A/N: Wow. What a downer I am today. Sorry my dears, but it's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Someone will be happy in my story…someday. It's just that probably today isn't it. Or – maybe someone's sort of happy today. Hmm. Could be. LOL! Just read and see. Melody - LOL at Rafe and his daughter's hair. I couldn't believe it when I read your new chapter. Greatminds..Re: GC - I just actually decided this today – I wasn't sure I was going to go there but Bethany – this one's for you. :) Until 53! xox-G

Chapter Fifty-two

Elizabeth's heart broke as she watched Alison dash around the kitchen. "Sweetheart? Please sit down for a second. You look like you're going to collapse."

"I can't." Alison said curtly. "I'm too busy taking care of my daughter." Her nerves were shot and she was too tired to bother to censor herself. She glared in her mother's direction as she continued. "I don't expect you to understand. I know you'd have no idea."

"Alison…" Elizabeth said with a sigh. "How much longer are you going to make me pay for that?"

"I don't know Mother. As long as I feel like it." She snapped back. Finally she began to focus and caught the look on Elizabeth's face. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I'm just so tired."

"It's alright." Elizabeth replied, sighing again. "Sweetheart, please sit down."

Alison shook her head again. Her eyes turned heavenward, blinking back tears. "I don't know what to do anymore. Mom – it's getting worse. It's nearly four in the after noon and she's still not awake. She's been sleeping the entire day."

Elizabeth didn't know what to say or do to console her. "I know, sweetie."

Alison shook her head and wiped at her eyes. Her voice was a constant stream of desperation. "I can't let Ella see me upset – she's so perceptive she can always tell when things aren't right. I can't tell Rafe because he's too worried about whoever this guy is who might – oh my God – who might be after Becky and to top it all off we've got to play nice with Caleb and Livvie. I don't know what to do. I can't take much more of this." She said as she turned to gaze out the window. "I can't…"

Elizabeth face filled with relief as she saw Rafe standing in the doorway. Silently she stood and walked into the other room, leaving them alone.

"Alison…" He whispered.

He watched her take a few steadying breaths and run her hands over her cheeks. His heart broke as he saw her run her finger through her hair before she turned to face him with a smile.

Her voice was a bit shaky as she finally spoke. "Hi. I didn't realize you'd be home so early."

He stared into her eyes, his face full of concern. "I wanted to check in on Katrina – and I wanted to check in on you. Alison. You can't keep doing this…"

The smile left her face and she glared at him. "Please, Rafe. Don't. Don't start with me again."

"I'm not starting with you." He promised. "Alison. You need to take care of yourself. You won't be any good to her if you wear yourself into the ground like this. Please." He pleaded at her with his eyes. "I don't want to argue with you but I can't stand watching you destroy yourself. I'm begging you. Please. Just go lie down for a little bit."

"I can't." She said as she shook her head vehemently. "I can't go to sleep. What happens if she wakes up and needs me?"

"Then I'll wake you." He said with a sigh. He crossed to her and pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "Please. Alison." He whispered as he placed a kiss on her hair.

She sank against him and rested her cheek on his chest. She shook her head, still trying to protest. "I don't think I can. I have so much to do. Ella's coming home soon. She needs to eat and she has to take a bath. I let her get out of it yesterday but she has to tonight."

"I'll take care of Ella." He promised as he held her tighter. "I'll make sure she gets her bath.

"She'll walk all over you. She'll tell you she went swimming but Rafe that doesn't count." She replied with a sigh. "You'll cave – I know you."

"I promise. I can handle it. No caving." He said as he ran a hand up and down her back.

Alison mind spun, knowing he was right but still trying to reason with him. "She has to wash her hair – you have to use the conditioner too or she won't let you comb it."

"I've got it Alison. She's my child too you know. I'm not exactly new at this." Rafe replied as he kissed her temple.

She pulled back to gaze into his eyes. "You're tired too. I know you've been working with Caleb all day…" She began.

Working with Caleb, he thought with a shiver. He looked down at her and admitted. "You're right." He sighed. "I have been. And there's nothing more exhausting let me tell you."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Absolutely not." Danny yelled as he threw down the book he'd been reading.

"You can't tell me what to do, Thornhart." Lia snapped back.

He shook his head at her and stared into her eyes. "The hell I can't. You are not going undercover - without back up - to track down Quinn's girlfriend's ex. YOU'RE NOT. Don't you realize what this guy is? He's a criminal, Julia."

Her eyes flew open wide. He could not be serious. "And I'm a cop Daniel – or have you forgotten I happen to chase criminals on a daily basis."

He wasn't happy about her profession either, but he'd lost that argument a long time ago.

"Yeah. Alright – you do." He conceded. Knowing she'd take that as a victory he quickly added. "But when you do that you're in uniform, with your partner, and while you're carrying a weapon."

"Don't worry. I'll take my gun." She said with a shrug.

"Oh that makes me feel better." Danny's voice was full of bitterness. He sighed as he sank down on the couch, his face defeated.

Lia looked at him, wondering exactly where this was coming from. "Danny?" She said, her voice softening as she moved to sit beside him. "What's this really about?"

"I…" He began, afraid to actually tell her. It was something that was always on his mind but he usually kept it at bay. "I just always wonder. Whenever I go to work I wonder – is this the day?"

"Is this what day?" She asked him, completely confused.

Danny turned to her, cradling her face in his hands. His eyes bore into hers as he spoke, his voice shaking a bit. "Is this the day they'll bring you in? Is this the day they'll bring you in - shot or stabbed or… worse?" He blinked back tears as he finished. "Is this the day I'll have to try and save your life?"

