Hey, here's another short chapter. Just kind of fill in details before all the action starts. Only three more days till Halloween so you know the days will be high intensity. I am leaving TX next week, going to visit family for a week and a half then I leave for Boston and start a new job. But I've got the five or six chapters basically written so there should be no slow down. Happy reading.

The hospital 4 pm Monday

Steph watched as Paul snapped the phone shut in disgust. "Is everything all right?"

"Sure." He answered distractedly as he started to pace. He could feel his wife's eyes burning into his back. Dredging up a smile he turned to face her. "Everything's fine." He assured her.

"Who were you trying to call?" She asked suspiciously.

"Laney." He improvised quickly. "She called you yesterday and wouldn't talk to me when I answered."

"Why wouldn't she? You're one of her favorite people."

Paul stared at his wife's disbelieving face. "Oh, ah…well." He stuttered caught. "We kind of had a big fight the day you ended up in the hospital."

"What did you fight about'?" Steph asked as she crossed her arms. "Maybe I can help you fix it."

"Well you know how protective she's been of you since you've been having trouble with the baby. She didn't think I was taking care of you."

'Well you weren't. But that's over and you've changed. Why don't I call her and tell her everything's okay." She suggested as she reached for the phone.

"No." Paul shouted as he snatched the phone out of her reach. "I mean she's probably busy with school work right now. I'll try her again later." He said in a calmer voice. "It would mean more coming from me anyway."

Steph nodded, smiling sweetly. "Sure honey. If you need my help just let me know."

"Thanks." He said sighing in relief. "I need to run home for a little while. Is there anything you need?" He asked.

Shaking her head in denial she waited until he had left before she dug her cell phone out of her purse. She waited as the phone rang on the other end.

"Spill you secrets."

Parking lot.

Paul waited until he was in his car before he called Dave. "Hey, have you heard from Jayden today?" He asked as he peeled out of the parking lot.

There was a slight pause before the other man answered. "Is something wrong?" He asked, avoiding the question.

"She said she was going to check some stuff out today about the stalker. But she hasn't gotten in touch and I can't get a hold of her."

"You think she might be in trouble?" Dave asked carefully.

Paul sighed. "She's probably just avoiding me and trying to cut me out of the investigation. Still I would feel better if I knew you had talked to her."

"I haven't heard from her but I'll try calling her and I'll see if maybe she's called Randy." Dave answered, his voice flat.

"Why would she call Randy but not you?" Paul frowned. "Trouble in paradise?"

"I really don't want to talk about it." The other man answered. "I'll call you back if I find anything out." He said shortly before hanging up.

The arena seats

Randy walked toward Dave as the other man shut his cell phone. "Bad news?" He asked as he sat down next to the big man.

Dave shrugged as he looked out over the arena. "Has Jayden called you today?" He asked.

Randy looked confused. "As good as we're getting along she's your girlfriend." He turned to look at the other man. "She is isn't she?"

Dave shrugged as he leaned back in the hard seat. "I wouldn't know. She hasn't talked to me since Friday."

"What'd you do?" Randy asked

"How do I know it isn't something that you did?"

"When you consider the fact that she's still talking to me I would have to say it's more of a problem with you." When Dave barely smiled at that Randy sighed. "This is really getting to you isn't it?"

Dave shook his head. "Just reminded me why I hate dating."

"When you fall for someone that hard and fast its gonna hurt."

The older man slanted him a look. "You would know seeing as how you do it every day."

Randy grinned. "Fortunately for me I still enjoy dating. Why were you asking about Jayden? Jealous?"

"Of some punk like you?" Dave sneered. He held up his phone. "Paul called. Apparently she's doing some investigating today and hasn't checked in."

"And now you're worried on top of everything else." Randy observed. "I'll try calling, see if she'll talk to me."

Dave nodded in thanks. "Hey Randy." He called as the younger man started to head off. "You are going to get that wrist checked out today aren't you?"

Randy turned back to him with an innocent look on his face. "What?"

