After this one, just one more chapter to come.

~Lisa.

Chapter Seventeen - Four AM Excitement!

Alex couldn't sleep. He had been tossing and turning for hours, the night's events running over and over in his head. Man, that Regina chick had turned out to be completely bonkers. She had tried to hurt all those people and had burnt his father's club down. In the next bed, Nicky was snoring louder than usual, possibly due the smoke he had inhaled during the fire, which was doing nothing to help Alex's insomnia.

Throwing back the covers, and giving up on getting any sleep tonight, Alex decided to go down to the kitchen and made himself some microwave hot chocolate. Exiting what had once been his dad's room, he crept across the landing. Heading down the stairs, Alex was careful to avoid the third step from the top, as he knew it creaked. He wondered if his dad had done the same thing when he was younger, and thought that he probably had.

In order to get to the kitchen, Alex had to go through the living room with its huge bay windows overlooking the back yard. Alex hated those windows at night, as the trees from the backyard threw creepy shadows on the walls and floor. Alex was half way across the room, when a movement outside caught his eye. Alex froze, and quickly dove behind a chair. Peering out, he spotted a figure dressed all in black. Even though the hood on the jacket was raised, a strand of curly red hair had fallen loose – Regina! She was carrying something with a handle, which Alex recognized right away – a gas can – she was going to set fire to his grandparents house!

No longer caring if he was seen, Alex raced for the stairs, "Grandpa! Grandma!" he shouted. "Regina's here. She's going to start another fire. Michelle! Nicky!"

Several lights came on upstairs.

Michelle, who was quick to respond to Alex's cries, met her cousin on the landing, "Alex! Did you say Regina?" Nicky was standing in the doorway, still half asleep, rubbing his eyes.

Nick and Irene appeared from their room. "Did you have a nightmare honey?" his grandma asked.

Alex frantically shook his head, "It's Regina. She's in the backyard with a gas can."

Irene looked unconvinced, "Alex, are you sure you weren't dreaming? You've been through a lot tonight."

"No Grandma," Alex insisted, "I was downstairs, and I saw her. I'm telling the truth!"

Seeing that his grandson was visibly upset, Nick quickly headed back to the master bedroom, which also had huge windows overlooking the backyard. Jerking open the curtain, he quickly scanned the area, "I don't see anyone," he said.

"Nick!" he heard his wife say.

"What?"

"The phone's dead!" Irene held the receiver in her hand.

Michelle, Nicky, and Alex were huddled in the doorway, terrified expressions on all three of their faces.

"What shall we do, Grandpa?" Michelle cried.

"Okay, kids, we are going to head outside, as quietly and as quickly as possible," Nick whispered, grabbing the car keys from the nightstand.

Holding hands to form a chain, Nick led the way, followed by their grandchildren, Irene bringing up the rear.

A siren could be heard in the distance, "Is that the police?" Nicky asked. "Are they on their way?"

Halfway down the stairs, the lights went out. Nicky and Michelle cried out in fear, all pretence of being quiet gone.

Michelle clutched her grandpa's hand in terror, "That means Regina is in the kitchen. That's where the power box is."

Alex craned his neck for any sign of Regina, "I didn't hear any smashing glass. She must have a key!"

"It's okay," Nick whispered. "I'm at the front door. I'm taking the chain off. I'm unlocking the front door – okay everyone out, go, go!"

The five of them ran across the lawn. Just as they hit the street, a squad car screamed to a stop in front of the house, siren flashing. Two officers quickly exited the car.

"I'm Nicholas Katsopolis," Nick shouted. "A young woman is attempting to set fire to my house. Her name is Regina Powell, and she's responsible for the fire at the Smash Club last night."

"Hurry officers! She's in the kitchen," Alex was jumping up and down excitedly.

The police quickly disappeared into the house.

"Do you think she'll escape again?" Nicky's eyes were wide, like saucers.

Michelle hugged her cousin. "Regina won't get away this time," she said firmly.

Jesse's car screeched to a halt, two more squad cars close behind him. Spotting his family safe and well, Jesse raced over to them, "Oh thank god! Are you guys okay?"

"Dad!" Alex and Nicky said at the same time, launching themselves at him.

"Dean!" Michelle cried, spotting the younger man behind her uncle.

Several more members of the police ran into the Katsopolis house.

A combination of Nicky and Alex rushed to update their father.

"Dad … Regina's in the house!"

"She has a gas can. She was going to burn the house down, but we got out."

"The cops went in after her Dad."

Jesse looked grim, hugging his sons close to him. Handing his cell phone to Michelle, he said, "Call home. Let them know everything's okay."

Michelle accepted the phone, quickly dialing the number. Danny must have answered on the first ring as Michelle was almost right away saying, "Dad, it's me."

