Ainsley carried two beers into the living room. She handed one to Johnny, but looked at Mike. "They didn't give you any pain meds, right?"
Mike smiled at her. "Two aspirin."
Ainsley handed him the beer.
"I'm glad you're okay." Ainsley moved to sit down next to Johnny.
"And I'm really sorry about your truck," Johnny said.
Mike dropped his head. After a few seconds he took a long swig from the beer can.
Ainsley jumped when the phone rang. Johnny reached over and rested a hand on her knee. "I'll get it," he said, giving her leg a reassuring squeeze.
"No, I'm okay. I'll get it," Ainsley said, taking a deep breath and getting up to head toward the kitchen to get the phone.
"I'm really sorry, man. She's scared because of what this stuff surrounding me has done to her. I shouldn't be here," Mike said.
"She's the one who told me to bring you here."
Mike looked over at Johnny. "You've got a pretty amazing wife, you know that."
Johnny lifted his beer can, "I do."
Mike took another drink.
"Johnny."
Johnny and Mike both looked up at the tone in Ainsley's voice.
"That was Meg; she's been arrested."
"For what?" Mike and Johnny said in unison.
Ainsley looked at Johnny and then over at Mike. "For arson and aggravated assault against Mike."
"I told Kate there was no way Meg did this."
Ainsley moved over and sat down on the couch. "They found iron oxide in her apartment. And Meg admitted to being at Caroline's apartment."
Johnny and Mike exchanged glances. "The fire was caused by thermite," Johnny said.
Mike shook his head. "I don't care what they found."
"Bond is set at $500," Ainsley said, looking at Johnny.
"You can't be serious."
"Johnny, I can't leave her sitting in jail. She doesn't have anyone else to call."
Johnny just looked at his wife.
"I'll pay you back," Mike said. "I've got that in my savings account. I'll pull it out first thing in the morning, if you can cover it tonight."
Johnny looked over at Mike. "She's accused of attacking you. She had the material to make thermite and the fire was caused by thermite. She was at Caroline's apartment. She didn't have any reason to be there Mike. Maybe she's not as sweet as we all think she is."
"There was a lot of reasons for people to suspect Ainsley when it was Tim too. But, you never doubted her."
Johnny looked at his wife and then back over at Mike. "No, I didn't. But, I knew Ainsley."
"And I know Meg."
Johnny looked at Mike for a long time. "Yeah, yeah, maybe you do."
"I'll go get the money." Ainsley got up and walked to their bedroom. They kept a safe in the closet with some money and other important papers. Ainsley quickly opened the safe and withdrew $500. Johnny joined her in the bedroom as she was closing the safe back.
"I'll go."
"I think Meg would be more comfortable if it was me. Besides, I need to talk to her. I don't understand why she was at Caroline's and why she had stuff to make something that could do that kind of damage."
"Do you think maybe she could've done this?"
Ainsley bit her lip. "I want to say no. But, until I walked into that library with Tim pointing that gun at me," Ainsley shook her head. "I never would've thought it was Tim. What if I'm wrong about Meg? I mean, I've only known her a year. Not even really. We met when she started teaching at the school, but we didn't really become friends until we worked on that Christmas play together."
Johnny pulled Ainsley into a hug. "If she's fooling you, she's got me and Mike fooled too."
"So did Tim." Ainsley said.
"So you're still gonna bail her out?"
Ainsley looked up at Johnny and nodded. "But, let's just say I intend to ask questions, and not necessarily take answers at their face value."
"Now I really don't like you going alone."
"I'll be okay. I'm not the one she's after."
"Yet you were the one that was hit with a homemade firework that almost took your life, and Grace's life. If Meg is behind this, she did that."
Ainsley shook her head. "There's no way, Meg did that. She couldn't of."
"Be careful," Johnny warned.
As soon as Ainsley walked out the door, Johnny went back into the living room and searched through the rolodex on the desk. He pulled out Kate's business card and walked back into the kitchen to the phone.
"Kate, it's Johnny."
"Is everything okay? Mike okay?" Kate asked.
"Ainsley's on her way to bail out Meg."
Kate was quiet on the other end of the line.
"Kate?"
"I'm here."
"I'm worried about her."
"You should be. Meg had means, motive and opportunity. She had the material to make thermite. She was at Caroline's apartment and could've easily planted the thermite on Mike's truck. When we searched the parking lot, there were burn marks indicating a really long fuse and from what material is left, we believe some type of slow burning material was used so it took a long time to get to the thermite. Giving the person who lit the fuse plenty of time to get away from the truck."
