Family Bonds: Book 2 of Sista

by Blackstar1979

Family Bonds the sequel to Sista. The the Superstars and Sistas have been through a lot that have carved out bonds where there were none. Will the past rip apart the bonds that have been forged or make them stronger? Reviews are welcomed as always.

5. Chapter 5 Meet my Family

Chapter 5

Meet my Family

Joshua sits in the truck waiting on Angel. He's already put their bags in the back. She walks out in a black skirt that came to her knees with her fashion boots, an Ed Hardy Polo shirt, tucked in over it she wore his leather jacket, which was too big on her, but at least she wouldn't be cold. She takes the jacket off lays it on the seat and puts on her bracelets. One of the snaps wouldn't snap he reaches over and snaps it. He looks at her hair and wondered what the hell happened. "Did you cut your hair?" She turns away from him so he could see the super tight bun with two chopsticks sticking out the top to the sides she'd done. "If it starts making your head hurt please take it down." She asks was it too much? "A little bit. It looks painful" She takes it down and puts her hair in her usual ponytail. "Much better you ready?" she nods. Then asks him where they would be staying? "Since Cassandra moved back in, my parent's house really has no room. I booked us a room at the Boulder Inn it's pretty nice. I stayed there when I went up to check on my dad. Besides you may see it as childish, but I don't sleep under the same roof as Cassandra.

Angel reaches out and places her hand on his on the steering wheel. He relaxes his grip and takes a breath. "Joshua calm down your all tensed I don't think you're childish for not wanting to be back under the same roof asleep with her near. You wouldn't get any sleep and since you're driving. I need you to get sleep."

Hours later Joshua pulls up in front of the Boulder Inn. An hour ago Angel said she needed to lie down so she'd laid down on the inflatable Car Bed that was attached to the back seat. She'd draped his jacket over her and was out within minutes of him pulling out of the parking lot of the rest area they'd had lunch at. When he turns off the radio he hears her crying in her sleep getting out he opens the back door. She laid hugging his jacket and crying. "Angel babe, wake up your dreaming." He tugs the jacket she slowly opens her eyes and stares at him. Sitting up she wipes her tears away with her hands and comes away with her eye make-up. Cursing under her breath she looks around and says she'd forgotten she had it on. "You wanna talk about it?"

"I…I don't want to think about it right now." She scoots off the bed and hugs him to her tightly. He hugs her back rubbing his hand up and down her back. They walk into the lobby draped around each other. Joshua grabs the key, and has the staff take their things up. They enter and it's a living room area behind the double dark hued oak doors is a king sized bed. Angel soon reapplies her make-up and they leave out to meet up with his parents and Cassandra. Her dream was so real she had to get over that. As they arrive up on a higher mountain Angel felt sick, his parent's house was a ranch style with a huge observation window.

Sally Davenport walks to the front door to pull it open she'd seen a large black truck pull up into her driveway. "Michael I think one of your guest are here." She opens the door when she sees Joshua climb out of it she runs to him. "Oh I thought you were one of Michael's guest my baby boy I have a surprise for you. The rental agency let you rent your dream truck I see." He looks back at the passenger. "Joshua I thought you were bringing your fiancé."

"Hey mom" He bends down to her 5 foot 5 and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "I did" She asks he did what rent the truck or brought her daughter? That made him smile. "It's Angel's truck." Sally walks around the side of the truck as Angel is getting out "Angela Ivey meet or re meet Mrs. Sally Lu Davenport." Sally steps closer and ask Angel is she okay. Angel says she is dizzy. Joshua moves closer Angel looked pale even for her. Sally tells him to take her in the house. Once inside Sally asks Angel does she still feel dizzy Angel nods and almost falls over from a standing position. Joshua didn't like this shit at all.

"I know its taboo but please be truthful are you perhaps drunk?" Joshua shoots her a glare. "Well you've certainly mastered Michael's shut up Sally look." She sees Angel squeeze his hand and some of the steel blue daggers left his icy glare as he turned back to her. Sally had taught deaf children and they had taught her a thing or two mainly how to read lips. What Angel told him well below whispering was. "Please stop before you make her mad. Then she'll never like me." Sally was about to say it was a running joke they had but Angel then addressed her.

"Mrs. Davenport I'm not drunk." Angel sighs and sits back in her seat. Joshua asks did she feel hot." No, I don't think you want to stand there your son must not like tacos excuse me" Joshua helps her to the bathroom where she gives the taco back to the toilet gods. Angel rinses out her mouth as she meets Joshua's gaze in the bathroom mirror. "You said I didn't need the sour cream. Life lesson learned. You know more about this area than I do." She puts her hand on her stomach. The dizzy, queasy feeling was subsiding. She says softly "Your mother thinks I'm a pregnant drunk, if I didn't make a first impression long time ago. I've made one now." Her eyes start to water as she drops her gaze from his in the mirror. He turns her around she put her head on his chest. "I fucked it up all over a damn taco." She says into his shirt.

Sally stood at the door. "Angela may I come in?" Joshua opens the door for her. "I don't think you can top your first impression. To you it was probably the fleeting memory of me and Michael waving at you through the window..." When Angel meets her gaze Sally felt for the girl. "Joshua, I'd like a word with your future." Angel lets him go and he walks out of the bathroom. "Have a seat dear." Angel sits on the bath chair. Sally wets a towel and wipes the running eyeliner off the girl's face she'd flinched but stayed as still as a doll until Sally backed up. She then meets Angel's eyes. "The first thing I thought, when I saw you today was wow she finally grew into all that hair. The first time I met you, you did something that I could not. While I provided a safer household, for my newly adopted son in a new town away from my other two children, ever since Chase Ivey drove you to our house in Pyramid. What you didn't see was the enormous smile that came across my son's face when you got out of your father's car and came to my door. For long periods of time I thought that Joshua would be angry forever" Sally stops for a moment "You gave and still give my son happiness and any mother that could dislike the woman that gives her baby boy a better outlook on life isn't really a mother. So stop wondering do I like you. I'll give you your answer once and for all. No." Angel gets up Sally hugs her, the girl tenses. "I stopped liking you 10 seconds after I met you." Angel pulls to be let free. Sally let her go and Angel backs up. "I've loved you ever since that smile claimed my baby's eyes. Now you're going to have my grandbaby. Joshua spends so much time keeping people at arm's length I thought I'd never live to see the day that he got married or became a father. Now come on out of here."

Out in the hall Joshua sits by the door to the bathroom with his head back on the wall. Michael Davenport walks up and claps him on the shoulder. "Are you spending the night? Or going back down the mountain to the fancy hotel?" Joshua gets up and shakes his dad's hand telling him yes they are staying at the hotel. "How's the house doing?" Joshua tells him fine. Joshua asks how he is. "I'm fine son you said we, so that means that you brought your gal?" Michael watches his ultra-serious son's eyes dance as he says yes. "Your mother was worried that y'all weren't coming. I told her she was being a fruit bat. Nice rental you got there." Joshua tells him it Angel's. "Well, nice truck. Joshua, I just wanted to come in here and tell you that I appreciate you coming up and helping us out.

"Bradley is still in jail right?" Michael sighs and says yes. "Just checking" Joshua says

Jonathon Invites Vivian to his Dallas location since Joshua and Angel are out of town he didn't have to worry about her just going up to The Davenport and messing with them. He gets out of his vehicle and heads into LEGNA. When he walks into the lobby he is surprised to see his niece. Megan sat on one of the stuffed chairs. "You've come for a tour?" When she looks up at him her eyes are puffy. "I have a meeting but come into my office." He didn't know why she'd been crying but he wanted to know because for whatever reason she came to him. He walks in after her, goes to his desk and turns on his monitoring system. He'd rather Megan be his only surprise he didn't want Vivian on-site with him none the wiser. He looks over at Megan she looks at his pictures he'd put up. "Is everything okay with your new son Glenny?"

Megan had driven from Mark and Paula's home in Pittsburg TX and soon found herself in Grandville in front of Angel's house. Logan was right and she'd hurt him. The following night he'd told her that he wasn't going to leave thanks to Glenn talking to him. He'd also told her to fix it and they would see where things went from there. So she was trying to fix it any way she could. "He's fine. Uncle Jonathon I'm so sorry about the other day. I went to the house and Frank wouldn't let me go in the gate. I've called Angel and I keep getting the same message it's not even her voice it's like Sophie's voice but a part of the Ivey Enterprises phone system. It keeps saying Angel Ivey is on Vacation and away from her desk but I'm calling her cellphone." She stops when he his look turns from concern to confused. No one had told him. "Oh shit" she thinks to herself.

"That's odd. She's out of town visiting." He calls Angel's phone and she picks up. "Honey Pot, Megan was trying to reach you. I thought you girls were on the mend. No she showed up here at my office." As Angel tells him the events of a few days ago he catches Megan's eye. "No it's not your responsibility to know all. I would in that position but that was completely uncalled for." Jonathon had to change the subject because even though his girl was hundreds of miles away he could hear the anxiousness in her tone. "Are you getting on with them? No everything is fine here. I have a feeling about him he wouldn't let anything happen. Well I just called to make sure it wasn't a blanket message or that your phone wasn't acting up. Take care. " His office phone rings as he is closing the call with Angel." No I just saw her enter. Thank You" he looks back up at Megan who is now pacing his office. "So you were rude and threatening and now you want what exactly? You, mentioned Frank, why did you see it as appropriate to go to her home?"

