A couple days later
Jason found Kellie laying on the bed struggling to fasten her jeans with the hair tie. Jason glanced at the bag of clothes Sam had left for Kellie.
"Wouldn't it be easier to use some of the clothes Sam left you?" He asked her.
Kellie groaned, throwing her hands back above her head, "Not you too."
Jason looked at her puzzled.
"One word…Maxie," Kellie said.
"I don't need anymore information than that," Jason said as Kellie moved from the bed and stood in front of the mirror.
"I'm not ready for this," Kellie said, taking in the changes the pregnancy had already had on her body.
"What exactly aren't you ready for?" Jason asked, coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her neck.
"Needing new clothes, at least the pants," Kellie said, turning to look at Jason, "Hell, I'm not ready for anything that goes with having another kid. I want more time to wrap my head around the idea of having a baby before having to buy new clothes and the baby growing enough that it's obvious and the bump starts feeling real. And I'd like to not be an emotional wreck about all of this and…
Kellie's rambling was cut off by Jason kissing her.
"What the hell, Jason?" Kellie said, breathless.
Jason kissed her again, "I like it when you ramble."
"That doesn't even make sense," Kellie said, "Especially when I'm rambling because I"m freaking out about having a baby, your baby. That doesn't bother you."
"No," Jason said, "Because you're not really freaking out about having a baby. I know that you're scared because Garrett's still alive even though he's in prison. And you feel vulnerable. You really don't like feeling vulnerable."
"No I don't," Kellie admitted, her hand moving to her belly, "And this makes me feel really vulnerable. What if I can't protect…"
"You will," Jason said, putting his hand on top of Kellie's, "We both will. I'm not giving anyone who might want to hurt you or our child the opportunity to. I'm not leaving you again in the position I left you the night Ryan kidnapped Carly."
"Jason, we both know you can't guarantee any of that," Kellie said, "So please don't promise something like that…"
"You're right there's no guarantees," Jason said, "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try to do everything, I mean everything to make sure you feel safe."
"I want to believe that," Kellie said, "To trust that."
"Let me help you," Jason said.
"I want to," Kellie said, "But I don't know how. It's like you said, I've always shouldered a lot of this stuff. Not that Uncle Lo didn't help when I was pregnant before and Tyler didn't do what he could."
"It's different circumstances," Jason said, "and like everything else that's happened, you need time to figure that out and to stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You have time to wrap your head around whatever you need to and still get ready for the baby to be born."
"Even if we're putting the nursery together in the last month," Kellie replied.
"We have plenty of people to help with that," Jason said, "Although Carly and Olivia probably wouldn't let you get away with that."
Kellie thought about that for a moment, "That might now be a bad idea. I could just let them…"
"Is that what you really want?" Jason asked, "To have Carly and Olivia take complete charge of the nursery."
"No," Kellie said softly.
"Just worry about whatever it is you need to next," Jason said, "the rest will work itself out."
Jason kissed her. Kellie let herself get lost in the kiss. Before things could go any further, Kellie and Jason heard the kids making noise.
"And the next thing would be making sure the kids get to school," Kellie said, kissing Jason again, "I'll make this up to you later."
"Are you forgetting something?" Jason asked.
Kellie looked at Jason puzzled.
"Your pants," Jason said.
Kellie looked at the hair tie she was still holding and thought for a moment, "I give up."
Kellie went to the closet, found the bag of clothes Sam had brought her, and the first item she pulled out was a fabric band with the tags still on it.
"Thank you, Sam," Kellie said.
"What is that?" Jason asked as Kellie stepped into it and pulled it up her body to the top of her jeans.
"Something that still lets me regular jeans," Kellie said, smoothing her shirt over the top of the band, covering it.
Jason just shook his head as Kellie left the room.
Kellie got the kids off to school and then grabbed her coat to leave.
"Any chance I can convince you to make things up to me now?" Jason asked.
"Rain check," Kellie said, "I have to go to the Foundation offices and track down the rescue coordinator."
"He still hasn't returned your calls?" Jason asked.
"Time to go camp out in his office," Kellie said.
"Is Charles going with you?" Jason said.
"i hadn't planned on it," Kellie asked.
"It's just this guy's been dodging you," Jason said, "Why would anyone dodge the founder of the place you work for regarding a case they should be working? Especially given that the case directly involves you. What about the new executive director? Did you call him?"
"Out of town this week," Kellie said, "At least that's what I've been told. Any more phone calls I put my other contacts in an awkward position."
"I don't like it," Jason said, "I'd feel better knowing you have some one with you that will have your back."
