappeared just as Miguel appeared behind Paloma.
"Hey little sister," he said quietly.
Her eyes widened. "When did--what are--do they know?"
"Theresa does I think. I'm not sure if Ethan got her alone but he looked less agitated last time I saw him."
"You need to leave. Now."
"What, along with the rest of the party?"
"Work called." Paloma said. "Saving lives is a bit more important than a party, don't you think?"
"Saving lives?"
"A building came down. Our big sister is a paramedic. Connect the dots."
"She does that and this? Why?" Miguel asked.
"Because she is not quite as cruel or cold-hearted as some people like to pretend. If you'll excuse me--"
"Hey, I'm happy to see you too." He said. "I never did anything to you, but I haven't seen you in years. Don't I at least get a smile or a hug?"
Paloma had to smile. She hugged him. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Miguel smiled. "Can I do anything?"
"Kay's gonna kill me. You have a choice. Stay here and handle the party or go down to the clinic and help there. I take it you know CPR?"
"I'm a cop, little one. I know some emergency medicine."
"Kay is definitely going to kill me." She decided. "Go down and ask the doctor what needs to be done. He'll find something for you."
"Okay," Miguel kissed her cheek. "Should I take Sam and Luis with me?"
"What?"
"Sam and Luis are here too. It's an invasion of the past."
She tensed for a second. "Since Kay's already going to string me up, take her father. Leave Luis here. I'll deal with him and prep him for Sheridan."
"Okay," Miguel nodded and went in search of Sam.
Paloma looked around and found her older brother. He was circulating with a tray of drinks and had just been stopped by Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley. She waited till he passed them by and then approached him.
"Hi," she said calmly.
"Hey Paloma." He greeted nonchalantly. "I like your hair long. Haven't seen it in a while, but it looks good."
"Thanks. Sheridan left so you can stop looking for her."
"Where'd she go?" He thrust the tray at her.
"I'm not going to tell you, so keep on going with the free labor. Do me a favor, don't drop anything?"
"Paloma Bridget," Luis started.
"I'm not a child, it doesn't work anymore," she interjected. "Look, you can talk to her later, but you can't upset her."
"I don't want to upset her." He snapped.
"So calm down." She said. "Illogical and irrational behavior really turns her off."
"I am calm," he gritted.
"Really? I'd hate to see you upset if this is calm."
He took a deep breath. "You made your point. Now where is she?"
"She'll be back in a few hours. Until then, paste a smile on, don't start any fights, and watch movie stars get smashed."
"My idea of heaven," he smiled sarcastically.
"Yeah, yeah, just keep going."
"Hey, how was your shift last night?" Paloma asked her sister as she stumbled into the kitchen.
Theresa yawned. "We saw Rick again."
"Really? How was he?"
"Charming as ever."
"What was his B.A.L.?"
"I don't know but I'm sure there were breathalyzers going off all over the city. We took him to the clinic to sleep it off."
"I'm sure he was really charming about that."
"Kay had to deal with him for longer than I did."
"Did he tell you that he didn't like you?"
"Yep."
"Well, he's off the guest list for tonight." Paloma joked.
Theresa giggled. "Is Kay up yet? I didn't hear her come in last night."
"She was pretty late." Paloma agreed. "I saw her when I was doing one last inventory for tonight."
"You've done a lot of work for this, haven't you?"
Paloma shrugged. "No more than I would've done for any party we have here."
"Thanks though. I know we get caught up thinking how important our own projects are but you really pulled this together, so thanks."
"No problem." Paloma smiled. "Look I was debating about whether or not to tell you this."
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah. Uh, our brothers, Kay's father, and your ex-fiancé were in the club last night."
"You had to think about telling me?"
"I didn't want to upset you." Paloma smiled hopefully, as the coffee maker hissed.
"They'll try again."
"Well at least for tonight we don't have to worry about them. They won't get in."
"Famous last words."
HR
"Who are you calling?" Sam asked.
"Hank." Ethan answered. "He's getting us into that party tonight if I have to blackmail him."
"Hank has something to do with this?" Luis raged.
