Carly pulled the Jet Ski up to the dock as Steve reached out grabbing the ladder, pulling them in the rest of the way. They were hidden from view as she turned and looked back at him.

He motioned with his head, "You go ahead. I'll tie it down."

She got about halfway up and hesitated for just a second, looking back down at him. He stared up at her, making her heart jump the same way it should have when she first saw Allen.

He looked away first, "Make sure you put something on that knee," he reminded her. His concern for her was sweet, but it was the dismayed sound in his voice that had her attention. Gone was the smile that she could hear even when she wasn't looking at him. She turned back to go up the rest of the way when she saw Jack reaching down for her hand.

She stood on the dock undoing her life jacket when he whispered to her, "Where have you been?"

"Is he mad?" Carly asked trying to get the snaps undone.

"He doesn't act like it but he's on his second beer already and the tension was getting pretty thick."

"Sorry." She slid the jacket off and went running down the dock toward him.

Steve took his time tying the Jet Ski down, not necessarily wanting to see the reunion between them. He reached for the ladder and saw Jack looking over at him.

"Hey," he smiled up at him, putting on the best show he could as he climbed up. "You should see this place Carly and I found." He stood on the dock next to him, slipping the shirt over his head he had left there. "Craig pointed out some places around the other side of the lake. I'll take you and Jules over tomorrow. It's pretty cool."

"Nice!"

"So that's Allan?" He looked beyond him, seeing the two of them together. They stood side by side but weren't touching.

"Yea, he's already on his second beer but I have a feeling he had a couple before he even got here."

Steve followed him down the dock, getting a better look at him. He was slightly taller than Craig, which made him a couple of inches shorter than Steve. He had a slender build with dark, wavy hair that he ran his hand through two times in the last ten seconds. Steve wondered if that was a regular habit or a nervous habit. As they approached he made eye contact with Carly and she touched Allan's arm, leading him over to he and Jack.

"Allan," she began, "this is Steve, and Steve this is my husband Allan."

Steve reached his hand out, smiling at him, "Hi Allan. It's good to meet you." He wasn't a bad-looking guy, Steve thought, but the look on his face as she introduced them wasn't the friendliest either.

Allan's enthusiasm wasn't the same as his. He smiled curtly, taking his hand, "Hey, nice to meet you." He barely made eye contact with him before looking back at Carly. "Did you enjoy the ride?"

She wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not, "It was fun. You should go change and we'll take it out."

"Maybe later. Which room is yours so I can dump my stuff?"

She pointed over her shoulder, "Come on, I'll show you." They turned and started up the yard.

"Dinner will be ready in about half an hour," Jules said as they passed each other.

"Ok, thanks." Carly smiled. Allan didn't reply but stopped at the ice chest before going in, polishing off his beer and reaching inside for a fresh one.

She glanced over her shoulder at Steve and the others, hoping things wouldn't change now that he had arrived. They had all been having so much fun together. She didn't want that to end. She watched him take a long drink of his new beer, also hoping that he wouldn't do too much of that either.

Steve watched them go inside and turned to Jules. "Friendly guy," he said blowing out a breath.

She shrugged with an 'I told you so,' look.

"He's not mad because we were on the Jet Ski is he?"

"Who knows," Jack replied.

"He likes to pout," Jules commented.

"Seriously?" Steve laughed, amazed that a grown man would act like that. He also didn't like the uneasy expression on Carly's face before they went inside. She already looked a little stressed and he hadn't even been there for five minutes.

Carly moved some clothes off the bed as Allan swung his suitcase up on it.

"How was San Francisco?" she asked, sitting down on the other side.

"It was work." He unzipped his bag, looking at her. "How was your Jet Ski ride?"

"I already told you, it was fun."

He gave her a look that she recognized as more of a glare. "So that's the Seal dude?"

"His name is Steve and yes."

"Defending him already, that's sweet."

"Allan," she snapped, "just stop, alright. These are all very old and very dear friends of mine."

"I know, you've told me that about a thousand times. I've heard all about them except for Steve. How come you've never mention him?"

"Because this is the first time I've seen him since high school."

He took a drink of his beer, "I'm surprised you wanted to see him. Isn't he the one that let your sister drown?"

She stood up, "No, he's not!" she snapped, "He's the one that tried to save her." She walked around the side of the bed, "Don't you dare bring that up. Do you hear me?"

He held his hands up in defense laughing, "All right, calm down. I was just joking."

"It wasn't funny."

He gave her a pouty look, "I'm sorry then." He set his beer on the nightstand and put his arms around her. "Come on, don't be mad."

