INT. BO'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Gabrielle is ready to got out, gathering her things when Bo flies through the door.

GABRIELLE
Hi.

BO

(surprised to see her)
Oh. Hi honey.

Bo kisses Gabrielle on the cheek then begins to head for the stairs.

GABRIELLE
How's Matthew?

BO
Ok. He's still pretty scared. It
looks like this Masters guy did
a pretty good job of threatening
Nora and I while he was holding
Matthew.

GABRIELLE
Poor little guy.

BO
Yeah. Look honey, I think I'm
going to go ahead and stay over
there for a few days, just until
Matthew gets a little more settled.

GABRIELLE
At Nora's?

BO
Yeah. I just think it's really
important that Matthew sees that
we are all ok and that Nora and
I are safe and are here for him.

GABRIELLE
And you have to spend the night
to do that?

BO
He's pretty shook up Gabrielle. I
think it's important.

GABRIELLE
I see.
(looking at her watch)
Gosh, look at the time. I'm late
for my meeting.

BO
Meeting? You're working today?

GABRIELLE
Yes, well, there's a designer in
town just for the weekend and I
want to talk to her a bit about the
upcoming spread so... I'll see you
later.

BO
Yeah, ok, later.

Kissing her on the cheek as she leaves Bo watches Gabrielle clothes the door
then heads upstairs to change.

INT. NORA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

The living room is empty with no one to hear the knock at the door. Pushing it
open carefully Bo sticks his head inside and calls out to Nora.

BO
Red?

Working his way in, bag in hand, Bo realizes she must still be getting ready.

BO
(calling up the stairs)
I'm here but you take your time
ok?

Stepping through the door from the kitchen Nora is all ready to go.

NORA
I'm ready, let me just grab my things.

Bo sets his bag on the landing and waits while Nora gathers what she needs.

BO
All set?

NORA
Yep.

Nora begins to walk toward the Nora as Bo instinctively places his hand in the
small of her back, opening the door for her as she goes. Nora glances down at
his arm then back up into Bo's eyes as they smile back at her. It scares her how
right it feels to be with him this way. Shaking it off as nothing more than a
friendly gesture Nora walks through the door closing it behind them.

INT. NORA'S OFFICE - DAY

A stack of files on her desk Nora is hard at work making her way through it as she waits on the phone.

NORA
Hello? Oh, hi there, it's Nora
Buchanan over at the District
Attorney's office. I think we
spoke before. You're Allison's
roommate right? How are you?
Good. Did Allison ever make
it back for the beginning of the
semester? Great. Is she home
now? Oh. Well, could you just
tell her that I called again and
have her call me when she gets
in? Thanks. You too. Bye.

Nora hangs up the phone and then looks down at another message and dials the
number she reads. Still flipping through files and taking notes, Nora flips her
phone to speaker as soon as it starts to ring.

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
Hello?

NORA
Hello, is Howie home?

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
Howie? Who is this?

Realizing the voice on the other end of the line is suspicious of her Nora does
her best not to scare him away.

NORA
Just a friend. I was hoping to get
in touch with him sometime today.

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
Not much chance of that lady.

NORA
I don't understand, has something
happened to him?

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
Look, I gotta go.

NORA
Could you at least just tell me if -

The line goes dead.

NORA
Great. Someone else who isn't talking.

Rubbing her temples Nora tries to get back to the rest of the files in front of her.
Taking one from the top she dives in just as Daniel Coulson comes barging through the door.

NORA
Sure, come in Daniel.

DANIEL
Hi Nora. I heard they found your son.

NORA
Yes, Bo found him.

DANIEL
I'm glad. I noticed we didn't have
a statement from him yet.

NORA
From Matthew?

DANIEL
Yes, well, the case seems pretty cut and
dry and this Masters guy admitted to the
kidnapping but -

NORA
But what?

DANIEL
But I can't believe that the victim has
still yet to be questioned by the police
department.

NORA
The victim, is a little boy Daniel and it
was pretty late last night when we finally
got him home and into bed.

DANIEL
And this morning?

NORA
Bo will question him when it's time.