"I went driving, what she doesn't know is that Logan agrees with her. He almost left me because of her. I thought she was being funny. Hind sight is always 20/20 I know my actions were rude. I didn't see them as threatening. I really still don't, I had her but I wasn't hitting her or anything. The next thing I know she yells three and sprays me."

"Your Hind Sight needs glasses." Jonathon gets up walks around his desk. "Turn around, now I know this is completely different but I want you to think of the situation. You're Angel. You're thinking you've just escaped a potentially tense situation." He suddenly grabs her from behind and partially dips her. "Your Pregnant, and afraid of what at this point?" He sighs and puts her on her feet. "As I said before this was probably a poor example because you know I had no intention of doing you harm. The point I'm trying to get you to see is Angel did not have that trust that you would not harm her. Megan you're kin and I love you, but there is no next chance. Leave my girl alone." She says Logan told her to fix it. "Sometimes you must live with your bad choices. Everything can't be fixed with I'm sorry. I'm saying this as someone that loves you. You're too angry. Go home raise your son and calm down your anger is not healthy for you or your newly adopted son. Logan wasn't leaving you over Angel he is tired of the complete insanity of your actions towards a person of your own bloodline, which you haven't even known for a year. Go home to your husband and don't try to contact my daughter anymore or we will have issue."

Megan walks to the door. She looks back at her Uncle. He stood at his desk in a closed off stance as if he was holding himself in place. Sighing she walks out the door and towards the lobby to leave. He was right she had hurt so many people and putting out and I'm sorry wasn't going to do it this time around.

Vivian walks towards Jonathon's office and sees a redhead thinking it is Angel as the redhead walks down the hall with her head down. Vivian gets an Idea, she runs up behind the redhead and pushes her into the wall. "Where is your crew now Bitch. Joshua's mine." She kicks the woman but when she grabs her hair screaming "Viv Gets what Viv wants" she notices for the first time that it isn't Angel. "Oh shit, I'm sorry" She helps the dazed woman to her feet.

Megan had to sit down she'd hit the wall too damn hard and then had been kicked in her back. She hears more running suddenly the woman is handcuffed and Jonathon comes through the throng of security personnel to stand in front of her. He turns to the woman who tells him she thought it was Angel. Jonathon puts both hands up and steps back. Megan had seen that move so many times before from her own brother and her grandfather it was a sign of self-restraint. "I was going to recommend you join another band instead of firing you. You have talent, but you are for lack of a better word, bat shit crazy. You stirred up a lot of trouble and now you have moved up the ladder to attacking my kin. There is no place for you here at LEGNA." She tells him that she wasn't waiting around for him to call the cops. She tries to head-butt one of the security guards. They take her down. "You don't have to wait, these men and woman have police power, and you have just attempted to assault one." He bends down and whispers in her ear her eyes widened and he tells them to get her out of here.

Megan rubs at her forehead and her fingers come away with blood on them. That would explain the wetness. Jonathon sits next to her. He points at someone and waves them over. A woman in scrubs comes over and asks Megan a few questions then tends to cleaning her up. One of the female officers come over and asks Megan did she want to press charges. She says hell yes. Jonathon asks her did she want him to call Logan to come get her. She tells him that Logan was at home with Glenny and Logan's arm was in a sling because of her. He asks her did she need to go to the hospital she says no. He tells her that he'd have her driven home.

An hour and a half later after getting word that Megan was now at home. Jonathon walks in his office and slams the door. He tells the receptionist to hold his calls and cancel his 4 pm appointment. He dials Gloria's number. "I tried to remain detached as you suggested. That failed she attacked Megan thinking she was Angel. If Vivian had of sent my girl into the fucking wall, detached professionalism only goes so far she has been arrested and right now it is the safest place for her. I have verbally fired her put it in writing and remove her fucking file."

"John I know you're tired. I'll put her packet together and send her the paperwork. Is Megan ok?" He says she was dazed for a bit but seemed more herself shortly after. "I'm glad you let the police handle her and didn't harm her. If you want me to I will draft a promo for a local audition to replace Vivian Arrow." She heard his anger but she'd learned long ago that his wolf coin had two sides. Most people backed off but if you knew what was behind his aggressive nature you understood how to work with him. She heard the growl in his tone but she also knew Jonathon Leonel McBride listened to facts and nothing more at this point her facts spoke for themselves the songs Angel sang with the band trended more in an half hour than the rest of the performance. Oh yes Joshua and Deon were cute, the drummer was great, but most of the pictures were of Angel and story after story that she'd joined forces with the local band formally known as Davenport Lighting. "John what I'm about to suggest I want you and Personal Touch to think about. I saw the performance the one with Angel singing lead at the Grand Opening concert. If Joshua would agree you may want to just have Angel sing lead the 5 of them play and sound very good. I want to send you comments left on our site from fans that were there. It's just a thought." He tells her he has a lot to do. "Tonight go home, don't stay at work until you fall on your face, go home get some rest." He tells her he's going to work on his new home he needs to do something physical that wouldn't land him in jail. Then he will go home. "Fair enough goodnight Love you."

When she ends the call she stares mortified at what she had said. He was her boss she ran the Ireland office only because he wanted to go back to the US and he couldn't be in two places. He made her a Partner but he was the owner. He'd called her on her cellular phone. He knew she would be home by now. It was 9:30pm in Dublin but only 4:30pm in the states. If he asked she'd blame it on being tired. Her work log which he had told her she no longer had to keep would prove to him in writing, that she had a long day. He now had staff in the US office he would call her less frequently once his new assistant learned "to keep up or go home" As he was famous for telling his Dublin staff. Gloria smiles at the memory of him coming in early one morning and being completely out of control, he'd turned to her and told her that they were to have a meeting and to bring her laptop. That was the day he'd made her partner. The next day he left for the states. She now lay in her bed looking at his picture on her phone he was calling her back. "Goodnight John" she whispers to the picture of him when he was either leaving her a message or had hung up. She turns her phone off then turns over and goes to sleep.

Sophie and Luke are driven to his home he'd invited her there for the 4th. He stayed in a condo on the hill just beyond the south border of Grandville South. They pull up in front. "I've taken the liberty of ordering and having some food sent up that I believe you will enjoy." They walk in and it looked smaller on the outside. It had his style new modern, lots of decorative art that depicted the industrial art era. His sunken living room was a matching Black leather couch and loveseat trimmed in silver with an in wall entertainment center framed in black. The kitchen was small but opened into the dining room. He walks over and turns on some music. "Have a seat though I'm not a cook I still would like to set the table they say go with your strengths." He says with a smile.

His smile was surly infectious "Oh I bet you had a blast feeding yourself in med school." Sophie says as she has a seat on the couch. She wore a red and black mini dress with her favorite MK heels. He pops his head out of the opening over the breakfast bar and says that he really didn't have as hard of a time as most, he could afford to do take out or at the very least go home and have meals at his parent's home. "Well I guess so with your father being one of the top internist in the country. I cooked in college I didn't have to worry about dorm life. I had an apartment near the college. As you know I went to Howard University I kept the apartment in D.C. until Angel bought the Florida house that my parents lived in for my mother. My dad sold her Ivey Mansion for 1 dollar then paid the dollar." Sophie smiles at the memory of the look on Sophia's face when her usually passive father put his foot down that they were moving into the house that Angel had purchased for them end of story. Her father was full of surprises he usually had a devil-may-care attitude around the family. In business he was the aggressive analytical personality that wanted things done now. Even in retirement he'd started up a committee to save Grandville from itself. Or from the husbands of the wanna be street gang of the GSSEC.

Luke comes into the room and asks for her arm. When they walk in the dining room the food is set up and everything looks delicious. "So do you know how to barbeque? If not this little time you have off may be spent back at my place." He assures her that cooking on a grill he knew just not cooking indoors. They eat and he suggests dessert in front of the TV with a movie. When finished eating dinner he tells her he'll clean up while she selects the movie. "So is there anything you don't watch?" He tells her unless she wanted him throwing things at the screen or correcting them, no medical type movies please. "Oh this 12 hour ER marathon looks so good" he visibly cringes and she cracks up laughing.

As he walks out into the living room he says. "I thought you at least liked me." He smiles and sets a covered tray down in front of them. He sits down beside her and just watches her as she reads the guide. Every time he looked at her the same thing happened a little voice tells him it's her. She catches him staring at her. "I have something for you. For almost 2 months we have been dating exclusively. Sophie you've given me a social life whenever we are together we make each other laugh either at something out side of us, or at each other, or even at ourselves. He runs his hands through his hair and stands, walks across the room and asks her to hit 4 on the remote. When she dose an instrumental of the song (Anything) by the group 3T comes on, and he sings. By the end he is back over near her he gets on both knees in front of her. She puts her hands up to her face. He hoped she wasn't laughing at him. "Sophie Elaine Ivey will you marry me?" He opens a Tiffney's box and takes her hand from her face. She wasn't laughing but it also wasn't a look of yes. She tells him she had to go. He gets to his feet and turns off the music sighing he says. "I understand it is way too soon. I'm sorry. Please don't leave."

