Chapter Two

Theresa and Whitney sit nervously waiting for Eve.
Whitney: Are you sure you don't want me to go in there with you?
Theresa: Yes, I'm sure. I mean, this could be nothing, let's not over react to much.
Theresa says smiling trying to convince herself there truly is no reason to worry.
Whitney nods and smiles supportively.
Whitney: You know I was thinking maybe we are all completely wrong. I mean, could you be pregnant? Maybe you're just having a difficult pregnancy.
Theresa considers this.
Theresa: You know, aside from the blood in my urine I haven't had a period in over a month so maybe that's it. I figured it was just stress, and the last few days I thought it was due to whatever was wrong with me. Maybe I am.
Theresa touched her stomach lightly and wonders. Her and Ethan had talked several times about having more children, and she would love to give Maria a sister.
Whitney: Well, well maybe that's it. Maybe all this fuss is for nothing.
Theresa shakes her head sadly.
Theresa: I doubt it. All three of my pregnancy's have been pretty identical. This isn't like them. And even if I am pregnant given the blood, and the pain something is obviously wrong.
Whitney nods squeezing Theresa's hand supportively.
Whitney: Well, my Mom is a pro at dealing with problem pregnancy's. Remember how I started to go into labor three months early with CJ?
Theresa nods.
Theresa: That was so scary.
Whitney: Yeah I was terrified. But my Mom managed to get me to my 36 week, so CJ was basically fine. I'm sure if this is just a problematic pregnancy she can help.
Theresa smiles.
Theresa: I hope you're right. I hope that's all it is and that you're Mom can help.
Whitney smiles supportively.
Whitney: I'm sure it is, come on now let's think positive.
Theresa half laughs at her friend.
Theresa: Aren't the roles a little reversed here? Aren't I the one always telling you that.
They both start laughing.
Whitney: Well, that's what friendship is about you know? Give and take.
Theresa nods in agreement and the two old friends hug. Just then a nurse peeks her head out.
Nurse: Mrs. Bennett?
Theresa turns to the nurse.
Theresa: Yes?
Nurse: Dr. Russell will see you now.
Theresa smiles bravely and nods.
Theresa: Okay.
Whitney: I'm sure everything is fine.
Theresa nods they hug again and Theresa fallows the nurse back into an exam room.
Whitney looks to heaven and says a prayer with tears of worry in her eyes.
Whitney: Please let her be all right, please just let her be all right.
Charity looks at her watch as she makes a mid morning snack for the kids. She sighs and shakes her head then reaches for the phone and makes a call.
Luis: Officer Lopez-Fitzgareld speaking.
Charity: Hi Luis, it's Charity.
Luis: Hey Charity what's going on?
Charity: I hate to worry you but Miguel never came home last night. I mean, lately when he gets waisted and doesn't come home he is back by the time I'm getting Angel on the bus. But today ... he's not back yet. I'm just getting worried.
Luis slams his fist down on the desk in frustration. Things with his brother have been on a down word spiral for a while now. He just hasn't figured out what it was or how to stop it.
Luis: Thanks for letting me know Charity, I'll get right on it.
Charity: Thank you. I'm not sensing anything terrible has happened I'm just worried about why he hasn't shown up.
Luis: I understand. I'll call you as soon as I have some information. And call me if he shows up.
Charity: Okay, I will. Thanks again.
She hangs up and wipes the tears from her cheek and then feeling a tug on her pants. She looks down and sees little MJ starring back at her with his fathers eyes.
MJ: What wrong Mommy? Why you crying?
Charity bends down and picks up him lovingly and hugs him tightly and gives him a light kiss on the cheek.
Charity: Mommy just gets sad sometimes sweetheart, don't worry.
She hugs him again and prays Miguel will come home soon.
Back at the station Luis is busy putting an APB out on his brother when Sam walks over.
Sam: Miguel didn't come home again huh?
Luis shakes his head sadly.
Luis: Miguel has been staying out a lot lately but he's always home by the time Charity gets Angel off to school. Today he's still a no show.
Sam shakes his head and sighs.
Sam: I don't know what is the matter with him. He always seemed like such a together guy and then out of the blue he just started drinking, and now...
Luis: Yeah, I know. I've been trying to get through to him for ages. But he won't talk to me. Seems like seeing me only makes him angrier and want to drink more for some reason.
Sam: Yeah, he won't talk to anyone. Everyone I know has tried to talk to him and he just pushes them away or gets mad. Then goes out and drinks himself into unconsciousness.
Luis nods.
Luis: He's on his fourth job this year and considering he hasn't made it in once in four days he'll probably be losing that soon.
Sam nods
Sam: If there is anything I can do to help let me know okay?
Luis: Yeah, thanks. I'm not sure there is anything anyone can do. Miguel seems bound and determined to destroy himself.
Luis sadly glances over to a picture of him and his siblings taken years ago. Before Miguel started drinking. Miguel looks so happy so alive so full of promise. Not like the drunken, angry, bitter man Luis now sees him as.