"I don't know for sure, but I'm going to find out." Ethan said. "Hank? It's about time you answered. Where are you?"
"It does mean something to me. Hank, I know about the girls. I know about Cloud Nine, the clinic, Theresa's job as a paramedic, Kay's plan to be a teacher. I know about my son and my daughter."
"Yeah, I know all that. Now the question is, how long have you known and what are you gonna do to make it up to me?"
"I know that's two questions, just answer me."
Luis was glaring at Ethan and the phone. He looked as if he were seriously considering taking the phone from Ethan and confronting Hank.
"Look, if you don't want to talk to me, maybe you'd like to talk to your brother or your best friend."
"Why Miguel?"
Miguel perked up considerably.
"I seriously doubt that but okay." Ethan handed over the phone. "Here you go."
"Hank? How long have you known?" Miguel tried.
"What the hell do you mean since they left?" He shouted a minute later. "She what?"
Ethan snapped his fingers and held out his hand. Defeated, Miguel dropped the phone into Ethan's waiting palm.
"Hank? What did you just say?"
"Theresa called and Paloma had you keep the line open so she could hear what was going on?"
Luis balled his hands into fists.
"Okay, here's the deal. You're going to get us into that party tomorrow night or I'm letting Luis kill you."
"What do you mean Cole won't let him? Cole only likes the girls. Fine. You're hiding behind women? No, not whatever works."
"Gimme that phone," Sam snapped.
"Your brother wants to discuss things."
"Hank? Listen to me: You will get us into that party, or I will tell Grace, Pilar, and anyone else I think might give a damn that you've been lying to them for the past four years."
"What do you mean you don't have that power? Guest lists to these things are always open ended."
"Invitation only? What are they afraid of? Yes I have to ask."
"OK, you can't do the party? Open up the back entrance to us."
"No, I am not letting this go. We want in on that party. I want to see my daughter and meet my grandchildren."
"What do you mean? Of course they want to see me. Stop laughing. My reason is unimpaired."
"No, I haven't told Grace. No, I don't plan to do it before I talk to Kay. Yes I promise."
"I guess that will have to be good enough. We'll do what we can to keep you alive, but do what you can fast, or Luis might blow up."
"Right. Bye." Sam hung up
"What's with the bad cop characterization?" Luis complained.
"You are ready to kill him. I didn't exaggerate there."
"I just can't believe he would lie to us--to me."
"He did it for them."
"Maybe there was a reason." Miguel suggested. "Remember those men who came looking for Paloma right around the time they left?"
"Whatever the reason, I'm still mad. Hank didn't have the right to take Kay out of my life for all these years," Sam said. "I would've sided with her against Grace."
"There didn't have to be sides." Miguel said. "I don't think anyone actually wanted to take the baby away and give her to Charity. Kay was so out of control I was saying anything I could think of to get her attention."
"Well you got it." Sam said.
Ethan looked pained. "I did believe her. All along. But I was so mad--so mad that she had known from the beginning, so mad that she'd lied so many times that I snapped. I didn't mean it when I said I didn't trust her."
"Guys?" Luis said from the table where the newspaper lay. "Did you see this?"
"What?"
"It's a photo spread of the women behind Cloud Nine."
The guys clustered behind Luis, staring at the photos the way men in the desert stare at an oasis.
"Theresa Soltini-McKay and her two children," Ethan read. "Ethan Martin and Emma Sheridan."
"Let's get out to a newsstand and buy copies." Miguel suggested. "Before they close and it disappears."
"You go ahead," Luis said. "I found this one, so I'm keeping it."
"She's not my baby anymore." Sam whispered. "Look at her--she's grown up."
"Olivia," Miguel said touching the picture lightly.
"Where's Paloma?" Luis asked finally.
"Says here that the fourth was unable to be photographed." Miguel said. "That's not like her. She loves being the center of attention."
"Her son's not there either. But, god would you look at Thomas?"
"Spitting image of Papa."
"And Antonio," Sam said.
"That's who I meant."
"Oh."
"He's a good looking kid." Luis admitted. "And look at his mother."