Sophie had been here before yes they had wonderful times together but she'd said yes to Julius before and it hadn't happened. Luke sat on the couch holding the velvet box with his head down. "Was this the only reason you invited me up here?"

He looks over and tells her "Yes and no. I asked you up here to ask you in a quiet setting. I also meant what I said about you staying for the fireworks tomorrow. I really did take off no pager, no nothing just to spend some much needed time with you while you're not in the middle of a case or I'm not up to my ears in work. You still don't get me do you? When I said that I would be perfectly ok with just hanging out I was serious. I've told you this before but from the first time you walked in my office it was like an electric current ran through me."

She appreciated his honesty "I'm not saying no but right now at this very moment I just can't say yes. It would be for your benefit and that's not how I want to make this decision." He says he understands because it is a major decision that he is asking her to make. He gets up and puts the box back in his drawer.

As he walks back into the living room he says. "Let's have some dessert and watch some movies shall we?" He sits next to her, takes the top off the tray and strawberries and chocolate greet her eyes. He dips one and feeds it to her. He gets some on her cheek and kisses it off. "Yum, my favorite" She laughs and tells him he is a goof. She dips one and offers it to him. He takes it and sucks her finger. Laughing with his eyes when she tries to withdraw her finger, he lets go and says "like I said my favorite flavor." She asks was he talking about the dessert. "Since you take me a little too seriously sometimes I'm going to clarify. I don't mean it in a cannibalistic kind of way but I love the smell and taste of you. I'm not going to eat you or anything unless you want me to." He wags his eyebrows at her in a cocky smile. After they finish feeding each other the strawberries he gets up and pulls her to her feet. "I have another surprise for you. For this I would like to blindfold you. It a sensory technique I'd love to try with you. Since you are a fellow intellectual you'll want to do this because it's purely for science, and if it doesn't work I'll never do it again."

"Well only because it's purely for science. Goof ball" she giggles. He blindfolds her taking care not to tangle her hair in the Velcro straps that held it in place. He guides her towards the kitchen. Nope she was heading toward his bedroom. She smelled his aftershave stronger in here. He lays her down taking her stockings and underwear off she hears them hit the floor. He was that quiet. He gets up and fastens something around her waist then snaps could be heard. She tingled all over because of his light touches and pure anticipation of his next move. He tells her to lift her arms she was now standing on his bed. When she lifts her hands her left hand bumps into a rope. He moves her hand and tells her no cheating. He slowly slides her dress over her head. He was driving her crazy he knew it. He kisses up her torso, blowing and making her shiver. He then undoes her blind fold and she could see him but he'd turned out the light. He glowed in the moon light coming in through his window. He'd put her in a sex swing. "Well hot damn the Doctor is kinky." He pleasures her until she thinks she's going to soar into orbit. Just when she thought he had to be done he'd do something else. When she was on the verge of begging him to stop he undoes the swing and lays her down sending her into orbit and following. Breathing heavy he gets up and disposed of the protection and lays down with her. Catching her own breath she says "I think your science worked." He soon falls asleep she lays on his chest. Kissing his muscular chest she softly says "Happy 4th of July Luke."

Hours earlier Angel stares out the window of their hotel room. Cassandra was not present today but Joshua spoke to her on the phone. Sally said she'd be home on the 4th. They were only here today and tomorrow. Joshua had gone out for snacks they had eaten but baby boy wanted her brand of peanut butter and a small jar of pickles. Sally liked her that was a relief. Michael liked her as well but Sally was who she was most worried about. Finding out her question about being a drunk was a joke on how Joshua used to get inner ear infections and fall over and she'd ask him if he's drunk. She smiles as she remembers Michael retelling the story as only he could. Angel had seen Sally in an old picture standing with the GSSEC. Not wanting any surprises Angel asked her about it when they both went in the kitchen. Sally told her that she thought she made enough to make a difference but she guessed not. When she asks Angel was she part of the group. Angel makes a face then laughs telling her future mother-in-law that the group didn't make any changes all those women did, were sit around, drink, talk about people, and shop. When Sally asked her how she knew if she wasn't a member. Angel had clammed up. She was afraid that her link to Sophia would ruin her relationship with Sally. Sally made the connection for her. Saying she would have never guessed that Sophia Ivey ruler of Grandville South was her mother. She'd apologized for Angel's loss. Angel stayed quiet until they left.

Her phone rings it's just turned 11:30pm answering she hears what sounded like crackling. "Hello… Hello?"

"You're pregnant again but it's too late. Sophia knew you were pregnant the first time. It was a part of the agreement." Angel says she is going to hang up now. "Go head and I'll send you lover off the mountain." Angel asks her what she wants. "I just want to share with you. Of course by the time you send out the right people to find out if what I am saying is true it will be burned to the ground. Glad to know I have your attention. Your first child was to be a gift to your mother. Braden had planned on getting you pregnant while you slept and he did. Sophia was angry at you because she saw it as you destroyed her plan for a child. She didn't want to get fat at her age. You would have been a perfect surrogate mother. If you had of been further along Braden would have just took the baby." Angel tells whoever it is that was insane and she would have never let her mother have her child. "Dear you would not have had a choice you would have been kidnapped the baby was not to be harmed that was the only rule you were just the Incubator. Sophia was going to get as much money as she could from Chase and she, her baby, and Braden were going to live happily ever after. Think about it dear it would have passed for her child and it would have been his. The plan was excellent the players were flawed and now that they are dead. I'm going to do my organization and your mother a favor and destroy the evidence that would tie me into all this. I was supposed to get a sizable donation you couldn't even get as far as you are now. Though it won't fund my next case I think I'll still send your lover off the mountain. Goodnight Angela." The voice purrs and hangs up.

Angel quickly dials Joshua it goes to voicemail. Her whole body trembled as she spoke "Joshua please, call me back please oh please be okay" Angel paced the room she dials his number again Voice mail. She leaves the same message only more hurriedly than the last time. She felt hot she calls Sally when she picks up Angel is crying and trying to speak "I can't get in touch with Joshua. I'm so sorry he went for a snack for me and then…and then someone called that knows we are up here they threaten to… to send him off the mountain." Angel's vision was blurred she didn't know whether it was by her tears or what, but she felt foggy. "I can't lose him" she passes out falling to the floor.

On the phone Sally screams "ANGELA!" She heard the phone fall at least she hoped it was just the phone. Not wanting to hang up she grabs the house phone and calls the police. Angel wasn't answering and Joshua was missing. They tell her that since Joshua was a grown man he could not be a missing person for 36 hours. Sally begged the operator to please go check on her daughter. The operator hung up. Sally's eyes narrow as she gets out of bed. Michael looks at her and asks where she was going. "WE are going to see about Angel and on the way I'm going to pray that Joshua is okay, while you call him on his cell phone." When he turns over and tells her she is being a fruit bat. She smacks him on the butt. "Let's go Mike." Michael gets out of bed and sleepily walks toward the door. She marches to the front door and swings it open with her phone to her ear. The burst of cold night mountain air shook the massive living room window as it was let into the house.

Cassandra was walking up the stairs as Sally was running down them. "Mom where's the fire?" Sally yells at the Mayor office, if the police don't move their asses. She then tells her to come with her and call her brother. "Mom Bradly can't have calls what's going on?" Sally says not Brad but Joshua. "He's technically not my brother" Cassandra stepped in her way "NO you're not going anywhere until you tell me why you are still helping him. Haven't you played mommy enough."

For the first time in her life Sally Lu Davenport slapped her daughter. She then screams "He's my son. If you won't help then you're in the fucking way." She pushes a shocked Cass out of the way, gets in her car and backs out of the garage. She still hadn't heard movement on the phone. Joshua was calling her. She had to answer his call. " Oh god where are you? Angela was trying to get a hold of you. I tried to calm her down." He says his phone had no bars when he was in the store. "I called the police Angel dropped the phone and it has been too quiet over there. I'm on my way, how far are you?" He says he 5 minutes tops. "Don't speed Joshua, she was crying and carrying on, all I know is that if something happens to that girl, I'm going up to the Mayor's advisory council and slap them all silly. I have to click back over on this thing how do I do it?" he asks her why was she going to slap the Mayor's advisory council "Why because I called and told them you were missing and then I told them to go check on my daughter and the bitch hung up on me." A Police car, Ambulance, and a Fire truck zip past her. "I think the cow at the very least sent someone to check on her they just went past me. Yes they are turning. I see you I think. He hits the interior lights on and off. "Yup that's you. I'm behind you now." She pulls up alongside him.

