A/N: Merci beaucoup Ali. I had absolutely no idea I'd mislabeled the chapter. :o)

Hope this one makes you giggle like me. :)

Until 33! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-two

Maggie looked over Tim from under her lashes. He was back at the station again, giving some more testimony about the night of the shooting. Her heart fluttered a bit, almost to her horror.

It wasn't a good idea to get involved. She cautioned herself. Maggie was really enjoying working at the station. Da was finally easing up a bit. Everything was going so well she didn't dare want to jinx it. A sudden commotion roused her from her daydream.

"Chief c'mon." Lia pleaded. "No one will ever suspect me."

"Donovan – you're not going undercover when you're four months pregnant so just forget about it." He replied as he looked over the box of doughnuts sitting next to the coffee maker. He decided on one with chocolate frosting and took a huge bite.

Lia wasn't about to give up. "Look. It's low risk. You said so yourself. I'll just sit there and observe."

At that the chief began to chuckle. "You're kidding me – right? Donovan - you observe like an elephant tap dances." He tweaked her nose. "You ain't the subtlest thing alive kiddo."

"If you won't let me do the job I don't know why you even promoted me." She muttered as she threw a folder down on her desk as she slumped into her chair.

"Oh stop sulking. I got plans for you. Just sit tight." He chuckled louder as he made his way back to his office.

"Yeah. I'm sure. Why don't you just make me a crossing guard or something you big ape." Lia cursed under her breath as she turned to her computer. Suddenly she was pounding on the keyboard with more intensity than necessary.

"Wow. Is she always like that?"

Maggie jumped a bit at the sound of a voice coming from behind her.

"Tim. Hi." She said with a smile. "Are you finished?"

"Pretty much. It's not going to be easy but I know I did the right thing." He said, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice.

Maggie tossed her hair back and chewed on her bottom lip. "You did. It was very brave what you did."

"You think so?" Tim asked his voice soft.

"Absolutely." Maggie whispered back to him.

There was a moment of silence between them as Tim tried to get up the nerve to ask her something he'd been dying to for weeks. "Mags. Listen. Do you want to…"

"MAGGIE!" Becky called out as she rushed over to her. "I've been looking for you everywhere! I went to The Cottage and your mom said you were working here. I can't believe you never told me."

Maggie knew why she hadn't said a word but leave it to Becky to be so wrapped up in herself she didn't even notice.

"Hi Becky." Maggie said quietly.

"Listen. I have to pick Ella up in an hour. My parents are away and I got stuck watching her. So. Do you want to go to the coffee shop for a bit? We totally need to catch up."

Maggie knew the only reason Becky was here was because she was bored. She had a hunch so she asked, "Where's Kyle?"

Becky grinned at the sound of his name. "He's away – with my parents actually. It's a really long story." She reached for Maggie's hand and tugged. "C'mon. Take a break. I'll tell you all about it."

Maggie didn't want to go. She had been feeling neglected and hurt for months, watching Becky with Kyle. She wanted to do anything else besides hanging out with her at the moment.

She turned towards Tim and flashed him a smile. "Sorry, Becky. I already have plans."

"Oh." Becky blinked as she looked from Tim to Maggie and back again. "I'm sorry…"

"You do?" Tim said, his voice shocked.

"Yes. We do." Maggie replied as she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door.

"Oh…OK…" Dumbfounded, Becky watched them go. She sank into a chair as she whispered. "See ya."

"You had to have seen that coming didn't you Becky?" Lia said softly as she stared at her cousin.

"I must have been awful. She's so mad at me." She replied. "Oh Lia. I'm a horrible friend." She said with a sniffle.

"Nah, you're just a little self absorbed." Lia said with a shrug as she passed her a tissue. "Happens to the best of us now and again." She eyed the box near the coffee machine. "I know just the thing to make you feel alot better."

Becky looked over at her completely confused. "Huh?"

"OK. Maybe it'll just make me feel a lot better." Lia laughed. "Go over there and get me a doughnut will ya?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"No." She said softly as she reached for his hand. "Don't leave me."

Rafe laughed at her and didn't put up much of a fight as she dragged him back down. "Alison. I have to go. Kyle's waiting."

"Don't you want to stay?" She whispered into his ear.

"Ummm. Are you kidding?" Rafe's voice was muffled as she covered his mouth with hers. "Alison. Seriously…"

"I don't know what it is." She said as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Maybe it's because I took off to meet you in the middle of the night. It feels kind of…"

"Kind of what?" He said as he flashed a grin at her.