"She looks just as pretty as she always did."
Miguel met Ethan's eyes. Rationality couldn't be a good sign.
"You guys okay?"
"I think we need to go for a walk to the newsstand." Sam suggested.
"Good idea," Miguel said. "Let's go."
"Luis?" Ethan asked.
"I think I'll stay here."
"Okay," Sam nodded. "Boys?"
"I'll stay here too." Ethan said. His intention was pretty clear: keep an eye on the wild card of the group.
"Okay," Sam agreed. "We'll get you a copy of the paper."
"Thanks," Ethan nodded.
Sam and Miguel left Ethan and Luis alone.
HR
:THWACK!:
Theresa grunted as she took her frustrations out on the punching bag.
She was fuming. It had been a lousy day at work.
"Theresa?" Hank was in the doorway. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Three a.m. last time I checked."
"Try again." He suggested, leaning against the doorframe.
"Four?"
"One more guess."
"How long do I have before the sun rises?""
"Really, I want you to guess."
Theresa turned away from the bag. "Hank, go back to sleep. I plan to do that after I shower."
"You wanna talk about it?"
"No." She said sharply. "Well, maybe, but it's not like you'd understand."
"I'm a pretty good listener. Ask your sister."
"What do you two talk about anyway?" She tried to distract him.
Hank smiled and sat down on the bench press. "It won't work. Evasion might have worked on my nephew and your brothers but it doesn't work on me."
"Sometimes I wonder why do this, you know?"
"You mean being a paramedic?"
"Yeah. I don't need the money, the hours are lousy, and you see some of the worst things you can imagine. Things some people only ever read about in newspapers."
"Did you see one of those things tonight?"
"She was five years old and her father beat her mother to death and then shot himself," Theresa said. "She woke up this morning and she was a little girl. She's not one anymore."
Hank took her hands. "No. She isn't."
"Why do I do this again?"
"Because of the baby you delivered in the middle of rush hour traffic last week, the little boy you talked to last month in the ambulance after he fell and broke his arm, and all the people who have made it because you got them to a hospital alive."
Theresa sighed. "Some days it feels like they're such a small fraction."
"So what are you gonna do tonight?"
"I'm gonna have a good time with my friends and my family."
"And tomorrow?"
"I'm gonna go to work," Theresa said, smiling a little. "'Cause as bad is it gets, I love the job. The day that changes I'll be the one on the plane to Tahiti with Ethan and Emma."
"Tahiti, hmm?" Hank grinned, knowing that the crisis was over.
"Absolutely. But it doesn't matter where I am as long as they're with me. They're my home."
He smiled. "Good girl. Go get a shower and some sleep, okay?"
Theresa hugged him. "I kinda love you, you know?"
"I know," he smiled.
"So, for real, what do you talk to my sister about?"
"Get out." He teased.
"I'm going. Night Hank," she said over her shoulder.
"Night Theresa."
HR
"Momma?" Alex touched his mother's shoulder. She bolted up in bed, as if he'd used a cattle prod.
"What is it?" She gasped. "What's wrong?" She threw her legs over the side of the bed and was between her son and the door in seconds.
"Nothing," he said innocently.
She took a breath to steady herself. She hated panic. "What is it sweetheart?"
"Hank said you'd want to see the newspaper. And Aunt Theresa said you'd want coffee."
"Okay. Tell them both I am on my way, okay?"
"I brought it to you." He said cheerfully. "Hank's helping us all with breakfast in bed."
"Thanks sweetheart." She smiled weakly. "I'll help you get cereal, and then we can both come back and eat in here, ok?"
"Okay."
In the kitchen, he tugged on the edge of her t-shirt. "Momma? Why were you scared when I woke you up?"
"Do you remember when there was that thunderstorm and you were a little scared, so you came in to sleep with me?"
He nodded.
"It's like that. I had a bad dream."
"Are you better now?"
"I'll be about a thousand times better if my favorite guy gives me a hug."
Alex smiled and gave his mom a big hug.
"I love you baby," Paloma whispered.
"I love you too Mama."