He gets out of the truck and turns around in a complete circle. Sally gets out and gives him her phone. Saying the other call had not disconnected. He ends the call with himself, putting her phone to his ear, and takes off running. "Angel, babe, tell me something make a noise." He says into the phone. When he charges into the hotel and up the stairs he hears something but it wasn't what he wanted. He wanted to hear Angel not the resounding all too familiar drop of a call tone.

Angel is brought into wakefulness when counting is heard and she is lifted. When she opens her eyes a strange man is looking back at her. He looked like Luke "You're everywhere." Alarm bells went off in her head when he asked her what happened in a curt tone. She had to find Joshua and tries to sit up the man holds her in place, and threaten to strap her down. "Oh please don't." He asks what happened. "I don't. Oh no, it hurts. I can't lose him." Angel fights the urge to cry. She was hurting. The darkness claims her once more.

Joshua charges into the room with Sally on his heels. Sally pulls Joshua back telling him to please keep out of the way. "This is bullshit" he pulls away from her. A Chinese man walks over and tells them to back up. "Where are you taking her I have to ride with her?" The man says if he is in her network he can, if not he will have to get permission. "That's no problem, if you don't see my name I know her emergency contact numbers. My name's Joshua Davenport." The man scrolls down his on his iPad and says the fiancé. "Yes sir." The man tells him that they were going to air lift her into her network saying the nearest was in Napoli Texas on the North West edge of Texas near Dell City at the Sheldon and Barns Medical Center. "What happened?"

The tech says that "She needed oxygen we found her on the floor. She was awake for a time but the only thing she told us was she can't lose him. Her name was given by the person that called and it pops up under the Sheldon Network with strict instruction for her not to be admitted outside of her network to any hospital that didn't have the Sheldon award. We are a county hospital on the 4th of July. Most of the staff is students."

Joshua tells him "You're the medical professional long as it is safe for her." The med helicopter lands in the parking lot. They load Angel. Joshua turns around and hugs his mother tightly. "I got to go. I'll call you." He follows the Med-Tech out and gets in the helicopter. Angel starts moaning and talking he knew she wasn't fully awake. "Babe come on open your eyes, I'm not gone. I'm right here." He takes her hand in his, they have her on oxygen. When she opens her eyes and sees him her eyes fill with tears. He bends down and says "Please calm down. I know you're freaked out right now." He rubs a thumb under her eye catching a tear. "It's going to be okay."

At the hospital Joshua sits in another row of ugly orange chairs. His eyes are closed but he is far from sleep. Angel kept passing out. For the second time in less than 4 days Joshua prayed for his Angel and his son to be okay. When he saw the blood, once again the anger that he held close as a shield was replaced by pure trepidation. He called Jonathon. "I don't need you going bat shit because I didn't inform you on what's going on." Jonathon says what happened. "Angel passed out again. I saw blood this time she's in the hospital. No not in Colorado, she was air lifted to a place inside her network here in Texas. Yes Middlebrooks has been informed. " His conversation with Sophie went further. He sent her the address she said she'd be on her way. He calls his mother Sally lets him know that she managed to get Michael to drive Angel's truck back up to the house and take her things that were left behind.

The Corrigan building in London was set on fire last night or early this morning. Chase calls Sophie and she was about to call him to let him know that Angel was in the hospital. He tells her about the building and that he has to go. Sophie tells him to add Angel's location to the flight plan. He says will do and tells her he'll have a car sent to pick her up. Sophie got up out of bed. Luke slept like the dead. She stands there watching him for a time. This was probably the most sleep he'd gotten all week. Something bugged her something about the London building she calls Bobby and tells him to review the recording of the call that was on her phone. Then tells him he might want to go with Chase to keep him out of trouble. He calls her bossy and tells her Chase had already called him to go with. Sophie showers and changes into what she was going to wear today, it wasn't as casual but it would have to do. When she walks back in the room to find her heels Luke was sitting up in bed staring at her. "You're leaving, do I snore or something?" she tells him what's going on. "I'm coming with you. If I make it there before Middlebrooks I already have access to her file." He grabs a shirt and pants running into the bathroom. When he emerges his pants were hanging off his hips he grabs a belt. Throwing socks and shoes on he gets ready just in time the car pulls up.

Chase calls Jonathon "Are you still at your home in Grandville South?" Jonathon starts to tell him about Angel, Chase cuts him off and tells him "Don't make any plans one of us should be there with her. I can't this time. I'm sending a car to pick you up. We'll land in El Paso and a car will be waiting for you there to take you in to Napoli Texas. Are you are ready now?" Jonathon tells him yes. "Alright"

Joshua sits in the waiting room. He'd sat back down because every time the door opened he'd run towards it and had already scared the hell out of a nurse. One of the receptionists walks around the desk. "Hey sugar would you like to fill these out while you wait please?" He sat there rocking his fear was now fueling his anger. He tells her that all of Angela's information was provided through the fact that she was in the network. He also tells her the next time she called him sugar she had better follow it with some information about his fiancé's condition. Or he'd report her to the chief of staff for being a pest. She says "I'm sorry it's only my second day and you looked so sad and alone out here. I was just trying to give you something to do. Your right sir I was very unprofessional. It won't happen ever again. Please don't report me." When he made eye contact with her his steely blue glare made her get back behind the counter.

Dr. Middlebrooks walks out the back "I see your future sister in-law took my advice about putting you on as one of Angela's medical contacts." He stands when she walks toward him. To the common eye he may have looked relaxed she saw his eyes and they told off on him every time. "Come with me" he follows her through the doors. "I was able to bring the baby's heart beat back up to a normal pattern." Joshua seems to take a breath. "I think I know but I never take what I see or hear for granted. Did you tell her you were leaving her or anything that would give that impression? If there is a problem now is the time to tell it."

Joshua shakes his head and tells her "I went for a snack for her. I came out of the store and all hell breaks loose. She was half out of it in the med helicopter she kept saying something like I was gone. All this was because she thought I left her? My mother called the police and tried to report me missing. I have no idea why she thinks I would leave her at all, but more importantly in another state?"

"She is still not fully herself. Before it was for the baby's sake I'm saying it now because Angel herself is at risk. Its good your mother called and had someone sent out. When Angel passed out her oxygen level dropped dangerously low by the time you got there the med tech had given her some oxygen. As of now she is okay a little disoriented but her levels are climbing. I have run some test and I have her on a monitor for the duration of today she is to remain here. It's one thing to have a panic attack it's another to pass out and have your breathing slow down to where you are at risk of it stopping." Joshua looks down. Thinking he was disappointed because he had plans she continues "I know it's the 4th of July and you both admitted to having plans but…"

Joshua looks back at her "She met who I wanted her to meet and even if she didn't. I don't I give a shit what day it is. The days I care about are" he put up a hand and counts them off on his fingers. "I care when she gets to leave here and go home. I care what day we get married. I care about her birthday, ONLY because she tries to give everyone else a great birthday and hers is usually spent on the road. I care what day my son will be born. Any other day I could give less than a damn. " She tells him to take a deep breath and push it out. She says again. He does the exercise and then asks in a more calm tone "Can I please see Angel?" she tells him yes and points behind him to a room. They had been standing in front of her door. "Thanks doc" Joshua walks into the room. Where did she think he was going? He wonders. He had to find out what the hell was going on. Her episodes were getting worse.

He looked so confused when he walked in. Angel was happy to see him. Between her dream and the call "Joshua I'm so glad you're here." He sat on the side of the bed Angel scoots over giving him room. "I thought you were gone."

Joshua closes his eyes when he opens them he says. "That's the part I don't get babe, you google mapped the store we picked it since it was the closest. I went in and found your stuff I noticed I had no signal in the store because I was going to call you and tell you they didn't have Jiff but they had Skippy. I come out of the store and there are 15 messages waiting on me. I called my mother first because she never calls late. Whatever you told her before you passed out. She tried to report me missing. Angel what happened Middlebrooks thinks I told you I was leaving you. Babe, I'm not going anywhere. Did you take a nap and wake up confused what happened?" She says she so happy he's okay, as she wipes her eyes.

He leans over and hugs her to him. She hugs him back. He asks her again what brought all this on. She tells him about the call. When she gets to the part about them sending him off the mountain she just squeezed him tighter. "The voice was more female than male but it was being vamped that much I know. I heard her speaking but the words didn't sink in until I called your phone and it went straight to voicemail. If she or he was cruel enough to help Sophia come up with a plan like that, I just knew they would be cruel enough to try to make good on a threat on your life. All I kept thinking was if something happened to you it would be because of me. I was so afraid"

He feels her shaking leans back and tells her "Stop, please don't get yourself worked up again. No one even approached me I'm fine. I don't know who it is but this has to stop." She suddenly asks him to pinch her. "I'm not going to pinch you." She explains that she didn't want this to be her asleep and dreaming he was here and okay then wake alone. He closes his eyes and tells her "Do you trust me?" he then watches as she nods her head. She still looked uncertain. "Okay you want some stimuli that would wake you if this was a dream." He tells her to close her eyes she complies, he kisses her and gently nips her bottom lip. Her eyes fly open meeting his. "Like I sad you're awake and I'm still right here with you. You're not alone."