Her heart sank to her stomach. "Danny…" She whispered.

"What you do – the situations you put yourself in? Julia, it scares me to death." He admitted.

"But you never said…" She stared at him in wonder.

He smiled slightly as he cut her off. "Like you'd ever listen." He laughed softly. "Lia. I know that you love your job – and I know that you're incredibly good at what you do- but that doesn't mean I don't worry about you constantly. The only saving grace is that I'm usually so busy I don't have time to dwell on it."

She was touched beyond belief. Still, she knew what she had to do. "Listen to me, Danny. Please. I promise I'll be careful. And Quinn will be with me."

He looked at her in disbelief. "Oh. Good. Quinn will be with you. If this guy tries something shady - what'll he do – nail him with a fastball?"

"Maybe. You know in his day he used to pitch 90 miles an hour." Lia replied with a laugh. Her face softened as she gazed into his eyes and leaned closer to him. "Danny." She whispered as she touched her lips to his. "I love you."

His arms closed around her as he pulled her to him. "I love you too. Please Lia. BE CAREFUL." He said between kisses. "Because I know I won't be able to go on without you."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We'll go as soon as your class is over, OK?" Grant said as he clicked off his computer. "Cindy said she'd lock up." Distracted he moved about the office and didn't realize Chloe hadn't actually answered him. "Did you get a load of her hair today? It's five different colors." He laughed as he finally looked up and smiled at her. "I can't believe it doesn't fall out with all the crap she puts in it."

"Yeah." She said softly, not paying any attention. She had a lot on her mind at the moment.

"Clo?" He walked towards her, completely concerned. "Are you OK?" Now that he thought about it she'd been extremely quiet all day. Things had been so crazy it was the first time he'd been able to pay attention.

"No." She shook her head at him. "I'm not. I'm terrible."

"What's the matter? Do you not feel well? Do you want to cancel your class?" He ran a hand over her cheek and gazed into her eyes. She'd looked really tired lately.

She shook her head at him again. "That's not what I mean. Grant…" She whispered as she blinked back tears. "I can't go there today."

"OK." He said softly as he pulled her to him. "It's alright."

"No." She protested. Chloe's voice became desperate. "It's not. I should go – she's my friend – she's your sister – but I don't think I can, Grant. I just can't..."

"Shh. Clo. Don't…" Grant held her closer and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Tell me what's the matter – please?"

Sighing she shoved him away. "I can't watch anyone else go through that Grant. I can't watch someone who was young and healthy and vibrant waste away – being consumed by some sort of disease that makes them a shell of what they once were. And with Katie – Oh God. It's worse – because she should be so happy Grant." Chloe sobbed. "She should be as happy as I am."

"This is you happy?" Grant teased, knowing that illness always made Chloe uneasy. But Kate wasn't in the hospital and he knew deep in his heart that something would intervene and keep her safe in the end. He was more worried about Becky quite frankly. "Clo. It's OK. You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"You don't understand. I can't just go there and watch her. It's all because of the baby…" She said, still sobbing.

"Chris says the baby's doing well. That's one thing he's sure of. I know it's scary but you don't need to worry…" He promised her.

"I know – but Grant…" Chloe cut him off and eased away. She suddenly moved to grab her purse, frantically rummaging through it. "It's not about Katie – it's about me."

He couldn't tell what she was talking about. This was so unlike Chloe. She was usually calm – almost eerily so. When things upset her she sometimes just shut down.

"Look." She said tearfully as she finally found what she'd been looking for. She crossed to him and shoved it into his hand.

"What is this?" He stared at what she'd given him and tried to catch his breath.

"LOOK!" She yelled at him, grabbing the tester back and shaking it in front of his eyes. "Look at what it says!!! I'm pregnant!!!" She sobbed.

"You're what?!" Grant's mouth hung open as the tried to take it all in.

She continued to babble, unable to control herself. "I'm pregnant. And I'm so happy but Katie – she's so sick – and I can't go there and pretend that I'm not happy because I am." Chloe's eyes were bright with tears as they met his. "Oh Grant. Even though we didn't plan this I'm so happy. But I know I shouldn't be."

Grant grinned from ear to ear as he finally composed himself. He moved to her and took her gently in his arms. "Who are you kidding? You totally planned this."

Taken aback, she started to focus. "No I didn't." She sniffled.

"No?" He said as he dried the tears from her cheeks, bending his head to kiss them away. "The night we got married – you didn't say – "I want to have kids with you and I want to start now?"

She finally smiled at him. "I said that?" She asked, not really remembering.

"More or less." He said with a laugh. "It was while you were seducing me. I thought it was just because you wanted your ring back but I see now all along you had other plans."

"Grant…" Chloe whispered. "I'm pregnant."

"I think you mentioned that." He said as he kissed her.

"You're not mad?" She asked.

Was she nuts? "Mad? No. Chloe." He took another breath to steady himself. "No. I'm not mad. I'm terrified, shocked and about to keel over - but mad? But no. Chloe. I'm not mad." He promised her as he crushed his mouth to hers.

She sighed loudly when he pulled away. Her voice got soft and serious as she stared into his eyes. "I don't want anyone else to know – Grant. I know it'll be hard to keep it a secret but I don't. Not until we know Kate's OK."

Grant wanted to tell the world, but he knew she was right. It was not the right time. God help him he thought to himself. She couldn't be that far along and she was already an emotional mess. It didn't matter. He'd enjoy every minute of it.

"Alright. It'll be our little secret." He said as he pressed a hand to her stomach and leaned down to kiss her.

Chloe covered his hand with hers and giggled as she kissed him back.