Author's note: Oh I don't know where I'd be with out some of you guys! Those of you who have been so faithful in reading my stories, you make me smile every time I see a review. And to the ones who are new, thank you so much for chosing to gvie me a chance to weave my magic. :)

Unbeta'd. Mistake are all mine.

She was on her hands and knees when she heard the knock. "It's open!" She called. She was using a small cleaning brush to brush up some glass under the table when she heard the front door creak open and the foot steps. Bear was wagging his tail this much she could see under the table. And she saw the two worn out hiking boots under the blue jeans.

A moment later Mort leaned down looking under the table. "It's not much, just some plastic covering and duck tape." He said a slightly amused tone. "Oh, I think it should work." She glanced at her window, before standing and dusting off her pants and wipping her hands on a towel on the table. "So what brought you to Thunderbird Bay?" She asked as she stepped aside to let him go to work. "Change of scenery." He answered. "I'm a writer," he seemed to say this with a sigh, "And couldn't get any work done where I was living before. After...." He seemed to pause, tearing off a peice of duct tape, and avoided looking at her at all costs. "After my ex wife... Disappeared... I just didn't have it in me to write anything in that cabin."

Alex listened, moving around and aimlessly cleaning certain things, trying to keep from looking at him. There was something about him, she couldn't place. Something...familiar about him. Something that he made her feel. She sighed. "I'm sorry to hear about it.. I mean tha you didn't have an inspiration. I'm painter myself... So I know." He nodded, the roll of duct tape in his mouth, which was a good thing at the moment.

She went about doing her work, her thoughts else where when he broke them. She liked his voice, she realized that much. "So...um..What do I call you?" She looked up and smiled. "Alex, or... My friends call me Ally."

"Do I... Quilify to call you that?" He asked, grinning slightly. She laughed softly.

"Sure, why not. In the community, you have to have all the friends you can take."

"That bad?"

"No... Just nosy and prone to rumors."

"Ah..." Mort shook his head. He didn't need rumors. That was the last thing he needed right now. He finished taping the plastic on and stepped back. "There, all finished." She came over and looked at it. "Thanks... Mort. And don't worry about how long it takes you to find someone to fix it. I'm not really concerned right now. I've got..." She sighed. "A load of other things to take care of." Mort shifted uncomfortably and would probably kick himself for what he was about to offer. "Look, if you ever need anything, don't be a stranger, eh?" Alex head snapped up at the word stranger. "What...?" She asked softly, almost stupidly.

Mort raised an eyebrow. "I said don't be a stranger..." "I... Know... It's just..." Alex shook her head the confusion evident in her face. "Just someone else I met this morning..." She muttered. "Thanks Mort, I appreciate it." She said finally, smiling. Mort nodded and cleared his throat. "I better... Get back to.." Alex nodded. "Mhmm. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of eachother. So," She held her hand. It was the only thing she could think to do. He took it for a moment, they just stood there.

She closed and locked the door, leaning her forehead against the cold wood. "So much to happen in one day." She finally realized what Mort made her feel and it just put her in a darker mood. Because accepting THAT meant she had to accept that maybe it was her fault Jay did what he did. And Jay had done such a number on her. Her trust was shattered. Men, she'd never trust again. Much alone anyone else. Yet Mort sparked that curiosty that had drawn her to Jay. And now, she was hating it. Hating it more then anything else, because she knew where it led. She so easily fell in love. And that was the scary thing with her. She sank down against the door, sobbing. Even though she could pretty much tell he was still on her porch.

Mort frowned, the sound was unmistakenable. He moved off the porch, lost in thought. It'd been a few years since Amy, so he pretty much figured he should move on, maybe date again. He'd just have to see. And so far, Alex had been the only one nice in the community, he was just sorry they had to meet through the window.... So to say. He headed back over to his new house, to start unpacking.

Evening had sit in. Alex had been to the store and put up her groceries. She was sitting on the porch after having ate and was watching the scenery, if there was any.. Woods mostly. But the deer were movign around. Bear was laying on the steps at her feet. She was lost in her own thoughts, thinking about things with Jay, the tears growing close when Bear jumped up and started barking. "Don't think I introduced myself.." She heard that voice again and her head snapped up. Alex swallowed. "Um...." She was at a lost. "Mah name's Chester Rook." He extended his hand.

