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Talking

Andrew walked quickly to his dorm with his cell phone in his hand. Despite the fact that Shieldston seemed to be immune to any killings Andrew still wanted to get inside where he was safe and could talk to Serena until he passed out from fatigue. He was convinced the only reason Shieldston hadn't been a victim of the attacks was because Dr. Shields would make it a personal vendetta to catch the culprit and no one, wanted to be in his way when he was after someone who'd wronged him. Finally Andrew reached his dorm and dialed Serena's number hoping wasn't too late to call her and listen to what she needed to talk about. The phone rang on making Andrew shiver. "Pick up the phone Serena…"

"Andrew? Hey… I'm sorry about earlier I had no idea…" Serena stuttered and rolled onto her back so she could look up at the ceiling. "He wasn't too pissed was he? You're not going to get marked down for that right?" Andrew smiled at her obvious concern and shook his head. She was such a sweet heart.

"No, actually he wanted to know more about you. Which is funny, because I do talk about you all the time I just never tell him that it's one person I'm talking about. He's not really the type of guy to have a real relationship you know?" Andrew contemplated the reason for this but could find none. Dr. Shields was very attractive, smart, charismatic, and stylish; yet he had no desire to have romantic interests. Andrew wanted to know why, there were of course obvious reasons, no woman could possibly be declared his equal, he would be bored with a normal relationship, something had to catch his eye, whoever he found had to offer him some sort of mental challenge.

"Well, just as long as I didn't ruin all of your chances for a successful psychology career." Serena laughed at the thought of ruining any chances of Andrew ever doing anything. He would prevail no matter what, he was far too determined to make it in the world.

"Well… we were talking about this damn killer. For the sake of keeping my mental capacity in tact I'm just going to say it's a guy kay? Now, I'm not really supposed to share this with anyone because it's all confidential and only a few of us in the class are privee to the information but still. Dr. Shields thinks this guy is just killing people just to do it. You know? To be in the news, get attention. He has no M.O. no patterns except for the fact that he stays out of Shieldston… no surprise there though, our cops here are super bad asses and Dr. Shields is in charge around here. He wouldn't take kindly to an attack in his town. I can guess he'd take it as a personal attack. Nonetheless… there was another attack a few days ago. It was a teenage boy this time, a juvenile delinquent who was a twice convicted rapist… you know… this might be a break in the case. What if this guy thinks he's doing some sort of… public service?" Andrew carried on excitedly about finally the killer had given them a lead to check into. It was very possible that this person was trying to be a vigilante, but that made him all the more dangerous. Vigilantes operate under preconceived notions of right and wrong rather than a predictable pattern.

"Oh… well… I have my own news, about another killer." Serena took a deep breath letting the words she wanted to say form clear sentences on her tongue. "My dad is… he has some sort of heart disease. He's going to die from it and I can't stop it. He didn't say anything much about it but I have this feeling he's known about it for a while… remember last summer when we were hiking and he got so tired and short winded? I think this was the reason… I'm so scared Andy." Andrew's breath caught. It had been a long time since he'd heard that degree of sadness in her voice, she was about to cry and he could tell. He didn't want her to cry, he wanted her to smile, and laugh. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay, that her father would be just fine and he'd live for a long time despite anything any doctor might say.

"I'm sure it's only a minor problem Serena… your dad is sort of invincible… you know?" He didn't know what else to say as the girl on the other end of the phone began crying. "No… Serena, please… don't cry…" Her sobs grew in volume making him pull the phone away from his ear and fumble for his dorm room key. Obviously Serena had just been told the news and was just now absorbing it. Serena wouldn't deal with this well, her father was her rock, her support throughout her life and now he was withering, bowing to the wind.

"Mom's going to kick him out when she finds out… I just know it! Then he's going to have all of that stress, he'll get sicker, and I'm going to be the one caring for him. I just… I'm not ready for this Andy! I'm going to have to drop out of school and everything!" Andrew considered her words and shook his head, that thought was unacceptable to him. He wouldn't let her throw her life away, no matter how sick Ken was Serena had to prevail in her studies or she would be bored with her life. He didn't doubt the truth in what Serena said but in the back of his mind he didn't want to believe that Ilene would do such a thing but then again, he remembered his parents talking a few years back of Ilene having an affair. The rumor of course had never been confirmed or denied so no one knew if she had but Andrew always thought Ann was of an entirely different breed from Ken and Serena; it was possible that Ann wasn't Ken's daughter. "Anyway… I should get to bed now… night Andy… thank you for listening to me cry. I needed it."

