A/N

In the previous chapter I had Jo drink a cup of herbal tea – chamomile and lime flower - when she got home from the hospital.

I got a review for chapter 23 from 'Patscats' who was very concerned about this fact. Taking her review to heart, I did some research and found so much contradicting information that all I can advise is this. If you are expecting, or planning a family, you should discuss with your healthcare practitioner any herbal remedies you might consider taking just as if they were commercial medications. Anything you put into your body that affects your health also affects your baby.

Chapter 24 – Decisions and Discoveries

The rest of the week passed in a blur for Rae and Jesse as well as Steve and Jo. The cops in Santa Barbara called on the Tuesday to say that they had lost sight of Callum Edwards and for a while Steve hadn't known who they were talking about, but then he realised that it was John Masters Junior who had gone AWOL and he was not impressed.

After three days of searching Steve finally caught up with the Edwards family, in spirit at least, when he found their plane and hotel reservations for a vacation in Barbados. A quick phone call confirmed that the family were indeed where they said they were, and Steve had to be content with that, not wanting another police department wondering why he was getting hysterical over a couple of, now paid, parking violations.

Daniel had apologised for his outburst, but the following days had been strained and Steve knew that Jo, struggling with morning sickness and weariness, was finding the whole matter a drain. Daniel had avoided any more temper tantrums, but Steve could see that the boy was hurting, and he desperately wanted some time with him to get things back to how they had been. Work though had seemed to come first all week, and so far they hadn't had more than five minutes together at a time, and that wasn't long enough for the discussion Steve knew they needed.

Anneya stayed in the hospital the entire week and was released on the Saturday morning, fifteen days after she had been admitted. Although she was still almost totally silent, and slept for at least a little of each hour of the day, there was no doubting that she was getting better.

She had seemed almost completely bewildered by the outside world when they had left the hospital, grasping her daddy tightly round the neck and burying her face into his shoulder. Jesse had whispered words of, he hoped, comfort all the way to the car and then carefully strapped her into her seat.

"Jesse, please, come home with us, let Eliana spend some time with you." Rae had stood the other side of the vehicle, not wanting to cause her husband any more pain than she knew she was already doing. They hadn't spoken again, not in the way that they had begun to earlier in the week, and Rae knew that any feelings he had for her must have totally disappeared.

"Rae, don't. I have to do this at my speed, not yours." He looked away, he owed her an explanation, at least to tell her that he still loved her, still wanted to be with her, but he couldn't.

"Jesse, your home will always be with us if you want it to be, but I have to go now, I have to get to Eliana, and I need to work out some sort of plan with Sally. Will you have Anneya next week?" Rae had already asked him and Jesse just nodded.

"I'll send you my schedule when I get home tonight, ok." Rae was the one who nodded this time and then she climbed into her car and drove away. Jesse walked back towards the main entrance to the ER, and felt a hand on his arm as he did so.

"Hey, stranger, are you ok? How's your daughter today?" Jesse turned as he heard Susan's voice and smiled at her.

"Hey, yourself, she's fine, Rae just took her home." He paused for a moment and then smiled again. "Wanna go get a coffee?"

ooo

Eliana had been almost beside herself when Rae and Anneya arrived at the door to Steve and Jo's house. She rushed at her mother, and Rae, totally delighted as well, handed her younger daughter over to Michael before bending down to sweep her up into her arms and hug her tight.

"Oh, Sweetie, Mummy has missed you so much." Rae carefully put the little girl down and then just looked at her. "I do believe you've grown while I've been away."

Steve had just been arriving home from work, and when he saw Rae's car in the driveway, he fairly sprinted into the house coming through the door before Michael, his arms full with Anneya, could open it for him.

"Hi, Unki Teve! Neya home!" Eliana squealed as he stood in the doorway behind her mother, Michael, and Anneya. Eliana adored her Unki Teve, and, as excited as she was to have her sister home, she was still as pleased as ever to see him.

"I see," Steve replied, sharing a joyous smile with his goddaughter before he leaned over Rae's shoulder to peek at Anneya, who still sat securely in Michael's arms, "and we're all so glad to have her back. How are you feeling, Sweetie?"

"I fine," Eliana replied, and though Steve shared an amused chuckle with the other adults over the fact that Eliana hadn't realized the question wasn't meant for her, he couldn't help but feel a little hurt that Anneya hadn't even looked at him when he'd spoken. She certainly seemed better than she had in the hospital and he knew that Alex wouldn't have let her home if he wasn't happy about her, but still, he was concerned, not just because he loved her, but because of Jo and their own baby.