Dave raised his eyebrows. "The one you've been favoring since Saturday."

The younger man tried to shrug it away. "It's fine." He protested.

"Then you wouldn't mind picking up that bottle of water." Dave asked. "With the other hand." He instructed dryly.

Randy gave a big sigh. "Okay. I injured it, no big deal."

"Well that no big deal had better get checked out before Raw tonight or I will personally drag it to the trainer." Dave said sweetly.

He smiled when Randy rolled his eyes and walked off.

Calloway residence Texas

"Steph, I'm telling you I don't know anything." Laney protested as she flopped on her bed.

"So you don't know why Paul lied to me this afternoon?" The pregnant girl asked.

"I wasn't there. I have no idea what went through his head." The young girl sighed in frustration. "Maybe he's planning a big surprise for you or something."

"Uh ha, and maybe you're trying to cover for him." Steph decided.

"Why would I cover for him? I haven't even seen him in two weeks." She protested.

Steph sighed in frustration. "I'm sure the two of you have gotten together and conspired against me."

"Yeah, I'm in Texas, not Connecticut, and much more interested in the party I'm going to on Thursday."

"Are there going to be boys there?" Steph asked interested in spite of herself.

"Oh yea." Laney laughed as she jumped up. "It's a costume party and I have this awesome outfit."

"How does your dad feel about you going with boys?" Steph asked laughing at the sheet delight in the younger girl's voice.

"He's trying to pretend it doesn't bother him. I think if it would have been one of days he was gone he wouldn't have let me go." She sighed dramatically. "I'm almost 14. He so needs to let me grow up.

Jayden's apartment

Paul pounded on the door for the third time, listening for any sound of movement inside.

Glancing up and down the hall he bent over to look at the doorknob, wondering if he could jimmy it open. He glanced up in surprise when it turned and the door cracked open.

"Trying to break in?" She asked, her sharp tone broken by the hoarseness of her voice.

Paul frowned, as he looked her over. "Are you okay?" He asked taking in her swollen eyes. Her hair was sticking every which way out of a messy braid and she had one shoe on.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she rubbed a hand over her face.

"You didn't answer the phone. I thought maybe something happened when you went to the funeral home today." Paul explained.

"What? Oh I didn't go." She said as she wondered to the kitchen for some coffee.

"What?" Paul asked as he followed her in. "Did you go back and talk to the volunteer lady?" He asked frowning.

"I didn't get around to it. Why didn't you do it? You were there all day." She asked as she willed the coffee to brew.

"I tried. The old lady wouldn't talk to me." Paul grumbled.

Jayden shrugged. "You probably scared her with your sweet demeanor. I'll try tomorrow."

Paul frowned. "You said you'd try today and you didn't. Why should I believe you?"

"It's not that big a deal." Jayden protested as she grabbed eagerly for a cup of coffee.

"It is a big deal. Every minute we don't find out who's doing this Steph's in danger. You can't let that happen just because you and Dave had a fight." Paul argued as he snatched the cup of coffee out of her hand.

Jayden bared her teeth. "Not everything revolves around you, your wife or your friends." She stomped out of the kitchen. "I have a life of my own and problems of my own."

"I have a little trouble being concerned with your problems when my wife's life is at stake." He yelled as he followed her.

She whirled back to face him. "I am just as concerned about Steph. And I'm sorry I let everyone down but I just couldn't do it today. And it has nothing to do with Dave. I haven't even talked to him today."

"Maybe if you'd have called him instead of wallering in bed all day you would have gotten something done." He jeered.

She wrenched open the door. "Get the hell out of my home." She cried.

Paul came to a stop and stared as tears coursed down her face. "Please don't cry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Just leave." She whispered.

Paul shook his head. "I'm not leaving you alone when you're like this." He protested. He quietly closed the door as he gathered her in his arms.

"Leave me alone." She fought against him weakly. "Just leave me alone."

"No, I think you've been alone too much already."