CHAPTER 3:

"Jennifer, please!" James called out after his wife.

"James, I don't need to be consoled about anything just…shove off." Jen muttered coldly.

"All right, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Jen stopped short, mid-stride and turned round. "I just…I understand she took a bullet, I get it. Unfortunate, but it wasn't lethal. If she had explained that, you and I could still be in the Dominican Republic, together by ourselves in peace. But now we're here and…" Jen paused, wiping away a tear.

"Jen? What's the matter?" James closed the gap between them and looked at her straight in the eyes. "Are you all right?" Jen shook her head no and fell into his wide spread arms. He pulled her tight to his chest and he felt her sob. James felt bad but he didn't know what he could do to make up for it. He just held her, in the middle of Cooper's street, in the dark. She sobbed quietly into his shoulder. James had only a simple grasp as to why Jen was so upset. Jen thought to herself, If only he knew. If only…

Cooper and Fiona went back to watching television. Fiona didn't know if Jen was coming back at all and she was angry at herself for what she did. She felt bad; but still the argument of getting shot was still playing out in her mind. Fiona looked down at her arm for the umpteenth time in the past half-hour. It was still sore, but Cooper's stitches were actually holding this time around. Fiona smiled inwardly when she thought of the man sitting on the other end of the couch. They were friends now, ever since James and Jennifer got married. They had become quite close over the last three months.

"So, Cooper…do you have a girlfriend?" Fiona asked. Cooper looked over at her.

"No…I'm kind of a loner. I really don't need a girlfriend to be happy. I'm happy being by myself, with my cars." Cooper explained. Fiona felt slightly crushed. She bit down on her lip, and went back to watching the TV.

"So…do you have a boyfriend?" Cooper asked casually. He figured she asked him first, so he was allowed to ask back.

"No, not since the whole…incident." Fiona replied wearily.

"Ah…so you're kind of off men for awhile?" Cooper chuckled. Fiona took in a breath of air.

"No…I just…haven't found someone who I really like…okay that's not true. I like someone, but…I don't think he likes me."

"Why not?"

"Well…he's not very…sociable but…I find him attractive."

"Do I know him?" Cooper asked. Fiona was hoping he would get the hint that she was talking about him.

"Uh…maybe?"

"Well it'd be easier if I knew his name." Cooper pointed out. Fiona felt herself getting hot in the face.

"See, that's the thing…I…" Fiona was cut off by knocking at the front door. Cooper smiled and went up to get it. He opened the door. It was James, alone.

"What's up James?" Cooper asked.

"Jen went home…wouldn't let me go with her. I need somewhere to…uh…stay…"

"All right…you'll have to either share the couch with Fiona or take the floor I guess." Cooper said, leading James inside. Fiona looked over at the two men. She wished she had been able to tell Cooper about her feelings but now that James was here, the mood was ruined. Or so she thought.

"I'll um….take the floor." James answered. He was used to sleeping on floors; when he first met Jen, they had to share a room. She made him take the floor. But he realised that he didn't mind that much. Fiona looked away from the two men, her eyes staring at the TV screen. James walked past the couch and set down his duffle bag beside the coffee table. Cooper fetched him a sleeping bag out of his closet. He threw it and James caught it. He unfolded it and laid down. It was half past eleven and the jet lag was really catching up to him. Cooper yawned and also looked at his watch.

"Well goodnight." Cooper called out.

"Night." Fiona replied. She sighed inwardly, gathering the blanket she had. She also laid down and turned off the lamp. When everything had gone quiet, Fiona decided to confide in James.

"James?" Fiona whispered.

"Mmm?" He mumbled. "I'm tired. What do you want?"

"I'm sorry about what I said to you wife."

"Apologise to her then."

"I will. And another thing…"

"Yes?"

"I…I have this thing…I…I have a thing for Cooper." Fiona stammered. James opened his eyes and looked at Fiona. As tired as he was, he believed he was not dreaming.

"Seriously? Tell him then." James whispered in reply, falling back down into his sleeping bag.

"I was getting there but…then you knocked. But I think…I don't know…"

"Fiona, get some sleep. Please." James suggested, closing his eyes again. Fiona sighed, fixed her position on the couch, and closed her own eyes. She decided that she was going to tell Cooper then next chance she got, no matter what.