"Don't jump on the bed this morning? I don't want to spill the cereal or the coffee."
"I promise," he said.
"Okay. Why don't you go and climb into my bed and I'll be there soon."
"Okay." Alex went back to Paloma's room.
"Hey," Paloma greeted her sister when she walked in. "You looked exhausted."
"I didn't sleep too well last night." She admitted.
"Me neither. Wanna talk about it?"
"I already did. Hank's pretty good at nearly dawn."
"Oh?" Paloma tried not to read into that statement, as she found Alex's favorite cereal and poured it into a bowl.
"Yeah," Theresa smiled. "I remember now why I never had a crush on him. He was always too much like one of our brothers for that to happen."
"You think?" She said. "I probably shouldn't start on the coffee yet, should I? I'll need it later."
"Yeah and uh Hank wants to talk to you about the newspaper."
"It'll keep for a half hour. Alex decided to surprise me with breakfast in bed." She smiled. "Seriously, some days I think about his father and I don't know how I got so lucky."
"I think kids get all their parent's good parts."
As always when the subject of Alex's father came up, she changed the subject. "How'd the photo spread turn out?" She asked.
"Pretty good."
"Not great?"
"You're not in it. Poe, I don't get it. You put more into the club than the rest of us. Why don't you want to be part of the publicity?"
"We need to get more whole milk." Paloma said. "Why don't we keep a grocery list on the fridge so we can add to it when we think of things we need?"
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"The evasion thing. No wonder it doesn't work on Hank."
"Where are Ethan and Emma?"
"Still sleeping. We don't all have early risers. Some of us have children who are night owls."
"Must get that from you. I don't know what you're gonna do when they start real school."
"Sometime we're going to talk about this."
"Not today, though." Paloma said. "Go back to bed, Hank and I'll watch your kids."
"They're not up yet."
"Go back to sleep anyway."
"I look that bad?"
"You have good genes, you never look bad. You just don't look your best, which I know would break your heart."
"Fine, good night."
"Or morning." Paloma brought cereal and juice back to her bedroom. Caffeine was her vice. On a day like today, it wouldn't do to start too early in the morning.
She smiled when she saw Alex fast asleep in her bed. She climbed in and joined him.
HR
Ethan was whistling as he dialed home. He wanted to check on Rosemary before the day got going.
"Hello, Winthrop residence."
"Mia, hi, it's Ethan. Can I talk to Rosemary?"
"Sure! Rosie, it's your dad. He wants to say hi."
"Hi Daddy."
"Hi Princess."
"When are you coming home?"
"Two days."
"Two?" He could hear the pout in her voice. He hadn't left her alone overnight since Gwen's hospitalization.
"Yeah. I'm sorry but there's something I need to do before I come home."
"When's Grandpa coming home?"
It still gave Ethan a jolt to hear his daughter call Sam "Grandpa."
"He'll be home with me soon, okay?"
"Not before?"
"Not earlier, not later." He promised. "How's Uncle Noah? Did you have fun at dinner with him last night?"
"Yes," she said. "Aunt Whit said I could be a flower girl."
"Did she really?" Ethan smiled. "I'm sure you'll be a very pretty flower girl."
Rosemary giggled. "I saw Grandmother today."
"Oh?" Ethan asked. "What did she say?"
"That I should be at girl's school," Rosemary said quietly.
"I don't want you to worry about that. If you're happy at home, you can stay home with me."
"Thank you Daddy."
"Rosie, which grandma said that?"
"Rebecca."
"Okay. I will see you soon okay? I love you."
"Love you too." She said, more cheerfully.
"Okay, bye sweetie."
"Two days. Promise?"
"I swear."
"Good. Bye Daddy."
HR
"Theresa?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you give me a hand?" Sheridan said. "I wanna check the speakers. Sing for me?"
"Oh no, you're not pulling that one again. Last time I did that you videotaped it and showed it on the screens. No way."
"No video, I promise," Sheridan said.
"This is against my better judgment but okay," Theresa consented.
"Great," Sheridan smiled. She turned on the sound. "Hit it."
"Hit what?"
"Anything."