She hesitantly put her arms around him too. "I just want to have a nice time. You will too. I promise."

"If you say so."

She pulled back away from him, sensing that cocky attitude that was going to embarrass her. "Please Allan."

He raised his arms up, "Ok, Jesus. I'll try to be perfect like your Navy man."

She didn't respond to that with an answer and just stared at him before she turned and walked out.

She found Jules in the kitchen taking the ribs out of the oven. "Hi. Do you need any help?"

"Yes please! Jack was supposed too, but he, Steve and Craig found a beer and the lounge chairs. Lazy butts."

Carly patted her back, "It's all good. We'll make a nice big mess and they can clean up."

Jules smiled brightly at her. "I like your style."

Half an hour later Carly leaned out the back door at the three of them laughing, still sitting on the lounge chairs. "Dinners ready boys." She stepped out and looked around, "Where's Allan?"

Jack walked by her, "I don't know, we haven't seen him since he got here."

Steve sat on the edge of his chair, seeing that look in her eyes that had appeared twice now since Allan had arrived but had never surfaced over the last three days. He wasn't sure if it was disappointment, irritation or both. But it wasn't happy. "Do you want me to go find him and tell him dinners ready?" he asked.

When she looked at him the smile returned, "No, I'll find him. He probably just laid down for a while." That was her excuse, but she knew he had probably passed out on the bed and second, she wanted to keep the two of them apart if possible.

He stood up and walked over toward her, stopping before he went inside. "Are you ok?"

He could see it on her; she knew it because she could see the genuine concern in his eyes. Why did he have to look at her like that? She walked past him, "I'm fine," she replied just a little too enthusiastic.

He knew better. He could already see changes in her, and not for the better. He was beginning to believe Jules description of Allan. So far what he'd seen wasn't impressive.

Carly went upstairs to their room and just as she had expected he was lying on the bed, sleeping. His phone buzzed on the nightstand and she glanced down at the text message from a phone number she didn't recognize, all the message said was, 'LAX flight 3459, Tues 10:35am.' She didn't think anything of it, assuming it was a client or a flight for him from his company. She reached down and nudged him, "Allan," when he didn't move she nudged him even more, "Allan! Wake up."

He opened his eyes and reached up grabbing her by the arm and pulling her down on top of him.

"Allan!" she protested, "Dinners ready."

He rolled over so he was on top of her, "Didn't you miss me?" His hand cupped her breast over her shirt as he kissed her neck.

"Aren't you hungry?" she asked, hoping it would encourage him to stop.

"I'm starving," he replied in a husky voice. He sat up removing his shirt over his head.

"Allan, they're waiting for us to eat." She protested again.

He jumped off the bed and went to the door, yelling out, "Hey you guys, go ahead and start without us. We'll be down in a few minutes." He closed the door, locking it.

She came off the bed and met him halfway, "What are you doing?"

He stood in front of her, staring at her, "What are you doing?" his eyes narrowed, "In a hurry to get back downstairs?"

She knew exactly what he was saying he didn't have to clarify it. "No, it's just that everyone will know what we are doing up here."

"Who cares," he moved her back toward the bed, "We're married, we're allowed."

"I know," she laughed nervously, "but…"

"But what?" he said coldly, "Is there someone down there that might object?"

She tilted her head, "No! Of course not." But there was and for reasons she couldn't explain to herself she didn't want to flaunt it in front of him.

"Good," he laid her back on the bed, undoing his pants before crawling up on her.

They all heard Allan as they took their seats at the table.

Marissa chuckled, "Looks like someone's getting some afternoon delight."

Steve smiled through gritted teeth, trying his best to pretend like it wasn't bothering him, but inside he felt his heart sink to his stomach. She was up there right now with him. He had his hands on her, his mouth. He squeezed the beer bottle in his hand at the thought of him on top of her. It made him sick to his stomach. Five minutes earlier he had been starving, now he looked at the steaming BBQ ribs and side dishes on the table that were some of his favorites, but he had no appetite.

Allan rolled off her on to his back, panting. He looked over as she scooted off the bed and headed for the bathroom. "Now I'm hungry!" he laughed.

She closed the door behind her, leaning back against it with her head hung. She put her hand over her mouth, trying to muffle the sound of her tears that overcame her. She had never realized just how bad their lovemaking had become until now. She felt like a whore that he just mounted, pleased himself on and then rolled off of. He never acknowledged her anymore. It had just been the two of them but she was humiliated anyway. It made her feel unwanted and worse yet, undesirable. He never looked at her anymore they way that Jack looked at Jules, or that Craig looked at Marissa. She paused, recalling her afternoon with Steve and thought sadly, 'or the way he looks at me.'