"And motive."
"Meg still has very strong feelings for Mike. She feels like he's stringing her along; whether intentionally or not, she's angry. Add anger to love and it becomes a very dangerous combination."
"Mike wouldn't intentionally string a woman along," Johnny defended his friend.
"It doesn't matter what he's actually doing Johnny. It matters how she feels."
"What should I do? Ainsley's already on her way to the station."
"I'll have plain clothes officers keep an eye on them," Kate assured him. "But, don't bring Meg back to your house; seeing Mike could be a catalyst to a desperate act."
"Ainsley was intending to bring her back to her house."
"Look Johnny. I'm not giving up investigating Kevin Costas, or even Caroline for that matter. But, I'm gonna be looking a lot closer at Megan Trask too. I'll make sure Ainsley gets Megan dropped off and back home safely. You have my word."
"Thanks, Kate." Johnny hung up the phone. He grabbed two more beers out of the fridge and walked into the living room, handing one to Mike.
"Kate really believes Meg is behind this?"
"Are you 100% certain she isn't?" Johnny asked Mike.
Mike looked at Johnny and said nothing. Instead he just took a big drink of his beer.
E
"Thank you again for bailing me out," Meg said, as Ainsley pulled into her driveway. The two had said very little since Ainsley had arrived at the police station.
Ainsley looked over at her. "Meg, why were you at Caroline's apartment?"
Meg turned to look out the passenger window. "I've asked myself that a thousand times tonight already."
"And what's the answer?"
"Joe told me he wanted to get serious tonight. He told me he isn't playing games and he's looking to get married and have a family. He told me he wants that with me," Meg said, still looking out the window.
She paused for a long time and Ainsley began to wonder if she was going to say anything else.
"I ran into Mike the other day. Literally, I was out jogging and ran into him. He told me I was beautiful. He asked if we could train for the Thanksgiving marathon together."
Ainsley could tell that Meg was crying.
"And tonight, when Joe was telling me that he wants a future with me, I was thinking about Mike. I saw Caroline's address on Kate's desk the other day. I was hoping I'd go by and Mike wouldn't be there. I hoped that all that stuff he said, was him realizing that I was the one he really wanted," Meg sniffed and turned back to face Ainsley, wiping her eyes.
"I'm such an idiot. Of course, he was there. I can't compete with someone like her. I'm blowing my chances of being happy with Joe because I can't let go of a guy who doesn't want me," Meg began to sob. "Why would he tell me I was beautiful?"
Ainsley leaned forward and hugged Meg. Ainsley understood how she felt. She'd felt very similar with Johnny when he'd put together the crib for Hunter and then kissed her. She hadn't known he'd broken up with Kate by that point because he knew he loved her. She thought he was just using her. She'd been devastated. She remembered screaming at him to get out of her apartment, and then sitting on the floor and just sobbing.
"Why did you have iron oxide, Meg?"
Meg wiped her cheeks and looked at Ainsley. "I was going to make magnetic slime with the kids next week."
Ainsley nodded. She'd done similar experiments with her class. It was a great way to get the kids excited about science and the materials were easy to buy.
"You know this doesn't look good Meg. You'll have to go to court and Principal Haggerty will suspend you for sure."
Meg nodded.
"Are you going to be okay financially?"
"I have some money from my dad," Meg said quietly.
"If you need any help, just let me know," Ainsley offered.
"Thank you, Ainsley. I don't know what I would've done without you. I've never felt more alone than I did tonight. I realized I didn't have anyone to call."
"You had me, and you were smart enough to call."
Meg nodded and then turned to look back out the passenger window toward Joe's house. "I'm tired of coming home to an empty house. I want a husband and a family," Meg said quietly. "And I'm done chasing after a man that doesn't want me."
"I wouldn't be so sure Mike doesn't want you," Ainsley said.
"Please don't, Ainsley. I've spent enough time deluding myself. I'm tired of being the fool in whatever game Mike Stoker is playing," Meg opened the door and got out.
Ainsley waited in the driveway until Meg got into the house and closed the door. Ainsley pulled out of the driveway and watched as a car pulled out from another side street and got behind her. She would have been worried, but she recognized it as the car that had been following them since they left the station. Ainsley smiled willing to bet that Johnny had something to do with her police escort. She wished Meg could find the happiness that she had found with Johnny.