Though she didn't understand what was funny, Eliana laughed with the grown ups and as she moved over and pulled at her sister's hand, Rae and Michael saw and felt Anneya jump almost out of her skin and begin to cry.

"Sowee Mommy, sowee." Eliana's eyes filled with tears too, and her chin began to wobble.

"Honey, it's alright, Neya just feels a little poorly still, and I guess you made her jump." Rae had her arm around her elder daughter, and she gave her a kiss on the cheek before taking her now screaming child from Michael and trying to calm her down.

Jo had been out in the garden, but she came in at the sound of crying, although she stood a little out of reach of Rae and Anneya and watched as Steve made his way across the hallway towards her. He knew that Rae had no idea that Jo was pregnant, she had sent a letter via Alex to both Jo and himself and Amanda and Ron saying that now that Jesse was with her she would be able to sit with Anneya without imposing on them and taking them away from their own families. The note had been so formal, so impersonal that they had known how much she was suffering and had all gone along with her wishes. It meant though that Rae had missed out on one of the most important things that had happened to him his whole life, and now he was anxious to share it with her.

ooo

"Hi, Jo, I just can't thank you enough for what you, Steve, and Michael have done for me … what, what's the matter?" Rae had moved towards her friends, but stopped as she saw Jo's pale face.

Steve, suddenly feeling guilty for not ignoring the letter and passing on their wonderful news shifted uncomfortably before concentrating on Anneya so that his wife could tell her best friend their news. "Rae, how are you, and more to the point how is Anneya? Is she really better?"

"She … she's fine, thanks for asking. Texas, what's the matter?" Rae's voice was anxious and she moved closer to her friend. Something had happened while she had been in the hospital, something which seemed to scare Jo.

Jo realised just how much she had missed her friend and suddenly the excitement of telling outweighed the worry she was trying to fight and the nausea she was suffering from. With tears shining in her eyes she spoke, "Rae, I'm gonna have a baby."

"Oh, Texas, that's just wonderful." Rae started to move towards her friend again but then stopped, she knew how scared she would be, and instead of rushing into a hug she gently pulled her close. Rae could still remember the day she and her best friend had sat in the sun and Jo had told her the most horrific story of how she had been pregnant and lost a baby in the past. "And you know you will be fine, Mark won't have it any other way, Jesse either."

The kind words of understanding rocked Jo's already unsteady hormones just a little too much and the tears started. She appreciated the tender cuddle Rae had given her but she wanted more and so she moved over and enveloped both Rae and Anneya in a big hug.

ooo

The cafeteria was reasonably busy but Jesse and Susan were able to find a deserted table over by the window and they took their cups of coffee and a Danish pastry each and sat in comfortable silence.

"I'm glad that Anneya is well enough to go home. It was touch and go there for a while." Susan put her hand over Jesse's and he felt his confusion level rise.

"Yeah, I know." For a moment Jesse was quiet, but then he smiled and spoke again, "she'll be fine once she has Eliana to play with again, and all the things that she recognises around her." Jesse knew that he should remove his hand, that he was betraying the trust that Rae still had in him, but it was nice to be touched, to feel the warmth of another person and not want to run from it. The picture of Rae's face came up in his mind, and the memory that accompanied it was one of hurt, anger and pain, all of which had been caused by a situation that Jesse had to admit must have caused all of those emotions to affect his wife as well as him. As he sat, his hand still enveloped in the softness of Susan's, he went back to the earlier part of the week when Anneya had been transferred to the Paediatric Intermediate Care unit.

The room had been almost identical to the previous one, and Jesse looked around at the décor and realised that it didn't really matter what age you were, apparently you had the same taste in art. There were two chairs for visitors in the room, the same bed that Anneya had had before but, thankfully, no invasive machinery of any kind. The antibiotics that his daughter still needed were being given by IV but that had been wheeled down with the gurney and the other paraphernalia that had accompanied the little girl to her new room.

Rae was sitting one side of the bed quietly reading to Anneya, she had her finger under the words, showing them to her daughter as she spoke, and Jesse was only half listening to the story of the Hungry Caterpillar which he had read himself about a hundred times. Anneya didn't seem to be taking the words in, but she must have heard it at least as many times as he had, she was watching her mom's finger though and poking her own little finger through the holes in the pages as the various foods were eaten.

