Title: Growing Pains
Chapter 10 – Revealing a Tangled Web

Casey tries to make a move to the right but the man quickly counters, turning his gun within seconds to follow Casey's movements and forcing Severide to quickly pull Casey back and halt his actions.

"Hey hold on there!" Severide growls as the man turns the barrel of his gun toward Severide.

"You boys have about three seconds before I blow one of you away!"

"Bruce McNeil said you still lived out here."

"Like hell," the man sneers at Casey's reply. "He can't even remember his own name most of the time!"

"He had a good day today," Severide replies firmly as Jason Coopers aged glance shifts from Casey to him. "We aren't out here for…"

"What do you boys want?"

"We wo…hey wait wait! Hold on a sec!" Casey half shouts as the gun edges closer toward him after he had tried to reach into his pocket to pull his ID, Severide giving Casey's frame a small tug and pulling him out of harms way once again.

"You got a gun there?"

"Sir, we're firefighters with House 51," Severide states in haste as Casey nods in agreement.

"I was going for my ID."

"Firefighters huh. Well as you can see there's no fire here. So just turn your asses around and get back in your truck and get the hell outta here."

"We just need to ask you about the connection between Bruce McNeil and Kevin Hadley."

"What?" Jason looks at both of them in utter shock as his gun slightly lowers.

"Please sir, just a few questions and then we'll be on our way. I give you my word," Severide joins in after Casey's reply.

"It would mean a lot to us."

"You said Bruce had a good day?" Jason asks as he lowers the gun all the way.

"Spoke fondly of your friendship. Said you liked to hunt," Casey tells him as the man's face slightly softens.

"It's hard to see him like that. The walking dead…trapped within yourself like that. We've been friends all our lives," Jason huffs as both Casey and Severide offer sympathetic nods. "Well the air out here's not that friendly…come in and I'll make us all some coffee."

"We don't want to impose," Casey starts in haste as Jason looks at him sharply.

"Coffee would be great," Severide gently hisses as he looks at Casey to comply or else; Casey offering Severide a weak nod but agreeing also.

"What happened to yer neck?" Jason gestures to the thick padding on Casey's neck; now exposed due to his shoulder being tugged away by Severide.

"Got burnt in a fire…started by Ke…" Casey absently replies before he realizes the investigation team hasn't confirmed anything yet and then stops. "Fire…at a senior's complex," he replies with a small huff as they enter the already warmed wooden home. The two of them stand in the entranceway, watching Jason Cooper pull away and then looking around their new surroundings in wonder.

"We saw a picture of you with Kevin Hadley at Bruce's new home."

"Home!" Jason spits as he looks at Severide with a frown. "That damn place isn't a home! It's a prison! I tried to get Bruce put into my care…thought I'd bring him out here and let him spend his last few years on this earth in peace. But I wasn't allowed. I'm closer to him than his own family but I still wasn't allowed!"

"What about Laura and her family?" Casey inquires as they both take off their shoes and follow Jason into the hallway at his verbal direction.

"That one doesn't care. She's always been after his money…what little he has left. Figures if he comes out here to be with me than that's where it goes."

"Sounds like you're very protective of him," Severide comments as he pauses to look at a few pictures of him and Bruce on the wall.

"Family don't need to be bonded by blood only. Bruce and I grew up together as kids and have been brothers ever since. But…ah you two probably don't know what I'm even talkin' about," he huffs as Casey and Severide trade knowing glances.

"Actually we kinda do know what you mean," Casey offers with a small smile.

"I see another picture of Kevin Hadley….who's this with him?"

"Graham….something. Forget his last name…Bixby I think. They were the lost boys we called them; me and Bruce. Broken homes, lame ass fathers…just looking for some guidance and attention. They usually found it in the wrong places but Bruce always had a soft spot for those boys. I guess it's because him and Laura we never that close and he always wanted a boy. His Margaret died at a young age…cancer. Damn stuff!" Jason pauses to curse before he continues to offer a bit more insight into Hadley's past. "Laura was always doing her own thing but Kevin and Graham…well as you can see by their coloring their not related, but they lapped up whatever Bruce could give them."

"Money?" Casey wonders.

"Some thought that, but for those boys it was just the need to belong to something. Kevin's father left when he was a boy, blaming him and his mother and his mother from what I was told blamed Kevin for their arguing. Hard for a kid to hear that you know? Ruins him for life; makes him jaded."

