Author's Note: So, seriously, my abs hurt from coughing so much, that's how sick I am. It BLOWS! Anyway, hope you're all having a lovely national recovery day. Anyway, pumped out another chapter while stranded on my couch. So I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for all of the reviewing and support!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Chapter 6: The Phone Rings

"I thought that was you," Tammy smiled at him as they exited the plane. "But I wasn't sure."

"Ah, Miss Duncan," Dean smiled, "aren't you supposed to be in France?"

"Believe it or not, Paris is not a city for the broken hearted," she sighed.

"Nah, it's the city you run to when you break a heart right?" He said.

"Paris, LA," she said, "it's all the same right? When you break a heart, you just need to get out."

"What were you doing in New York?" He said.

"Cheaper to fly that way, Paris to New York, to LA." she shrugged, "You? Wait I bet I can guess, well, maybe not what, but who?"

"You always were the bitchy little one," he smirked, "she's engaged, for your information. Unfortunately, and she had no interest in even speaking to me."

"That's too bad," she said sincerely, "I always felt like you two belonged together. It was good seeing you Portman."

"You too," he nodded, "it doesn't have to end here you know. Wanna get drunk and wallow in misery together?"

"That sounds like exactly what I need right now," she laughed.

"I can't believe you told her," Tammy said, sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. "I can't believe you told him. Oh my God! Everyone probably knows now, do you realize that Dean? The Ducks can't keep their mouths shut."

"I didn't know," Guy piped in, "I don't think anyone knows."

"I had to tell her," Dean said, "I had to, what was I supposed to do?"

"Pretend it never happened," she said, "I thought that was what we agreed on."

"When did this even happen?" Guy asked.

"Right after Julie got engaged," Dean said, "we ran into each other."

"I just," Tammy said, "oh God, I mean she never liked me. Now she probably, thinks, I don't even know what to say to you."

"Well, I may have screwed it up for good this time," he said, "God, she's really pissed."

"She'll get over it," Guy said. Their conversation was interrupted when the phone rang. "Should we get that?"

"We don't live here," Tammy said. "Why would we get it?"

"Hi, you've reached Connie, Julie and Gary." Connie's voice came through the message.

"If you want to talk to Carla," Gary's voice sounded, "you have to call her new place because she SUCKS and moved to Minnesota." They all laughed.

"Leave us a message!" Julie's voice said. They all looked around.

"Julie," they all stopped, they didn't recognize the voice. "It's Gunnar." Guy's eyes got really wide, and Dean looked up. "I know you're at work, but well, it was good to see you today. I thought maybe we could get together, and have a talk. Give me a call." He hung up.

"Well that's interesting," Tammy said.

"Interesting is one word for it," Dean said, "sneaky, underhanded and bitchy is another. She never mentioned that she still sees him."

"I don't think she does," Guy said. "She probably just ran into him or something. Manhattan is like a small town, that always happens." Dean sniffed.

"Hello?" Connie said picking up her cell phone at work.

"Where are you?" Rick's voice was exactly the sound she needed to hear after the morning in the apartment.

"My cubicle," she laughed, "why?"

"Can you come down?" He said. "I'm on lunch break and I want to see you."

"I'm working," she said, "I'm very busy."

"Please?" He whined, "I need you, Connie, I miss you so much."

"I think I may have to end this," she teased, "you are getting far too needy."

"In that case," he said, "stay away. I never want to speak to you again."

"Oh," she said, "now you're playing hard to get. I go on lunch in ten minutes, can you wait that long?"

"If I must," he sighed. "See you in ten minutes."

"Bye," she said and closed the phone. She squealed with delight. This was amazing, how did she get so lucky?

"Julie Gaffney," Julie picked up her work phone.

"We need to talk," Dean's voice was short and angry.

"What's wrong?" She sighed, "besides the obvious."

"When did you see Gunnar?" He said.

"What?" She said, "Did you follow me or something?"

"He called," he said, shortly, "said something about how good it was to see you this morning?"

"You picked up the phone in the apartment?" She said.

"He left a message." He said. "Seriously Julie, what the hell?"

"I just ran into him," she said, "We shared awkward small talk, that was it. Why are you so mad about this?"

"He called you to see you again," he said, "in this awkward small talk did you happen to mention that, we were back together?"

"It was the first thing I told him," she said. "You need to calm down."

"You're one to talk," he said.

"This is entirely different," she said, "look, I have to get back to work, can we talk about this when I get home?"

"I found a place today," he said, "I'm having my stuff sent."

"So, we'll talk about it at your new place," she sighed, "whatever. But we will talk, OK?"

"Fine." He said. "Look, I'm sorry, this is hard."

"Yeah," she whispered. "It is. We'll do it though. I love you."

"I love you too," he said, "bye."

"Bye." She said and hung up. She sighed and went to her computer. She was happily going through tape of some college goalies. Watching the best in her old position made her happy. She was dying to be promoted to agent so that she could actually go out and scout and sign. God she hated the assistant job, and the situation she was in right now.

Connie rushed out into the street and threw her arms around Rick's neck and kissed him deeply.

"That was nice," he said as she pulled out. "What was that for?"

"I needed that," she laughed, "After my morning."

"What happened?" He laughed.

"The shit hit the fan," she shrugged. "Portman slept with Tammy Duncan while Julie was engaged to Gunnar."

"Who?" Rick asked.

"Right, you wouldn't know her," Connie said, "one of the original Ducks. She had Julie always had this weird competitive relationship anyway, and Guy brought her to the apartment, and it was all kinds of horrible." They started walking. "Promise me we'll never get like that?"

"I swear," he laughed. "So, I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes," she said.

"What are your plans for the summer?" He looked at her.

"Hamptons probably," she shrugged, "the four of us usually split a place, some time in Minnesota with my folks and the Ducks. Why?"

"Well," He said kissing her, "I was thinking we could split a place in the Hamptons."

"We?" She said, "Like you and me?"

"Yes," he nodded, "I mean, I know it's only been a month, and if you think its too soon, then."

"No!" She said shaking her head, "I'd love too! It'll be great." She kissed him. "I can't believe it took me so long to find you! Well, to find you again." He laughed.

"I can't believe you didn't open your eyes in high school," he smirked, "Would have saved us both a lot of time and aggravation."

"You could have been nicer then," she giggled, "then maybe I would have."

"Ah yes," he laughed, "and here we are again." Connie laughed. "Listen, I know since things are weird between Julie and Portman, this may not be the best time to bring this up but,"

"But what?" Connie said.

"Scooter's in town," he said, "he wanted to get together. See you, and Julie, but if you think, that,"

"I would love to see him," Connie nodded, "as for Julie, well, that's up to Julie."

"Good," he said, kissing her. "Tonight OK?"

"Tonight I have Guy," she said, "but tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." He nodded and kissed her. "You're amazing, you know that right?"

"I've been told." She giggled.

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