Chapter 15

Sam is in the evidence room looking through somethings. He hangrily shuves a box against the wall.
Sam: Damn it!
He leaves the room slamming the door behind him and stalks back to his desk. Hank is there getting some coffee. He sees his brothers mood and worries.
Hank: Hey man, whare's the fire?
Sam sighs as he sits down and shakes his head.
Sam: I think one of my men has gone bad.
Hank: Whoa what do you mean? What happened?
Sam: Well, just recently we busted a major drug dealer. Now, he was selling all kinds of stuff. Hairoin, cocain, and marijuana.
Hank: Good thing you got that guy off the street.
Sam nods.
Sam: Yeah, Harmony is deffinetely resting easier now.
Hank: But what does this have to do with one of your men going bad?
Sam: A huge portion of the marijuana is gone.
Hank takes a deep breath remembering the bulging back pack of Luis's and how nervous he was acting.
Hank: Was anything else taken?
Sam scraches his head.
Sam: No. That's, that's actually the strange part. If someone is a dealer they'd be taking all of it or at least the more dangerous and expensive stuff. And if he's a user, well marijuana isn't the type of drug people generaly steel to get. Some say it's addictive but it's not a hard drug. In fact a huge group of people are trying to leagilize it to help people with cancer not suffer so much.
A light goes off in Hank's head as he puts it all together.
Sam: But regardless someone took it and now I have to find out who and deal with it.
Sam grabs the phone but Hank puts his hand over the numbers before he can dial.
Hank: Sam, you'd better not do that until you hear me out or you may really regret making that call.
Chad and Whitney get all the kids home and find Whitney busy in the kitchen making dinner.
Whitney: Oh, Simone, you didn't have to do this.
Simone: Hey, you've been over at Theresa's most of the afternoon, cleaning, cooking, fixing things and helping Ethan care for Theresa and the kids. I figured the last thing you needed was to have to come home and make dinner.
Whitney smiles with tears in her eyes.
Whitney: Thank you Simone that's so sweet of you.
The sisters hug.
Chad: Yeah, Simone, that's really cool of you.
Simone: No problem. So listen why don't you two go upstairs and rest and I'll let you guys know when dinner is ready okay?
Whitney: I could use a rest.
Chad: Considering you're four months pregnant I'd say so. You have to take care of yourself to babe.
Whitney smiles
Whitney: Yes, sir, Mr. pregnancy police.
They all laugh.
Simone: Does he always act like that when you're pregnant.
Whitney: Oh you haven't seen anything yet. Just wait untill I really start to show. He constantly talks to the baby, kisses my stomach, even asks the baby questions.
Simone: You're kidding!
Whitney: No, he will ask the baby a question like are you hungry and if the baby kicks he'll make me eat something.
Simone laughs as Chad blushes.
Chad: Hey, I like taking care of my kids, okay?
They all laugh
Whitney: And that's one of the many things I love about you.
She kisses him lightly. Then suddenly jumps and puts her hand to her stomach.
Whitney: Oh!
Chad and Simone become alarmed.
Chad: What is it Whit? Is it the baby? Should I call your Mom?
Simone: Maybe you should sit down.
Simone grabs a kitchen chair.
Whitney: No, no. It's fine relax, it's fine.
A huge smile spreads across her face as tears fill her eyes.
Whitney: The baby just moved for the first time.
Chad: It moved?
Whitney nods happily as Chad puts his hand to her stomach.
Simone: What...what does that feel like?
Whitney: Kind of like gass bubbles right now. But as the baby gets older it will feel more like I'm a drum being played from the inside.
Whitney turns back to Chad who still has his hand on her stomach.
Whitney: Oh Chad, this is such a miracle. This baby, it's...it's reminding me how miraculous life truly is. I...I mean, we never planned it but here it is. And...and it's it's just such a miracle.
Chad puts his arm around her sensing what she's thinking and smiles at her encouragingly
Chad: So maybe we are in store for another miracle, you think?
Whitney: I really hope so. All I know right now is this baby is the best thing that could have happened right now. I love you so much, I love our kids, and I love this new little one and all the hope it represents.
They hug tightly as Simone watches happy for her sister.