She jumped as he knocked on the door, pulling her away from her memory of the waterfall.

"I'm going down to eat."

"Ok," she said and then sighed, walking over and turning the shower on.

Allan sauntered into the kitchen across from the dinning room. He went to the fridge pulling out a beer and then made his way to the table. He took a seat across from Steve. "This smells good." He grabbed a couple of ribs off the platter and picked up one of the side dishes.

"Dig in," Craig said, passing him a couple more bowls of salad. "How was the drive down?"

"Long. I was up early and on the road by seven." He looked over at him, "Sorry I vanished when I got here. I had to crash for a while."

Jules looked toward the stairs, "Where's Carly."

Allan smiled at her and then glanced over at Steve, "Taking a shower. She'll be down in a couple of minutes."

Steve wanted to reach over and punch the smug look off his face. He felt like Allan was toying with him, or was it just his imagination, why would he. He really had no reason to dislike him, and vise versa, except for the fact that he was married to Carly.

"How was the convention in Sacramento?" Jack asked.

"The what?" Allan looked confused and then quickly recovered, "Oh yea. Actually it was just some doctors I went and met at a hospital." He took a bite of his rib, wiping his mouth off with a napkin, "I had them hooked in ten minutes. Sold them the entire line of a new painkiller that was just approved by the FDA. Actually I think it was the female doctor that I lured in first. Damn, she was something. Beauty, brains and what a body! I got her to commit to a years worth." He looked across at Steve again, "I made some serious bank on that deal. It was worth the trip."

'Ok,' Steve thought to himself, "this guys a prick."

He looked past him as Carly came toward the table. She had changed into a pair of black sweat pants and a dark blue t-shirt. Her hair was still wet from the shower and she wore no visible signs of make up, yet she was still so beautiful. She took a seat next to Allan and across from Jules. Steve watched as Allan ate his dinner and never acknowledged her presence except to move his chair over as she sat down.

"You out did yourself Jules. This smells so good."

Steve reached over Allan, seeing he wasn't going to budge and picked up the plate of ribs, passing it to her.

She smiled, but didn't make eye contact with him, "Thanks." She wasn't really hungry after her encounter with Allan but didn't want to be rude to Jules. She went to set the plate back on the table and glanced up at Steve who was watching her. He turned away the second they made eye contact but not before she caught a glimpse of something in his eyes. It was a forlorn look that bordered on disappointment. She had the oddest sensation right then as if she had somehow cheated on him for being with Allan. She dismissed it, realizing that was a crazy theory.

Everyone ate their fill not leaving very many leftovers.

Steve pushed his plate away and leaned his elbows on the table, "We should get another fire going tonight," he suggested, glancing down at Craig who sat at the head of the table.

Everyone agreed, except Marissa.

"It makes my clothes and hair smell like smoke."

Craig patted her on the leg, "You don't have to come out sweetie. Stay in and watch a movie or something."

She smiled at him, "You don't mind?"

He leaned over and kissed her cheek, "Of course not. This is your vacation too."

"I think I might just do that then," she bounced happily in her seat.

Craig looked over at Steve, "We need some wood cut."

He sat back in his chair, "Ok," he looked over at Jack, "We need some wood cut."

Jack in turned looked at Jules, "We need some wood cut."

"Nice try," she laughed.

He put an arm around her, "Come on, you're tough!"

"No way," she nudged his arm away, "besides you'll be all limbered up after doing the dishes."

"Dishes?" he whined.

"Yes," Carly chimed in, pointing at each one of the men, "We cooked, and you guys are doing the dishes."

Jules stood up, "Or one of you could cut wood instead."

All three of them quickly raised their hand.

"Mine!" Steve said, pushing back away from the table.

Jack did the same, "I want it!"

They looked at each other for a second and then both men made a dash for the door; Jack knocked his chair over in the process.

Craig waved them off.

"Holy shit," Jules laughed, "They don't want to do the dishes."

Steve was out the door first, but Jack caught him on the patio, wrapping both his arms around his body from behind, trying to stop him. Steve bent over, lifting him off the ground, carrying him on his back down the steps.

They all stood up at the table, watching them through the window and laughing at the boyish display between the two men.

"Give it up!" Jack growled, trying to get his feet on the ground, but to no avail. "Jesus H Christ you're strong!" he bellowed.