Theresa laughed before she sang.
I come on babe why don't we paint the town and all that jazz I'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down. and all that jazz. start the car, I know a whoopee spot, where the gin is cold but the piano is hot. It's just a noisy hall, where there's a nightly brawl And all that jazz./I
Sheridan laughed. "That's your fantasy, isn't it? Working a gin joint where everyone's wondering just who you are."
Theresa smiled. "How's it sound?"
She twisted a few knobs. "Try it again."
II pretended I'm glad you went away These four walls closin' more every day And I'm dying inside And nobody knows it but me/I
"That good?"
"Perfect!" A spark blew from the board. "Crap." Sheridan mumbled. "Maybe not."
"One more song and I'll do the whole thing this time if you want."
"Where's Kay? She usually sweet talks this thing into working."
"I don't know. KAY!"
"I am not fixing the damn sound board this time! Someone else has to figure it out." Kay's voice came from the kitchen.
"But not tonight. PLEASE!" Sheridan called.
They heard a few curses as Kay came out of the kitchen. "I want you to know that this is under duress."
"Thank you." Sheridan said gratefully. "I spun the knob and it spit sparks and I don't want to touch it."
"Oh so I get to be electrocuted? Thank you Sheridan."
"I'll go help out in the kitchen."
"Don't bother. Poe's turning into a Nazi about the appetizers. She was about to chase me out anyway."
"Thanks for the warning." Theresa said.
"Okay, Theresa, give us something."
IMy eyes adored you Though I never laid on you My eyes adored you Like a million miles away from me You couldn't see how I adored you So close so close and yet so far
Carried your books from school Playin' make believe you're married to me You were fifth grade I was sixth When we came to be Walkin' home ev'ry day Over Bonnicut bridge and bay Till we grew into the me and you Who went our separate ways
My eyes adored you Though I never laid on you My eyes adored you Like a million miles away from me You couldn't see how I adored you So close so close and yet so far
Headed for city lights Climbed the ladder up to fortune and fame I worked my fingers to the bone Made myself a name Funny I seem to find That no matter how the years unwind Still I reminisce 'bout the girl I miss And the love I left behind
My eyes adored you Though I never laid on you My eyes adored you Like a million miles away from me You couldn't see how I adored you So close so close and yet so far/I
Kay made a little face. With the sudden return of the men from the past to their current lives, the song was especially meaningful and a little bit disturbing. She couldn't help but wonder how their lives would change--or not change after this.
"You sound great." She said honestly. "I think sound is set, but we'll still do a test with the band's instruments. They should be here in a half hour."
"Okay," Theresa walked off the stage and over to the bar. "Who's tending bar tonight? Shirley or Mac?"
"To be safe we got both. If things go right, we'll be busy enough."
"Okay, great," Theresa reached over and picked up a clipboard. "This is the list of guests. Make sure Benny and Pete get it when they get here."
"Is inviting Cole as a guest really the right thing to do?" Sheridan fidgeted. "I just don't trust anyone quite as much as I trust him. He's more loyal than even Benny and Pete. No one would get past him. No one." She repeated.
"Well, if Benny and Pete want to keep their jobs, they won't let anyone who isn't on the list in," Paloma said, joining them from the kitchen. "Menu is being followed to a T. No pun intended."
Theresa giggled. "Kay, what time is Trisha getting here?"
"I told her to be here an hour before we start letting people in. That way she and the kids can stake out a table in the corner near Poe's office."
"The kids are going upstairs at nine, no debate, no questions." Sheridan said firmly.
"Already agreed upon," Theresa said, going behind the bar. She put out four glasses and a bottle of champagne. "Sheridan, why don't you do the honors of pouring?"
Sheridan laughed, but took the bottle. "We have time?"
"We're a little more organized than we were opening night." Kay said dryly.
Paloma winced. "On that note I need a drink." She said.
"From near disaster to triumph, God willing, right?" Theresa laughed.
"Absolutely. Okay here goes," Sheridan said as the cork popped off and the champagne breathed and spilled out a little. "Glasses!"
