I felt as though all of the air had been sucked out of my lungs and it was difficult to breathe. My mouth gaped open and I'm sure I was on the verge of fainting. Pregnant? Kath was pregnant?

I guided myself to the nearest stool, where I had sat not twenty minutes before, and plunked down. I started to shake uncontrollably. This had come at the most inopportune time and I didn't know what to say.

'Faith?'

I looked up at her and shook my head. My mouth felt dry and sticky. I swallowed over and over again in an attempt to dislodge the lump in my throat that threatened to make me cry.

Kath sat across from me, tears streaming down her face and she made no attempt to wipe them away. She looked like a lost little girl who needed her mother to make everything better. She seemed smaller to me with her oversized sweatshirt and baggy gym pants and for the first time in weeks, I looked at her, really looked at her. She was pale and it looked like she had lost a great deal of weight, although I couldn't say for sure because of her outfit. Her eyes had dark circles under them and it appeared that she hadn't slept for quite some time.

I felt a strange sense of guilt twinge in my heart, for I had escentially ignored her for the past few weeks, not realizing the prediciment she was in. I thought back and realized that she had called me at least twice and I had been too busy to call her back, thinking that there would always be another time. Now, it was too late. I felt tears of sadness come to my eyes, but I refused to let even one drop.

But this was not the time to be weak, I thought to myself. I needed to get to the bottom of this situation and I realized that she would be the one to tell me what I needed to know. In a way, this opportunity for me to speak with her and get her side of the story might have been the only chance to get at the truth. Mikey certainly wasn't going to tell me the full version of what went on between them.

'Faith?'

'How far? I mean how far along are you?'

'Three months.' came her barely audible reply.

Oh my goodness. Three months. Three months! And Mikey had been with Carmelle for two of those months. And she knew. She knew all along that he was seeing someone else. At that moment I felt so sorry for Kath. She had done her best to make an honest man out of my son and had been rewarded with a child and he had left her for someone else.

Oh, the hurt that she must have felt would have been something awful and for her to come to me for comfort and support and find the other woman in my kitchen, must have been devastating. If I put myself in her shoes would I have been as nasty to Carmelle as she had been? I didn't need to answer myself. I would have been, no doubt about it.

I felt as though I were in a tug of war, with Kath on one side and Carmelle on the other. They were both lovely women, but had made the mistake of falling in love with a man who neither respected them or, as far as I could tell, really gave a damn about their feelings. He had lied to both of them in different ways, but he hadn't been truthful and I knew what lies could do to a person.. Lies were the foundation for mistrust and anger. They could seem like a small thing when they were told to the unsuspecting person, but when they festered and were discovered, they could be devastating.

And now, with Christmas come and gone, poor Kath had to endure the holidays scared and alone. I hadn't even given a thought as to how she had been fairing for those days, as I had been to busy thinking about Brett and Carly.

I reached out and took her small hand into mine and squeezed it. I had no room for anger now, not now when she was so hurt and alone. 'I'm so sorry, Kath. I feel so bad for what has happened. Please forgive me for not realizing how hurt you were.' I said sincerely.

She smiled bitterly and this time reached up and wiped her eyes with the back of her free hand.

'I never thought that this would be happening to me. I thought that he was ready to settle down and I knew in the back of my mind that something wasn't right...but I told myself that he loved me.' She said, rolling her eyes at the fact that she had believed him.

'He did love you, Kath. He just...he...he doesn't know how...he doesn't know...' I flailed around trying to find the words to defend the son I was totally disgusted with, and failed.

'He doesn't know what he wants.' She finished for me.

'Does he know? About the baby?' I asked softly.

She nodded and looked away. She was trying hard not to cry again, and the effort it took was literally making her slender shoulders shake.

'What did he say?' I asked in a whisper. I was so terribly afraid of the answer.

She turned back to me, this time, anger lit up her face. 'You want the un-rated version or the one I tell everyone else?'

My eyes widened in expectation. 'There's an un-rated version?'

'Un-rated version of what?' A deep gravely voice from behind me boomed.

I turned around and saw Bosco standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. I didn't know how long he had been standing there, but it was clear that he was confused. He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet and seemed on the edge of screaming. He was wound up and I was afraid that he would snap completely if there was much more drama today.

'I don't know what the hell is going on here, but one thing is for sure.' He said nastily, walking forward and looking directly at Kath. She seemed to shrink down on her stood, afraid of Bosco's words.

'Bosco...'

He ignored me and swung out one of the bar stools and sat down and pierced Kath with one of his scathing glances. He leaned forward and gritted his teeth and pointed his finger at her.