Ethan and Luis watch Theresa sleep peacefully for the first time in days.
Ethan: It is so nice to actually see her resting. She really hasn't been able to, you know?
Luis nods
Luis: Yeah, she's been in so much pain, how could she?
Ethan nods
Ethan: This was a great idea Luis. I know you really went out on a limb and I'm very grateful to you, we both our.
Luis: Theresa is my kid sister I'll do anything for her.
Ethan nods
Ethan: Well, all the same you really put your neck out there and I want you to know if you get in any trouble I'll defend you.
Luis smiles
Luis: Thanks.
Ethan: So did you do this for Sheridan?
Luis nods and blushes.
Luis: I had to you know? I just couldn't stand seeing her in so much pain. I didn't actually use the evidence room though. Remember Fox was living here at the time?
Ethan: Yeah, but what does he have to do with this?
Luis: He got me the marijuana. If he still lived here I would've just gone back to him, but he doesn't so I had to use the evidence room.
Ethan is surprised by this turn of events.
Ethan: Fox actually helped you and Sheridan out?
Luis: He's not such a bad guy Ethan. He's just really misunderstood. Sheridan told me that she always felt he acted like such a jerk because people expected himi to. I think she might have been right. Because everytime Sheridan or I treated him kindly and with respect he'd jump to help out and be a really decent guy. At any rate he got me what I needed.
Ethan nods and suddenly feels a pang of guilt.
Ethan: I guess I really never did give him a fair chance. You hear enough bad things about someone you just start believing it I guess.
Luis nods
Luis: Makes sense.
Luis glances over to all the bags of marijuana he's brought.
Luis: Listen Ethan, we need to use this sparingly. I don't know for sure if or when I'll be able to get more. So we'll need to only use it when she's in the most extream pain. I know that stinks but we have to make it last.
Ethan nods
Ethan: I understand. And you're right. We have to use it as sparingly as posible. Besides it's not the healthiest thing for her anyway.
Luis nods in agreement.
Luis: But at least for now she's pain free.
Ethan and Luis look at Theresa lovingly.

In New York Fox Crane sits at home on the couch having a drink and relaxing after work. A song plays on his CD player and he smiles as he thinks back to a time long ago in Harmony. He and Theresa sitting in a coffee shop talking. They had become close friends despite Ethan's constant objections. Ethan had told Theresa to stay away from him but she had firmly put her foot down and told Ethan that he couldn't pick her friends. They had been close untill he was offered that job in New York. And then over time they had drifted apart but he'd never forgotten his first true friend. She was the one that taught him what friendship was. She was the first one who truly understood him and cared about him. Not because he was a Crane but because he was her friend. He hadn't wanted to take the job but she had insisted he take it. She wanted him to have a chance to make friends and be happy a chance she feared that the Crane's were making impossible in Harmony, so she had told him in no uncertain terms to leave. He was grateful to her for that. He did have friends and soon he'd even have a wife. Fox's eyes drift to the calender by his desk. It is the aniversary of when he left for New York and the life Theresa so wanted for him. He lifts his glass high.
Fox: To you Theresa, may all your hopes and dreams becoming true.

Whitney sleeps in her bed a smile playing on her face. Suddenly she begins dreaming. She sees herself holding a baby happily in her arms. She's sitting on Theresa's couch and Theresa is sitting next to her. Theresa in her dream has a full head of hair and is holding a new baby of her own.
Theresa: I just know our girls are going to grow up to be best friends.
Whitney wakes up with a start her heart is pounding.
Whitney: Was...was that a sign? Is..is this all going to work out, or was it just wishful thinking? Oh God please let that have been a sign.

Paloma is over at Pilar's visiting.
Pilar: I'm so glad you stopped over Mija.
Paloma: Well, with everyone that was over at Theresa's my presence wasn't really as needed. So, I took the opertunity to come see you. Besides I needed a break.
Pilar nods
Pilar: Yes, it is important to take breaks. It would be unwise to just keep going with out sometime for yourself.
Paloma nods
Paloma: Things have gotten so hard over there. It's nice to be able to just take a breather.
Pilar shakes her head sadly
Pilar: My poor Theresa. She is suffering so.
Paloma nods
Paloma: But Ethan is doing all he can to keep her comfortable and Eve is working so hard to make her well.
Pilar: God bless them. But how are you doing Mija?
Paloma: I'm okay. I miss Juan naturally but we talk several times a week and he understands I need to be here right now.
Pilar: It is never easy being away from those we love.
Paloma looks at her mother with a knew understanding.
Paloma: It must be especially hard for you, Mama. I mean, I can pick up the phone and call Jaun, or aunt Maria anytime I want. But you have no way to even contact Papa, Antonio, or Miguel.
Pilar sighs.
Pilar: No, no, I do not. But, that which does not kill us only makes us stronger. God only gives us what we can deal with.
Paloma: But why so much Mama? Why does he give good people so much to deal with?
Pilar: I do not know, and I have asked myself that very same question over and over. But I suppose it's just Gods will to test the good people of the world. Perhaps one day we shall learn the answer.
Paloma nods
Paloma: Perhaps.
Pilar: I must go check on the laundery, oh but before I forget this letter came here for you today.
Pilar hands Paloma a letter then leaves. Paloma looks at the letter clearly addressed to her but it has no return address.
Paloma: That's odd. Everyone back home knows I'm staying at Theresa's why would they send this here? And why would it have no return address.
She opens it and gasps when she sees who it's from.
Paloma
Hi, it's me your long lost hermano Miguel. I heard you came to town the same night I left. I'm glad Mama has you around. I'm sure your more of a help then I was. I just wanted to say hi and let the family know that I am thinking of Theresa and I hope she recovers. I'm doing fine. In fact I'm doing better then I have in a long time. Getting away was the smartest thing I've ever done. I don't know if I'll ever come back there. But even if I don't you guys will always have my love.
Your Brother
Miguel
Paloma stairs at the letter in shock. She searches the envilope hoping there is some form of return address that she over looked before but there is none. She sighs sadly.
Paloma: Oh, Miguel, please come home.

