a/n - Don't be mad at me. LOL!! I know I keep leaving you with mini-cliffhangers. I'm sorry - it's just the way the chapters seem to end. Keep reading - I can't believe it - it's almost over - maybe 5 chapters left. Don't be blue - when this is done then we'll be on to tons of happy baby stuff with Rali. :) As always - enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Forty-two

Caleb walked back into the room just as Rafe burst in. Caleb looked at his watch.

"Record time, slayer. Record time."

Rafe moved in closer, his hand opening and closing over a stake as he did. "I warned you to leave her alone. I told you if you ever did anything to hurt her I would destroy you. What Caleb? Didn't you believe me?"

Caleb acted bored. "You can't kill me slayer. Why are you even trying?"

"You think I can't. What if your wrong?" Rafe had Caleb stuck in a corner. "What if - oh - I don't know. What if I figured out a way to get rid of you? Do you think I wouldn't jump at the chance? "

"Kill me slayer and Alison raises you poor little child alone. Such a shame the baby would never know it's father.

"Your pretending to be concerned it cute, Caleb. Let me tell you something though," Rafe narrowed his eyes and whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

Caleb sighed and vanished, reappearing behind Rafe. "Neither am I." He said, his voice full of confidence.

Rafe tossed his stake back and forth in his hands. "It never ceases to amaze me. You can't just leave us alone. You constantly feel the need to mess with us. It's getting old, Caleb. Really old."

Caleb couldn't believe he had to go over this again. He spoke slowly, his voice mocking, "All I want is what is mine, slayer. If I had that…"

Rafe cut him off, his voice shaking with anger. "What? You'd leave us alone? I don't believe that. You get your ring - and then what? You'll figure out something else you want and then you won't rest until you get that."

Rafe wanted to scream. He wanted to snap Caleb in two. But he knew Cam was right. He couldn't and still be with Alison. That was the most important thing. It was the only thing that mattered.

Livvie looked on, hidden behind a curtain. She was dying to make herself known - to give Rafe a piece of her mind - but she knew that Caleb would be angry. She couldn't jeopardize his plan. He'd never forgive her if she screwed this up. She just had to sit back and watch the whole thing unfold before her eyes.

Caleb got right into Rafe's face, tired of having this conversation. "If you're not happy Rafe - it's not because of me. I want what belongs to ME. Why don't you get that? Little Abigail has my ring and she won't return it to me. I asked her nicely and she still didn't cooperate. She actually told me I could kill her or turn her and she'd still not give in." Caleb nearly laughed then, "She's a tough one - that Abigail. I needed some help reasoning with her - and so I just asked her sister to stop by,"

Rafe's hand went to Caleb's throat - he pounded him into a wall. "You came into my home and threatened her to make her come with you." Rafe's hand tightened around slightly as he continued, his eyes wild. "I've warned you, again and again - leave her alone. Don't go near her, We have a problem here - because until you and I come to an understanding neither one of us will get what we want. I want to live my life with Alison without having to chase down bloodsuckers like you. You want to live a life gnawing on people. It's becoming increasingly clear that you can't do that here. Go away, Caleb. Leave us alone."

Caleb pushed Rafe off him and glared back, hatred and rage pulsing through his veins. "We have a problem then - because I am not going ANYWHERE until I have what is mine."

**************

Alison was near hysterics. She couldn't wake Abby up. She was so pale, her skin felt cool. Alison could see how tired and weak she was. Though she was exhausted herself - she needed to help her sister.

"Oh my God. Please. Abby. C'mon sweetie. Wake up. Talk to me. Please." Tears flooded down Alison's cheeks. "Please." Alison pleaded, tilting her face to look up at the ceiling. "Don't take her from me. Not now. I just found her. Please."

She turned her attention to Abby again. Shaking her gently over and over. "Abby. Abby. C'mon."

Her heart soared, it looked for a moment like Abby was trying to wake up. Her lips began to move.

Alison fought to get her breath and her emotions under control. She was crying so hard she could barely hear what Abby was trying to say.

When she finally realized what it was, Alison began to cry harder. "Cameron." Abby whispered. "I'm coming to find you."

***************

Livvie wasn't the only one lurking in the shadows, watching the exchange between Caleb and Rafe. Cameron stood just outside, waiting for the perfect time to make his move. Caleb was clearly distracted , busy fighting with Rafe. He listened, watched and kept still, wanting to make sure this went exactly the way he and Ed had planned.

"She won't give it back." Rafe promised,

"I won't leave until she does." Caleb countered.

The two men stared at each other, neither one willing to compromise.

Caleb spoke first, His frustration with having to deal with all this was beginning to take it's toll. "Slayer." He nearly sighed. "Even when - and I mean - WHEN I have my ring back - I'm not leaving just because you say so. We've known each other a long time. You know that I don't take orders well. And I never will take orders from you.

Well, Cam thought. This seemed like as good a time as any to take Caleb down.

"Maybe you won't take them from him - but you'll take them from me that's for sure." He said, walking casually into the room.

His arrival, as Cam had hoped, shocked Caleb and took him by surprise. Before Caleb could speak - Cameron figured it was time everyone got together for a little talk.

"Hey Vampira!" Cam called out to Livvie. "You can come out now. No need to hide in the drapes. I know you're here."

Livvie came slinking out from behind the heavy drapes and plastered herself to Caleb's side. Caleb gently pushed her behind him to protect her from whatever was coming.

"Who the hell are you? Rafe - the preppy version?" Caleb asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he sized Cam up. He didn't seem at all concerned as he continued on. "Oh. Wait. I get it now. How cute. You're Abby's knight in shining armor."

"Good guess Caleb. You're right - I'm here for her, among other things." Cameron replied, chuckling - loving every minute of this. "I'm actually the bearer of some bad news. I hope you're ready - I'm here to give you your ring back."

Pulling the ring from his pocket - Cam began to casually toss it in the air and catch it over and over.

It was the last thing Caleb expected to hear or see. He knew there must be some kind of trick.

He was right.

"But…" Cameron continued as he stopped tossing the ring and stared straight into Caleb's eyes. "TRUST ME - instead of your dreams coming true today - you're about to experience your worst nightmare,"