The scene was happy and relaxed, and Jesse had found himself feeling much more in control of his emotions. He was just about to go and sit next to Rae when he saw her touch her pocket and then pull her cell phone out. "Detective Yeager … Good morning, Sir … No, could you hold on a minute…?" Rae gave the book to Anneya and then stood up. "Jesse, it's the Captain on the phone, I need to speak with him, can you take over?" He had just nodded and prepared to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the hundred and first time.

Rae had been gone for just over ten minutes and Jesse had found out later that apart from checking on her situation Captain Newman had also been asking what shift patterns she would prefer when Anneya was home, and reminding her that he would be away for the whole of the next week and Steve would be in charge. The course he was giving had been cancelled twice so far, but this time seemed to be going ahead.

While Rae had been away Susan had come into the room to change the IV and check Anneya's vital signs. Rae had come back into the room just as Jesse, laughing at something he could no longer remember, had placed his hand on Susan's arm.

"So, Sweetheart, if you just give your book to Daddy I can do all the things I have to do. Is that ok? And then, once we're done, if you would like, I could read it to you. I just love this story."

Anneya had held tightly to the book, and eyed the strange lady anxiously. It had been obvious that she didn't want to let go. "No! Momma, no!" She had screamed out, and then seen Rae coming in through the door.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to my child?" Rae hadn't taken in who was in the room, just the fact that Anneya was almost hysterically upset, but as she moved closer to the action she looked up and gasped. "You! Get out of here, now! Get out … just get out, now!" Rae had then swept her daughter up into her arms and begun cooing and speaking softly and gently to her. Gradually the movements and the sounds got through and the room returned to a very uneasy silence. As Rae had laid the now almost sleeping little girl back into the bed Jesse had realised that Susan still hadn't left and he saw Rae notice the same thing.

"I thought I told you to get out! I don't want you anywhere near my child, or my husband for that matter, but I guess I don't have any say in that." Rae had moved threateningly close to the young nurse and Jesse had felt compelled to step between them. Susan had been looking almost shell shocked, and he'd turned to her first.

"Susan, go and do something else for a little while, I'll sort this out." Jesse had put his hand on her back and guided her out into the hallway. "I'm so sorry, I really am. I guess we've all been under strain."

"Jesse." Rae's voice told him that he was in trouble and his fear of her began to well up in his chest until he wanted to run away not turn and face her. He watched as Susan made her way back to the nurses' station and it was all he could to do stop himself from following her.

"Jesse, I would appreciate it if you would come back in here." Again the stern voice of his wife assaulted his ears, but this time they spurred him into action and he let his fear turn to anger.

"What, what do you want me to say, Rae?" Jesse knew that his eyes were blazing and that his words were flung loudly at her, and he saw her look at their daughter who was sleeping peacefully now.

Rae had moved out into the hallway and looked her husband square in the eye. Jesse had wanted to turn tail and run more than he had ever done in her presence, but he stood his ground. "I want you to promise me that woman won't be allowed near my daughter again and then I want you to go and make sure that everyone else knows too, because, trust me, Jesse, I won't be responsible for my actions if I ever see her within a hundred yards of Anneya!"

Rae had gone back into the room and closed the door behind her leaving Jesse standing not really knowing what to do next and wishing that he was anywhere than where he actually was.

"I said, if I can get tickets for both of us would you like to go?" Susan shook his arm and Jesse came out of his dream.

"I'm sorry, I was … what … would I like to go where?" Jesse knew he had missed something.

"There was a Jack Blood premiere on Thursday and now the movie is open to the public, if I can get tickets would you like to go tonight?" Susan looked at Jesse with an expectant expression on her face. She had seen the state of his marriage, and knew that if she played her cards right they could easily end up back together.

"I … I don't know, maybe." Jesse was aware of a feeling in the back of his mind that he should be visiting with Rae, trying to get back to a place where they could talk, but the offer of a movie was tempting, and the offer of an evening with no pressure or expectations, even more so. Making a sudden decision Jesse nodded his head, "Yeah, it's been a long time since I've been to the movies, that would be great." Jesse checked his watch then and realised Rae would be home, and that he should go back to work. "I'll see you outside here at, seven, six-thirty, what do you think?"