"Here," Kay giggled. "Theresa, take that one. Poe, for you. This one's mine. And Sheridan you've got yours?"
"All set. What should we toast to?"
"Success?" Theresa said.
"The future?" Kay pondered.
"I don't know," Poe admitted.
"I know," Sheridan raised her glass. "To the need for drink and music."
"Cheers," Theresa said.
"Salute," Kay contributed.
"Chin-chin," Poe said.
"And to us," Sheridan said.
The glasses clinked lightly. "To happiness for each of us, and our children."
"Speaking of," Sheridan finished her drink. "We should go up and start getting them ready. That way we might have time to get ourselves ready."
Paloma laughed. "That would really be a miracle. I'm just going to go over the stock of liquor one more time. Can't be too careful. I'll be up in ten minutes"
"Okay," Theresa said. "I'll start getting Alex ready for you."
"Thanks T."
"Sure."
Paloma ran her eyes over the labels of the bottles. She might have overstocked, but just for tonight she'd rather over do it than run out. It was a critical time for the club. With the spread in the paper, and the anniversary, they would be under close scrutiny. She wasn't about to mess up something they'd worked so hard on.
She cleaned up the glasses and put the champagne back under the bar before she too headed up to change.
HR
"We're what?"
"You're gonna be with the kitchen staff for the night," Hank said to his nephew.
"You're coming through for us?"
"Yeah and if you ever tell them it was me, I'll break something off that you may want later on in life."
"How crowded is it going to be?"
"It should be quite the scene. By the way, don't go near any corner tables with a redhead and five children sitting at it."
"The kids will be there?" Ethan sounded almost hungry.
"Ethan, if you make a move towards them you'll be removed from the premises. Theresa invited most of the firehouse and some of the local police station."
"I'll be good. I have some self-control. I'm not sure I can vouch for Luis."
The men looked at the door of the bedroom where Luis was sulking. He was refusing to talk to Hank for keeping the girls' secrets.
"Good," Hank checked his watch. "Okay, I'm outta here. See you boys later."
"Hey, what did they think of the newspaper?" Miguel asked.
"They loved it. Bye," Hank left, and slammed the door behind him. Luis slouched in after his one time best friend had gone.
"He's pissed at us, isn't he?"
"Just a little." Miguel confirmed.
"Well, at least we'll be there," Sam pointed out.
Miguel nodded. "But what do we do once we're there? Do we have a plan?"
"Get them alone on our own."
"We're just supposed to waltz them from the middle of a crowded club to a secluded place quiet enough to talk, quite possibly against their wills, while security, half a firehouse, and an ex-con who is loyal only to the McKay-Soltinis watch?"
"I didn't say it would be easy."
"Ok, someone creates a distraction. Our girls are fairly hands-on, especially when managing this club, so they come over to check it out and we talk to them then?" Ethan improvised.
"I like that better." Miguel agreed.
"How do you suppose we keep them from throwing us out once they see who we are?" Sam asked.
"Create the distraction in the kitchen? Then into the pantry? Would that work?"
"Better."
"But how to keep them from grabbing a sharp object? The kitchen's full of them." Sam pointed out. "And, as you said, these young ladies are a bit hands- on."
"We follow them," Luis spoke. "We wait for them to go to a part of the club that's not populated and we pull them aside."
"Like there's going to be any part of the club that isn't populated tonight. Did you see the list the paper printed of the expected celebs?"
"Bathrooms, the hallways to the office and kitchen might be less crowded."
"Forget bathrooms. Hallways around offices are better, but there is the issue of getting to them."
"We're new. We get lost."
"Wait, are we cooks or waiters?'
"Waiters."
"OK, then we have options." Sam agreed. "Hallway near the offices sounds best."
"Okay then. Let's get going."
"We should change into the uniforms before we get there."
"I know."
"Maybe we could even hide before they come downstairs."
"That's a good idea."
"Let's get ready."
HR
"Emma, honestly, this wouldn't hurt if you would hold still."
Emma's little face screwed up in a look of rebellion that was kinda adorable. "Don't wanna."
