Chapter 5

'Love Me, Love Me Not'

Previously in chapter 4:

Lost in the sensation their movements went from tender to frenetic. Their lovemaking taking on an identity of it's own. Ethan reveled in the sounds Simone made as she moved in sync with him. Her soft encouraging murmurs push him even further to the brink but it was as if the moment was forever to be suspended. He felt caught in a loop of time in which he could find no release. And then Simone was calling out his name, her hands clutching his shoulders her movements ever more urgent, "Ethan! Ethan!"

Suddenly the light behind his eyes burned bright and the sound of her voice was all but obliterated by the crashing resonance of his rushing blood filling his ears. Again and again Ethan called out for Simone telling her he loved her.

"Ethan! Ethan!" Eyes wide Simone gasped, "Stop!"

Stop? Ethan wondered before he could talk, "Stop?"

"Isn't that Lauren Clark from 'Surprise We're Live' at WGPV news?" whispered Simone looking over Ethan's shoulder before hiding her face in his chest.

Simone closed her eyes and tried to block the image of Lauren Clark's gloating smirk from her memory. Of all the damned people! Why? Why Lauren?...And why the hell is Ethan whistling?

Simone declined Ethan's offer to join him in the shower. Instead she sat and watched him as he showered, brushed, and shaved. Was he in shock? Denial? He seemed relaxed. Undisturbed. Ethan seemed happy. She watched as he pulled an extra robe and toothbrush out of the closet for her and splashed himself with aftershave. Ethan only spoke to ask if she could get him a fresh shirt from one of his office drawers. He suggested that she also take one for herself if she wanted to put on something after her shower.

Shaking her head Simone chose instead to wear the striped shirt he was wearing earlier. Wrapped in one of the picnic blankets from the one of the baskets Simone sat speechless. "I can't believe you're whistling."

Smiling Ethan walked over and enfolded her in his arms. "It'll be all right Simone."

"Ethan. The show is LIVE!" Simone gasped trying to keep the edge out of her voice. She squinted and looked hard at Ethan and tried to figure out if he was really as calm as he seemed. "You were freaking out earlier. What happened? This has to be a hundred times worse."

Ethan paused after he knotted his tie. The truth was that he was relieved that he was finally able to admit what he was feeling. His cowardice toward her had been disturbing him more than he had known. And just getting it out of his head and out in the open made him feel like a new man. He couldn't help it, he was happy, Ethan grinned.

Watching Ethan grin only exasperated Simone, "Ethan!"

"I know, but it's only the 10:00 news…who watches the 10:00 news?" Ethan tried to reassure her. "I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can keep this under control."

"You're making that up. You know that once it's out there it's out there."

I know…Oh how I know! Thought Ethan to himself reflecting for a moment about how he felt just earlier. Then he stood and looked down at Simone and demanded to know, "Hey! What were you just saying to me earlier? Relax. It'll all blow over they'll find someone else to go after."

"UmmmHmmm…Ethan, you should know something. I went to NYU with Lauren Clark. She hates me. She is not going to let this die." Simone groaned closing her eyes and throwing her head back against the sofa she tossed the blanket over her face exposing her lower body.

Ethan stroked her thigh and laughed before pulling the blanket down to cover her legs once more, "Please don't do that, the board is waiting for me and I just got dressed."

"Ethan! This isn't funny! Please listen to me…this is bad, really, really bad. You don't know…" Simone grabbed Ethan by his arms and Ethan noted once again how strong her fingers were and rolled his shoulders feeling the sting her nails left on his back. Suddenly envisioning what the camera saw, his bare back banded with blood over a prostrate Simone as he called her name and he told her he loved her. Slightly stunned by the image Ethan sat next to Simone. Ok, she was right. This was serious, but still…

After a moment's reflection he pulled her into his lap. Holding her to his chest he pushed the hair from her distraught face and kissed her. "Simone, I love you and this is going to be all right."

"Ethan, you don't have to say that." Simone whispered as she buried her face in his neck.

"No, I do." Ethan whispered softly and looked intently into her eyes. "Listen I know this may be a small town but in my limited experience there is always something bizarre happening here. You were right earlier. This will blow over."

"No, I mean you don't have to say you love me."

"What does that mean?" Ethan pushed Simone from his lap and stood, "Are you trying to say that you don't love?"

"No." Simone said

Ethan opened his mouth but nothing came out.

"No! That is not what I mean. That's not what I'm saying." Simone said in a rush, "What I'm trying to say is I don't want you to say something just because you think I need to hear it." Simone said taking him by the hand and pulling him to the sofa next to her.

"Simone," Ethan began, "you have to know…" a loud knock interrupted him.

"You better go. They're waiting for you. I'm not going anywhere. We can talk later."

"They can wait a few minutes longer. I need to understand what you're saying." Simone looked at Ethan but when she opened her mouth nothing came out. Ethan was frustrated but the knocking resumed. "All right. Why don't you eat something? I'll join you when I get back and we'll talk."

Simone shook her head, lay down on the sofa and sighed, "I'll eat with you when you get back. Right now I'm just tired."

Ethan kissed her tenderly. Before he stood he gave her shoulder a soft squeeze and then tucked the blanket under her chin. "Go ahead and take a nap. I'll lock the door behind me. I've got a key and I've called in another guard his name is Abe. He'll be just outside the door if you need anything. I've already instructed him to make sure no one disturbs you."

Ethan stood and walked to the door. "I don't know how long this is going to take. I intend to find out who orchestrated this live newscast without warning me in advance."

Before exiting the room he looked back at Simone. She lay curled up on his sofa in the fetal position. Her eyes were closed; her hands clasped beneath her chin, her dark lashes resting on her pale cheek. Ethan cocked his head, paused and stopped to consider that her face was so pale. Disturbed Ethan worried that Simone was in shock. Ethan wanted to go to her but sensed someone was at the door ready to knock so he quickly opened it before anyone could disturb her. He stepped out into the hallway and closed the door softly.

Ethan nodded his head to acknowledge the men at the door, Brad Stern and Abe. The board would have to wait a few more minutes. Ethan had a few short phone calls to make and some specific instructions for his private guard.

Chapter 6 'Calling in the Troops'

Greenlee and Dani come to Simone's aid and try to spread cheer.