DANIEL
Oh that's right. The good old
Commissioner of police. Once
again we'll be doing things on
his time table.

NORA
What in the world are you talking
about?

DANIEL
I'm talking about expediting cases
Nora. There is no reason that we
don't get this statement taken and
this Masters guy off to Statesville
where he belongs by the end of the
week.

NORA
Believe me Daniel there is nothing
I want more than to see that man
pay for the living hell he put my
family through -

DANIEL
Good.

NORA
But not at the expense of my little
boy.

DANIEL
Expense? What expense? Just have
an officer ask Matthew a few questions.

NORA
Bo will have somebody talk to Matthew
when he's ready.

DANIEL
Oh and I'm sure that "super dad" is going
to know just when the time is right.

NORA
Did you have something you wanted
Daniel or did you just come in here
cause trouble?

DANIEL
I told you why I'm here.

NORA
We're on top of it. We'll let you
know as soon as Matthew is ready
to make a statement.

DANIEL
(turning to go)
See that you do.

NORA
Oh, and Daniel?

Daniel turns to hear what Nora has to say.

NORA
As far as the job Bo does as the Police
Commissioner, well, we've already
been over just where I stand on that.
When it comes to his job as a father, let
me just tell you that Bo Buchanan is a
better father to our son than you could
ever hope to be to yours and I thank
God every day that he's Matthew's
daddy. Do you think your ex-wife
could say the same for you?

Daniel doesn't say a word just turns to leave, running into Bo on his way out.

BO
Coulson.

DANIEL
(continuing his exit)
Excuse me.

BO
What's with him?

NORA
Don't ask. What's up?

BO
I just got back up from forensics and
wanted to make sure Blair hadn't
called.

NORA
Not yet, although I wouldn't be
surprised if she did at any time now.
How's work?

BO
Fine. You?

NORA
Just plowing my way from one thing
to the next.

Silence. The topic of last night has been hanging in the air since they got up this
morning and now it looks like someone is going to have to bring it up.

BO
Look Red, about last night.

NORA
No. Bo, don't say another word it's
ok.

BO
Don't you want to talk about what
happened?

NORA
There's nothing to talk about. It
was late and we were both tired.
It had been an emotional couple of
days, it's no wonder something
like that happened.

BO
I guess but -

NORA
Don't worry about it Bo. I'm fine.
I know that you love Gabrielle.
Don't worry about me ok?

BO
Ok, but I'm not so sure -

Nora's cell phone rings.

NORA
That's probably Blair. Hello?
Hi there. Did they have fun?
Great. Thanks. We're on our way.
Blair's on her way to the house.
We better get going.

Gathering her papers Nora gets ready to leave as Bo just stands there watching
her. The look on his face says he still has more to say but -

NORA
Well hurry up slow poke, we've
got to go.

BO
Right. I'll meet you in the bull pen.

NORA
Ok.

Bo turns and leaves Nora alone with her things. Watching him go she knows
there is so much more she wants to say about last night but can't. Bo closes her
office door behind him and sighs.

INT. NORA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Bo and Nora are on the couch watching an old movie when Matthew comes

through the front door. Looking up at him, home safe and sound, a look of
relief floods over Nora's face and she can't wait to give him a hug.

NORA
Hi honey. How was the movie?

Plopping himself between his mom and dad Matthew gives each of them a hug.

MATTHEW
It was so cool! But I missed you.

BO
We missed you too.

MATTHEW
What ya watching?

BO
This is one of your mom's favorite
old movies.

MATTHEW
One of those moving newspapers?

BO
(laughing)
What?

MATTHEW
You know, the ones where the people
don't wear any colored clothes and
they all look like a newspaper?

BO
You mean a black and white movie?

Matthew nods and Nora winks at Bo.

MATTHEW
Yeah. It's one of those?

BO
Yup.

NORA
I was just about to make some
popcorn. Do you want to watch
with us.

MATTHEW
Ok.

NORA
Alright, why don't you and your
dad get us a couple of pillows and
blankets to curl up with and I'll
go make the popcorn.

