Few Notes: First off a tiny bit of cursing in this chapter, not much. Thanks again for all the reviews, it helps a lot! Hope ths chapter is up to par! I had to do something during all this insaity of today. My thoughs and prayers go out to the families and friends of those lost on Columbia.







"I want you to sign these papers Julie. It's in your best interest." Alex stated firmly.

"I'm not signing anything." Julie said staring directly at her brother. He narrowed his eyes a bit and smiled slightly.

"You have no choice in this Julie."

"Actually I have all the choices in the world. If I need to sign that I will."

"Good Girl." Her mother began

"After my lawyer has looked threw everything." Julie interrupted her.

"What lawyer? Don't tell me you mean that pathetic ex coach of yours." Alex smirked.

"No actually I meant someone else." Julie stopped a moment then smiled. "I think you might know him Alex. You did go to university with him after all. Course you always treated him like crap and dismissed him as no threat what so ever. You never have been the smartest cookie."

"Just what are you talking about Julie." Her mother asked noticing the color that had crossed her son's face.

"Why don't you ask Alex? I'm sure he'd love to tell you all about his hate for Daniel."

Her brother erupted at that point and tossed the chair backward into the wall and headed around the desk towards her. He grabbed her up by the arm and held her firmly while yelling.

"Damnit Julie, you will sign these papers and that is final. You don't have father here to shield you anymore, and Daniel is nothing. You're all alone now you get that? No one cares what happens to you, so shut up and sign the papers."

"Your out of line Alexander. And wrong as usual."

Alex shifted his gaze from his sister to the door; he slowly let go of Julie but not because of the words his grandfather had said. The reason was the imposing man standing at his side looking very much like he'd like to rip him apart. Julie jerked away from him and walked over to her grandfather, he hugged her then whispered softly.

"You go with your friend here, I'll take care of this angel." He patted her arms softly and pushed her towards the door.

"Are you sure?" She asked a bit shaky.

He nodded and she looked at Portman with a strange look on her face and then walked on out the door with him behind her. She walked slowly across the hall and into the library and sat down on a sofa inside. He sat beside her but didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"This is only going to get worse. Something more is going on here, but what?" She said in a bewildered state. "If they just want the money they can have it, I don't care." She stopped then added. "Then again I do, my father worked hard for it, I'm not saying I deserve it but they certainly don't!" She finished strongly and looked over at him. She smiled meekly.

"I'm sorry this isn't your problem I shouldn't dump it on you."

"It is my problem Jules, it involves you doesn't it?" He spoke softly then quickly added. "You're my teammate after all you know. Gotta stick together."

She smiled. "Yep we are. Thanks. By the way, hum how did you and my grandfather end up outside the door?"

"Oh that. Well I noticed how annoyed you were when you left the dining room so I sort of followed you and was listening at the door when your grandfather showed up and we found out we had a common problem." He smiled and they laughed.

"Well it's nice to know I have my own personal security team." She smirked and he gave her a look then smiled himself. She turned and reached for the phone sitting on the table beside them and dialed a number quickly. She waited a minute then spoke.

"Daniel it's just Julie, I have a developing problem so humm help! I think you know the two who are behind it." She hung the phone up and sat back on the sofa.

"So who's Daniel?"

Julie turned her head and glanced at him. "He's someone I've more or less grown up with. His father managed the racing stable so they lived on the estate. He's always been really nice and liked by everyone, which caused Alex to hate him. Especially since he's smarter then Alex, married the girl Alex wanted but couldn't have and I've always called Daniel my real big brother. He's great, he really is."

"That's cool. So I guess he'll have fun taking care of this?"

"Oh yeah, he will have a field day. I spoke to him the morning I got here, something was going on even then but he wouldn't get into it with me. Just said he'd stop by and visit me when everything was tied up and calmer. Was strange really, he told me to stay put no matter what they said or did but to call him if they started up real bad. It's like something huge is about to take place and he knows it, but won't tell me for my own good or something." She paused, "Does that make any sense Dean?