"Yeah, six-thirty would be good." Susan leant over and kissed him gently on the cheek before walking out of the canteen, and Jesse sat there trying to get his feelings sorted out.

ooo

The hotel in San Francisco had been very nice; Dominic had been happy with his room and had tipped the bus boy well. Now he sat on the balcony of the cocktail bar looking out over the swimming pool and enjoying the view. As he sat his vision became slightly blurred, and then fragmented, as if he was looking through a prism. He scanned the area, his eyes passing over all the women just below him. For a while they were all slightly out of focus but then gradually it began to clear and one person remained in his view.

A young woman of about twenty-five, wearing a white two-piece swimsuit over a deeply tanned body was standing just beneath him. Her dark blonde hair was held up in a barrette and Dominic stared in appreciation as she took a two-step run up and then dived expertly into the water. When she broke the surface of the pool the barrette had disappeared and her hair hung in a wet, perfectly neat curtain across her back. Dominic was now held spellbound and as he watched she swam strongly towards the side and, placing her hands on the edge, pushed herself effortlessly out onto the paved patio area.

Dominic knew that he had to speak with her, find out who she was, and what she was doing at the hotel. She didn't seem to be with anyone, and as he kept his eyes on her she picked up her robe, put it around her shoulders, and began drying her hair with a towel. Dominic quickly called a waiter over and ordered a mineral water with ice and asked for it to be taken down to his mystery lady.

ooo

Steve had gone into the station just after lunch to work an afternoon shift. He planned to speak to Cheryl on the phone, before doing anything else, because he had been concerned about how she and Martin were getting on. He knew that with all the things going on in his life he had neglected his old friend and he resolved to spend more time with her in the future. Her voice had made him smile and as he was already in the privacy of the Captain's office he pressed the button on the speaker phone and listened to her as he worked.

"Detective Banks." Her tone had been one of resignation as she answered the phone.

"Relax, Detective, I'm not calling you in."

"Oh, hi, Steve, or should I say, Acting Captain Sloan?" There was laughter in her voice now and it was evident that she was pleased to hear from him.

"No, not unless you want to work this afternoon." Steve was glad he'd called, and was even more so when he moved the top file and saw one of hers underneath. "I see you have been busy this week."

"You mean my internet killer, yeah, I got him," Cheryl paused for a moment, as if thinking what to say next, "actually, it was pure luck, but hey, I'll take 'em any way I can."

"Yeah, me too, so what luck was it?" Cheryl had been working on a case where a cleaner, two shop assistants and a nanny had all been found by their new employers, dead.

"I applied to about three or four agencies, including the two that our killer had obviously had some ties to, and when I got the contract in the post to sign last week I got a print match on the knife stuck into one of the victims and the part of the letter which had been signed by the office manager. I went and interviewed him and he just caved in."

"Banks, you're just a big bully! What job did you apply for?" Steve was enjoying the conversation enormously.

"I am not! I threatened him with you and that was it, game over!" She was silent for a moment. "I went for shop assistant; I always wanted to be the lady on the till when I was a little girl." She laughed but felt no embarrassment in telling her old friend her reasoning.

The satisfaction that Cheryl felt was very apparent to Steve and he felt pleased for her, but then her next few words took the enjoyment out of it. "I would have told you, but, well, somehow we don't talk as much as we used to."

"Cheryl, I am so sorry, life just seems to whiz past at an alarming rate these days. But soon, I promise you, we'll have you and Martin over for dinner."

"Steve, don't worry, you have a wife and a family now, things change and move on, we don't even work together any more. But you're still my friend, and, well, I do miss you." Cheryl voice held a note of regret in it, and Steve felt even worse.

"I'll check our shift patterns and then speak to Michael and before you know it you and Martin will be sitting at our dining table surrounded by cutlery!"

"Well, if you can fit it in I know we would both love to come. Steve, I have to go, I … well, I can't leave Martin on his own for too long."

"Ok, Partner, I'll see you Monday." To Steve it still felt perfectly natural to call his friend by the now incorrect term.

"Yeah, you too, don't forget to have your suit pressed."

"Oh, ha ha. Bye, Cheryl."

"Bye."