"Yeah," Severide agrees with a heavy sigh as Casey looks over in sympathy.

"Where's Graham now?"

"He met an unfortunate end in a car accident a few years back. Kevin took it real hard; only true friend he had in this world."

"Sorry to hear that."

"When Bruce offered to take them both hunting the first time, boy…their faces lit up and…yeah it was like they were just told they won the lottery or something. We didn't let them shoot anything at first, thems being too young and all. And of course if something happened well they both had mothers at the time and Bruce said that wouldn't be right. But they didn't care…they just wanted to something away from home. When you're down and out like they were and with no money you usually get into trouble."

"Looks like you all had a fun time. Fishing?" Casey gestures to a picture with the four of them; Bruce and Jason younger men and Hadley and his friend Graham just mere teens.

"Oh yeah we did. Small lake up yonder. I think we caught more ticks and bites than anything but none of us cared. We just were happy to be in the woods and away from the city."

"Have you lived out here all your life?" Severide asks next as both take a mug that Jason offers and settle into nearby chairs.

"My daddy bought this land way back when…always wanted to turn it into a park. Well the city had no money for that so when he passed on I figured the land was good and I didn't really want to move, so I fixed up the house and now work with the city to allow a select number of hunters on the land during the winter hunting season. As I said earlier I wanted Bruce to come and live here but he's now stuck in that…"

"Prison," Casey interjects softly as Jason pauses in his pouring of the coffee to nod at them in agreement.

"I'm sure he'd be a lot happier out there than in there."

"But I know it's not safe for him either…say he were to wander away when I was in town and get lost and….and if something happened to him under my care, it'd kill me," Jason huffs as he slumps down into a chair opposite Casey and Severide and studies them intently. "So what do you boys really want?"

"We wanted to know the connection between Bruce and Kevin Hadley but you kinda answered most of that for us," Casey answers in truth.

"Father figure…the one he never had," Severide adds as Jason Cooper nods in agreement.

"When's the last time he went and saw Bruce?"

"Ah Bruce…I was up to see him last week…said something about Kevin coming down with his boys."

"What? Bruce said that?" Casey asks in shock. "Kevin's…boys?"

"Yeah I know odd…Kevin never married and has no kids. On a good day I know Bruce knows that but…well Kevin always wanted to make him proud so maybe Bruce just imagined that. Found it hard to keep any kind of real relationship. Always thought he'd end up like his father."

"I can understand that," Severide mentions softly.

"Was there ever anyone he was serious about?" Casey asks as he tosses his friend a concerned frown.

"One in high school but most recently a girl named Susan. Pretty thing too," Jason sighs as he looks over at a picture on the fridge. "She was ready to accept him for all his so-called misgivings but he…well he told her he'd end up like his father and that was it. He left and she married a few years back. Has a family of her own now. Bruce always talks fondly of Kevin. How'd you two get into all this?"

"Hadley used to work with us at 51…before budget cuts and all," Severide offers in haste. "And uh…well he mentioned Bruce in passing one time," he offers not wanting to tell Jason the real truth about them having to snoop and get it from his private application form. "And we haven't seen Hadley since he was let go a few months back so…"

"So we thought Bruce had," Casey concludes with a small shrug. "Just wanted to find him…you know see how he is."

"Kevin could go and see him every day but there might be only one moment during that whole week that Bruce will remember or know something that'll help with the reunion."

"Do you know where Hadley's staying now?" Severide dares to ask. "He moved without giving a forwarding address."

"Half expected him to ask if he could live out here," Jason answers in truth. "I'd happily give him a room…miss having someone else out here you know? Especially at night. I should get a dog. Nothing good on TV these days…damn reality shows," he huffs in contempt as both Casey and Severide exchange amused expressions.

"Did Kevin always want to be a firefighter?" Severide wonders.

"At one time he wanted to be a pilot," Jason informs them. "Said it was for the uniform," he gently chuckles. "I think it was because he just wanted to escape."

"Was there ever anyone else besides Susan that he liked?"

"Girl back in high school…yeah they were sweet on each other for two years…things changed in senior year but yeah…thought that one would last. I think he did too. Never was told the reason why they split up. I'd say to ask Bruce for more details but as you know…he probably wouldn't remember all the details and if he did, I doubt they'd be right half the time. He just said it didn't work with Kevin and she moved on. Didn't have much to say about the other fella but we always just figured it was sour grapes and never pressed it. Bruce did say at one time he knew the secret and would take it to his grave but that's about it. I figured maybe she got pregnant and deliberately gave up the child you know? Such a terrible waste and that would weigh heavily on a young woman. But he said it was something else and then dropped it. I never pushed for the reason. Maybe they just weren't meant to be you know?"