'Bosco...just listen.' I grabbed his arm and put it down and held his hand tightly in mine. I looked him in the eye and spoke softly. 'Something has happened and Kath has just told me some news. She's sorry for the way she behaved and when you realize what it is, you'll understand.'

'But...Faith.' He cocked his head to the side and gave me a piercing glance. He said this between clenched teeth, for he was trying to control his temper in front of our guest. 'I don't like the way she talked to you and I think...'

'Don't think. Just listen.' I said a little more harshly than I intended. I made a face at him to let him know he had to be quiet.

He closed his eyes and pursed his lips together. He didn't like being chastised in front of anyone, and I couldn't blame him, but I needed to defuse the situation before he said anything else.

'Fine.' He said staunchily, looking up at Kath and waiting for her to speak. She looked at me nervously and began to chew on her lip.

'Well?' He asked irritably, looking from her and then to me. 'What's the news? Another baby on the way perhaps?' He said sarcastically, looking at me and rolling his eyes.

Silence.

I cleared my throat and smiled weakly. He looked at me and then her and back to me in a matter of seconds, then groaned.

'You can't be serious!' He raised his hands and shouted, looking around the room, angry and shocked. He stood up and began to pace around the kitchen, his hand over his mouth, as if to keep any unwanted words from spilling out. He did that when he was so shocked or angry, that he didn't trust himself to speak.

The red colored t-shirt he had on seemed to be quite comparable to the color in his face. He jammed his hands in the back of his jeans and stalked around the kitchen grumbling inaudibly.

'How did this happen?'

Kath raised an eyebrow, as did I.

'No! I mean when did this happen? Does he know? What did he say?' He fired at her.

Kath gulped and looked toward the ceiling, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. Bosco walked back over to the island and sat down. He began to drum his finger tips on the top. Tap, tap, tap.

'Cut it out.' I snapped at him, a little fed up from his histrionics. He looked over at me and gave me a look that clearly meant that I should be quiet.

Kath looked at us, her huge blue eyes watery. ' Yes, he knows and I'm three months along...just starting to get over the morning sickness bit...' She smiled faintly and then trailed off.

Bosco looked at me with a look that said he'd be talking to his son as soon as he got the chance...and I also knew from that look that it wasn't going to be a nice father and son chat. Mike had really screwed up this time and I could tell that Bosco was very disappointed.

He turned his attention back to her and spoke in a softer, kinder way. 'Have you talked about the arrangements and stuff? Are you going to share custody of it? Do you think that you guys might get back together and work it out...' He stopped, aware of how hurtful his comment must of been. Mike was with Carmelle now and it didn't look like he wanted Kath anymore.

'I'm sorry.' He continued, despite the tears that were now sliding down her pale cheeks. 'This is such a shock...I don't know what I should say to you, Kath.' He looked at me for guidance.

I was totally lost. Here we were, in the middle of the day and we had just found out, again, that we were going to be grandparents. This was totally different from how it had been when we found out that Emma was pregnant. Their baby was planned. They were in love and married. To them, it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to them and to us, it was just plain wonderful. But this, this was shocking and sordid and nasty. There was so much happening that I felt as though I were on a roller coaster and I had no time to think about, much less accept, the new information that was being thrust upon me. I was going over one giant hill after another and was left feeling confused and sick. But that probably didn't even compare to what Kath or Brett or Carly were feeling. How did life ever get so confusing?

'I think what Bosco is trying to say is that we are just so surprised by this news...it's hard to know what to say...what I mean...what we mean...is that we'll be here for you, no matter what. You can still come to us whenever you need us and I'm sure that Mike will help out and...'

'No, he won't.'

'What do you mean?'

She shook her head and sighed. 'He doesn't want to help. He doesn't want this baby at all.'

Bosco narrowed his eyes. 'What do you mean? He told you that?'

She seemed scared to answer the question and looked down at her hands.

'Did he?' He asked again, a little more forcefully. He looked at me and shook his head. 'Did he tell you he didn't want the baby?'

'He demanded that I have an abortion. But I won't do it.' She said defiantly, lifting her chin.

My heart plunged. 'Oh, Kath! I'm so sorry, so sorry! I can't believe he told you to have an abortion! When I get my hands on him he's gonna wish he was never born!' I wailed, oblivious to what kind of impression I was making.

'Faith...' Bosco said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I flung is hand off of me and stood up and shoved the stool back under the island violently. I had had it!

I paced around, tugging the buttons of my pajamas. 'No! This isn't right! You know it isn't! Bosco, you go right down to that precinct and you tell him that he better get his ass over here pronto!' I yelled.