Steve broke the connection and began to read through the file that Cheryl had left for him. Their Red Rose serial killer was a weird and depraved human being, but this guy had killed because the victims had all gotten jobs he had put his girlfriend up for. In a way it was the age-old story, jealousy and money. If it wasn't one, it was likely to be the other. With a sigh Steve signed the papers at the back of the file and put it in the out tray. He had a feeling that the rest of the week wasn't going to be that easy.

ooo

By the evening of Saturday Eliana was more than happy to sit at the kitchen table and do drawing and colouring while Rae caught up on her housework. There was a pile of ironing that needed doing, especially if the three of them wanted to actually be dressed the following week. Anneya had fallen soundly asleep on the sofa in the playroom after lunch, while Eliana had been watching a video and when the elder of her two girls had come to join her Rae had made sure that the doors to the kitchen and playroom were both open so that Anneya would hear them and find her when she woke up. Normally Rae would have worried that her daughter wouldn't sleep through the night because she had slept the afternoon away, but she knew that the amount of sleep that the little girl needed right now would mean that about an hour or so of story telling and play after dinner plus a nice hot bath would solve that problem.

The pile of ironing had turned into three slightly smaller piles of neatly pressed laundry when Rae heard a sound behind her as she carefully ironed a skirt that needed all its pleats steamed.

"Hey, Sweetie, did you have a nice nap?" Anneya was obviously still half asleep as there was no reaction at all to her mother's words, and she walked, slightly unsteadily, into the kitchen clutching the toy giraffe that Rae had bought for her to have in bed with her at the hospital.

As Anneya made her way towards Rae the soft toy caught the flex of the iron and it teetered on the edge of the board before beginning to fall.

"ANNEYA, LOOK OUT!" Rae shouted at her child, but she just kept walking, seemingly unperturbed by the sounds. The hot iron hit the tiled floor directly behind her with a sound like a bullet from a gun, scaring the life out of Eliana, even though she had looked up at the sound of Rae's voice. Still Anneya said nothing, and neither did she react in any way. She carried on walking towards her mother, holding up her arms for a hug as she reached her.

Rae felt herself go totally cold inside, and she remembered the conversation she'd had with Alex when he'd gone through all the different residual effects her accident could cause. Quietly she spoke to her daughter as she held her in her arms, but there was still no response, and Rae remembered how she had shouted at Susan and Jesse, and Anneya had carried on sleeping; how there had been no reaction to Eliana's chattering, excited presence at Steve and Jo's house until the child had pulled at Anneya's hand and then it had only been shock and fear. She also realised that the video that Eliana had been watching had been loud enough to be heard in the kitchen and yet, once again, Anneya had been able to sleep soundly in the same room as the television.

With a very heavy heart Rae made her way, Anneya still clutched tightly to her, to the phone and put a call through to Alex. Ten minutes later Eliana and Anneya were strapped in the back of her car and Rae was on her way to Community General Hospital, knowing in her heart already that her daughter was no longer able to hear.

ooo

Jesse had showered and changed after a shift that both Mark and Alex had tried to talk him out of working. Neither of them had seriously considered that he would let Rae take their daughter home alone, but both had seen the determination in his eyes, and knew that they wouldn't get him to change his mind.

The day had been reasonably quiet, it was a week before Thanksgiving and most people appeared to be shopping, cooking or just staying out of trouble. There had been a rush of sorts when a small child of about six had been brought in after being knocked down in a local parking lot. He hadn't been badly hurt, but he had come in with his almost hysterical mother and four sisters.

The girls had all been crying, and no amount of magic tricks or offers of trips up and down the hallways in wheelchairs had calmed them down. Once the boy whose name was Leo had been checked over by Alex, and declared bruised but otherwise fine, the whole clan had left the area en-masse and it had seemed unnaturally silent although Alex had a feeling that the children's ward was anything but quiet.

By six-thirty Jesse had been standing outside the entrance to the ER and he saw Susan coming across the parking lot towards him. Feeling just a little guilty about what he was doing, but also looking forward to an evening where he could just relax and enjoy the company of a friend who had missed all the trauma of the last few years, he made his way to where she was, and then together they climbed into his car and left by a back exit.

Rae drew into a space as close to the entrance as she could just after seven, and carefully lifted Anneya, who was once again fast asleep, out of the car. Eliana had undone her belt, climbed out of the car and was now waiting to tell her mother that the car was locked. Rae pressed the button and grabbed her daughter by the hand.

"No, Mommy, I check car," Eliana dragged her heels and Rae turned on her.

"For goodness sake this is far more important, just come along."

"My job … I check car." The tears had started, but Rae kept on walking and Eliana sensing that she wasn't going to get anywhere followed her, but the crying continued.

