A/N: I gave you happy – now here's some sad. Sorry. :(

Until 14…xox-G

Chapter Thirteen

Aidan sat on the bus, a concerned look on his face, his brow wrinkled. Something weird had been happening lately. He turned to look at Ella and Ty and wondered if he should ask them.

He'd heard of people having daydreams, but the ones he had kind of came true. Like yesterday, he saw how he'd get a 100 on his test before his teacher handed them back. What worried him was that what he had seen today was more like a nightmare.

The sound of Ella's giggle brought him back. He decided he wasn't going to say anything. Maybe if he kept it to himself what he saw today wouldn't happen.

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"What'd you do to her?" Grant asked as he walked in the house and glared at his father.

"Let me guess. They threw you out?" Rafe sighed.

"I couldn't believe it. Mom actually pushed me out the door, but Chloe agreed quickly enough." He shook his head. "I don't know how you did it. I don't know how you lived through Mom being pregnant FOUR times." Grant settled in on the couch, looking completely exhausted.

"It wasn't easy let me tell you." His father laughed back at him and sat facing him in a chair.

"Chloe cries when I look at her sideways – she screams if I so much as smile. I'm telling you I can't take it much longer."

"It's almost over and trust me it'll all be worth it in the end." Rafe promised.

"I know." Grant said, his tired eyes sparkling a bit. "That's what I keep reminding myself." He looked at Rafe and gave him a smile. "All right. Mom's madder than I've seen her a while. So c'mon. Tell me. What's going on?"

Rafe took a deep breath and finally gave in. "Something's going on with Caleb and your mother thinks I should call him."

"So why don't you?" Grant asked.

"I can't just call him – Grant." Rafe's voice was incredulous.

He shrugged in reply. "Sure you can."

"You know sometimes I forget that you have half your mother's genes." Rafe sighed loudly and stood. "Listen to me closely – I'm not calling Caleb."

Grant leaned back into the cushions and got comfortable. "Suit yourself." He picked up the newspaper lying on the coffee table and began to read. "Just tell me Dad – how are you going to find out what's going on if you don't ask him?"

Rafe knew his son, not to mention Alison, had a point but he was struggling. Caleb usually met compassion and concern with resistance and rage. Since Caleb helped Katrina get well, and honestly since Colin had become a part of the family he just didn't have the same drive and resentment that he used to. He hadn't in a long, long time. Certain things could still bring those old feelings back, if he ever found out Caleb was endangering his family he'd react in a heartbeat, but the truth was neither one of them had the energy anymore to keep their war alive.

He looked over at Grant and finally admitted the whole truth. "I think he's losing his powers and not by choice."

Grant blinked. That wasn't at all what he'd been expecting. He dropped the paper and stared over at Rafe. "You think he's what? What do you think it is?"

Rafe shrugged. "I don't know – but I do know this. I learned something the hard way."

"What?" Grant asked again.

"That as bad as Caleb can be, at least he knows what he's doing. If someone elsetries to take over – he won't be the only one in danger." He replied. "What your mother doesn't understand is that I have to help Caleb without him knowing I'm helping him. Otherwise this whole thing could blow up in our faces."

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"Hey Rodriguez. Didn't we just get promoted?" Lia grumbled. "I don't know why he sent us out here."

Eric, her partner for the last three years couldn't help but laugh. "Don't know, Donovan. Don't know."

"Disturbance at a warehouse? And the call comes in five minutes before I'm out the door." She checked her watch, her voice was getting more annoyed by the second. "I don't believe this. I have plans you know."

"Hot date with the doctor?" Eric chuckled at her.

"Steaming." Lia replied with a wicked grin. "And I'm late." She smiled as she added to herself. In more ways than one.

She was just about to open her mouth to complain again when she heard the sound of gunshots.

Her heart beat wildly as she reached for her gun. "Stay back." Eric whispered. "Don't argue with me." He added as he moved towards the door. He knew Lia always wanted to be in the center of things and was going to do all he could to keep her safe. Not because she was a woman, he'd never known a better cop – but because he cared too much for her to see her get hurt.

For the first time ever, Lia didn't argue. She carefully followed him through the door, her gun drawn. This was her job, and it was one she loved dearly. Despite her fears she was ready to face whatever was waiting on the other side.

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Maggie had to admit that she liked working at the station. She loved being part of the action, knowing who was doing what before the rest of the world. And the guys around here were pretty cute too.

She felt a set of eyes on her. She was startled when she realized who was staring at her from the doorway.

"Tim." She said softly. "What are you doing here?"

"I-I-I'm not sure." He stammered, incredibly nervous. "I – I need to report something."

"OK. Well – most everyone is out on calls. The chief's here but he's on the phone." She wondered what it is that Tim had to say. Up until last year, Tim Winters was Pete's best friend. But when Pete started to get into more serious trouble Tim began to keep his distance. He was too nice a guy to get caught up with all that. She just wished she'd been as smart as Tim was. She should have stepped away from Pete a long time ago.

There was no use worrying about all of that now. Right now she focused her attention on Tim. She placed a hand gently on his arm as she whispered. "Do you want to sit and wait?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "OK." As he sat down he fought to keep his hands from shaking. He couldn't waste too much time. He looked over at her nervously. "Maggie? Do you think he's going to be long?"

Beyond curious she just had to ask him. "What's going on Tim?"

He was desperate to tell anyone who would listen. "It's Pete. We haven't really hung out in forever but he calls me today. Tells me he's working with this guy. I don't know exactly what he's planning to do – but I know he's in way over his head, Mags. This isn't him dealing pot at PCU. He's onto other stuff now." Tim sighed as he gazed over at her. "I'm glad to see you're working here and not mixed up with all this. You always were better than that."

Maggie smiled slightly as she took hold of his hand. It looked like Tim had lost his best friend and she guessed that was entirely true. "What else aren't you telling me?"

"These guys, they've got guns so whatever they're into is dangerous. Pete sounded crazy. He said I should stop by, he's at this warehouse on the docks. But I wasn't about to do that. I decided to come here instead."

Maggie's eyes flew open as she remembered where Lia went off to minutes earlier. She sprang from her chair and burst into the chief's office – not caring at all that he was still on the phone.

At the same moment the scanner crackled, announcing her worst fear. Tim had followed her into the office and managed to catch her just as she started to faint.

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Danny whistled to himself as he hurried through the apartment. In two fluid motions he stuck the flowers he'd bought in a vase and threw the champagne on ice. He took the take out he'd gotten and arranged it on a platter, then tossed it into the oven to keep it warm. He was determined to make this night absolutely perfect for her.

He showered quickly and dressed with care. Tugging at his collar, he wandered through the living room and grabbed the remote for the stereo. Soon the soft sound of jazz was filling the air.

Danny took out their best china and crystal and set the table carefully. Stepping back a bit, satisfied with his work, he moved towards the fireplace and prepared to light a fire. Before he could strike the match the phone rang.

A huge smile broke out over his face as he stood and went to answer it.

He was still smiling as he clicked the phone on. "Don't you dare tell me you're running late." He whispered huskily. "I can't wait for you to get home."

There was silence on the other end. It seemed to last an hour before he finally heard his father's voice.

"Daniel." Ian said softly.

And in that instant he knew. It was the moment he'd been dreading forever. Danny's heart stopped beating as he dropped the phone and whispered her name. He sprinted towards the door, desperate to get to Lia before it was too late.