"Okay Serena… good night. Dream of me and you'll feel better in the morning. Love you." He smiled and waited for her response. She, however was attempting to dry her eyes and cheeks and took her time in responding.

"Love you too. Night." Serena then hung up the phone and looked at the wall wishing she could see through it so as to witness the conversation her father was most likely having with her mother. She imagined that her mother would be sitting on the bed looking up at her father with disbelieving eyes, she'd have a look of disgust on her face but she would remain silent nonetheless. Of course, that was exactly the way that it was.

"Ilene… what I mean to say is… I'm seriously dying. I haven't told anyone how severe this is but… I waited as long as I could… it's time to face the facts though. Honey, Darling, my wife… will you stay by me through this?" Ken held Ilene's hands in his and gazed into her angry eyes. He knew what would follow but was willing her to say something different. To say something supportive and positive.

"No… I… can't live my life when you're in the same house rotting away like some… sick dog! I won't suffer that and I'm certainly not going to let Ann witness it." Ilene pushed his hands away then stood turning from him in protest. She would hear no more, that much was evident. "Serena… I know you want to ask what I condemn her to… well, that girl has been attached at your hip since she was born. She will want to see to it that you're taken care of properly. I entrust that responsibility to her… you, though… you know you can't stay here. I'm going to suggest we get a divorce and you leave. She can go with you if you so choose… I'm sure you will. I'm keeping Ann, her and I always had our own bond." Ken only nodded in agreement. Serena would in fact want to go with him, she would want to suffer his pain with him for that was the angel that was his daughter. "You always understood her better anyway."

"Yes dear… how… soon do you propose we…" Ken's sentence dropped off as Ilene's eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Immediately then? Very well, if that's what you want I will file for divorce tomorrow… I really wish you'd reconsider. We've spent so much of our lives together…"

"No Ken. You've spent your life with me. I've only lent you my presence. Getting pregnant with your child was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I lost everything because of you Ken. Alan… the money… my family… everything! You weren't worth it." She shook her head and looked at the white carpet, she knew it hurt Ken when she talked of her former lover but at this point she didn't care. She'd been looking for an excuse to go back to him for years and finally it was presenting itself in the form of Ken's death.

"Please reconsider… Ilene… I love you." Ken knew she'd made up her mind and would go back to Alan as soon as he was out the door. It was a sad fact but a fact nonetheless. Alan had been hovering around for years trying to steal Ilene away with his money and stature. He was the most respected man in town, Ken secretly knew that Alan was Ann's father but had always treated her as his own despite her incessant refusals.

"No and that's final Ken. I'm not going to do this, not when I have a man who's willing to love and support me with all of his resources. Alan is a fine man and I'd think that if you loved me you'd respect my choice to choose him. He can support us all easily, I won't even ask for child payments or alimony." Ilene smiled with the knowledge that Ken did indeed love her enough to let her go without a fight. Just like the pathetic dog he was he'd run out, file for divorce, and move out within a month if not sooner, he was too easy to manipulate, one of the only reasons she'd stayed with him all these years. Ilene mused to herself about how she would finally be free from his neediness, she wasn't much of a lover, she liked her time to herself, that was something Alan was more than supportive of. Ken needed to be around her as often as he could be, a fact that had driven her crazy over the years.

"Fine then. You know me, I'll have it done soon enough." Ken sighed and left the bedroom with tears lining his eyes, he needed somewhere to go, away from here. He couldn't bother Serena with his current state, she would only panic and worry so instead, he grabbed his keys and silently left the house to get into his white sedan. He resolved to go to the local bar and drink a bit, not really a habit of his but he felt it was appropriate. Damn his health, if he could prevent this he would have, he would still have his wife and beautiful children.

The dim lights of the bar soothed Ken's nerves as he walked in then over to the counter and looked at the bartender pointedly. "Rough night?" The brimming blonde man asked with whimsy, he knew Ken well and waited for Ken to recognize his voice.

Ken looked up and smiled at his old friend, it was ironic really how Taylor stood there whipping out a large beer mug just like he had years ago when Ken would go into the arcade he owned. "Hey there Taylor, did you hear about our kids?" Ken smirked knowing that Taylor's relationship with his son was not as close as he would have liked.

"No, what'd my boy do to the poor girl? Want me to smack him around a bit?" Taylor laughed then set the beer mug down. "Isn't anything bad is it Ken?" Taylor didn't know his son well enough to expect an answer, the only thing he knew was the way he used to act around a girl as beautiful as Ken's daughter. Surely Andrew had realized long ago that she was a golden temptress, and surely he would be trying to make her his.

