Note: I have decided to recast the character of Kevin for this story with Nolan North (Chris, PC)

And I feel
Oh I'd feel like broken glass
When I fell to the ground
I heard the sound of thunder
Trailing off
When I started coming 'round
But I couldn't make you stop
And you wouldn't let it go
So everytime I got back up
Like broken glass went tumbling down...

Song credit: Cyndi Lauper, "Broken Glass"

Kevin entered his grandfather's house quietly and with a reeling head. Slowly, he crossed the foyer and went to the wetbar to pour himself a drink. Leaning against the top he tried to gather his thoughts.

Things had seemed so clear cut when Jessica had told him about her fight with Natalie. If something had happened it had to have been her fault. It wasn't right that Jessie should be made to cry. That her loss should be thrown up in her face. And even as Jess tried to convince him otherwise, he had had to confront her.

And even then it had been fine.

Only now, as Jessica's observations haunted him, did he start to question his reactions. He would have recanted Kelly's alibi if it had been Jess in trouble. He wouldn't have ignored the signs that there was more going on that what he was told. Hell, he would've seen to it that Jess wasn't involved with the likes of Paul Crammer.

So why didn't he do those things for Natalie?

Did he really not see her as his sister?

And what about the other?
Was Jessica right?
Had Natalie suffered from more than neglect as a child?

Was that why she did the things that she did now?

Confused, Kevin downed his drink before turning and moving towards the couch. As he sat, Kelly breezed sulkily into the room. "What now?" he asked as he took in her expression and leaned back on the couch, unbuttoning his jacket.

"They've arrested Paul," she answered.

"Yeah. I heard. Bet you're relieved that you didn't kill him," he snarked.

"That's not funny, Kevin."

"I didn't say it was," he shrugged.

"They're going to charge him with fraud and obstruction of justice."

"That's it? Guess he's getting off easy," he answered as she paced.

Stopping, she pivoted and glared at him: "he's not. . ."

"Isn't he?" Kevin interrupted. "I'm surprised that he isn't being charge with extortion or worse."

"Well, Natalie should be sitting in the cell next to him then!"

"Really? Would that be the one you should've sitting in while Paul was missing?" Kevin shot back as he pushed to his feet.

"What? You think that I. . . I don't understand how you could say that," she cried as she collapsed on the edge of the couch. "You know it was an accident."

"Do I? Kelly, you've lied about so much lately, that I'm even starting to wonder if Ace is mine!"

Kelly's eyes widened at that as she gasped before burying her head in her hands: "how could you even suggest that?"

Sighing, he sat back down next to her: "I know you're hiding something from me, Kelly. I know Paul knows what it is, and frankly, the only thing that I can see you killing for is Ace," he admitted tiredly.

"It was an accident! Why won't you believe me?!?! And why do you have to put all the blame on Paul? You know that Natalie's not an angle. She could be lying about Paul to save herself!"

"I doubt it."

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Why are you?" Kevin asked in return.

"It's just not right."

"If you're thinking about helping Paul, think again. He's where he belongs."

"Like you wouldn't help Natalie?" Kelly shot back.

"If you remember I didn't. I stuck to the alibi I gave you. I stood by you and left my sister to the wolves. Now, you can stand by me and leave your brother to the wolves," Kevin answered before leaving the room.

Staring after him, Kelly fought the urge to scream as she picked up a pillow and threw it towards the door. "You had to go and pick now to care about your sister? Damnit, I can't not help him. He'll take Ace away! I won't lose my son! I can't!" she sighed as she buried her head in her hands and then looked up. "OK, Kelly, think what are you going to do? You can come up with something. . ."


". . . You have to Natty," Rex's voice pleaded from the other end of the line.

"I don't have to do anything but die, Rex, and I'm not planning on doing that any time soon either," Natalie replied tensely, wondering why she had bothered to answer the call as she loaded the trunk of her car.

"I'm going to loose Ultra Violet and then what am I gonna do? I don't have my club, I'm going to mooch off of you even more."

"Great argument there, Rex," Nat sighed as she leaned against the fender of her car and stared at Lanfair.

"You know what I mean."

"How much did you give Roxie?"

"Oh come on. You know I. . ."

"What? Had to?" Nat shot back. "You borrowed money to improve your business--- using said business for collateral--- but give most of it to her. Then you come to me like I'm a friggin' band. I'm not, Rex. I swear, I've given you two more money than I've spent on myself!"