Alex had paged Jesse when he finished speaking with Rae, but he hadn't answered, and then he had seen that his friend had signed himself out about two minutes after Rae had called. With a heavy sigh Alex realised that, once again, Rae was going to have to deal with whatever problems Anneya now had alone.

ooo

The movie theatre was very busy and, as Jesse queued up for their popcorn and soda, he had been glad that they weren't in the line for tickets. Once Jesse had his purchases he and Susan had just walked into the large auditorium, found their seats and waited for the lights to go out.

Their conversation had been about general things, what was happening at work, Susan wanted to know about Steve and his situation, she had been amazed to hear that not only was he married, but he had a fifteen-year-old son. They had talked about how Alex was living at the beach house, which had led on to Jesse telling her that he was there too, and he hadn't argued with her when she asked if he was separated from Rae.

Susan had also been pleased to hear about Amanda and Ron's plans to get married in the spring, and although she had never been close to either of them she had asked Jesse to pass on her congratulations. Their conversation had just begun to drift into silence when the lights began to dim and the advertisements came up on the screen.

For a moment the darkness seemed to envelope Jesse and his heart began to race. He hadn't been in the dark since the days in the garage unless he had been in bed. This wasn't bed, he couldn't see what the others around him were doing, and he didn't like it. Susan must have sensed his discomfort because as the light from an ad for a forthcoming film lit up the rows of seats in front of him Jesse felt her take his hand in hers and hold it tight.

ooo

Although Alex had been unable to find Jesse he had managed to get Mark to stay on a little longer after his shift to look after Eliana. He didn't know why Rae needed to see him so urgently, but he had heard the worry and desperation in her voice, and knew that whatever it was, it needed his, and her, undivided attention.

Rae had arrived looking as if she was just about holding on to her sanity. She searched anxiously for anyone that she recognised, and saw Shannon coming towards her. The young woman who had so obviously stolen Alex's heart smiled at her and then crouched down to speak with Eliana. The little girl now knew who the lady was, and so always spoke with her and told her all of her news. This time though Eliana was holding a grudge and she saw an opportunity to let rip.

"Yana check car. Yana's job to check car. Mommy naughty yady!"

Shannon smiled, and put her finger on her lips. "Shhh, Mommy has to see Uncle Alex," Shannon looked up, unsure if she had said the right thing and saw Rae nod. "How about you and I go and find a cookie and a soda in the canteen? Then you can tell me what you do to check the car, ok?" Shannon took Eliana's hand in hers and straightened up. As she did so Alex came out of a trauma suite and headed towards them.

"Rae, why don't you go into trauma three? I'll take Eliana to see Mark and come back and join you."

"No, Yana go haf cookies wiv Shannon." Eliana pouted at her Uncle Alex, and took an even firmer grip on his girlfriend's hand.

Mark had come out into the hallway when he heard Eliana's voice and now came up to help defuse the situation. "Does that mean I can't have a cookie too?"

"Hi, Gwanpee Mok." Eliana was instantly sweetness and light and both Shannon and Alex had to laugh.

"I'll leave you two to it. When we're done I'll get someone to find you, ok?" Alex received a nod in reply from both Mark and Shannon and so turned and went into the trauma suite where Rae was waiting for him.

ooo

Jesse had lost count of the number of Action Fist movies he'd seen; in fact if they didn't have figures in the title he wasn't sure he would be able to tell them apart. As the first five minutes of the film passed in practically the same way as the previous one Jesse tried to get himself under control properly.

He had been to the movies loads of times, with Susan, Steve, not so often with Rae, she didn't like going to see films, she preferred to wait until they came out on DVD, he'd been a few times with CJ and Dion and, normally, he just got on with it, but this time something wasn't right, he didn't know what it was, but it wasn't right.

Two latecomers made their way along the row and both Jesse and Susan had to stand up to let them pass. The embarrassed couple smiled as they inched their way towards their seats, and Jesse tried to smile back, but it wasn't an easy task, and he knew that he had failed miserably.

Sitting back down Jesse found that Susan had moved a little closer to him, even though they were separated by the padded rest. She looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. Tentatively Jesse leant his head against hers, not sure what he was doing or feeling. The movie was progressing noisily and, as the scene became dark, Jesse felt Susan's hand as she gently turned his face towards hers and then her lips as they touched his.

For a moment he froze, not knowing what to do, but suddenly he knew with every part of him that it was wrong, he shouldn't be here, shouldn't even be touching her, and he shot to his feet, not able to form a coherent goodbye before rushing out of the row, up the aisle and out into the light.