"Edmund Grey," Edmund said as he picked up the phone in Brooke's office. "No, she didn't get in yet... I will... I'll make sure she gives you a call." The office door swung inward as Edmund hung up the phone.

"Oh, Edmund," Tad said, surprised not to see Brooke in her office.

"Tad," Edmund stood and walked around the desk towards him. "Nice shiner."

"Thanks for noticing. I went twelve rounds with a soccer ball last night."

"Jamie, huh?" Edmund laughed.

"Yeah." He paused. "Brooke didn't get in yet?"

"No," Edmund said. "I haven't seen her since yesterday afternoon. She didn't seem like herself..."

"She has a lot on her mind." Tad paused. "Could you do me a favor and tell her to give me a call when she gets in?"

"Sure," Edmund said.

"Thanks." Tad turned and left the office. He walked out to his car. As Tad began driving, he decided that he should check in on Brooke. Driving down an extra two blocks and making a right, he pulled into the driveway.

Tad walked up to the front door and began knocking. "Brooke!" he called. "Brooke! I know you're in there." He knocked on the door again. "Come on, Brooke, open up!" He waited. "Are you OK in there? Brooke!" Tad continued knocking. He stepped back as the front door opened. Brooke stood in the doorway, a bit disheveled. "What the hell happened to you?" Tad asked as Brooke moved aside to let him enter.

Brooke tried to flatten out her hair as she shut the door. She walked over to the sofa and took a seat, throwing her feet up.

"You're drunk," Tad said.

"I wish." Brooke moved her feet so that Tad could sit. "I assure you, Tad. Not a drop of alcohol has passed these lips."

"Then what's up, Brooke?" Tad asked. She brought her hands up and rubbed her eyes as Tad leaned forward, grabbing a plaque off of the small table in front of them. "For journalistic excellence." He read the inscription. "I thought the award went down with the plane."

"It did. That's a duplicate they sent a few months later."

Tad placed the award back down and took her hands. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" he asked. "Why are you digging up the past? Just leave it there."

"I can't do that," Brooke said.

"Yes. Yes you can. If this award is driving you nuts, Brooke, pack it away. Throw it in a box and put it in storage."

Brooke laughed softly. "You think that'll make everything miraculously better?"

"It's a start, don't you think?" Tad said. "Out of sight, out of mind."

Brooke stood and walked away from the sofa. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Tad looked at her silently for a moment, before the point that she was making clicked in his mind. He stood and walked over to her. "You do know that I meant the award, not the magazine?"

"Tempo is at the core of this," Brooke explained. "Get rid of Tempo, get rid of the problem."

"No. Get rid of Tempo, create a larger problem." Tad shook his head, placing his hands on Brooke's arms. "All of the people out of jobs...Edmund's... you can't move on anything without him, right?"

"It's not just this award," Brooke said. "My heart just isn't in it anymore."

"Sure it is," Tad said. "I've never known you to give up on anything that meant so much to you. And Tempo means a lot. Believe me, I know."

"And how's that?"

"I've seen you at work. I've seen the... the amount of passion that you pour into it. The only time I've ever seen you more devoted is with Jamie." Tad released his grasp on her arms. "I know that right now is a really hard time for you, Brooke. But you need to know that I'll be there for you through all of it. Anyway, anywhere, anyhow, I'm here. Alright?"

Brooke nodded as Tad pulled her into an embrace. He brought his right hand up and rested it on the back of her head, combing his fingers down through her hair, before coming to a stop at the back of her neck.

Brooke slowly pulled away, tilting her head back and looking Tad in the eyes. He looked down at her as her arms moved up and her fingers locked behind his neck. Slowly, she pulled his head down, her lips finding their way to his.

Tad's eyebrows raised as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled away, briefly. "What are we doing?" he asked as he rested his head on hers.

Brooke just shook her head, pulling him back down to her. It was almost as if nothing else mattered. The rest of the world and all of their troubles just disappeared as they lost themselves in eachother's arms.