"It's not like you can't spear it."

"Maybe I'd like for it to be around someday down the road. Maybe I'd like to know that if I can't work I'll still have a roof over my head and food on the table."

"I'll pay you back. I swear!"

"Yeah. When? After you pay off more of Roxie's debts?"

"She'd be dead if I didn't."

"And it would be her own fault, wouldn't it?"

"Nat. Come on. . ."

"Rex, I'm so damned tired of this!"

"It'll be an investment. I'll pay you back. Give you an interest in the club. Anything you want. I just can't loose it."

"Anything I want? Any terms I lay out?"

"Yeah."

"OK then. If I can get Nora or Evangeline to write up the papers so we can sign them tonight, I'll do it."

"Tonight?"

"Something wrong with that?"

"Yeah. I had plans."

"Yeah, well so do I. Tonight or not at all."

"Ok, Ok. Thanks sis," he added as he hung up.

"Don't thank me yet, you haven't heard the terms," she muttered as she put her cell phone in her pocket.


Smiling Jessica put her cell phone in her pocket. "Antonio?" Vicky asked from her bed as she watched her daughter.

"Yeah. He's going to try to come over with Jamie for a bit," she answered as she sat back down on the foot of the bed.

"Well, that will be nice," Vicky said. "Although, nicer would be you moving back home with him."

"Not until you're back on your feet," Jess countered.

"Really, Jessica! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I have a full staff, Todd's pager, and you sister is here."

"Yeah. You can really count on Nat."

"Jessie? Where is that coming from?"

"No where. We um. . . we just had a bit of an argument and there's a couple of left over resentments that's all."

"Well, I can't say I'm not surprised. You've been so stressed its not surprising that an argument happened sooner or later."

"It shouldn't have. . . we both said things. . . and. . . it really hurt. . . you know?"

"Well, I'm sure Natalie will apologize later and it will all be fine. . ." Vicky sighed. "Now, tell me about Jamie. . ."


Having contacted Evangeline and getting the ball rolling on saving Rex's hide, Natalie moved towards Vicky's room, stopping as she heard her mother's voice: "Well, I'm sure Natalie will apologize later and it will all be fine. . ."

As her words registered, Natalie moved back shaking her head. Of course, Jess would run to their mother, and of course Vicky would assume that she was the one who needed to apologize.

Well, she'd be damned if she would.

And she'd also be damned if she let them know that they'd hurt her. She would just leave. It wasn't like she'd be missed.

Turning, she all but ran down the hall and back towards the main entrance, nearly running into Renee as she did. "Slow down, sugar," the older woman admonished with a slight laugh, than as she took in her step granddaughter's face, changed her tone. "You all right?"

"Yeah. Just in a rush. Have to meet with Rex," she shrugged.

"You sure that's all?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't it be?" Natalie asked defensively.

Renee frowned at that and shrugged, "if you say so. Is Vicky up for company?"

"Jess is sitting with her, so I guess so."

And there's the real problem, Renee thought. "Well, I'll head back. Just, before I do, I have something for you," she answered as she opened her purse.

"For me? Why?"

"Well, it's not too much," Renee answered as she held out a small package, her voice cracking slightly. "It was in Ben's wallet and I thought. . ."

"In his wallet?" Natalie asked as she fingered the wrapper uncertainly. "Are you sure you want to give me something that he. . . well, it must have been important for him if he carried it with him."

Renee smiled sadly at that: "I'm sure. In fact, I think he'd want you to have it. Go ahead and open it, Honey, so you can see for yourself."

Biting her lip, Natalie flipped the tape away from the paper with her nail and peeled it back to see the back of a frame. "The frame is one Asa gave me back in the old days," Renee explained at the bemused look on Natalie's face. "And yes, I'm sure I want you to have that too," she put in as Natalie opened her mouth to ask just that.

Shrugging, Natalie turned the frame over as she let the paper fall to the floor, gasping slight as she looked at the picture that was in the frame. A picture of her and Ben that had been taken shortly after she had 'become a Buchanan.' "He had this in his wallet?"

"Yes."

"I didn't. . . I mean. . . I didn't know any one. . ." she started through tears. "I don't know what to say. . . I mean. . . I didn't have. . . and I wanted. . ." she shook her head, hugging the picture to her chest. "Thank you, Renee."