"Do you remember her name?"

"It was…." Jason pauses as he looks at the collage of pictures on the fridge and then back to the two expectant faces. "Heather…Heather…"

"Darden?" Casey asks in shock as Jason's brow furrows.

"No…it was…"

"Mitchell," both Jason and Severide utter at once as Casey looks at Severide with a sinking feeling.

"It's Darden now," Severide states softly as Casey finally makes the connection.

"Could be," Jason gently shrugs, as he takes a sip of his coffee and leans back in his chair with a heavy sigh. "Thick as thieves for a few years those two. At least that's how Bruce tells it. I only saw Kevin a few times during those years and he seemed happy. Guess that changed. After that he kept up mostly with Bruce until he started as a firefighter with House 14 and then it was back to our annual hunting trips until Graham passed on."

Severide looks at Casey with a heavy frown as he remembers Andy telling him about meeting Heather and how it was love at first sight. He said that Heather told him she had just broken up with someone but didn't say who; and he always knew that Hadley had gone to a different high school than him and Andy; Heather transferring into theirs her senior year.

"When I got a new job that forced me to work longer hours, I didn't see Kevin as much but Bruce always kept in touch. I'm guessing that's why he put his name down as an emergency contact. Bruce woulda given his life for those guys no questions asked. Well…that's about it I guess."

"We really do appreciate this."

"Don't know much help I've been," Jason confesses as he finishes the last of his strong coffee.

"Do you know where Kevin's living now?" Casey inquires.

"Bruce never said and I guess with his ailing health and not seeing him around much I never pressed the issue. Sorry."

"That's okay. I never met his father. He told me his name was Scott but that's about it," Severide relates with a small huff. "I guess he's passed on."

"Not sure about that. Don't know if he's listed but if you have some time you can check out the Legion hall over on Carlson Drive. At least I know he used to go and just hang there. Have a beer and just…you know try to forget about whatever he felt he needed to forget about."

"Life," Severide whispers as Casey looks over in remorse.

"Thank you for your time Mr. Cooper and the coffee," Casey mentions in kindly.

"Can I ask why the gun at first?"

"Had a few things stolen the past few months. Never caught the guy but figured if it was him comin' back for more he wasn't getting it."

"What was taken?"

"Some old wiring, diesel accelerant," Jason tells them as Casey and Severide exchange horrified glances. "Never saw the guy but now I'm a bit paranoid. But enough of that. You boys hunt?"

"Ah…" Severide looks over at Casey who shrugs but shakes his head. "Yeah we're not big hunters but um…I couldn't help but notice that good sized pond you have back there to the left."

"Yeah...brought out a couple of hoses one year back and froze it over. Tried to smooth it out best I could but the kids didn't seem to mind. You boys got kids?"

"Two boys at home," Casey replies with a small smile. "You know if you wouldn't mind…we could come out here and help freeze it and then use it."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, that'd be a great idea. Get a few of the guys. I know Hermann and his clan would be up for that also," Casey readily agrees as he offers his hand to Jason Cooper and gives is a good shakes.

"I think that's a mighty fine idea. Sure wouldn't mind having something nice to look forward to," Jason smiles as shakes Severide's hand next. "Here's my number," he writes it down and hands it to Casey. "You boys drop by anytime you want."

"Thank you sir," Casey tucks the number into his pocket and then heads behind Jason toward the front door; Severide in tow. Severide's eyes glance once more at the picture of Hadley and his friend Graham with Bruce, his mind wondering where Hadley was and what his real game was.

"Thanks," Severide gives Jason a pat on the back before he follows behind Casey to his truck and then they slowly pull away. Silence starts to fill the cabin, prompting Casey to look over in wonder. "What he said about Hadley and his home life…I get it."

"You can't compare Kelly. Hadley made his choices and they were the wrong ones. No matter how he might try to justify his anger toward life or society; hurting people and damaging property for no real reason is wrong. You never allowed your hate for your home life to fester."

"Still stings."