"No, nothing bad at all. They've decided to become a couple. I'm happy for them… seeing as how my marriage is ending." Ken frowned as he remembered the absolutely disgusted look on Ilene's face as he'd told her of his sickness. It was a look he would never forget.

"Really now?" Another voice injected into the conversation. The man behind the amused tone smiled broadly. "Finally, after all these years she listens to me? Amazing." Ken turned towards his enemy and tightened his grip on the freshly poured beer in his hands.

"Of course you'd be here to chide him." Taylor narrowed his eyes at the brunette man then turned back to his friend with pity in his eyes. "Sorry bud." Alan elbowed the man beside him with a grin.

"Hey Carson, remember Ilene, the woman I talk about so much. This is her sorry excuse for a husband." The man beside Alan turned, his almost blackish blue eyes connecting with Ken's brown ones. Ken could see a tint of mischief in this man's eyes that didn't sit well with him.

"He doesn't look all that sorry to me Alan. Hello sir, my name is Carson Shields. Nice to meet you." Carson held out his hand for a hearty hand shake which Ken accepted and admired the man's grip. He was in his fifties yet he looked as though he could be in his lower thirties, his body looked to be well in shape and his black hair glistened with health.

"The Name's Ken Tsukino. Nice to meet you Carson." Ken smiled then went to pull his hand away from the man. His hand however did not loosen its grip and soon Ken found himself in a rather awkward position staring Carson Shields down.

"You don't know who I am do you?" Carson smirked then began to squeeze Ken's hand. Taylor immediately interjected telling the black haired man that he should release Ken and then escort himself outside. "I don't have to. Do none of you people know who I am? What kind of influence I have around here?"

"No, we don't. Now get out." Taylor growled brushing his fingers along the top of his shotgun that rested peacefully behind the counter. He didn't want to have to threaten the guy but he was causing trouble and Taylor couldn't have trouble brewing in his bar. Out of the corner of his eye Taylor noticed a man stand up towards the back of the room and approach the now irate Carson. He was tall, dark, and very sharply dressed in an Armani suit. His black hair fell ever so perfectly over his forehead swaying lightly as he marched down an invisible line towards his target. "Great."

The man approached and smiled at Ken laying his hand lightly on his shoulder. The group could hear the women nearby suck in their breaths as he smiled a perfect debonair smile. "Ken Tsukino is it?" His voice was deep and silky sounding; Ken, immediately turned to the man and glared. He must be yet another of Alan's friends.

"What is it to you?" Despite Ken's venomous tone the man sat looked at Alan thus making the brunette stagger to get off of his stool to make way for the much younger, more charming man. This action made Ken squint with suspicion. Who was this man who could make Alan Doomtry jump up so quickly.

"I must apologize for my father's poor behavior. Most of the time he doesn't know his place." The young man turned his head so he was peering over his shoulder at his father with an angry and threatening glare. Carson seemed to shrink in his jacket. "He won't be bothering you again Ken. You have my word. Alan either for that matter." Taylor and Ken exchanged looks as the man stood and grabbed his father roughly by the scruff of the neck. "You just came here to cause trouble." Ken stood suddenly and held his hand up to the man.

"Wait! Who are you?" Ken waited for a response but only got a quick and annoyed glance. He pondered why the good looking young man would be so angry with his father but resolved to not ask any more questions because he was already busy hauling his father out of the bar.

"Little prick." Alan mumbled then sat back in his seat looking somewhat dejected and angry. Taylor leaned over the counter with a curious look on his face. Who was that man and why had Alan and that other man go out of their ways to avoid him?

"Alan… who was that guy?" Taylor tilted his head his curiosity getting the best of him. He had to know and he knew Ken wouldn't mind having the information as well.

"That… was Darien Shields… you know… Dr. Shields?" Alan flourished his hands as though everyone was crazy not to have come to that conclusion on their own. "Lord knows I'd rather kiss his ass then have him kick mine. He has a short fuse but overall he's a good kid. Damn successful." Ken pondered Alan's words, was that really the infamous Dr. Shields? Somehow he'd pictured him… less attractive. Not that Ken could say he thought any other man was attractive but Darien Shields… could possibly be the devil with all of his gifts and good looks like that. Every woman in the room was whispering about the now gone man… Ken just sighed and was thankful that Serena would never meet him, he could be the undoing of her and Andrew's long destined relationship.