Chapter 2:

As May entered the café she noticed that Slade, Jay, Jack, Ellie and Gel were all there eating already.

Slade and Jay looked deeply involved in conversation, probably over some city business; they were still trying to iron out some of the difficulties that had been created by Mega's death and Ram's super computer. Jay smiled at her as she passed him and Slade nodded in her general direction.

Jack stood to pull out a chair for her. "Hey May, glad to see you up and around."

"Thanks, Jack." May said, taking the seat he offered her.

"Well, didn't think we'd be seeing you down here today. Ellie said you threw…"

"GEL!" Ellie called out sharply. "Why don't you get May a bowl of soup."

Gel made a small sound of disgust. "Why should I, she's got two legs. She's pregnant, not crippled."

"GEL!" Ellie, Jack and Salene all cried together.

"Oh…Fine." Gel said, getting up and ladling Ellie's soup into a bowl and setting it on the table in front of May.

"Thanks, Gel." Said May politely, staring down into the soup bowl rather than up at Gel.

"No problem, don't trouble yourself." Gel said as she flounced back to her seat at the next table.

As May sat eating her soup she began to catch snatches of Slade and Jay's conversation.

"Ram and Lex are trying to get more information on that." Jay said softly.

"Yeah, but what are they really doing out there in Liberty? I was there with them for quite a while during the rebellion and it seemed that Lex did more work on the casino than anything else." Slade said in response.

"This time it's different Slade, they're not in exile, they're trying to help us."

"Yeah, but do we really need them out in Liberty. I think we need Ram back with us here, trying to get the computer system back up and running."

"Slade, the reason Ram is in Liberty is so he won't be tempted to build a super computer capable of taking over the city, remember, we've already had that experience. Besides, he's better off out there with Ruby to look after him."

Suddenly Gel broke loudly into their conversation, "I don't know why Lex has to be stationed out in Liberty anyway. Nothing ever happens out there, and he just picked up and left, without even saying goodbye, he could've said goodbye to me at least. I guess he was upset about the baby." She said looking accusingly at May. "He would've stayed if it hadn't been for you."

"GEL!" Everyone in the room yelled at once.

Salene had gotten to her feet ready to defend May at all costs. "Gel, I think you'd better go now."

"Well, it's true; if she hadn't slept with him and gotten pregnant then he would still be here with us, with me. It's all her fault."

"Right Gel, like she got pregnant all by herself, he had nothing to do with it."

"Well, it's not fair." Gel retorted childishly.

"Gel, I think you'd better go. I think Trudy needed some help watching Brady this afternoon."

"But…"

"Now, Gel." Salene said in her best upset mother tone.

Gel flounced away looking hurt and ill-used.

Salene turned to look at May. Jack had moved over next to her and had his arm around her shoulders. May was crying softly and looking down into her soup bowl.

"I'm sorry." Jay said to the room at large, "I think we'll take this discussion outside."

"Yeah, I think that would be good." Salene said to him and he and Slade walked out of the café.

Ellie came over and sat down next to Jack. "You know May, none of us feel that way."

"Yeah," Jack said in support, "We all know that it wasn't your fault Lex left, after all, Gel would have driven him away eventually."

May knew that Jack was trying to coax a laugh out of her, but just couldn't manage any response other than a weak sniffle and a few more tears.