Steve reached back, getting a hold of his neck and shoulder. He was just about to flip him over when Jack pulled off the one move he'd never been trained to defend himself against.

Jules cheered from inside as Steve went to his knees and then down on all fours. Jack pushed off of him and ran to the woodpile, hoisting the ax over his shoulder.

"Pussy!" he yelled back at him, standing proudly like a statue of Paul Bunyan.

Steve was in the same position; laughing so hard he couldn't get up.

Jules and the others came out on the deck.

"That's my man!" she shouted, pointing at Jack. "You looked so tough baby. How did you get him down?"

He stood up even prouder, "I tickled the son of a bitch."

The group on the deck burst out laughing.

Steve rolled over and leaned back on his hands, "That was probably the most strategic move I've ever seen," he laughed.

Jack put a piece of wood on the stump, "Dishes are waiting for ya girlfriend." He swung the ax around and cut it in half.

Allan came out standing next to Carly. He leaned over whispering in her ear, "I'd kick his ass if he talked to me like that."

She looked at him, shaking her head at his ridiculous statement. "Steve isn't threatened by someone jokingly calling him a woman. I think he grew out of that when he was twelve." She turned and walked back in the house.

Allan caught up with her, taking her by the arm, "Why is it every time I make a comment about him you're right there to defend him?"

"It's not him I'm defending," she snapped, "it's your self-righteous attitude I'm trying to point out." She pulled her arm away. "They were just joking around. Try joining in the fun instead of criticizing and you'd probably get the joke."

"Oh, I get it," he said sarcastically, "so if I told you you were acting like a bitch, that would be funny?"

She glared at him, "Ha, Ha, Ha."

Jack proudly dropped a pile of logs behind the chairs. "This should keep the midnight oil burning." He rubbed his hands together as if they were hurting.

"Got a few blisters there?" Steve teased him. He held his hands up showing his palms, "Mine are nice and smooth. It only took about ten minutes to do the dishes."

Jack reached in the ice chest, taking out a beer, "I don't like you very much," he plopped down in one of the chairs.

Steve reached across for his beer; smiling cleverly, "You want me to open that for you?"

"Fuck you," he laughed, twisting the top off.

"My, my," Jules scolded him, "your mouth is getting dirtier by the day.

"Hey," Jack proclaimed, "I'm on vacation, there's no kids, I'm eating meat with my hands, drinking beer and chopping wood. If I want to cuss like a sailor, I will." He pounded on his chest with his fist, and then simultaneously bent over coughing from it.

"Careful," Craig said, patting him on the back, "no need to beat yourself up." He sat in the chair next to Carly laughing with the rest of them.

Steve looked toward the house as Allan came out carrying a bottle of tequila from Craig's bar and a shot glass. He stood behind Carly's chair, holding it up for display.

"What do you say, we all do a shot?"

No one really agreed very enthusiastically, so he poured himself one first. He held it up in a toast, "To old friends," he looked at Steve, "and new ones." He tilted his head back, slamming the alcohol. "Whew," he shook his head, "that's smooth tequila, Craig."

"I got it in Cabo, home-brewed." He reached his hand out as Allan handed him the next shot. He took it and held it up, "To old friends." He slammed it down, giving the glass back.

"Who's next?" Allan poured another one. "Carly," he announced.

He held it down in front of her face.

"I'm good," she waved it away.

"Come on," he nudged her, "just one."

She looked over her shoulder at him, "I'll take a big drink of my beer instead." She held it up, and then drank it down almost the whole way. He rolled his eyes and took her shot.

"Jules?" he held another out to her.

She shrugged and reached over for it, "To old friends." She acknowledged each one of them.

He then poured one for Jack and then Steve and then another for himself.

"Ok, Carly's turn again." He held it down in front of her face.

"I'll take another drink of beer."

Allan shook his head, "You're not playing fair. You should join in with the group."

"Alcohol is alcohol," she defended holding her beer up.

"Not good enough sweetie." He started to argue with her when Steve jumped in.

"She doesn't like tequila."

Allan stopped and stared over at him, "Yes she does."

Steve shrugged, "She hated it in high school. Did your taste change?"

She looked over at him, and even though he was right, she didn't want to embarrass Allan in front of everyone by agreeing with him. "It's not so bad." She reached up taking the shot from him. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before drinking it down. She could feel it sliding down her throat, hitting her stomach, leaving her a bit nauseous.