Over at Charity's house Charity is cleaning up the dinner dishes when she has another vision. She sees Pilar standing in her kitchen. Pilar is lighting candles for Marten, Antonio, and Miguel as she always does. Praying for their safe return. Suddenly the kitchen door flies open and a gust of wind blows through the room. As soon as it's started it's stops. And where there were three burning candles there is now only one and the other two have disapeared completely.

Eve is sitting in her office on the phone with one of the many cancer specialists she's been able to consult with thanks to Julian's money and connections.
Eve: So it is a possibilety? If we can just contain the cancer with in the liver then...? I see, I see. Well, thank you very much. This is great news. Yes, it is deffinetely a long shot. The cancer isn't contained yet and she has a rare blood type but...Exactly. No, no. At this point it's to soon to even suggest it. Yes, thank you very much for calling me back.
Eve hangs up and looks at Theresa's file then picks up the phone and dials a number.
Kay: Hello?
Eve: Oh, hi Kay, is Ethan there?
Kay: He's upstairs with Theresa, do you want me to get him?
Eve: No, no. Just let Ethan know that I want to increase Theresa's chemo treatments from once a week to twice a week.
Kay: Wow that's a lot. Are you sure she can handle it? Her body reacts pretty harshly to it you know?
Eve: Yes, I know, but if we're going to beat this then we must step up the chemo.
Kay nods
Kay: I understand. Okay, I'll tell Ethan.
Eve: Great.Thanks Kay.
Kay: You're welcome.

Ethan and Luis are still sitting with Theresa when she begins waking up.
Theresa: Mmm
Ethan: Hey babe are you still feeling okay?
Theresa is still a little woozy but is coming around.
Theresa: It hurts a little but just bearly. It's okay. The room is spinning a little though.
Luis chuckles.
Luis: That's normal.
Just then there is a knock at the door.
Ethan: Come in.
Sam walks in with an unreadable expression on his face. Luis and Ethan freez looking to the end of the bed which is covered with small bags of marijuana.
Ethan: Uh, Dad, hi, what, what are you doing here?
Luis tries to sutely but quickly get the marijuana out of eye sight as Ethan gets up and goes to Sam trying to block his line of vision.
Sam: Luis stop that, Ethan sit down.
They both exchange a nervous look and then sit on the end of the bed.
Theresa: Sam?
Sam: Yeah, it's me, Theresa. How are you feeling?
Theresa: Better now thanks to Luis and Ethan.
Sam nods
Sam: I'm not surprised.
He then turns his attention back to Ethan and Luis.
Sam: I was in the evidence room today looking over things and there is a huge amount of marijuana missing.
Luis: Sam...
Ethan: Luis don't talk. Dad...
Sam: Both of you listen. Now, I figured someone with keys had to have been the person who took it and I wanted to find out who. I bumped into Hank and he told me something rather interesting.
Luis mutters under his breath.
Luis: Trader.
Ethan: Dad, look, Theresa has been in constant agony, the drugs Eve has given her haven't been working much so...
Sam puts his hands up.
Sam: I don't want to hear this Ethan. I came by for one reason and one reason only. And I want you both to just be quiet and listen.
They nod he then goes out into the hall
Luis: We are dead meat.
Ethan: Ssshhh.
Sam comes back in carrying a huge box.
Sam: Now, I want you to understand something. Neither of you are to mention our visit tonight, that I gave you anything, or what I gave you. If either of you mention any of these three things I'll be forced to persue this case.
He hands a confused Ethan the box.
Sam: You didn't get this from me and you never saw me.
With that Sam hurries out leaving a stunned and confused Ethan and Luis stairing at each other.
Luis: What the heck?
Ethan opens the box and gasps.
Ethan: Oh my God.
Luis looks in and his jaw drops.
Luis: There must be an entire crop of marijuana in here!
Ethan shakes his head with tears in his eyes and then looks over at Theresa. Then back to the door where Sam had stood only moments before.
Ethan: Thanks Dad, thanks with all my heart.