E
"Michael Charles Stoker, what the heck is wrong with you?"
Mike and Johnny both looked up shocked as Ainsley burst into the living room.
"What?" Mike said, looking around to see what if he'd left his beer on the coffee table without a coaster, or spilled any of the chips he and Johnny'd been snacking on.
"Why on earth would you tell Meg she was beautiful while you're dating Caroline?" Ainsley stood over him, her hands on her hips.
Mike looked up at Ainsley and then over at Johnny before looking down at the carpet.
"And asking her to train with you for the Thanksgiving marathon. Seriously?"
"She said she was thinking about running the marathon. I've always wanted to do it. I thought it'd be nice having someone to train with."
"After I'd just told you she was dating Joe? While you're dating Caroline? Meg likes you, you know that. You're playing with her heart. I can't believe you would be that cruel," Ainsley berated him.
"That isn't what I was doing," Mike protested.
"Ainsley, I think you're being a little hard on him." Johnny defended Mike.
"You think that 'cause you're a guy," Ainsley said, her voice angry.
Ainsley took a deep breath and sat down. "Women aren't like men. We don't take things at face value. We're always looking for a hidden meaning."
"That's cause women are always trying to just drop hints we're supposed to figure out rather than just say what they're thinking or what they want," Johnny said to Mike.
"Bottom line, Meg was hoping you telling her she was beautiful and you asking to train with her was because you were realizing that you wanted to be with her."
Mike looked at Ainsley, but didn't say anything.
"Joe told her he wants to have a serious relationship with her; and she's holding back because she still cares about you. She was hoping she'd go by Caroline's apartment and you wouldn't be there," Ainsley paused. "But, you were."
"She deserves someone better than Joe," Mike said.
"Stop it," Ainsley ordered.
Mike and Johnny both looked at her, shocked at her tone.
"Joe's a nice guy, with a good job, who wants to get married and have a family. He thinks he'd like that with Meg. She deserves to be happy. If you don't want her, Mike, you need to let her move on."
Ainsley put up her hand when Mike looked like he might say something. "That means, you don't go jogging with her, you don't tell her she's beautiful and you don't ask her to spend months of time with you training for a marathon. Leave her alone, Mike."
"What if I don't want to leave her alone?" Mike asked, his tone one of misery mixed with confusion.
"Unless you know that with 100% certainty, you be a gentleman and you leave her alone," Ainsley stood up. "I'm exhausted and going to bed. Eggs, bacon and sausage for breakfast?"
Johnny nodded, his eyes on Mike.
Johnny waited until Ainsley walked down the hallway and closed their bedroom door. "When I was dating Kate, you knew that Ainsley was the woman I really loved. How did you know that?"
"You were never quite yourself with Kate," Mike said. "I mean, you were more reserved, and normal," Mike smiled at Johnny. "But, you weren't really you. You didn't change when you were with Ainsley, but she does bring out the best in you."
"Are you yourself with Caroline?" Johnny asked.
Mike shrugged.
"Does Caroline bring out the best in you?"
Mike shrugged again.
"What about Meg?"
Mike looked up at him.
"Answer those questions, and you'll know what to do," Johnny stood up and put a hand on Mike's shoulder briefly before he walked down the hallway toward his bedroom.
Johnny climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around Ainsley. "I'm so glad I have you."
"I love you," Ainsley whispered. "I just wish Meg could find what we have. Joe's a nice guy, but she's in love with Mike."
"I'm pretty sure Mike's in love with her too."
"I know, but when I hinted at that, Meg told me to stop. If Mike doesn't realize it pretty soon; it's gonna be too late."
Johnny kissed Ainsley and pulled her closer.
In the living room, Mike lay on the couch, putting his arm behind his head and staring at the ceiling. Was he himself with Caroline? They had a very physical relationship, but tonight when it wasn't all physical, he hadn't really known how to interact with her. Was that because all they had was physical, or because it was a new change in their relationship; or had he really just been tired?
Mike turned on his side. Did he tell Meg she was beautiful because he was trying to keep her from getting over him and moving on to Joe? Did he want to train with her to keep her in his life, and if yes, did he see keeping both her and Caroline. He knew Caroline wouldn't be okay with that arrangement any more than Meg would be.
So who did he really want to be with? Mike flipped back over to look at the ceiling. Ainsley's words repeating in his mind. "Unless you know with 100% certainty, you be a gentleman and leave her alone."