Her mother sighed. "You can't go to the party with half your head braided and the other half unbrushed." She coaxed.
"Okay," Emma grudgingly agreed. "You look pretty."
"Thank you. So do you."
"Thank you," she said shyly. "And thank you for letting me go to the party tonight."
"You're welcome." Theresa eyed Emma. "You know the rules though. Stay with your brother and cousins at the table."
She nodded. "I will. I promise."
"Thank you." Theresa hugged her tightly. "Now let's go show off how pretty we look, and hope your brother's tie hasn't strangled him."
"It's a clip on." Emma looked confused.
"Yes but he's like most men in our family. He hates all ties."
"Alex doesn't hate ties as much as Ethan."
"I know," Theresa said. "Let's get going. I bet we're the last ones to be ready."
"I thought you said Aunt Sheridan always--"
Theresa put a hand over her daughter's mouth. "Oh hush." She teased.
Emma giggled and she and Theresa went out to join the others.
HR
It was about an hour into the party when Ethan saw his opportunity to get Theresa alone. She was heading for the back to take a breather. He followed her at a distance. When she stopped to adjust her dress he grabbed her from behind and dragged her into an office.
"What the-" she spun around once he'd turned her loose. "You!"
"You aren't very good at answering phone calls or emails." He said darkly.
"How did you get in here?"
"Does it matter?"
"I'm gonna fire whoever let you past the front door, so yeah."
"I didn't come in the front."
She looked at his clothes. "Where'd you get that uniform?"
"Costume shop."
"Liar."
"Interesting insult from you."
"Bite me."
"I'd rather discuss a very interesting photo spread."
"You leave them alone. You don't come near them, you understand? You lost that right a long time ago."
"You can't lose a right, Theresa. It can be denied to you, or seized, but not lost."
She opened her mouth to protest, but before she said a word, he continued. "Do you know what you have done is called? Kidnapping, Theresa. You kidnapped our children."
"I thought they weren't yours."
Ethan flinched. He regretted a lot of things between himself and Theresa, but that was what kept him up at nights. He'd denied being their father.
"No quick retort Ethan?"
"We both screwed up Theresa." He said. "I'll be the first to say it. But I think momentary anger and denial pales next to leaving town without a forwarding address."
"You wanted nothing to do with me or Ethan. You don't have any room to tell me what I did was wrong."
"Christ, Theresa." He said. "When did you turn into my mother?"
She slapped his face practically as the words left his mouth.
He rubbed his cheek, and shook his head. "You, know that could be billed as assault. If I were like Julian or Alistair, I would use this and the kidnapping to prove that you're violent and unstable." Fury washed over Theresa. Ethan continued, "But I don't really believe that, and I don't want to do that. But I really don't want to look at Ethan twenty years down the road and know what it feels like to be in Sam's shoes. Would you do that to me? Leave me to face my grown son, and not know a thing about him? More importantly, would you do that to your son? And please don't forget our daughter. I have never seen her face, Theresa."
"Ethan-" She was interrupted by a beeping sound. She quickly found the noisy object lifted it to see who was paging her. "Shoot." She picked up the phone and dialed. "Max? It's Theresa. What's up?"
"Oh God. Yeah okay. I'll hitch a ride with someone. I assume you paged most of the people here."
"No, no one's had more then a beer yet. It's too early. Okay. Bye." She hung up and looked at Ethan. "This is gonna have to wait till later. I have to go."
"Go where?" He asked as she sailed out the door.
"Work. A building just collapsed."
"When you come back, we will continue this discussion." Ethan promised. "Be careful?"
But she was gone.
HR
"Sheridan?" Theresa found her. "I gotta go."
"I figured. I just saw most of the guys leave. What happened?"
"A building that was set for demolition just came down. Max thinks one of the detonators went off by accident. There are some people inside," she pulled her jacket on.
"Be careful," Sheridan hugged her.
"I will. Tell Poe I'm sorry to do this."
"She knows." Sheridan told her, as she quickly pressed a kiss to Theresa's cheek. "We all know. Do you want to leave your shoes here? You always complain that they're never the same if they stay in your locker overnight."