The door opens drawing both of their attention. Sophie followed by Luke and Jonathon walks in. Luke glances at her chart on his iPad and says "Well if you wanted a tour of the network you're going about it the wrong way. I wasn't expecting to see your name in the hospital again until Jr. comes out." Joshua leans down and whispers something in her ear making her smile. Jonathon asks Joshua for a moment of his time. He gets up an Angel follows his movement with her eyes. Her action is not lost on Luke who sits in a chair by the window. Sophie asked Luke out of the room so she can speak with her sister. When they are the only two in the room Sophie asks "Angel what happened" She had been briefed by Middlebrooks just as Joshua had.

Angel tells her what the caller said about the plan to take her first baby. She runs a hand through her hair. "She was going to leave Chase and run off with my baby." Sophie stood dumb struck she says that's insane it would have never worked. "I told the person that I would have never let that woman raise my child. She had a comeback for it. If my child had of been old enough to deliver they would have kidnapped me and taken him or her by force. That's why Sophia was so mad that I didn't tell her I was in the hospital her plan to stay thin and have a baby had went up in smoke along with the life of my baby." Angel starts crying "Sophie I wanted to hang up, but they threatened Joshua's life they knew we were up there. The person said they would send him off the mountain. When I called him I left a message. I called back and still no answer. All that went through my head is he was gone because of me. I called his mother and tried to tell her but I don't even remember what I said to her. I got hot and then the next thing I remember is seeing Joshua it was loud and I was afraid I dreamed him alive and I'd wake up and he wouldn't be. Then I woke up here. Sophie someone is keeping better tabs on my whereabouts than I am. All I knew is that we were driving to see his parents. I didn't set anything in to my GPS. He said he knew how to get there and he did. I didn't post on social media. So I don't know how they knew where I was. I only set the away message for Megan's number and even then I don't say away where." Sophie hugs her telling her to take a breath and to please calm down before Dr. Middlebrooks puts them all out.

Out in the hall Jonathon waits for Joshua. Joshua comes out and closes the door his stance was guarded. "What happened? I spoke to Dr. Middlebrooks"

Seeing that Jonathon was not going to swing on him, Joshua walks to the end of the hall with Jonathon walking by his side. "Well l just spoke to Angel before you guys got here and someone called her and when she threaten to hang up they told her go ahead and they would throw me off the fucking mountain." Jonathon asks what the caller said since obviously Angel didn't hang up because he was not thrown from the mountain. "That's the thing no one approached me. I'm not that easy to sneak up on. They were watching me or her they either knew she was alone or they know that most people can't get signal in that damn store." He then tells Jonathon about the rest of the call.

"Well if it is true that would explain the fire." Joshua looked alarmed and asked where the fire was. "The reason Chase isn't here is because his London location was either set a flame or it caught fire on its own. From what you are saying it looks more like arson. I aim to find out who is behind the call." Jonathon sighs "It's times like this that I wish I could have taken my girl as far away from my ex as possible. Even in death Sophia leaves a stain." Joshua turns away from him. "You're no angrier than I, but right now she doesn't need our anger. I don't know if you noticed but she's still afraid."

"She still has night terrors only this time she won't tell me what they are of saying when she wakes she'd rather forget. She's not getting enough sleep and now Dr. Middlebrooks is worried about her being disoriented longer than usual after passing out this time. When I got back to the hotel they were loading Angel on the gurney and she had to have a breathing treatment to bring her levels back up before they could even air lift her out of CO."

Luke walks into Middlebrooks "Sorry I was heading out for coffee did you need any?" Sandra says it was his network and she didn't want to pry but why was he here? He had taken off which was a miracle in itself. "Then don't" She says that she noticed he showed up a lot when she was working with Angel. "If you must know I'm not here on the clock I came to lend a hand to a family I respect. Sandra don't pry it's beneath you. I didn't know whether you were in this area yet. So coffee?"

"Dr. Sheldon may I have a word with you? I know you've just said you're not on shift..." He nods since he had an office in every hospital he selected to go in there. Walking in the office and closing the door behind them both. Luke turns to her and asks what she needed. "Angela's test results are back I found something that gives me pause. I first diagnosed her with a Panic disorder but her symptoms and her test results tell a different story. I thought she had a panic attack but her recovery time up to this point was faster. I was able to bring the baby's levels back up. Her oxygen level was so low they had to give her oxygen before they could even get her stable enough for transport. This mind you she doesn't have seizer disorder. This test result is the one I question. " She hands him her IPad.

Luke points out when the seizer happened. "From what you are telling me it's psychogenic in nature. It doesn't mean she had to have a dormant elliptic disorder for this to happen. It is good that the med crew got there when they did. Angel is a very passive but hyper personality type. This was caused by her amount of stress and anxiety. So you were partially right she had a panic attack when it was not dealt with in a timely manner she seized. I am concerned for not only the child but she could hurt herself. I'm glad you were able to bring Angel's levels back up, there was mention of blood loss?"

"Though, that was a warning sign for me to check the baby's levels. It wasn't what it appeared to be. It turned out that it was surface injury. She told me she felt pain. Now that I know more of what happened her muscles were probably very sore from all the activity." She tries to hide a yarn.

Luke yarns as well points at her "Stop that" he says with a grin "My offer for coffee is still on the table. Did you have to come far? How long have you been awake?"

"I'd love some coffee and as far as your other two questions Lucky for me, my husband made it a point for me to ask for this 3 days off so sleep isn't a major factor. I took Sheldon Medical or Ivey Transit whatever it is called either way a Helicopter and a limo was involved."

Luke knew what she meant most of his upper level staff used Ivey Transit so much it received the nickname of Sheldon Medical Transit long before he even became a doctor. His father was Chase's best friend when Chase came up with the transit Idea his father jumped on board. Luke knew 42% of Ivey Transit's business came from his doctors and himself traveling. "If the coffee doesn't do it for you just let me know. Barns should be here soon."

"Will do, I don't want him in her room. I respect him as the genius he is but Dr. Kris Barns has a tendency to be very aggressive with patients and he has caused issue with some of my patients in the past."

"I've never had any reports on him from patients aggressive how?" She tells him of one of her patients that was admitted here last summer and the fact that the person's whole family moved to Houston as to not be near this location anymore. "I'm going to check with a few more doctors that are here more frequently than you or I. If he is using the (I'm in charge) approach it's great if you can pull it off. I've seen it with my father I do it too, we all do but you have to know when to back off. Send me something in writing and tell me when you are ready to leave. If he goes into that room with that as his usual bedside manner, one of two things will happen, Sophie will have him for breakfast or I also don't need Joshua or Mr. McBride going upside his head." Luke tells Sandra if they are done he'll go grab the coffee.

Sandra reenters Angela's room Angel looks tired but at least her tracking was back to normal as she spoke to Sophie which meant some of the disorientation had lifted. She confirms her test findings Joshua had walked in while she was speaking. After telling about the seizer and explaining the difference of the kind that Angela had she mentioned the blood and the fact that it was surface and not related to the baby everyone in the room seemed to take a breath. Sophie tells her that she was going to find Angel someone that could help her deal with her stress among other things.

Angel speaks up. "Sophie, thank you for the offer but I'm not going to anyone but Dr. Middlebrooks for therapy I just can't, Dr. Sandra at the very least knows that I'm not crazy."

Sophie knew where that statement came from but she wouldn't go there, not now. She had just changed the topic and got Angel talking about the baby shower and the wedding. Sophia had caused a lot of shit, and she wasn't going to bring up the bitch's attempt to get her sister committed. "Angel, as long as you feel comfortable that's all that matters. I'm going to go check on dad and see if he has arrived yet." Sophie purposely makes eye contact with Dr. Middlebrooks. Two minutes after she leaves the room Sandra comes out and is not surprised to see her standing near Luke's office. "We need to talk." Middlebrooks produces a key to the office and they walk in. "While I was out here I looked you up so you are certified to hold a therapy session. I had intended on recommending Angel get help but I didn't know how to bring it up. Our mother was not a mother she was manipulative and very mentally abusive to Angel. I don't know how much you know but I'm going to tell you now. I had my shrink sign one of these." Sophie looks through her phone and sends Dr Middlebrooks an e-sign document "If you intend on writing a book or any of my sister's care, show up in a medical Journal and I get wind of it. You won't have to worry about practicing anywhere are we understood?"

"Ms. Ivey I am very aware of Sophia's mistreatment and some other things that Angela felt comfortable enough to let slip. I'm well aware of her mistrust in psychiatric help, and its root. Though I am published I always get written consent from my patients before I proceed to avoid conversations like this one. Angela refused to sign so in this instance our agreement is that my records will be the only thing written about the sessions." Sandra e-signs the document and sends it back. Sophie gets her email back and thanks the doctor. "You're welcome, I understand your concern. She needs rest I'm not saying you all must leave the hospital but I would greatly appreciate it if you all weren't in the room at the same time."