He smiled, "Yes it makes sense, and you called me Dean."

She looked funny at him a moment then got a look of amazement on her face. "Oh. Yeah. I did didn't I?" She giggled. "I'm sorry I didn't even realize I'd said that."

"It's fine Jules, I don't care if you call me by my name." He shrugged.

"Well it is your name after all!"

"Long as my middle name is kept out of this we'll have no problems." He smiled.

She raised an eyebrow at him and sat up."What is your middle name anyway?"

"Don't even cat lady." He shook his head and noticed that devilish gleam in her eyes.

"I'll find out you know, I find out everything. And besides why would you care? After all you are someone who stripped down and did a rather interesting dance in the penalty box in high school, did you forget that?" She smiled.

"No I didn't forget that. In fact I seem to remember everyone rather enjoyed my dancing moment, yourself included."

She slightly blushed then regained herself. "Of course I did, it annoyed the crap out of the seniors! How could I not love that?"

"Even if it meant bothering scooter?" He asked quickly.

She shot him a look."Yes even if it did. You know it was just a kiss on the cheek it's not like I fell in love with him or had some massive affair with him! Gezz you guys never let me forget that stuff!" She huffed and got up. He jumped up and followed her out the door and fell into step beside her.

"Come on Jules, we all know you wuvvvvv him." He taunted. She turned and gave him a major glare then popped him on the shoulder.

"Shut it bash boy, unless you'd like me to beat you down right here right now and live with knowing a girl kicked your ass." She smirked.

He got this mock hurt look on his face. "Please, Please don't hurt me!" She punched him again laughing and laughed harder when he fell and acted injured.

"You're such a moron!" She smiled looking down at him. He smiled up at her.

"Yeah I am. But if it means you're laughing cause I'm being a fool then I'll keep doing it." She shook her head at him.

"I always did want a court jester." She smiled, and got a glare from him.

"Now look here.." he started to speak.

At that moment loud voices reached their ears from behind and they both turned serious as the door flew open and her brother stormed out and charged past them. He stopped and turned around. He started back towards them and Portman got to his feet quickly. He stopped and stared at him a moment then glared at Julie.

"You are nothing but an accident Julie. Nothing but a huge mistake." He spouted out and turned around. Her mother walked by hearing the comments and whether it was intended for her to hear or not she heard it all the same.

"Isn't that the truth." Her mother had mumbled as she walked past Julie.

Julie stood there and fully flinched when she heard those words. She always knew her mother never really wanted her, but at that moment it all seem to come to a point. She closed her eyes and even though she tried not to, a tear escaped. Portman was still glaring at her brother's back when he heard a soft sniffle. He looked back at her noticing the tear as it fell, he placed his hand on her shoulder for a moment and she seem to calm herself. She opened her eyes again and looked up at him thanking him without saying a word. He tossed his arm around her softly and led her back upstairs.

"I think you need a major dose of Ducks fun." He said with a smile.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I guess. I'd rather just crawl in bed and cover my head. Maybe all this would just go away."

"Nope you need Ducks, trust me." She looked at him and rolled her eyes and slightly smiled.

They came back into her sitting room where everyone had returned to after dinner. They all noticed the strain on her face and the way Portman was acting, but none asked.

"Ok guys, we have an emergency here." Portman stated leaving Julie's side and walking to stand before the TV.

"TV! Blocking TV!"Averman sobbed out, he received a glare and forced a laughed and mumbled an apology.

"Julie needs a major helping of some fun, Ducks style."

They all smiled and Julie knew she was in for a very long night.

"So what exactly do you guys propose we do?" She asked looking around. "There isn't much to do around these parts, we are too far out to drive to Bangor."

Goldberg got up and walked over to her pulling her towards the door with everyone else close behind.

"We're Ducks Jules! We make our own fun remember?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her. She widened her eyes then stated shaking her head.

"This could be dangerous."