"Naughty." She replied, her eyes glittering with laughter. "Like I'm your mistress or something and we're meeting while you're off on some business trip."

"Well well well Mrs. Kovich." Rafe chuckled at her. "I had no idea you harbored these sort of fantasies. It's so true what they say. Even after years of marriage you never stop learning things."

"Stop Rafe. You know what I mean." Alison laughed back. "It's just – I don't know. Sort of exciting, don't you think?"

"There is nothing…" He whispered as he kissed her. "that I'd rather do…" She clung to him as he deepened the kiss. "…than be naughty with you today. But…" Rafe sighed as he deliberately took her hands and disconnected them from the hold on his shoulders. "I can't."

"Spoil sport." She said with a pout. She looked so adorable, Rafe couldn't resist. He dragged her up and out of the bed and kissed her in such an exaggerated fashion that she started to laugh uncontrollably.

Outside, Kyle lifted his hand to knock on the door and couldn't believe his ears. Oh my God. He thought, completely and totally shocked. He's got someone in there.

"Behave yourself." He heard Rafe say as the door opened. "I don't want my wife to find out about you."

Rafe bumped into Kyle, still laughing. "Hey. Mornin' Kyle. Are you ready to go?"

Kyle took a full step backward and stared at him openmouthed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Rafe stopped laughing as he stared back at him. "Excuse me?"

Kyle voice shook with anger. "I don't even believe this. You just told me a day ago that your wife is the most beautiful woman you've ever seen."

"This is true." Rafe agreed.

"You are really something else, lecturing me on how I treat your daughter when you're nothing but a low-life, two timing, slug." Before Kyle could think he reached out and shoved Rafe against the wall.

As he stumbled backward, Rafe realized now that Kyle must have heard what he'd said to Alison before he left the room. "Hold on Kyle. You have this all wrong."

"Who is she? Some cheap floozy you picked up at the bar in the hotel last night? Or do you keep her stashed over her on the other side of the world?" Kyle's imagination began to run wild. "Is that it? Are you leading some sort of double life?"

Rafe had to fight to control his laughter. "OK. Kyle. Seriously. Calm yourself down and I'll explain."

Kyle wasn't through. "Explain what? Do you know what Becky thinks of you? What she thinks of your marriage? She thinks you and Mrs. Kovich are some sort of fairy tale couple. It's all she's ever dreamed of – to find something like that someday. She thinks you walk on water but won't she be surprised when she finds out how low you just sank. Oh my God. I seriously don't believe this. She's going to be devastated when she finds out what you've been up to." He clenched his fists and said in a dangerous whisper. "I ought to knock some sense into you before you destroy your whole family."

Rafe took a deliberate step to the side, afraid Kyle would make good on his promise. "OK. Kyle. Do me a favor. Before you knock some sense into me – knock on the door."

Kyle shook his head. "Oh you've got to be kidding me. No thanks. Trust me. I don't want to meet your little home wrecker."

"Well if you won't – I will." Rafe said as he moved to do just that himself. Before he could get to the door it flew open.

Alison came rushing out, dressed in a silky bathrobe. "Rafe? Sweetie? You forgot your jacket!"

All the blood rushed to Kyle's head in an instant, roaring in his ears and making him dizzy. He had to place a hand on the wall to keep upright. You've done it now. You just insulted her mother, and threatened to beat up her father. He was wishing that the floor would open up and swallow him whole.

"There you are." Alison said with a huge grin as she turned towards Rafe and took his face in her hands. "Be careful" She whispered as she kissed him softly. "And hurry home." She added as she pulled away and handed his jacket to him.

She blushed as she realized they weren't alone. "Oh hi Kyle. I'm sorry. Excuse me." She gave him a wave and shut the door.

"Hey...M-M-Mrs. Kovich." He finally choked out as he watched it close.

Rafe stood by and completely lost it. When he could finally find his voice he gave Kyle a pat on the back. "You ready to go now?"

"Umm. Yeah." Kyle replied, still reeling from all that had just happened.

Rafe gave Kyle a gentle nudge forward and followed behind him. "For the record Kyle - if I ever cheated on my wife I wouldn't be a low-life two timing slug." He paused for a second, mostly because he still couldn't stop laughing.

Kyle swallowed nervously and tried to make amends. "Sir? I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…"

"Sure you did – but you're wrong." Rafe said with a grin as he clapped a hand on Kyle's back. "That's not what I'd be. I'd be a complete and total idiot."