Chapter Four

"I'm worried about that kid, Trix..." Jim said, as they slowly walked the pathway that lead to Crabapple Farm's front door. "I'm afraid she's into big trouble."

"Yeah... And somehow I don't think she told us the whole story. There's something strange about it..."

Jim couldn't help but to laugh. Trixie was on a roll! "Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves! Here we go again!" he teased.

Trixie's face lit up in a big smile. "And are you willing to go into it with me?" she asked.

Jim stopped and stood there a little while, staring at her. She felt her cheeks flush under his intense gaze, but didn't lower her eyes. Then he walked over to her and held her face in his hands. "Wasn't I always?" he asked.

"Yes, but..." she gulped, feeling her heart beating out of its usual rhythm. "But sometimes I felt I had dragged you all into my crazy adventures..."

"They weren't crazy... And you didn't drag us." Softly he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I know sometimes I overreacted... But that's just the way I am... I explode easily when it comes to those I really love..."

Trixie held her breath at his words and he stood silently for a second, enjoying the full impact of what he had just said. "I know." she whispered.

"And I will always stand by you. And if it means to dodge from bullets or being kidnapped by evil doers, well, I'll be there anyway!" he stated, with a serious expression. But in his eyes there was playfulness and Trixie couldn't help to giggle.

He smiled too and then reached out and pulled one of her curls. "Anyway, now it's time we say goodnight. I bet Bobby has gone to sleep already..." Jim hesitated, but finally he leant over to her and kissed her cheek. It was not what he really wanted to do, but he figured this wasn't the time. He didn't want to make the same mistake again. Breaking away from her, he wondered if that bewildered look in her eyes had a little bit of disappointment in it... But maybe it was just wistful thinking.

Dan Mangan took in a great breath of fresh air, as he walked out of the train station. Throwing his traveling bag over his shoulder, he thought how wonderful it was to be back home. It had been a long time since he had come to Sleepyside for the first time. Such a long time that sometimes he could hardly recall any of the events that had taken place before his arrival. If home is where your heart is, this was home. He had a family and friends and wonderful memories to go with it. And a future... Next September he was starting Law School and a whole new horizon was spreading before his eyes.

The tall, dark-haired 23-year-old didn't have to wait long until he saw the old and familiar VW beetle appearing from around the bend. He waved at the blond young man behind the wheel, who stopped the car right in front of him.

"Mart, my man! What's cooking?" Dan said as he hit the other's open palm with his own.

Mart gave him a broad smile. "Your vocabulary seems to lack a certain je ne sais quoi, every time you return from New York. But the use of such a terminology reminds me that I am famished."

Dan burst out laughing. "As usual!"

"Now seriously, man. It is great to see you!" Mart said as he climbed out of the car to open the trunk.

"It's wonderful to be back. New York just doesn't cut it for me anymore!" Dan said as he leant back on the seat. "And how's everyone?" Dan frowned as he saw Mart's expression grow dim.

"Not that well, actually. It's been kinda stormy around here..."

The dark haired young man whistled after Mart told him the whole story.

"Wow! Trixie must be pretty confused... Well, but I have to say I really saw that coming. It just surprises me that it took so long."

Mart nodded in agreement.

"Yeah... We all did... And Trixie did too. And now she blames herself for not acting on it."

"Poor kid!" Dan said.

"Yeah, but you know how much she hates to be pitied. The worst, though, is that she's doubting her calling... Or better, she says the agency doesn't make sense without Honey... Apparently she was already in doubt before this..."

"Well," Dan said "I guess the only thing we can do now is stand by her. She'll be needing our support..."

Mart grinned. "She has it... Last night Jim took her out on a date."

Dan's eyes widened and he smiled. "Really? I was wondering if I would have to personally kick his butt!"

Dan's remark made Mart laugh out loud. "Oh yeah? Hey, I always thought you wished he would never make a move!", Mart teased.

His friend took a deep breath and a sad smile came to his lips. "You're wrong, Martin, my friend. I did have a little crush on your sister... Who wouldn't? There was a time I thought there was a chance, but then I realized Trixie is the kind of girl that only gives her heart away once... And Jim caught it long ago. Even if things didn't work out between them, I would always be second best to her... No, I want them to be happy and I'll do anything to help those two stubborn mules understand they need each other."

Mart gulped and wished he knew what to say. He had suddenly realized he had just heard the definition of true friendship. Meanwhile, he had halted the car on a red light. Mart noticed Dan was pretty quiet and wondered if he was still thinking about Trixie and Jim. Looking sideways at him, he saw Dan staring at some people at the bus stop.

"Hey, you have just returned from far off places.", Mart said, ironically "Have you already started to consider which of Sleepyside's fair maidens is worth your wooing?"