MATTHEW
Come on dad. They're up kind of
high so I need you to reach them.

Taking Bo by the hand Matthew pulls him toward the stairs while Nora makes
her way to the kitchen.

INT. NORA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Nora, Bo and Matthew are curled up on the couch together. Matthew has fallen
asleep, his head laying on Bo's lap, his feet across Nora's. Blowing her nose
Nora wipes tears from her eyes as the end credits start to roll. Bo is doing his best but finally can't help himself.

BO
(whispers)
Some things never change.

NORA
Watch it Buchanan.

BO
What?

NORA
You were about to make fun of
me for crying at the end of this
movie again.

BO
No I wasn't.

NORA
You most certainly were.

BO
Now what makes you think I would
go and do a thing like that?

NORA
It's like you said, some things never
change.

BO
And I was going to finish that sentence
with, you still look beautiful when you
cry.

Nora looks at Bo in confusion.

BO
Not that I like to see you cry, because
I don't. But when it's like this, at the
end of your favorite old movie, the
one you have memorized and have
seen about a million times, our son's
long little legs draped across your
lap, you look amazing.

A beat.

NORA
I think it's the lighting.

Bo laughs.

NORA
That or you need your eyes checked.

BO
I think you're just beautiful.

Nora smiles, he's impossible.

BO
I guess we better get this guy up to bed.
Oh! Darn it.

NORA
What?

BO
Nothing. I just think I forgot to pack my
cell phone charger. Oh well, no one
should be calling tonight so I guess I
could charge it in my car.

NORA
Go ahead and take it out. I'll take him
up.

BO
He's getting pretty heavy.

NORA
I'll be fine. Get out there and plug your
phone in before you forget and I have to
answer to Daniel Coulson for not making
you available 24 hours of the day.

Rolling his eyes Bo begins to work his way out from under Matthew, doing his
best not to wake him up. Thinking he made it Bo stands and heads toward the
front door. Suddenly Matthew shoots up from his sleep.

MATTHEW
No dad, don't leave yet!

BO
I'm not leaving sport.

MATTHEW
(relaxing)
You're not?

BO
Nah, I'm just running out to
the car for a minute.

MATTHEW
Ok.

BO
I'll be right back and I'll come up
to tell you a story.

Taking his cell phone with him Bo closes the door and heads to his car.

NORA
Ok mister. Let's go brush your
teeth.

MATTHEW
Upstairs?

NORA
Where else would we brush them?

MATTHEW
We have to wait for dad.

NORA
Sweetie dad told you, he's just
running out to his car, he'll be
up as soon as he comes back in
the house.

MATTHEW
I know but -

NORA
But what?

MATTHEW
We need to stay here so if something
bad happens to him we can hear it
and go help him.

Pulling Matthew onto her lap Nora strokes his soft hair with her hand.

NORA
Still a little worried about your
old mom and dad huh?

Matthew nods.

MATTHEW
I just don't want anything bad to happen.

NORA
I know sweetie.

Just then Bo opens the front door and comes back inside.

BO
Hey, I thought you were getting
ready for the story.

NORA
Matthew decided to wait and
make sure you got in the house
ok.

BO
Worried I might not get back in the
house ok?

Matthew shrugs his shoulders and nods.

BO
Come here sport.

Sitting down next to Nora Bo pulls Matthew onto his lap.

BO
Thanks for worrying about me.

MATTHEW
It's ok.

Bo and Nora look at each other neither one of them knowing what to say.

BO
You know I love you more
than anything right?

Matthew nods his head.

MATTHEW
I love you too.

BO
And you see this pretty lady on the
couch next to me?

Matthew looks up at his mom and smiles.

BO
She loves you a whole lot too.

Nora nods and kisses Matthew on the forehead.

MATTHEW
I love you too.

BO
You just remember that ok? It's
ok to be afraid, just don't forget
how much we love you. Now,
how about we get up there and
get our teeth brushed?

Crawling off of Bo's lap Matthew makes his way up the stairs his parents right
behind him. Neither one of them had an answer but somehow just making sure
Matthew knows how much they love him is enough tonight.