The next morning Angel is brought awake by a strange feeling like someone is watching her. When she opens her eyes she meets Dr. Kris Barns grey stare. Angel jerks at his nearness which wakes up Joshua who'd fell asleep in the reclining chair with his hand on her stomach she'd had her hand resting on his arm. He lifts his head and his usually straight light brown hair is mussed. He gets up and watches the doctor stare at Angel. "You're one creepy ass dude can we help you?"

The Doctor doesn't even acknowledge Joshua's presence as he starts speaking "Angela Ivey you're being released today. I didn't even know you were here until today. I'm Dr. Kris Barns. I don't know why you would be on this floor it is usually for domestic protection purposes or government types. He turns to Joshua "sir step out of the room."

"The hell I will." Joshua is standing on one side of Angel and the doctor on the other. He says they all have a job to do and his is to leave. "For what reason? Where is her regular doctor?" He ignore Joshua once more, putting his glasses with a light on as he tells Angel the only way they could proceed was for him to give her a final exam Joshua noticed the Doctor walk closer to the bed he also didn't miss Angel trying to scoot closer to his side. "Hey Doc Fall Back you don't have to be that close. As far as me leaving the room it's Angel's choice not yours."

"Leave now or I'll have you removed. If she wishes to tell you everything I say to her that is her business but I will not fall back and I resent the fact that you think this is the means streets of Dallas. I'm going to give you one more chance then I call security GOOD BYE"

Angel didn't want to be in the room alone with this creepy rude asshole "He's my fiancé anything you have to say to me he can hear. He's in my network. Where is Dr. Middlebrooks?"

Dr. Kris Barns says "Dr. Middlebrooks sent me because she is busy it happens. Since he won't leave the room I'm calling security" He lifts his pen-com to his lips. Joshua tells them both that he will be just outside. He watches as the young man walks backwards out of the room. He turns his attention back on Angel. He listens to her heart when he touches her back she tenses. "Are my hands cold?" She doesn't say anything just stares towards the door and flinches every time he moves the pad on her back. "Breathe in really deep" he places a hand on her shoulder and her air bursts out in a whimper as he put the pad lower.

He was making her more uncomfortable she tries to breathe in deep enough for him to hear but when he lowers the pad to her lower back she jerked breathing out. He asked her was his hands cold. She closed her eyes. He was just different from Luke or Middlebrooks everyone has a different style she kept saying in her head. She wished she could at least see Joshua. The blinds on her door were closed. When he puts his hand on her shoulder, and tells her to breath in once more, she complies.

The minute Joshua backed out of the room before he closed the door he noticed the damn blinds were closed. He wouldn't be able to see her. Or watch Dr. Creepy. He tries to reopen the door but found it locked. He bolts down the hall and tells Sophie since she had a keycard. At first Sophie is wondering why Joshua wasn't still in the room when he tells her about how even Angel wanted him to stay but the prick threaten to call security. Luke comes out of the men's room. Joshua walks over and says. "I don't know why she sent that asshole in there but he is freaking Angel out. It needs to stop now." Luke puts up a hand silently telling Joshua not to walk up on him. He dials Middlebrooks's number. Getting Voicemail he has her paged.

"I told her to call me before she went off shift." Luke walks into his office along with Joshua and Sophie. He checks the time clock she didn't clock out. "Stay here I'll be right back." He walks down the hall something wasn't right. He picks up his pace suddenly he stops, turning around slowly he looks at Angela's door. He walks into the observation room next to it. He sees her at the desk. "What the hell are you doing? I paged you I called you why did you send that prick in there with her. Hey I'm talking to you. Middlebrooks?" He angrily grabs the chair she's in and twist it around she almost falls out of the chair. She was out cold. He dose tap and shout she's breathing but she wasn't waking up. He looks at the monitor into Angel's room and charges out the door.

Inside the room Angel lays on her back and Dr. Barns has one hand on her chest holding her down as he feels her stomach. She told him to stop and tried to get off the bed he pushed her back on it. She'd tried to swing on him and he'd wrestled her hands above her head and fastened her wrists to the rail with a wristband. "Calm down girl it'll all be over soon. I don't have to tell you not to tell anyone you're smarter than that. Besides who is more believable you or a trained respected doctor apart of one of the largest medical networks in the US?" He runs his hands down her torso and then cups her sex. "Better calm down I'd hate to have to sedate you like I did your doctor. You seem to be having trouble breathing." He stares at her for a time. He feels her jerk and move. Hearing the door beep quickly with one hand he undoes the strap that held her hands above her head and moves his hand from her private but not quickly enough. Luke, charges into the room grabs him away from her and slams the older man into the wall. Barns pushed him backwards Luke bent backwards matrix style and continues beating the shit out of a fellow doctor. "So this is what you do to patients that visit my fucking hospital."

Angel rubs her wrist and gets out of bed running down the hall she didn't care where. All she knew was she had to get out of here. He threatened to sedate her she'd fought the erg to cry. When she felt the hot sensation run through her she thought of her baby. When Barns cupped her sex she tried to buck his hand away. She tried closing her legs tightly but that made it worst he dung his nails into her. His words scared her, his actions repulsed her, she felt dirty. Jonathon comes out into the hall heading towards her room she runs and launches herself into his arms.

He had awaken and walked out into the hallway to find where everyone had gone to. He spots Angel running in her hospital gown, before he can even get out the question what's wrong she launched herself in his arms. He wraps her gown around her and starts to walk back down the hall where she came from. "Did you have a nightmare?"

She stops walking rubs her wrists and whispers "NO I was awake. I want to go home. " Her whole body shook but she was safe now she had to calm down.

"Honeypot you haven't been released."

Trying to do the breathing exercises Sophie showed her was helping. "I want to go home. I want to go home now." That was her mantra it was the only thing she wanted right now, was to go home, get away from this place. Jonathon hears what sounds like glass breaking. "TAKE ME HOME please" she looks her father in the eye.

Sophie and Joshua come out of Luke's office and all hell breaks loose. Disengaging from her father Angel runs to Joshua. He catches her and hugs her to him. She tells him she wants to go home not to his house not his parents' house but home. He asks her what happened in there. She looked glassy eyed. Sophie asked if they could at least go get her clothing out of the room. Angel says she would wait in one of the single female bathrooms. Joshua walks with her they find one better it was a single unisex bathroom. Walking in they hear security being paged.

He could tell she had been crying and she was fighting it now. She says she needs to sit down. "Calm down that's it take slower breathes in and out. Closing her eyes tightly, she tells him to please stop talking for a second. They sit in Simi silence with her deep breathing and shuddering. Except when she'd hugged him she hugged her self. "Babe please don't close me out" he takes her hand in his. He jumps to his feet when he sees the bruising around her wrist. A knock sounds on the door. Joshua yells with the anger he felt "WHO IS IT?" Sophie identified herself. He lets her in.

"I couldn't get in your room there was a whole security team in that one room. What happened Angel? Lucky dad packed you something that you left over to the house when you were helping him wash down the walls at his new place." Angel puts on the clothing throwing the gown in the trash. "Luke is coming he just texted me. He said you may need medical attention."

Luke knocks on the door. He couldn't meet her eyes. "Angel he will be fired and fined." Luke has a flashback of Angel running around his father's office after him and Sophie he wanted his childhood friend back. This woman that stood before him with his career in her hands looked on the verge of tears.

She stares at him taking another breath and pushing it out slowly as she could muster she says "Lucas" he tells her to please call him Luke she shakes her head no. "He claimed he sedated Dr. Middlebrooks. Can you please do me a favor that only you can?" he says name it and it's hers. He puts out a hand to move her hair out of her face. She jerks away from him. "Without, touching me, sign my release papers. Give me his contact information and don't say you can't." He tells her consider it done he asks her will she please come to his office. "Only, if someone comes with me." She touches her stomach she needed a shower.

Sophie, Joshua and Jonathon walk with her into Luke's office he is the last one in. Someone knocks on his door. Joshua opens the door and he and Jonathon are surprised to see Middlebrooks standing in the doorway. She saw the anger in Joshua's eyes. She looked at Angel and tried for a conversational tone but it broke. "Angel I'm so sorry."

Sophie puts up both pointer fingers in the air. "OKAY somebody needs to start explaining and now. What the fuck happened in that damn room?"

Anger fueled Angel's tongue "THAT'S it ONE MORE PERSON ASK WHAT HAPPENED AND I AM GOING TO SCREAM!" Angel stands in the middle of the floor and tells them all what happened from the time that Joshua was told to leave or security would be called until Lucas came in and probably saved her from being she couldn't say raped. She told them of her fight back, escape attempts, and how they backfired and just got her pushed back on the bed, with her hands trapped above her head. She turns on Luke "From now on Joshua is not only one of my medical contacts he is also to be placed as one of my liaisons. I don't want to be in the room with a strange doctor alone ever again."

Luke says "Completely understandable I will have the changes made by noon tomorrow. As for your release papers I sent them to your phone." She looks alarmed then sighs when Joshua pulls her phone off her own belt clip that he had attached to his pants and hands it to her. She turns it back on accepts and e-signs the release papers sends them to Luke's phone. When Joshua first got to the room before leaving in the med helicopter he clipped her phone to his belt.

