Morgan: Thanks for the review! =)

*

Georgie rushed up the stairwell toward Maxie and Kyle's apartment. She was already tired from a long day of work and when she had got to the complex the elevator was broken. She hadn't realized how out of shape she was, she was practically hyperventilating and she had only climbed three floors.

"Maxie!" she yelled as she knocked on the door, trying to regain her regular breathing.

Finally the door opened, and Maxie peered out with hair all combed in her face. Georgie didn't pay any attention at first, she just moved passed her and into the living room.

"So?" she smiled at her sister as she took a seat on the couch.

"So?" Maxie shook her head.

"Did he get the promotion?"

"No."

"What? Why not?"

"I don't know," she shook her head and then without thinking, brushed her hair behind her ear. Georgie immediately noticed her black eye. She jumped up and moved quickly to her sister.

"What in the world happened?" she took her sister's face in her hands.

"Nothing, I tripped over the coffee table. It's not a big deal."

"Well, did you put something on it?" Georgie sighed.

"Yes, I have everything under control Georgie. It's just a black eye."

Georgie wasn't sure if she believed Maxie or not. She hated to immediately point a finger at Kyle, but it wouldn't surprise her. She knew he had been doing better but he had been verbally abusive to Maxie before they broke up the first time.

"Maxie are you sure..."

"I tripped, I'm clumsy Georgie, you know that," Maxie laughed "Listen, I really have to start dinner."

"Dinner? You're cooking?" Georgie kidded.

"Yes, and Kyle will be home any minute."

"Ok," Georgie headed for the door "So why didn't he get the promotion?"

"I don't know," Maxie shrugged "He didn't say."

When she opened the door to leave, Kyle was on the other side.

"Hey Georgie," he smiled "How'd you do on those stairs?"

"Don't ask," she laughed, as she gave one last glance at her sister before making the trek down three flights.

*

"Georgie are you sure?" Dillon sighed as they sat down to dinner later that night.

"No," she shook her head "But I have this feeling that something isn't right. I mean think about it. All Kyle could talk about for weeks was that promotion, then he goes in last Friday and doesn't get it. He's had the whole weekend to get all worked up and who's to say he didn't take it out on her? They don't exactly have the most healthy relationship in the world."

"Yeah but hitting her? That's a little extreme, even for Kyle."

"It just doesn't feel right," she shook her head, as she took a bite of her salad.

"Just don't jump to any conclusions," Dillon insisted.

Georgie was trying to do that, but she couldn't get the image of Maxie's face out of her head. She watched as Dillon went about his meal and finally she stood up, tossing her napkin on the table.

"I'm going over there."

"Georgie, you are not!" Dillon shook his head "If there is something going on with Kyle, I don't want you over there in the middle of it. Now, I will have Leo check in to it tomorrow, but you are not to go over there when Kyle is there, got it?"

"You can't order me around."

"I'm not ordering you, I'm asking you."

"Oh, that was asking?"

"Yes," he stood up and moved closer to her "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Well, I don't want my sister to get hurt," she sighed.

"I don't either and I promise I'll have Leo check in to it, ok?"

She nodded, as Dillon pulled her close into a hug. She found herself feeling extremely thankful that she had a good man like Dillon who loved her, instead of a man like Kyle.

*

"Has Kyle Radcliffe been in the last couple days?" Leo asked Coleman as he stood behind the bar of Jake's. Leo knew that last time Kyle's drinking had effected the way he treated Maxie and he, along with Dillon, wondered if it could be happening again.

"Yeah, haven't seen him in here in years and then all of a sudden, boom, he's been here every night for the past couple nights."

"Drinking?"

"Drinking them as fast as I can fix them."

"Do me a favor," Leo pulled out a card with his cellphone number "Call me the next time he shows up will you?"

Coleman nodded and tucked the card into his shirt pocket.

"You got some problem with the guy?"

"I don't know yet," Leo shook his head, as he turned and headed out of the bar.



*



"Did you find out anything?" Georgie asked hopefully when Leo came through the door. She had been so nervous she couldn't even go in to work. At least she knew Maxie was there, safe.

"I really should talk to Dillon about this."

"Leo..."

"He said not to get you involved."

"It's *my* sister and I *am* involved, and you better tell me what you found out right now!"

Leo sighed. He knew there was going to be hell to pay from Dillon but if he didn't tell her it would be just as bad from Georgie.

"He's been drinking at Jake's."

"What?" Georgie asked with disgust "Well, then that settles it. He's got to be the one..."

"You're jumping to conclusions," Leo shook his head "I think you need to just go upstairs for a little while."

"Where's Dillon?"

"He went into the city, why?"

"Tell him I'll be back later," she reached for her coat.

"No," he put his arm out "I'm not letting you go anywhere."

"Try and stop me," she pushed passed him and out into the hall.

"Then I have to go with you," he sighed.

"Fine."

The two climbed on the elevator and headed down to the bottom floor.