Steve watched her wondering why in the hell she would drink that, knowing from experience that she hated tequila. He was seeing another side of her that he never had before. It was almost as if she catered to Allan so as not cause waves. He wondered if she was aware of it, or if she had become so used to it she didn't even realize she did it. He remembered Jules telling him that she 'put up with Allan's shit,' and he was beginning to see it first hand.

Allan patted Carly's cheek from behind; looking at Steve, "See I told you she likes it." The gesture resembled a dog owner rewarding his pet for good behavior.

It was the first time he had seen him touch her and the way in which he did it made him sick to his stomach. He was using her to prove his superiority over Steve. He looked from him to Jules, who in return stared at Carly as if she were embarrassed for her. Jack and Craig both looked at Allan with the same irritated expression as Steve's He wasn't sure if he was angrier at Carly for putting up with it, or at Allan for displaying it.

Allan took the seat next to Carly, drinking another shot as he sat down. "Great place you got here Craig. "

"Thank you," he replied, playing with the fire, not necessarily wanting to make small talk with him.

"Do you have homes anywhere else?"

"Yes, down in Cabo." He looked up at the group, "Hey, about some more marshmallows?"

Steve smiled over at Carly, "I just want to let you know that I'm off duty tonight, so if you're going to roast one and it goes missing, you're on your own."

Jules laughed, "You should have seen it Allen. Carly lost her marshmallow and they found it stuck to her sock about half an hour later."

The group all laughed recalling the funny scene, but no one more than Steve and Carly.

"Oh my God," Carly chuckled, "I thought I was going to be sick I was laughing so hard."

Allan looked between the two of them, feeling a wave of jealousy strike a nerve in him. He hated that she was having that much fun with another man, especially Steve. He had no reason to dislike him, but in his mind Steve was the worst kind of enemy, only because Allan couldn't compete with him on any level and that's what drove his hatred. When he began to feel that one-sided competition include his wife, his hatred took on a whole new level. He needed to bring Steve down a few notches.

"Mexico huh?" Allan objected to Craig's choice of homes, bringing the subject back, "With you're money you should buy something in Hawaii."

Craig shot him an annoyed look. He didn't like talking about his wealth and to have someone else mention it so carelessly embarrassed him. Allan didn't know it, and even if he did he wouldn't have cared, Craig thought.

Allan pointed over at Steve, "Isn't that where you live, Hawaii?"

Steve nodded, "Yep."

"How long have you lived you there?"

"I was born there, but moved back after I left the Navy."

Allan sat back in his chair, feeling relaxed by the four shots of tequila and beers. "Oh yea," he acted as if he just remembered that piece of information, "that's right. You were in the Navy. A Seal right?"

Steve nodded again, "Yep."

"How come you quit? Too much work?"

He looked over at him, "I didn't quit. I retired to become a Police Officer. I'm still in the reserves."

Craig thought about filling in the blanks, telling the little bastard that he also ran a task force for the Governor of Hawaii, but knew Steve wouldn't like that anymore than he liked it when Allen mentioned his money, so he reluctantly kept his mouth shut. They weren't the bragging type.

Carly put her hand on Allan's arm, "You know Allan; this isn't a very good subject."

He leaned back giving her a look, "Why not? It's not everyday you meet a real life Navy Seal." He focused back on Steve, "You don't mind a few questions do you?"

Steve eyed him, wondering what his beef was, but he also wasn't about to let the little prick think he was intimidated by him. "No, ask whatever you want."

Allan took a drink of his beer, "Have you ever been close to death. I mean really face it?"

"Allan," Carly tried again, remembering Steve's scar on his back.

"No," Steve held his hand up, "it's alright. Yes, Allan, I have been. It's a very surreal thing to experience. It makes you think about the things in life you most appreciate, but it also makes you regret the things in life that you gave up or lost and you regret those even more." He didn't even have to look at Carly for her to know that he was talking about her, but he did it anyway hoping to piss Allan off. He knew by the look in her eyes that she understood. He looked at back at Allan, "Any other questions?"

Craig sensed the tension building, "Jack we need some more wood on the fire if we're going to do marshmallows again."

Allan glared at him from across the fire. He needed something that would leave him unsettled. He didn't think about the magnitude of the question before he asked it. "How many people have you killed?"

"Allan!" Carly snapped.

"What the fuck, Allan!" Jack jumped in. "What's the matter with you?"

Craig added his two cents, "That's beyond personal."

Steve ignored the people coming to his defense and leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees, staring back at him, "Have you ever been in the position where you might have to take a life Allan?"

He laughed, "A couple of times while I was stuck behind some old lady on the 405 freeway."

