Chuck stood there in the doorway in his classic yellow jacket with flowers in his hand.

"Surprise" he said slowly with a hint of happiness in his voice. Stacey stood there in shock, her mind refusing to believe what she was seeing but at the same time begged and prayed it was true. "Um Stacey," he said "Can I come in?"

"Uh, yes of course Chuck." She said slowly, her mind still taking a minute to realise he was back. "Do you want some coffee or something?"

"No thanks Stacey I think I've had enough coffee creamers in the last couple of months to put me off coffee forever" he laughed.

"Oh, okay" she sighed.

"Stacey I'm joking, I'd love one."

"Okay" she almost whispered. She walked over to the coffee machine and started making some coffee. She wasn't focusing on what she was doing and she didn't realise she had put at least ten spoonfuls of sugar into the cup.

"Um Stacey, isn't that a bit too much sugar?" he joked.

"Oh, uh yeah I guess" her voice crackled as she spoke.

"Stacey maybe you should sit down and I'll make the coffee" he spoke softly.

"Okay." Chuck could tell she was taking this hard.

"Are you okay Stacey? You're just kinda saying 'okay' over and over again."

"Oh, uh sorry" she said in the same depressed tone she had been talking in for the last couple of minutes.

Chuck sighed and said "No Stacey I-" he sighed again out of frustration. He sat down opposite from Stacey and said "Look Stacey I know this is messed up, me just coming home after this whole Phentrans thing-"

"You think?" she interrupted him.

"Yeah, look I know but-"

"Chuck I thought you were dead" she spoke more confidently now but still not very loud "I saw the news and it just said Frank West, it never said you. Why?"

"I- I didn't want the public's attention again. I couldn't have them hunting us down for a story; I couldn't put Katey through that again. I saw what happened after Fortune City, the press hunting you and Katey down for a story, especially after what you said against Phenotrans"

"And the lawsuits" she added

"And... the lawsuits yes," he then took his hands into hers and his very touch made her whimper as her eyes shot up towards his. "Stacey I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for Katey, looking after her when you could have just left."

"I could never do that. I love Katey" she said. And I love you she thought.

Chuck laughed a little and said "She's amazing isn't she."

God dammit you just don't get it Chuck she thought "Yeah, she is" she said. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before Stacey worked up the courage to say "Chuck. You..."

"Yes" he said quickly trying to break the silence.

"I- you know what never mind."

"No, go on" he desperately wanted to break the silence.

"Well I don't want to overstep my boundaries but, you never talked about Vegas," Chuck looked down. The silence became even more uncomfortable. "I'm sorry Chuck I shouldn't have asked"

"No no" he said swiftly "It's just that, well I've never really talked about Vegas. I just say my wife died and we got out."

Stacey pondered for a few seconds before asking "What was she like... your wife?"

Another moment of silence.

"She was... amazing. She was beautiful and she always, always spoke her mind" Chuck laughed "kind of like you." Stacey chuckled at that last part. Chuck continued "She was a nurse at one of the hospitals, Mercy hospital. That Goddamn hospital" he said those last words with disdain.

"... Look if you don't wanna talk about it that's fine"

"No, no I... I really need to get it off my chest. I've never told anyone this before, I, I need to tell someone."

Stacey smiled at that. She felt that maybe she meant something special to him as he's telling her-and only her-about how his life was destroyed. "What was her name?" she asked.

"Sarah. Sarah Elwood, she died Sarah Greene".

"Hey Chuck" Sarah said

"Hey baby" Chuck replied.

"Listen baby I'm gonna be a little late tonight" she frowned.

"What why?" Chuck questioned.

"There's a ton of patients coming in" she answered.

"But you're not on call tonight" he complained.

"Yeah I know honey but patients are just flooding in."

"But what about Katey, we were supposed to be going the carnival tonight."

"I know baby and I'm sorry but everybody's here, even all the doctors and nurses who had a day off today" she explained.

"Really?" he said in disbelief "Wow. What happened was there a traffic pile up or something?" he asked.

"Don't know" she answered "all I know is the hospital's flooded with patients so I might not get in 'til the early hours of the morning".

"Dammit" he swore.

"Just take Katey to the carnival without me; I don't want either of you to miss out."

"Yeah okay, she's been looking forward to this all week" he said

"So have you, I saw how you reacted when we saw the carnival was in town" Sarah joked.

"What, um, I was just acting like that for Katey" he lied.

"Yeah right" she laughed "you can act all tough Mr Greene with all your Motor cross championships but inside I know you're just a big kid aren't you?"

"Hey you are too" he chuckled.

"Yeah but at least I admit it" she smiled. Chuck laughed and she said "Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow morning baby okay?"

"Okay. I Love you."

"I love you too" she replied.

Just then Katey burst out of her room and ran towards her father. "Is that Mommy?" Katey yelled as she ran and hugged Chuck round the waist as she could only reach that high.

"Yeah kiddo" he answered.

"Can I talk to her? Pleeeaaassseee?" Katey pleaded over dramatically.

Sarah laughed and said "I can hear her through the phone, put her on."

Chuck gave the phone to Katey and she said to her mother "Hiiiiii Mommy."

"Hi Katey" Sarah laughed "listen I've got some bad news."

Katey pouted and asked "What's wrong Mommy?"

"I have to stay late at the hospital again, I can't make it to the carnival" she sighed.

"But Mommyyyyyy!" Katey shouted "This is the last day they're in town!"

"I know kiddo and I'm sorry, but there's no way I can get out of work tonight" she sighed "maybe next time ok? You two go without me I'll see you in the morning. Bye Katey, love you."

"I Love you too Mommy" said Katey disappointed.

Chuck bent down and hugged Katey "Its okay kiddo. C'mon get ready we'll leave soon okay"

"Okay" Katey said slowly.

"That was... probably the last time Katey really acted like a kid. She never used to be so timid or shy, even when she was just four. She'd always be really energetic and happy. I mean now she's kind of happy but after that night she never acted the same."

Stacey sat there across from Chuck as they sipped their coffee listening to every word of his story. She was so wrapped up in his story that she lost track of time.

"Shoot, it's nearly 3:30 I need to go pick up Katey from school" Chuck's face lit up as he heard his daughter's name. Stacey saw this and stuttered before asking "Do yo- Do you wanna pick her up with me?"

Chuck looked ecstatic but instead remained calm and looked down back at his coffee as he said "I think I'd rather wait here for her." Stacey looked confused. "It'd be a great surprise wouldn't it?" he chuckled.

Stacey smiled as she grabbed her keys and coat and headed towards the door. Before she left however she turned back and put her hand on Chuck's shoulder and said "Um, Chuck..." he murmured in response and looked over as she said "It- it's good to have you back. I- Katey and I missed you." He put his hand on hers still resting on his shoulder as she fought the urge to hug him. She turned and headed towards the door leaving Chuck alone in the house, although she didn't want to knowing what he's been through, she knew what he was planning would be special for Katey. That man always puts Katey before himself, she thought, he puts everyone before himself. And with that she left to pick up Katey.