"Sorry," Casey offers in soft remorse. "So…Heather dated Hadley before Andy?" Casey asks as they pull back onto the highway; his eyes glancing to the clock to make sure they still had time to be home for the boys when Christie dropped them off.

"I didn't know that. Andy never said anything and I just…maybe he never told me or maybe he just didn't know. Maybe Heather kept it a secret. But why? Ashamed? Embarrassed? Before all this Hadley wasn't that bad a guy. People talk about their ex's and it sounds like they were quite the couple."

"Maybe when she met Andy she…" Casey's voice starts and then stops. "I don't know. Maybe she was ashamed of Hadley or finally saw a side of him she didn't like said see ya later and then moved. Met Andy and never looked back."

"Then we all meet up at 51 and…Heather was at the picnic's…she would have seen Hadley the very first time. Andy never said she acted strange around any of the team, but then she was always so resentful of his job that maybe it was just all rolled into one emotion. I always thought it was all my fault but…"

"But maybe it was also partly attributed to Hadley," Casey suggests. "She lost touch with Hadley, Andy tells her he's got on at 51, she comes to the first picnic…sees Hadley and then…"

"She rarely came to events," Severide huffs. "But maybe it was too awkward to be around your ex with your new husband and just made up excuses not to come. That's not that abnormal. So her and Hadley sharing a romantic past at least could partly explain her even considering giving the boys to him; an ex-boyfriend. She knows him more than we think she does. To her it's not that odd but to us it is since we didn't know the connection until today."

"But then why ask me and be coy about it? Why the games? Just tell me you used to date Kevin Hadley and my boys will be better off with him? We're going to make a start after I'm released? I'd get that," Casey ponders.

"But if that were true, fine if Hadley were normal and not on the AI's most wanted list for arson and attempted murder and a few other pending charges then giving him the kids would make sense. But he's about to go to jail for a long time, it makes no sense to even think about it."

"Unless he thinks he's untouchable. Maybe he thinks nothing will be found on him?" Casey suggests. "I mean he comes back here to steal from a man that helped him when he was growing up and then uses it to hurt others for no good reason?"

"He is an arrogant SOB," Severide purses his lips and grumbles. "But he knows AI's on to him and, in that case then why take the boys if you know you're also going to jail – let them become a ward of the state? Maybe he does want to stick it to Andy. She hates me and blames me for Andy's death…maybe blames us both. Hadley blames us both for standing against him to get him canned…they have a mutual hate for us…kinda makes sense."

"Maybe. We are missing a link here. Something. There has to be something more. Something that links all this together…Hadley and Heather and his motive for doing all this. Hadley targeting the House and team that laid him off makes sense. He's a disgruntled ex-employee, just lost his job and went back to the House that started it all. We see this in the news – some guy loses his job, others replace him and he goes to the next company event with a shotgun and shoots a few people because he's angry. But why Heather…"

"Maybe it is just simple revenge to get back at us?" Casey ponders. "He wants to ruin our lives in any way possible and that includes us offering the Darden boys a peaceful home for a year and a half. Maybe we're over thinking this."

"Maybe if only one of us had a bad feeling – I had that right from the start. My dad backed it up and then it hit you. No something's up. There's a real personal link between Hadley, the Darden's and all this."

"Think that's what he broke into the Darden house for? A picture that Heather kept of her and Hadley? Or something else incriminating."

"But so what?" Casey banters back. "She could simply say she knew him and didn't think it was anyone's business. So they knew each other? It's not a good enough reason for him to try to hurt her and the boys unless…"

"Unless what?" Severide presses.

"Unless he was just so angry and jaded toward Andy and this is his way of paying him back…making us look bad so he can swoop in and save the boys and Heather and the four of them live happily ever after?"

"Doesn't sound too farfetched but then why set all those fires? Why hurt innocent people if you just want to save your ex-girlfriend?" Severide muses. "I can't see Heather telling him to set those fires just to target us…she might not have been happy with Andy's choice of career but I can't see her being that vindictive."

"I didn't think she'd drink and drive," Casey reminds him as the reach the outskirts of the city.

"I guess we don't know her as well as we thought…I only knew what Andy told me. When she was around she was always so cold and standoffish and I always knew she blamed me for Andy becoming a firefighter. You know she never wanted to come into the house. Damn I hate that we have more questions than answers."

"And I think the more questions we ask the more questions we'll have almost afraid to ask more," Casey sighs as he heads for their next destination.

"But we have to."