Alex swallowed and took it. It was cold and clammy and she releashed it as soon as she could. "Can I help you?" Alex asked tentively. "Nah, I just came to see ya one last time for the night." The man's eyes were sparkling in a odd way and Alex got to her feet slowly, which brought Bear to come and stand before her. "Let's get something straight Mr. Rook, I'm..............married and I expect my husband any time, so if have any ideas, I'd forget them now!" She wasn't sure why she was using the excuse. "Oh, I see that, Ms. O'Connell." Alex stumbled back. "How did...how did you know my maiden name?" She stuttered. "Oh, I've known you for a long time." Alex stumbled back in to her door as the man leered at her. "S-s-stay away from me." She managed to get out, finding the door handle and pushing the door open. Bear lunged inside behind her and she slammed the door for a second time, locking it tight.

She didn't even stay to watch if the man left, she ran into the den, collasping in the couch, having grabbing the phone from the table. But who was she going to call. The man had done no real harm... Yet. Yet a voice told her. You've dealt with a stalker once before in your life Alex, they always start out this way. Alex shuddered at her own thought. She wasn't sure she'd have any one to help her if it reached that YET.

She lay the phone on the table beside the couch and curled up in a ball, in the corner, her head on a cushion. She sighed, feeling sleepy and closed her eyes. Wouldnt' be the first time she'd fallen asleep on the couch. She was just about to fall asleep when she heard a crash from upstairs. Bear jumped up at once, running to the foot of the stairs and began growling. Alex frowned and picked up the phone, moving to the stairs with him. "Bear..." Bear was already bounding up the stairs. Alex swore and chased after him. Her door was semi open, the lamp at the bedside table on.

She approached it slowly, Bear was standing at it, growling, his hackles raised. She swallowed and pushed the door open with one hand before she screamed. The rat was dangling from the the light fixture in the middle of the room. A live rat... Or well, HALF live rat. Blood was dripping on to the cotton comforter she would have curled up with. Alex stumbled back, hitting the railing for the stairs and stumbled around it, sinking down on the step, turning on the phone. She put the phone to her hear and began sobbing. There was no dial tone. She had no phone serves. In a fit of rage she threw the phone. She heard it crash at the bottom of the stairs and probably break. "Bear!" Bear was trying to jump up and get the rat. "Bear, stop it!" She cried through her tears. Bear looked at her, then came over to her, hanging his head. "I have... I have to call someone..." She muttered to Bear. And got up.

The only logical thing was to go next door. "Come on Bear." She lead him down stairs and grabbed his leash off the table next to the door. Glancing out the window on the door, she saw the man was gone, for now. So she unlocked it and stepped out on to her porch cautiously. An arm around her middle, she felt sick now, she tugged on Bear's leash and started down the porch and across the short distance.

She climbed up onto Mort's porch and looked around, before raising a hand and knocking. She knew she looked like a total mess, tears on her face, eyes red. She was still crying in fact. Bear sit tentively at her feet panting, though he growled into the darkness from time to time. She heard footsteps coming to the door and porch light came on a moment later, followed by the sound of locks being undone. A moment later she was looking up into Mort's face. "Alex! Are you alright?!" He asked concernly. "I...no." She admited. "There's....there's a bloody rat hanging from my light fixture in my room!" Mort just stared.

Then he reached out and gently pulled her inside. "God... I..." He couldnt' find anything to say. "I also have no phone... So can...I call the sherrif from here?" "Yeah, yeah." He lead her to the living room and handed her the cordless phone. She turned it on and groaned, before handing it back to him. "You don't either." Mort blinked and took it, trying it himself, before swearing. He watched Alex drop to the couch, silently crying. Biting his lip, Mort put his phone up and sit down beside her. "Is there...anything I can do?" He asked softly.

"No... I just... Stalker, I'm forced with another stalker!"

"You've been stalked before?" He asked softly.

"Yeah, before I married Jay..." She muttered.

"I see... Well um.... Do you know where the sheriff is?"

"No, He lives back in the city, believe it or not." Mort frowned. He was trying to think of something to do. "My car's in the shop... We..."

Alex shook her head. "No use.. He wouldn't come out if we banged on his door all night, stupid bastard." Mort frowned more. "Look... This gonna sound fucked up.. But I don't think you should stay over there." He nodded towards her house. She looked at him. "I've got a guest room, it's not much." "Thank you." She muttered softly. She couldn't even remember Jay being this nice. "And in the morning we can try the sheriff then." Alex nodded. It seemed to work. And she was to exhausted to think of another way. "I do..need to get some of my things." She muttered. "Yeah, of course. But I'll go with, eh?" Alex nodded, standing up and wipping her cheeks off.