Dan playfully punched him on his shoulder. "No, Mart, I'm not checking out the babes! There's a guy over there... I know him... He's bad news. I met him at the DA's office... I was there this last semester, in a sort of training..." he explained. "Anyway, this guy was on trial for drug possession and traffic... He got out on a technicality and the attorney I was working with was going nuts over it..."

Mart followed Dan's gaze and saw a young man in his late twenties waiting to cross the street. He was dressed in perfectly normal clothes but there was something in the way he moved, in the way he looked at people that made Mart shiver.

"And what's he doing in Sleepyside?", Mart asked, frowning.

"Beats me! And I wish I'll never have to find out!"

"Mornin', sis!" Jim greeted as he entered the dining room.

Honey raised her head from the newspaper and smiled at her brother's gay mood. "Hi! You're looking very cheerful this morning. May I gather that it has something to do with, oh, let's say, your date with Trixie?"

He grinned back at her. "You may... Or you may say that it's just because there's a beautiful day outside."

"Yeah, right..." Honey replied, as she took another sip of her orange juice. "I know you, big brother. C'me on, spill the beans!"

Jim sighed and leaned back on the chair. "It was wonderful, Honey... It was like old times. We laughed and danced and had fun... No strings attached, you know? We didn't mention these last events... I wanted her to have fun and to forget it for a while."

His sister nodded in agreement. "You did right... I know her brain is working at full-speed."

"Did you two talk?" Jim asked as he reached for a piece of cake.

"Yes... She's pretty confused... She told me it isn't just my giving up on the agency. Trixie talked about some decision she's trying to make..." Honey shrugged. "She wouldn't tell me what she was thinking. The only explanation she was willing to give me was that she wasn't going to settle for second best."

Jim's expression turned serious. "Second best?" he gulped as the words sank in. "Do you have any idea of what she's talking about?"

"No, Jim, I don't... I know it must have something to do with her future, her career..."

Suddenly, Jim had lost all his appetite. The picture of what Trixie might consider being second best had suddenly become very clear in his mind. And it hurt.

Trixie couldn't wait to finish her chores. Bobby had been throwing sideway glances at her behind their mother's back and she'd manage to understand he wanted to talk. Something must have happened... Bobby had been late for breakfast that morning and Trixie had noticed there was something upsetting him. She only hoped Annie hadn't managed to escape the locked clubhouse. Finally, Helen Belden went back into the kitchen and her two youngest off-springs were left alone in the garden.

"What happened, Bobby?" she asked as soon as she heard the kitchen's screen door slam.

"Something's wrong." he answered, in a low voice. "I went to the tree house this morning... Last night, Annie had told me she had forgotten her medallion when I brought her to the clubhouse. So I decided to go back this morning and get it... Trixie, someone else has been there... The place is trashed!"

"What do you mean 'trashed'?" Trixie asked, frowning. "You told me that Annie had left empty cans all over the place!"

"No, it isn't that! What I mean is broken shelves, everything that was on top of them lying on the ground... Nothing was left standing, except the house itself. Oh, and no trace of the medallion!"

Trixie's interest suddenly pricked up. "So the house was searched... Whoever did it was looking for something."

"You think the disappearance of the medallion means the person was looking for a trace of Annie... Or they just happened to find it and decided it was worth something?" Bobby's eyes were now a blue lagoon of excitement and fear.

"It could be either... But I have a hunch that it wasn't just a coincidence... Which leads me to conclude Annie was followed and is presently in danger."

"Who's in danger?" a familiar voice said behind them.

Trixie and Bobby turned at the sound, startled.

"Are you getting into trouble again, missy?" Dan said, with a huge smile.

"No... But you might, if you continue to heaves drop on my conversations!" Trixie replied with a serious face, before she let her smile out in the open. "Hi, Dan. Welcome back!" she said, hugging her friend. "Was the trip ok?"

"Yeah... Until I got to Sleepyside. After that I feared for my life! Mart is on his Michael Schumacher phase!"

Mart punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Next time you drive!" he said, pretending to be offended.

Dan made a face in disgust. "No, thank you! Not unless it's strictly necessary... I rather have my horse anytime. At least with that one I understand what makes him move!"

They all laughed. Despite his past as a city boy, Dan had never really liked mechanics and a motor was to him what mathematics were to Trixie... A nightmare.

"So, what were you guys talking about?" Mart asked, not wanting to drop the subject. He knew something was going on. Trixie could be a hell of a detective but she could never fool him for long.

"Oh, nothing!" Bobby replied, before Trixie could answer. "We were just saying Dan was probably in danger with you behind the wheel."

Mart didn't answer but as they walked towards the house he pointed a finger at Trixie. And she knew what he meant by that: "I'm watching you!"

A/N:Thanks again I really enjoy all the review.