They arrived home via Ivey transit Limo. It was 8pm Sophie suggested they barbeque. "You guys go ahead I'm going to take a shower" That was the most Angel said since her outburst in Luke's office. Sophie had asked for her phone. She'd opened the call log and slid the phone across hers the Image of the call icon now was on Sophie's phone. "I didn't record when they called." Sophie hands her back her phone and tells her that Robert had some program that could grab the transmission trace, track, and listen. Angel just nods Jonathon steps in her path to the house she looks up at him. He just hugs her she hugs him back mumbles something then pulls away and walks on into the house.

Jonathon sighs, making eye contact with Joshua who walks in the house behind Angel. "I'll be just down the road if she needs meh." He hands his Grandville South address to Sophie and walks out of the gate. Jonathon walks to the side of the road and just starts running he just needed to get out some of the pent up anger and aggression. As he runs down the hill he sees Candy in her yard and tries to cross the street. She waves at him. He imagined he was kind of hard to miss standing at 6'8 and almost 300 pounds. He waves back and runs on past her house.

He waved back but he looked completely irate. She runs out of her yard and soon runs alongside him. "Want to talk about it?" She says trying to keep up with his longer stride. "I know this is Grandville South but it's late at night you shouldn't be out here alone."

Jonathon looks down at his talent and says "I don't wish to be rude to you Candy but just go home." With the way he felt if someone jumped out of a dark place he'd probably rip their heads from their shoulders, and just keep running. He sprints ahead of her and turns into his yard. Slamming the gate that bounced back open he goes into the house.

Candy stops on the way back to her house. She dials Angel's phone it went straight to voicemail. She hangs up and dials Joshua his goes to voicemail, so he wouldn't think it was an emergency she leaves a message. She couldn't remember whether he and Angel were to return the 4th or the 5th no one was answering their phone so she went home and finished plucking her strawberries.

Chase and Bobby are at the Corrigan building. His former partner, though Corrigan had sold the business he'd agreed to run it while Chase trained someone to take over since he wasn't coming to run it himself. They stand in the massive darkened doorway. They had been cleared to enter. The building was trashed more than damaged. The structure was secure enough for them to walk in. The construction was a base of fire steel and titanium the outer surface was marble and brick but the fire had started in one of the charity offices. Mostly the windows had blown out and things inside the offices had melted. Chase walks through the halls to what was the original location of the fire. Suddenly Bobby grabs him and pulls him back before he steps in a hole that was where the filling cabinet melted into the floor you could see the melted pop can looking cabinet laying on the frame through the hole but it looked like a nasty drop. "Watch it Chase."

Chase shakes his head "This is where it all started I'm not sending Sophie here. I recommended a person that has worked for me for years. Corrigan is in the Hospital he could have been killed. If it has anything to do with the call placed to my daughter I'm going to make the fuckers pay."

"Dad we lost daylight awhile back, it's time to go. We'll come back tomorrow morning there is no sense in staying right now. Visibility is almost totally gone. Were gonna need my phone's flashlight just to get back to the front door and my phone's running out of juice quickly." Chase numbly lets Bobby guide him back to the front door.

Bobby drives to the house it was a cottage style covered in cobblestone. This was (Chase William Ivey)Chase's father's home when he moved here in the service so many years ago and brought his wife Chase's mother (Nana Barnett) and his young son Chase William the second. The running joke was that when Chase got mad he was back to Chase Willie the little street tough before he moved overseas and came back wanting to be called his proper name Chase William Ivey Jr. No one ended up calling him Jr. His dad passed shortly after going back to the states. They kept the house here for business trips. Chase had brought Sophia here a few times. Both of his parents were buried here because this was their home for so many years. When Nana was angry she used to tell Bobby that she regretted coming back to the states. When they made the trek back to the US her world fell apart within a year her husband died years later after Chase adopted him she once told him that he gave her someone to talk to while Chase was away courting Sophia. A violent rush runs through Bobby. His father had married his Nana's murderer. Bobby gets out of the car and slams the door. He came here when they sent Nana's body here. For the longest time he couldn't speak to Chase without getting angry. When Chase moved that bitch Sophia into Ivey Mansion his Nana's home. Bobby went wild Sex, Drugs, and Drinking. It was all a distraction until he almost drove through Grandville Park he would have made it if the fountain hadn't stopped him. Luckily he hadn't hit anyone and his airbag deployed saving him from being thrown from the car. He'd seen Sophia and tried to run her over. When he found out that Sophia wasn't even in the country he checked into a rehab facility in Pyramid.

Chase came to the facility and threw cold water on his anger for a time when he pointed out that no one knew what happened and that though Bobby had knew Nana for a few years he told Bobby to imagine Nana being his mother and then her dying shortly after his father. That was the first time Bobby witnessed his adopted father crying. Chase went on to tell him that if he kept up with his self-destructive ways he'd succeed and be no better than the man Chase had fought so hard to get him away from. Before Chase left that night he hugged Bobby and told him to please not leave him as well. Bobby turned his life in a new direction a lot of good it was doing him now. He was still suspended because of that bitch. Bobby walks in the far back of the property climbed over the gate and sat with his back against Nana's tombstone (a huge white marble cross) with his head down.

His phone rings it played a clip of Angel singing the cover for (When I am Queen originally By Jack off Jill) His sister the only official offspring of Chase and Sophia's union. He was so thankful that Sophie was nothing like her mother. "You guys back already? How's everything going? They WHAT? Look, I don't have a lot of juice and I don't want it cut you off in midsentence I'm going to charge my phone what is it around 9pm there? I'll call you back. After I get this thing plugged in." Bobby gets to his feet and almost decks Chase. When he got to his feet and turned to climb back over the fence Chase was standing in the way and surprised him.

Chase didn't flinch he just stepped back he'd been about to announce his presence when Bobby popped to his feet and turned to him drawing back and then dropping his fist in that split second when recognition dawned. "I was coming to tell you. I can't stay here after all that has gone on. There is one thing to be here with the spirit of my father but it is just not in me to stay here right now. I thought I had dealt with this. My father was the general but my mother was my best friend." Chase's eyes water as he looks at the large white cross that marked the final resting place of his mother. "I can't even say I wish I had of never met Sophia because without her there would be no Sophie or Angela. I'm so sorry son. I had no idea how depraved Sophia was. I thought I was saving this other lonely soul, this small town girl from her big city low life cheating husband. Now that I have found out all the stuff she lied about, I wonder if she ever loved me, or was our marriage a long con and I just her mark. Was I simply a fucking flag to wave in her first husband's face?"

He first felt guilty because of the relief he felt that Sophia was dead. Bobby tells him if they were leaving he had to charge his phone. "Fine" Chase remained standing mere feet away from the marker. Sophia had tried to take everyone he cared for away from him in many different ways. He remembered rushing his mother to Lucas Sheldon Sr. back then, he didn't know what happened. Sighing he looks at his mother's name then, up to the heavens. "You're who I owe the largest apology to. I'm so sorry momma. I wasn't there to save you from my bad choice. I tried but you were already gone. She tried to send all of my children up there with you before their time. Since I'm the one that brought Sophia into our family when I do die I'll be heading to hell. If I never see you again I'll know my fear was truth." Closing his eyes tilting his face upward as the dark London rain started to fall which reflected his mood.

Walking back outside Bobby stops when he heard his father's anguish and wanted so much to say something but he had no words. Chase saved his life from his birth parents and from himself. He'd saved Sophie, his miracle child. He raised Angel he'd raised them all. After he got out of the hospital he even tried in his own business way, to if not befriend him he built a bridge between him and Jonathon for the sake of Angel, the woman he called his oldest girl. They were both getting soaked and he didn't need Chase coming to a different country getting sick. Bobby walks behind his father grabs him turning him around Chase elbowed him. Bobby ignored the apology and hugged his father. They soon collect their things and turn out the lights in the little house that sat all alone. When they drive away Chase looks out the window just in time to see a falling star. He wished for peace and safety for his family.

They stay at a hotel and Bobby finally gets the whole story from Sophie as he sits in the desk chair. "Tell Angel this will be dealt with. Yeah send me the transmission thanks Sophie." She asked how they were doing. "We haven't found anything as far as a person to link it to. The office that was set on fire was used to deal with Charity groups. Yeah I better go make sure he hasn't fallen asleep we're both beat. I'll call you when I wake in the morning." Bobby goes to the bathroom door and knocks "Pop you okay in here?" He knocks harder putting his head to the door he still didn't hear anything. He turns the knob, walks in and sighs, snoring can be heard. Sitting on the bath chair fully clothed, Chase sat with his head resting on the wall. Bobby shakes him he opens his eyes then closes them. "Come on dad let's get you into bed." Once Chase is finally in his bed Bobby walks back into the bathroom looking at his reflection in the mirror. Pressing his head against the cool glass he takes a deep breath. After a quick shower he is too everything, to sleep. He decodes the transmission, so he could listen to the call that sent his little sister into the hospital. Something catches his attention about the speech pattern. He hit the internet he'd worked a case that involved a black market adoption organization. A woman had escaped but her and 22 other women had been kidnapped out of the Houston and Grandville area none of the 22 had been found. They all went missing in their 8th month of pregnancy. If this person was the head of that group and he caught them the question would be, would he turn them in or end them? The sun was coming up before he finally went to bed.