Over at Kay's house it has started to rain so all the kids are playing inside. Kay is trying to comfort a cranky Anita and make a snack for the other children as they all play loudly in the house. Suddenly the phone rings. Kay grabs it quickly.
Kay: Hello?
All Kay can hear is heavy breathing.
Kay: Hello? Is anyone there?
A muffled voice finally replies.
Voice: I know you want me.
Kay is startled and jumps a little
Kay: Who is this? Luis, are you playing some kind of game?
Voice: I'm better then him and you know it.
Kay slams down the phone frightened and takes a few deep breaths. Anita whimpers. Kay pats her on the back reassuringly and sways with her a bit.
Kay: It's okay baby, it's okay. It was just a prank caller that's all.
Kay looks at the phone and shivers unable to shake the scared feeling she has.

Eve examens a visibly nervous Theresa.
Eve: Try and relax Theresa, okay?
Theresa smiles and nods.
Theresa: I'll try. Whitney, Kay and I have been talking about what could be wrong so much, I guess I'm just really on edge.
Eve: Well, try to relax now and I'll see if I can find out what's going on so you don't have to make yourself crazy worrying anymore.
Eve smiles warmly at Theresa. Theresa nods.
Eve: Is anyone here with you?
Theresa: Whitney is. She came for moral support. And my super hero sister in law Kay is taking care of all of the kids today.
Eve laughs.
Eve: Well, I think you're going to owe her after that.
Theresa laughs a little.
Theresa: No kidding.
Eve: Okay. I'm done. Now, get dressed and go out into the waiting room while I review what I've found.
Theresa becomes worried again.
Theresa: Is there something wrong?
Eve evades this and takes Theresa's hand.
Eve: Theresa, I just want to go over a few things and then I will tell you everything. Now go wait with Whitney and I'll call you back to my office when I'm done, okay?
Theresa nods trying not to worry and heads out. After the door shuts Eve looks down at the chart and sighs then shakes her head.
Eve: Oh, Theresa, I really hope I'm wrong about this.
Eve goes to her office and makes a call.

Officer Shormin walks down the wharf when he spots a man sitting in the phone booth looking passed out. The phone receiver dangling by his head. He walks closer and sees who it is. He checks the young man to see if he's breathing and gets swatted away. The man never opens his eyes. Officer Shormin sighs and shakes his head. Then makes a call.
Luis: Officer Lopez-Fitzgareld.
Officer Shormin: Hey Luis it's Jake. Listen, I found your brother. He's passed out drunk sitting in a phone booth.
Luis shakes his head and mutters to himself.
Luis: Better a phone booth then a dumpster I guess.
Officer Shormin: What?
Luis: Oh thanks Jake. Can you handle getting him home?
Officer Shormin: Yeah, yeah no problem Luis. Bob's not to far back we'll get him in the squad car and just take him home. His wife is there right?
Luis: Yeah, she is. I'll call her and tell her to be expecting you. I know she'll be relieved.
Officer Shormin: Okay no problem. The address is 345 Dellwind Drive. Right?
Luis: Yeah, you got it. Thanks again.
Officer Shormin: Any time man.
They hang up and Luis calls Charity.
Charity: Hello?
Luis: Hey Charity it's Luis.
Charity: Oh, Luis, have you found Miguel?
Luis: Yeah, a buddy of mine found him passed out in a phone booth. He was probably trying to call you or something.
Charity nods as she sighs with relief.
Charity: Thank you. Do I need to come pick him up?
Luis: No my buddy is bringing him to your place right now.
Charity: Oh thank you so much. You are the best.
Luis: Anytime. I'll talk to you later. Take care.
Charity: You too. Bye Luis.
Luis: Bye.
They hang up.

Ethan has been unsuccessfully trying to work for hours but he can't keep his mind on his work. Something has been off for a couple weeks with Theresa but he doesn't know what. At first he thought it wasn't anything major but the last few days he's noticed Theresa looking less then healthy. Ethan sighs and picks up the phone to call her. As he listens the phone rings and rings and rings. Normally Ethan wouldn't worry, he'd just assume they were all out at the park or running arrends. But for some reason he feels a strange dread come over him as he listens to the phone ring and ring.

Back at Charity and Miguel's Charity suddenly has a wave of sadness come over and feels her stomach go in knots. She sits down trying to breath through the premonition as she sees Ethan standing in a church sobbing uncontrollably. She feels loss every where.
As Angel colors with a friend in her kindergarten class she suddenly shivers as she feels an ominous wind and can hear someone crying. Angel whimpers and wipes her eyes unsure of what it means.

At the hospital Whitney and Theresa sit waiting for Eve to finnish looking over what she's found.
Theresa: Why do you think she wanted to look it over first? I mean, if it wasn't bad would she really need to do that?
Whitney takes a deep breath trying to force down her mounting fear.
Whitney: Mom is very thorough. She likes giving people a very accurate and clear picture of what's going on and information about it. I'm...I'm sure she just wants to make sure she hasn't missed anything and will be able to tell you very clearly what's going on. But...but that doesn't mean anything is wrong. It could be something very simple, really.
Just then a nurse sticks her head out.
Nurse: Mrs. Bennett, Dr. Russell would like to see you in her office and Mrs. Harris she asked that you come back as well.
Whitney and Theresa look at each other a tad surprised but nod and both stand as they walk back there they instinctively grab hold of one another's hands. When they walk into Eve's office she looks up at them with a very enigmatic look. But Whitney knowing her mother sees a sadness and worry in her eyes and shivers. They sit down and look across the desk at Eve. Theresa takes a deep breath.
Theresa: So, Dr. Russell what's...what's going on?