Choked up at first Renee could only nod, but after a moment managed to get a: "you're welcome dear," past the lump in her throat

"I umm. . . I better. . ."

"Yeah. I need to. . ." Renee replied, giving the younger woman an out. As soon as she left, Renee pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number: "yes, it's Renee Buchanan. I need a favor. . ."


"I need a favor," Antonio said from the door of John's office as he watched the other man hang up his phone.

"What?"

"Cover the stake out for me tonight?"

"Why? Jamie sick?" John asked as he opened a file.

"No. I want to take her over to see Jess. Spend sometime together. You know we really haven't been able to with everything that's been going on."

"Sorry, can't."

"Why not?" Antonio asked.

"Because I promised someone else that I'd do them a favor. If Jamie were sick I would've found a way out of it."

"Come on. Something's wrong with Jessica and I want to cheer her up."

"Yeah, well, Renee's worried about Natalie. I promised her that I'd stop by and see how she's doing," John answered as he picked up a file and started to review it.

"With the trouble Nat's been courting, I'm pretty sure putting it off won't make that much of a difference," Antonio countered.

Frowning, John put the file down as he posed a question to the other man: "why is it that everyone seems to put Jessica before Natalie?"

"Hey man, in case you failed to notice, Jess is my fiancée."

"True, but in case you missed it when I said it: Renee asked me to check on her. How often is it that someone has thought of having someone check on her? Sorry, I'm not doing it. Not tonight."

"But I already. . ." Antonio started only to stop at John's look. "Never mind. Tell Nat I said hi," he added as he backed out of the office.

Shaking his head, John picked the file back up, checking the clock as he continued to read it. . .


"So, Nat's going to be here soon?" Rex asked as he looked at the clock on the wall before returning his attention back to the file that Evangeline had given him.

"That's what she said," the older, black woman said as she sat on a stool and watched as Rex rounder the bar while reading over the contract. "You need any help understanding that?"

"No. I'm not an idiot," he answered as he flipped the page.

"That's debatable," Natalie countered as she hurried over. "Sorry I'm late."

"You ok? You look like you've been crying," Evangeline commented.

Rex snorted at that: "Natty never cries."

"I'm fine. Thanks," Natalie answered for herself. "Did you put in the clauses. . ."

"What the hell! Natalie, you can't!" Rex started.

"Guess you did. And yeah, Rex, I can. You said anything," she countered.

"You really going to hold me to this?"

"You want the money?"

"Ok. Ok. I'll agree to the terms. Where do I sign?"

"There are post its marking the places," Evangeline stated. "Blue for you. Red for Natalie," she explained as Rex flipped through and started signing, then turned towards Natalie. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah. It'll be an investment. I get my money back plus a share, or I get the whole thing. Seems like a win/win. Besides, bailing him out of trouble is what I do."

"Too bad it doesn't apply to other people," he gripped.

"Rex, I've been bailing you out of trouble since I could dial a phone. I'm tired of it. It's time Roxy grew up."

"She needs. . ."

"To stop gambling," Natalie interrupted. "And maybe if we stop enabling her she will."

"And if she doesn't?"

Natalie shrugged, "I don't know. But the clauses stand. You can give her money, but it doesn't come from Ultra Violet. You do, you forfeit on the loan."

"You'd really take the club from me?"

"Try me, Rex."

"When did you become one of them?"

"One of who?"

"The Buchanans. When did you become judgmental and all for hoarding the riches?"

"Maybe when I realized that I'm nothing more than a walking ATM to you and Roxy."

"You're not."

"Aren't I? Get into debt with RJ then run to 'big sis' to bail your sorry ass out with her bankroll. Don't offer her a partnership. Don't go to her first with a business offer, just get her to clean up the mess! Well, you know what, Rex? I'm no more wanted by them than by you, but I've learned enough to not just give MY money away. So I'm bailing you out with a loan that will be paid out as laid out in that contract. Evangeline will watch over the accounts, and if you fuck up, which you undoubtedly will, I get the club. I get away to get my money back. To be independent of the whole lot of you, and if you don't piss me off, you can stay on here. If you do, you know where the door is, and you can stand on your own two feet for once in your life. Now, if you want the money give me the damn papers, otherwise, take your chances with RJ."

Swallowing, Rex shook his head as he handed her the papers, "you've really changed, haven't you?"

"Yeah. I guess I have," she sighed as she signed the papers, wondering if it was a good thing or not.