"And right now I can't be sure who at the foundation would back me," Kellie said, "It's kind of a mixed bag since we got married. With Uncle Lo out of commission, it's anyone's guess."
"I'd offer to go with you," Jason said, "But I doubt that will help things."
"Unfortunately no," Kellie said, "I'll call Charles. He might have a better idea of what's going on anyway."
Crossing Into Dawn Offices
Charles met Kellie outside the office where she explained the situation more in depth than she had over the phone.
"I spoke with the Executive Director's assistant earlier this week," Charles said, "He was definitely not on vacation. In fact I have a meeting scheduled with him tomorrow."
"I don't like the sound of this," Kellie said, "That's two foundation staff avoiding me."
Kellie went to use her badge to enter the building. It didn't work.
"That's weird," Kellie said.
"They might have revoked yours when you were kidnapped," Charles said, "I'll try mine."
Charles's badge didn't work either.
Kellie called the front desk and the receptionist came to let them in.
"Do you have any idea why my badge and Charle's badge aren't working?" Kellie asked.
"Let me get a hold of the executive director," the receptionist said.
"Is the rescue coordinator in?" Kellie asked, "That's why I'm here today."
"If you wait for the Executive Director," the receptionist said, typing on the computer, "I'm sure he can answer all your questions. If you'll follow me to the visitor's conference room…"
"Visitor's conference room?" Kellie asked, "Hold on a minute. My personal guard will be coming with us instead of waiting here."
"But that's not the protocol that's been established," the receptionist said.
"Our badges not working and being shown to a visitor's conference room," Kellie said, "Isn't protocol. Someone changed the rules with out so much as a peep to me or Charles. I don't think anyone would blame me at this point for feeling uneasy."
"I'll take it from here, Vanessa," the executive director said, followed by two security guards, "I'm sorry about the unexpected change in protocol. We were working on communicating that to you, unfortunately you showed up before we could reach out to you."
"I guess I could see how difficult it could be to reach out to me when you were supposed to be on vacation," Kellie said, "Although I have been trying to reach the rescue coordinator for several day now and he refuses to return my calls. So Calvin, what exactly is going on?"
"There's no easy way to tell you and Charles this," the executive director said, "But given recent events and your connections to organized crime, some staff and board members have concerns about the effect on the foundation's image and public perception."
"Kellie's marriage to Jason Morgan was discussed at length with the board," Charles said, "And Kellie resigned from the executive director position to make sure the foundation was protected."
"Yes, the board was willing to make certain allowances," Calvin said, "As it was understood the marriage was in name only and certain rumors about your relationship could be overlooked. However, as the latest gossips includes you carrying Jason Morgan's child, those rumors can't be overlooked. Not to mention our rescue coordinator claims you threatened him. The board has decided the foundation cannot continue to employ you in any capacity. The same goes for Charles since his father, Raphael Giambetti, is a well known racketeer. You've both been terminated from employment with Crossing Into Dawn effective immediately."
"Is this a joke?" Charles asked.
"It's not a joke, Mr. Scott," Calvin said, "I'll need you both to turn in your badges and keys."
"I'd like to know how the Rescue Coordinator is claiming I threatened him," Kellie said, "He hasn't returned my calls regarding the Esoterra case."
"According to his assistant you threatened to hunt him down if he didn't return your call," Calvin said.
"What I said was he had 24 hours to return my call or I'd camp out in his office," Kellie said, "I don't think you can call that a threat."
"Mrs. Corinthos-Morgan," Calvin said, "The decision's been made. Now please turn in your badges and leave before I have security escort you out."
"I'd still like to speak to the rescue coordinator," Kellie said, handing over her badge "I have questions about the Esoterra case."
"That case is closed as you well know," Calvin said.
"There are people we need to look at, including David Henry Archer," Kellie said, "Or Shiloh as he now calls himself."
"We will not be launching any additional investigations from this case," Calvin said, "A representative from NCIS has already made it quite clear we have no cause to investigate this Shiloh."
"Since when does any law enforcement agency dictate who our rescue teams investigate?" Kellie said.
"Our business is done here," Calvin said, nodding to the security guards, "Unless you need assistance leaving the premises I suggest you leave."
"I don't know who the hell you think you," Kellie said, "But our business here is far from done."
She turned and left. Charles went with her.
Back in his office, Calvin pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
"I hope you call bearing good news," Shiloh answered.
"Kellie Corinthos-Morgan officially no longer works for or has access to anything at Crossing Into Dawn," Calvin said, "As a result, there will be no further investigations into Garrett Esoterra's activities or suspected associates."
"That is wonderful news, my brother," Shiloh said.