"Think Hadley's father is alive?"

"I don't know," Severide lightly groans as he looks out the window. "I just want to find Hadley and set the record straight once and for all."

"And your father checked his current address, right?" Casey wonders.

"Said the place was cleaned out as if no one ever lived there. They were able to find a few chemical leftover's but nothing to conclusively prove that he had been keeping the accelerants there and the landlord had no forwarding address. Even his mail was being rerouted to a post office box. House 31 had nothing either. It's like he disappeared but…"

"But he's still here for some reason," Casey interjects in truth.

"And targeting us," Severide adds as he looks back at Casey with a serious expression; Casey slowly nodding. "All I know is we have to find something on him so that the next time he comes at us we can give him real pause to keep on going and not look back."

"Well…" Casey pauses as stops his truck right outside the legion and looks at Severide. "Let's go. We'll stop by the Darden house right after this and then we should still be home in time to make the boys dinner."

"And a game of Risk afterward?" Severide suggests with a small smile.

"Itching for a bit of payback?"

"Hey I let you win last time because I felt sorry for you."

"Ah…" Casey chuckles as they head for the front door; this time unaware that they were now being watched. The two of them enter the dimly lit building and then pause in the entranceway, Severide having told Casey what Scott Hadley looked like – like Hadley only older; to which Casey tossed by dryly 'thanks'. The two of them scan the room, disappointment setting in as they realize no one there fits the description of the man they are seeking.

"Hey…excuse me," Severide quickly calls out to an older man as he nears. "We're looking for Scott Hadley. Is he here?"

"Reddish hair right?"

"Yeah."

"Check hall 67 over on State Street. He might be there today. He alternates depending on his mood. Check there," the man mumbles as he pushes past and heads for another part of the quiet building.

"Ok-ay," Severide huffs as he gives Casey a small slap on the back; both heading back out the same way they came and then back into Casey's truck. "Think it's another dead end?"

"You know we gotta check it out. If he's not there…we'll have to either put the visit to the Darden house on hold or our next move in the Hadley saga," Casey states as he pulls away from the Legion building and heads toward their next.

"You see him?" Severide asks as he finally notices Hadley's car following at what he thinks is a discreet distance.

"I sure do. We need to lose him. Any ideas how we can do that safely?"

"Take the 83rd tunnel. It's short but if you time it right you can get into that small ingress and he'll have no choice to go right past and then pull out and turn back."

"Yup," Casey nods in agreement as he quickly pulls his truck into the right lane, sure enough watching as the dark burgundy waits a few seconds and then does the same thing; mirroring his moves until they near the brief tunnel. Casey quickly swerves at the last second, pulls into the workers u-turn section and watches as Hadley's forced by two large city trucks to continue in the one way path and out the tunnel. Casey then quickly turns around, darts in front of another large truck and gets back into the opposite lane.

"Not bad," Severide lightly praises as Casey offers him a proud smile. "How's the neck by the way?"

"Feels irritated."

"I'll check when we get home and take that bandage off. Just find a shirt without a neck."

"I'll put out my tubetop as soon as I get home," Casey lightly snickers as he offers Severide a head shake. "No tube top?"

"Too butch," Severide chuckles. "But I doubt the boys will be offended if you walk around without a shirt until it calms down a bit after I put some cream on it."

"I hope we find some real answers," Casey admits with a heavy sigh as they near the turn to the second Legion hall. "You told me that Hadley's father walked out on him when he was young."

"He might have heard where he's living. My dad…I mean no matter where he was always seemed to know where I was living. Don't know how he knew…but he always did. Just like I usually know where to find him. Mostly up at the cabin but…we just need to know where Hadley is now and then…"

"Follow him to his next job."

"That's it. If we can catch him in the act we can put an end to his once and for all."

"Then we can ask him why he's doing all this. We need solid answers."

"Well…we might get them now," Severide nods to the entrance as Casey brings the truck to a stop; both getting out and then looking around for any sign of Hadley's car. "Let's get this over with."

The two of them head for the front door, slipping inside and then looking around for anyone with Scott Hadley's description.

"Hey Matt…there," Severide whispers as he nudges Casey to look toward the right; Casey's eyes quickly following Severide's verbal urging. He lets his eyes rest upon someone that fits their description and takes a deep breath.