'Faith...I'

'Did you hear me?' I shrilled, when he didn't speak fast enough. It was his turn to calm me down, and boy, he had his work cut out for him!

I continued to pace around the kitchen and stopped at the sink to get a glass of water. I glanced out the window and saw a police cruiser speeding down our street, its blue and red lights flashing. It's siren blaring, an awful, mournful cry.

Stop! Stop! Hear the wail! The Blue and Red are on your tail!

'What the...' Bosco stood up and came to stand beside me, and peared out the window. The cruiser sped into our driveway and came to a screeching halt.

We looked at each other in confusion. What was happening? Kath, who had heard the siren as well as we had, stood up and joined us.

Seconds later I heard the front door open and the sound of heavy footsteps pounding down the hall. My heart started beating tripple time, as I waited.

Mike came running into the kitchen. He was dressed in uniform even though he had been participating in a training day. His hair stood on end, looking like he had received shock treatments and his eyes were wild. His piercing green eyes made him look dangerous and crazy as he skidded to a halt in front of us.

'Ma! You have to come quick! There's been an accident and you need to get to the hospital!'

He completely ignored Kath and his father and came over to me and took both of my hands into his and tried to tug me toward the door.

'What's happened?' I cried, terribly worried that Emma or Little Faith or Rob had been hurt.

'It's Sasha. She's been in an accident. I heard it at the station on the radio and came right over.' He said hurridly, still tugging on my arm.

'What? What happened?' I screamed at him. I looked at Bosco and Kath, who had twin expressions of shock and horror on their faces.

'Mike, when did this happen?' Bosco demanded, regaining his composure and walking over to me.

'About an hour ago. I called Ty on the way and he told me to get you right away and meet him there. It's pretty bad.' He revealed, his face stricken and gray.

Please God, not Sasha, not my best friend.

'Where is she?'

'Emergency surgery. I can show you the way.'

It didn't seem real. I started to tremble and I felt as if I were in a horrible dream. Sasha? Hurt?

I don't remember going upstairs and getting dressed. I don't remember the ride to the hospital or even how I got inside. All I remember is the sound of the siren, blaring over and over and over, warning us to hurry, to get to Sasha.

Please God, not Sasha, not my best friend.

Bosco grabbed my hand and pulled me into a run. We ran down hallways and corridors, the people we passed a blur, their faces looking strangely large and out of focus. The sounds of the hospital staff and crying babies, the stench of powerful cleaning agents and sterilizers bombarded my senses as we hurried along.

Please God, not Sasha, not my best friend.

I tried to keep up the pace but tripped over my bootlace and came crashing down, my face connecting with the cold, hard floor. Bosco stopped and picked me up. My nose was bleeding and my eyes stung from the force of the fall. Totally oblivious to anything else, we continued our race against time to get to our destination.

Please God...

Finally, we rounded the corner and entered the emergency area. We skidded to a stop at the nurses desk.

'We're here to see Sasha Davis.' Bosco told the nurse breathlessly.

She was a woman who was probably in her late forties, early fifties, with short gray hair that stuck up on end. She was short and stout with large rolling pin arms. Her face was red and puffy and there was not one bit of kindness or sympathy in her ugly face. She looked at me in surprise and disgust at the blood running down my face. I wiped it off with the sleeve of my coat.

'Who?' She snapped, not taking her eyes off me.

'Sasha Davis...she just came in from a car accident.' Bosco said impatiently. He held onto the arm of my jacket, supporting my shaking legs.

She gazed down at her clip board and slowly, so slowly, began to flip through the pages. She was wasting time!

'WHERE IS SHE!' I screamed at the old witch.

She recoiled as though I had slapped her, her rubbery lips pressed together. 'I certainly do not have to listen to this...'

I broke lose from Bosco's hold and ran around the desk and peered into the closest rooms. I ran from one to the other, sticking my head in, calling her name. 'Sasha! Sasha!'

'Someone get the orderlies!' I heard a voice yell.

'Faith! Faith!' Bosco yelled.

It all seemed like static to me, as I continued my search like a wild woman, madly dashing in a tear to find my friend.

Please God...

And that's when I collided with Ty Davis. He had come out of room 109, the number of that room would haunt me until the day I died. 109.

Upon seeing me, he burst into tears, his tall frame shaking violently. He reached out to embrace me and I backed away, like an animal about to be caged.

Please...

'No...no...no...!' I screamed.

'It's too late. She's gone.' He cried, still holding his giant arms out toward me.

'Noooooooooo!' I screamed again, shaking my head refusing to believe him.

That was the last thing I remember before my eyes shut and I felt myself dropping down, down into the darkness.