"Yeah," she took them off. "I think you might wanna get someone to open up the clinic. If the casualties are what Max thinks they are the local ER's are gonna overflow and we're gonna need somewhere else to take them."
"Your sister's gonna throw a fit that she can't help tonight." Sheridan acknowledged. "I'll be down there in about twenty minutes."
"Alright and don't do it by yourself. Call Dr. Walters."
"Don't have to. He's here tonight."
"Poe is going to throw a fit. We're taking most of the party."
"She'll understand. Go before you have to take the bus to the house."
"Bye," Theresa said as she ran after some of the guys.
"Bye," Sheridan said as she went the other way. "Kay? I have to go," she said when she found her.
"Same reason most of the firehouse is leaving?"
"'Fraid so."
"Need an extra hand?"
"Poe will kill us if we leave her to do everything."
"She's gonna kill us anyway. Most of the party just left."
"What is going on?" Paloma asked as she walked up.
"Building came down."
"Dammit. Go, both of you. I'll get Cole to help and then I'll leave him and Hank in charge and see you at the clinic."
"Paloma, you put so much into this. One of the hostesses has to be here, it's our trademark." Kay protested
"I think you guys will need me more."
"If we get in over our heads, we'll call. Promise. Right now, we should go change," Sheridan said.
"Good idea. Hey, take the kids up with you."
"It's 9:30. They should already be up."
She blushed. "They begged."
"You're such a softy."
"Yeah," Paloma nodded. "Go!"
Kay and Sheridan disappeared just as Miguel appeared behind Paloma.
"Hey little sister," he said quietly.
Her eyes widened. "When did--what are--do they know?"
"Theresa does I think. I'm not sure if Ethan got her alone but he looked less agitated last time I saw him."
"You need to leave. Now."
"What, along with the rest of the party?"
"Work called." Paloma said. "Saving lives is a bit more important than a party, don't you think?"
"Saving lives?"
"A building came down. Our big sister is a paramedic. Connect the dots."
"She does that and this? Why?" Miguel asked.
"Because she is not quite as cruel or cold-hearted as some people like to pretend. If you'll excuse me--"
"Hey, I'm happy to see you too." He said. "I never did anything to you, but I haven't seen you in years. Don't I at least get a smile or a hug?"
Paloma had to smile. She hugged him. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Miguel smiled. "Can I do anything?"
"Kay's gonna kill me. You have a choice. Stay here and handle the party or go down to the clinic and help there. I take it you know CPR?"
"I'm a cop, little one. I know some emergency medicine."
"Kay is definitely going to kill me." She decided. "Go down and ask the doctor what needs to be done. He'll find something for you."
"Okay," Miguel kissed her cheek. "Should I take Sam and Luis with me?"
"What?"
"Sam and Luis are here too. It's an invasion of the past."
She tensed for a second. "Since Kay's already going to string me up, take her father. Leave Luis here. I'll deal with him and prep him for Sheridan."
"Okay," Miguel nodded and went in search of Sam.
Paloma looked around and found her older brother. He was circulating with a tray of drinks and had just been stopped by Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley. She waited till he passed them by and then approached him.
"Hi," she said calmly.
"Hey Paloma." He greeted nonchalantly. "I like your hair long. Haven't seen it in a while, but it looks good."
"Thanks. Sheridan left so you can stop looking for her."
"Where'd she go?" He thrust the tray at her.
"I'm not going to tell you, so keep on going with the free labor. Do me a favor, don't drop anything?"
"Paloma Bridget," Luis started.
"I'm not a child, it doesn't work anymore," she interjected. "Look, you can talk to her later, but you can't upset her."
"I don't want to upset her." He snapped.
"So calm down." She said. "Illogical and irrational behavior really turns her off."
"I am calm," he gritted.
"Really? I'd hate to see you upset if this is calm."
He took a deep breath. "You made your point. Now where is she?"
"She'll be back in a few hours. Until then, paste a smile on, don't start any fights, and watch movie stars get smashed."
"My idea of heaven," he smiled sarcastically.
"Yeah, yeah, just keep going."