"Let's go," he talks gently as they both slowly head toward who they hope is Scott Hadley, Severide pulling ahead as he was the one that Kevin Hadley had worked with last. But as they near, they both have to wonder how they'll be received? Could they hide their true identities? Just as they near him, Scott Hadley looks up and offers them a frown and grumble.

"Whatever you two are selling…I'm not buying."

"We're actually here looking for your son, Kevin," Severide mentions in haste. "We're um…old friends," he states with a small frown of his own.

"I haven't seen him…recently."

"He uh…he left some furniture at my place and I don't know where to take it."

"He…we don't speak much," Scott Hadley admits with a small hiss.

"We were just hoping you might know where he's staying these days. That's all."

"Heard he had some trouble at work," Scott grumbles as both Severide and Casey swallow hard and exchange worried glances.

"We'd like to get him some help," Casey offers softly. "He's um…I think he's just lost his way. Maybe he's staying with a friend? Someone you know?"

"Family maybe?" Severide volunteers as Scott pours himself another half glass of strong whiskey.

"Family…" Scott sneers before he looks away and takes another sip of the strong golden liquid. "Yeah he has family."

"Really? Where?"

"Where's…Kevin's mother?"

"Houston. Somewhere without snow. She hated the cold…hated me," he concludes sourly; Severide's face wincing as he thinks about how his own biological mother had mentioned moving away from his father; using the snowy weather as the excuse. Is it a standard excuse for broken families?, he wonders bitterly.

"I'm sorry," Casey replies with a small frown as Scott looks up in misery.

"You said family. Does he…have any siblings? They might know where he is? How we can get a hold of him?" Severide asks in haste.

"Siblings…yeah he uh…he has one. Seems quiet but is a real troublemaker…always has been. Seems harmless and then…yeah," he huffs as he looks back down at the glass of whiskey in his grasp. "You boys probably don't hafta worry about that kinda stuff. Father's having kids all over the place," he grumbles as Severide offers him a small knowing gaze. "Neither want anything to do with me. I left them both. He told everyone I was dead and I don't care…let it be that way."

"I'm sorry it came to that," Severide states in truth.

"I lied to them…both of them…so they don't care about me. Ruined their lives. So their hating me is a fair trade I suppose," Scott shrugs as he takes another hearty gulp of his whiskey and then slams the nearly empty glass on the table. "I didn't know until it…them…until was too late…maybe it was my fault. Neither spoke to me…until it was too late. I shoulda looked for them and told them before it was too late. Then the truth came out and they hated me…hated each other. I tried to fix it but…but there was no fixing it. You can't fix blood. So I left. I left and then came back a year ago. I found out I was a grandfather."

"Congratulations," Casey tells him in a tender tone.

"Well the boys are a bit older now. Just found out when I heard there was some real trouble. Only ever seen a picture though. Not allowed to see them up close and personal. Hurts, but I get her reasoning."

"Who?"

"They mother; his half sister. I'm not the kind of grandfather you can be proud of."

"Do you have a picture of them?" Casey dares to inquire.

"One," Scott nods as he heavily exhales and then reaches for his wallet. "Seem like nice boys. Must get that from their father…rest his soul," he huffs as he pulls out the picture, looking at it before he slowly hands it over to Casey.

Casey gives Scott a small smile before he allows his eyes to drop down to the picture. In that second his heart stops and his breath catches. "Oh…my…god…" he whispers as he looks up at Severide in dread.

"What?" Severide asks in haste as he looks down at Casey's slightly shaking fingers and then looks at the picture of the two very familiar faces. "What the hell…this isn't possible."

"What's their…names?" Casey asks weakly.

"Benjamin…and Griffin."

"So then Heather Darden is…"

"My daughter."

"What!"

A/N: muwahahaha – so did you see that twist coming? Hope not! I wanted to put a bit of a twisted spin on why Heather was also so standoffish and wanted to move away so fast when she got out hehe…I know there wasn't any action in this chappy but I had to reveal the truth – the whole sordid truth and I hope that's okay.

So…Heather and Hadley are half brother and sister? Are things starting to make sense now? Hope so! The whole sordid truth comes out next as our boys finally realize what secret Hadley would be willing to kill for and why Heather would even entertain his request more than once. BUT…you know it's not over yet b/c Hadley is out there waiting and if he knows that our boys know his secret he just might up his revenge scheme to get rid of them both for good! Yikes! So please do review as I am dying to know your thoughts on this AU backstory I created for Hadley and his desperate actions and thanks so much!