"That's very amusing," Steve said coldly, completely un-amused by his statement, "I didn't think so, and you know how I know that? Because if you had to take a life, then you wouldn't have the balls to ask someone that question knowing that they had been in that same position. There's nothing strategic or heroic about it, and it's certainly not something you talk about while sitting around the fire after being asked by a complete fucking moron."

"Relax!" Allan laughed it off, "It was just a joke." Mission accomplished, he thought to himself. Glad he hadn't mentioned Karen't name in there. He would have if this didn't work.

Steve stood up, "No, you're a joke."

Carly's face turned frightened, she was almost sure Allan had gone too far and didn't blame Steve if he hit him, but she still didn't want it to happen.

Jack stood up with him, putting his arm across Steve's chest as if holding him back.

Steve looked down at his arm and then over at him, chuckling, "What are you doing?" he pointed toward the house, "I'm just going in to grab a jacket."

Jack let his arm fall, "Oh Ok. Things were getting a little heated and…" he stopped there.

Steve laughed, "Thanks buddy, but believe me I've been in more tense situations than this and still managed to keep my cool." He looked down at Allan, knowing he was trying to get a rise out of him. He didn't consider him any differently than most of the dirt bags he and Danny interrogated on a regular basis, they all tried but most failed to get a rise out of him, and just like them he refused to give him the satisfaction, no matter how pissed he was at him. "You really should be careful Allan," he warned, "some people might take a strong offense to your boldness and not be so understanding." He looked over at Craig, "You want me to get the marshmallows while I'm in there?"

Craig sat on the edge of his chair, still anticipating a fight and not sure how Steve had managed to keep his cool, "Ah, yeah sure, they're on the fridge."

Steve ignored the rest of the group, trying to make light of the situation that Allan had created, he also couldn't help but laugh to himself at Jack's willingness to try to hold him back, because if he wanted to go after Allan, Jack's arm wasn't going to stop him. He was pissed, but it was the alarming look on Carly's face that actually calmed him. As he walked by her chair, he reached down and gently squeezed her shoulder, letting her know all was good, hoping to ease some of that tension in her, he didn't want her to ever be afraid in his presence.

She felt his hand on her shoulder. The instant he touched her she felt relieved, calmed. He had that ability with just a touch. She turned to Allan and ignored the bitter look on his face from Steve putting his hand her. She didn't think she had ever been so angry with him. "You're unbelievable," she said through gritted teeth, rising out of her chair, following Steve into the house.

Allan sat fuming, not taking into consideration his own actions that started the incident, but only focusing on the vision of Steve's hand on Carly's shoulder. He knew his marriage was already balancing on a very thin line, but he refused to take blame for not wanting kids or even the infidelity that he played with on a regular basis. Carly never knew any of these things so he didn't consider it apart of their problem. He never flaunted the affairs in her face and kept it very hidden, but here she was openly playing that part with Steve.

Carly came in the house seeing him go upstairs. She went up after him, going into his room. She stood at the door as he filtered through a couple of dresser drawers, slamming the last one a little too hard.

"I'm sorry about that down there," she apologized, stepping inside.

He dropped his head down as he leaned on the dresser with both hands. She heard a small chuckle come from him as he shook his head. "Jesus Carly," he looked over at her, "Do you do that a lot?" he asked irritably.

Her confused expression told him she didn't know what he meant.

He pushed off the dresser angrily, walking toward her, "You're sorry? You're sorry?!" he repeated a little more intensely. He stood right in front her, "Do you apologize for him a lot?" He bent his head down trying to see her face that she had turned away, "Huh! I bet you do. I bet it's a bad habit that you don't even recognize as one."
She stared at the floor, her vision becoming blurred through the tears that welled in her eyes. It was hard hearing it come from him. "I just…" she started and then had to catch her breath, "I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Her voice broke on the last few words. She went to go out the door and he stepped in front her.

She refused to look up at him. He felt bad for saying those things to her, but he was also angry at her for letting herself get trapped into a marriage with that type of person. It was beneath her, that's what angered him the most.

She reached up to dab the tears before they fell when she felt him move in until her head was on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," he expressed remorse, "You aren't the one I wanted to make cry." His arm went around her waist as she rested against him.

She couldn't bring herself to pull away, wanting to just curl up in his arms and feel it all over. Next to her Father, he was the only man who ever loved her for being just Carly. He didn't even have to say it for her to know it. This place she was in, this shoulder that she leaned on, it gave her love without wanting anything in return. That's what she loved most about him.