Angel thought she could stop before she felt burning she scrubbed with the brush as her movements became more frantic tears stung her eyes. Auditory illusions of Dr. Barns assaulted her. Joshua walked into the shower fully clothed and snatched the brush out of Angel's hand. She tried to grab it back and he told her he wasn't going to let her rip her skin to hell. She'd screamed at him that she just wanted to feel clean. He got so pissed off he yelled at her that he wasn't giving her the fucking brush back. To accentuate his point he broke it in half and threw it out of the shower all together. Hearing the wood snap was it, she broke down crying. He was mad at her and she just knew she wouldn't get to get the creepy ass doctor's touch off her skin. He left the shower. She sat on the floor under the hot spray, hugging herself, rocking. When he reentered the shower he was naked. Saying nothing he holds up a bath puff. She took it from him he reached down pulled her to her feet hugging her to him. She tells him that was the longest he'd made contact with her since she'd said what happened. He says he was giving her space and asked her did she want contact. She says yes. He took the bath puff, washed her and then made love to her in the shower. He then took their dance into the bedroom.

Hours later Angel changed into a dark gown she now sat at her makeup table staring at her reflection. The only sound in the room was Joshua lightly snoring she had laid in the bed long after they'd finished making love but she couldn't get to sleep for more than a few minutes. She'd drift off but an old dream with new players would plague her.

Joshua reaches over touches cool sheet and bolts up in bed. When he spots her he sighs and gets up. "Babe you need sleep" she tells him she just couldn't get to sleep. He looks at the clock it was just past midnight. "Are you hungry? Do you want me to grab you something from the kitchen?" She shakes her head no saying Sophie had brought them up some food. Joshua asked would she sit with him while he ate. They move to the little round table at the foot of the bed. He tells her that his parents were driving her truck down. "How will they get back? I could have just had the transit service bring it back. "

He says "My dad has been trying to get here to see what I've done to his house and the club for himself. My mother came to the hotel the night all hell broke loose." He cleared his throat he was still pissed that someone had used him as a reason for her to listen to their fucking bullshit. "She just wants to see you. Cassandra is going to be driving their car." Angel looks alarmed saying she didn't know how this was going to sound but just like he didn't want to stay under the same roof with Cass she didn't want another Megan situation on her hands. "That shit isn't even an option, Cass got one wrong thing to say to you and if mom doesn't get to her first I'll send her out of here, on her ass." Angel says Sally and Michael can stay overnight but Cass will have to find somewhere else to be for the night whether she says anything or not. Joshua takes her hand "Thanks for the offer, but I'll just lock my music room and my parents and Cass can stay at my place. I mean it's the least I can do considering it's their house or was whatever." Joshua was hungrier than he thought but he hadn't eaten anything since lunch. He then noticed that there was only one dirty plate on the table, it was his. He shoots Angel a glance. "Please tell me this wasn't your dinner."

She didn't feel like fighting with him. "Joshua, please just eat. I ate the steamed carrots your son likes sweet veggies. He really wasn't feeling the barbequed chicken or steak. I'm kind of scared to try the potato with sour cream because of the fiasco with the taco, and I don't like them without it."

He looks at the Pyrex dish the carrots were in he'd wondered what was in there. He knew he'd eaten fast but he couldn't remember taking anything from the bowl but it was empty. So knowing Sophie had sent it up, he knew there were at least two servings in there. "Fair enough, sweet veggies huh." He sits back then pops out of his seat "I got something for you I almost forgot. I kept my promise." He roots through his guitar case and comes out with a stiff piece of paper handing it to her he says "If you start laughing it goes back in the guitar case."

Angel turns the aged cardstock over and her breath catches. It was a picture of him, his hair was down his back he stood in the middle of a pool with someone over his head. He had that forced smile on his face. "Two questions who were you about the dunk in the water? From the look on your face they were about to get wet. My other question is how old were you?"

"I know, you're not supposed to give your girl a picture of yourself with another female in it, but you asked for a younger picture. As for how old I was 12. This was before Brad and Cass decided to try to baptize my ass out the window. I figured this would count since you said a younger picture because it was before I met you. The female believe it or not is my mother. We have this game we used to play when I first learned how to swim. Michael picked me up and threw me in the pool and said he was Jaws like the shark. It's almost like tag but in the water. This was taken by Michael he had no idea I could lift her I didn't dunk her after the picture was taken I just sank in the water until she got her footing and then I swam away before she could "Jaws" or dunk me." She stared at it saying nothing. Her quiet scrutiny made him uncomfortable. He rubs the back of his neck and spoke to fill the silence. "I really don't have any younger pictures. It was a bitch finding that one." When she gets up and grabs the giant picture book she turns to a page and places his photo in it next to a picture of her sitting on the roof of her old house. "Okay, why were you sitting on the roof, and who took the picture?"

"My friend took the picture. She was into photography and since we used to hang out there, she wanted a picture of me doing shit we did together. She was standing on her balcony that's why the picture is a straight shot. Not from an upward or downward angle. She said if she stood on the ground and shot upwards since she was not that good at zooming in I'd look like the 50 foot woman. This was the year we moved but it was also before we met. I think like 3 weeks before Middle school started."

He says "That reminds me our son's window is to be locked at all times. What possessed you to start hanging out on the roof? I'd do a lot of shit with you but standing on the roof, no real friend would tell you that was a good hang spot. Which one of your merry little girlfriends thought this was a brilliant idea? I just want to know who to delete from any chance at babysitting" He would have asked what parent lets their kid just chill on the roof but Sophia didn't give a shit. He did wonder where the hell Chase was when she was on the roof. The reflective smile left her face as she turned the page pressing the back of the page so the adhesive would stick to his picture.

Angel noted the tinge of anger in his tone. "I agree with you about locking the window. I already love our son and I wouldn't do anything to make him want to hide from me. When the GSSEC would come over Sophia would "ground" me for nothing and lock me in my own closet or the basement whichever was closest when the doorbell rang. A few times I tried to be extra good, but it never failed. She once grounded me because there wasn't enough food left on my plate. I was afraid of the dark and I didn't like total silence. I guess she got drunk and fell asleep one night because she left my ass in the basement. That night, I song to myself until I fell sleep, when the door opened the next morning I about knocked Chase down trying to get out." He gets up and holds out his hand when she gets up he guides her back to the bed and tells her to continue. He starts giving her a massage. "I ran across the street to my at the time friend Evie's. She suggested the roof. Sophia could lock all the windows but outside there was at least noise and light even at night. If I just hung out in the yard she could get to me I wasn't going back in that damn basement. Evie pointed out that Sophia wasn't going to come out on that roof. So when the GSSEC would come over if I was home I was on the roof. She never caught me and since I wasn't in her way, or around her friends she didn't care. Chase flipped out when he rode up and saw me. That was my first meeting with Chase Willie instead of Chase William." Angel smiled at the memory. As she looked in the mirror and watched Joshua rubbing her back as she lay on her side. "I saw him and had just climbed back in my window when he came barging in my door grabbed, me yelling at me to stay off his darn roof. I begged him not to tell on me and he agreed that wasn't necessary. We took a drive. I told him why I was out there. He told me that Sophia probably would not have come out there, but she may have did something overly dramatic like call the cops. We went for lunch when we returned he made me help him secure my window. He's a great business man but he'll never be a carpenter, he almost broke the window." Joshua asked did she ever get locked in the basement again since she no longer had access to the roof. He looked pissed. When he moved his hand up to her shoulder she touched his fingers her silent sign telling him he was getting heavy handed. He told her to turn over they now lay facing each other. "Ever since I told Chase what was going on, when he knew the grouping as he called them were going to gather, he made sure to have a project for Sophie and me to do outside of the house. Then school started and I met you. The time I came over to your place was Chase getting me out of the house." Joshua plays with a strand of her hair and asks is that why their first date or at least he thought of it as one was spent at Ivey Towers driving Chase's secretary up the wall. She laughs "So that's why you bathed in your dad's cologne. Chase had to open the window on the way to his office." he says Chase had pulled him aside and told him less was more. "That was the first year I found the Night Blooming Jasmine scent." He said he remembered the scent, covering his mouth to hide a yarn. She runs her finger across his lips and traces his chin strap. Leaning forward she kisses him. "Get so more sleep babe."

He pulls her closer and lays on his back she lays her head on his chest he wraps his arm around her. "That's a good plan for all three of us." He says as he rubs her belly. "My sweet-vegie eating son needs sleep and so does his mom and pop." She closes her eyes places her hand on his on her belly and starts humming. He'd got used to her doing that they soon drift off to sleep.

Authors note: I want to give special to my first online reviewer of this story Darlene Scott. I also want to thank my sistas without you girls I would have no story. Please feel free to read and review. : End Note