Two officers emerged, escorting a blank faced Regina Powell, with a wild look in her eyes, between them. Nick heard his wife give a sigh of relief.

They heard Michelle say, "Dad they've caught her – tell Steph!"

Regina threw Jesse an evil smile on her way past, "How's your club?"

Jesse started forward a murderous look in his eyes, but Dean held him back, "Jesse, let the cops take it from here."

Jesse angrily shook his arm free, "She hurt Kimmy! She tried to hurt my family!"

Irene approached her son, "I know honey," she said gently. "Regina will be punished."

Alex nodded his head indignantly, "Dad, they will lock her up and throw away the key."

"Dad, we'll be home soon," Michelle said, "I know, I love you too!" She disconnected the call.

Irene turned to Dean, who was wearing an open jacket over his bare chest, "You must be cold Dean dear – I'll find you some more clothes!" She winked at him approvingly, "Although I must say that's quite a well-developed muscled chest you have."

Dean's expression remained nonchalant, "Thank you!"

"Ma!" Jesse couldn't believe what he had just heard. "Do you have to say that – huh?"

"Jesse Katsopolis!" his mother wagged a finger at him. "If you are allowed to date a much younger woman, then I am allowed to compliment a much younger man."

Michelle was almost bursting as she tried to contain her laughter.

Jesse smiled in her direction, holding out his arms, "Michelle, how are you holding up honey?"

Michelle walked into his welcoming arms, feeling them encircle her in a hug. She sighed against his chest, "I'm okay, Uncle Jesse."

Dean felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Turning quickly he noticed Regina staring straight at him from the backseat of the squad car – her blue eyes boring into his. Taking a deep breath, Dean turned away.

Danny, Joey, Kimmy and Stephanie were waiting anxiously in the living room, when the group of five entered the house. Jesse had invited his parent's to stay, but they had declined the invitation, using the excuse that they wanted to keep an eye on the house. But Jesse suspected that now that the danger was over, they were enjoying the excitement of it all. When they were leaving, Irene Katsopolis had been making coffee and sandwiches for the detectives, officers, and crime scene unit.

Stephanie had obviously been crying, as her eyes were red rimmed. She threw one arm around her sister and the other around her cousins, "I'm so sorry," she sobbed.

"It's okay Steph," Nicky soothed. "The police caught Regina."

"It's not your fault Steph!" Michelle was almost crying as well.

"The cops didn't use tear gas!" Alex said wistfully. "That would have been so cool!"

"I think they only use tear gas to control rioting crowds, Alex," Dean grinned.

Jesse frowned at his son, "What show have you been watching without my permission?"

"None!" Alex insisted. "I can't help it if I'm well informed."

Wiping the tears from her face, Stephanie giggled at Alex's behavior. Jesse was so relieved to see that smile, and hoped he would be seeing it a lot more now that Regina was safely in police custody.

Danny embraced his youngest daughter. "So much for sending us to Grandma and Grandpa's for our own safety, " Michelle joked.

Kimmy approached the twins next. Ruffling their hair, she said, "You boys alright?"

"Yeah, we're fine Kimmy!" Alex turned to scowl at her. "No need to mess up my hair though!" He reached up to smooth it down.

This comment sent everyone into fits of laughter, with the exception of Alex and Jesse.

Joey stroked his chin, "Gee, I wonder where Alex gets that from?"

Michelle giggled, smiling up at her uncle, "No idea!"

Danny looked at his watch, "Just after six. I'd better phone DJ again – let her know that Regina has been caught, she'll be worried." He headed for the kitchen so he could have some privacy.

"Thanks for the reminder Danny. I should phone Carmen as well." Joey turned to Stephanie, "Steph, okay if I use your line?"

Before Stephanie could nod that it was Jesse held out his cell phone to Joey, "Here!"

Joey accepted the phone, punching in Carmen's number, "Thanks Jess! It's about time I bought myself one of these!" He walked over to the living room alcove holding the phone to his ear.

"Nicky! Alex! I want you boys in bed!" Jesse said. Nicky was already curled up on the couch his eyes closed. "You should try and get some rest too, Michelle!"

Alex glanced out the window, "But Dad its light out. I can't sleep in the day time." Alex was too reveled up to sleep.

Michelle yawned, shuffling toward the stairs, "I could really go for a couple of hours sleep myself." On the first step, she turned and asked, "Are the police still coming over this morning – about the Smash Club?"

Jesse yawned as well, rubbing his face tiredly. "I would expect so – except now they'll have even more questions to ask us."

Moving to the couch, Jesse attempted to shake Nicky awake, but his son waved him away, mumbling in protest. With a sigh, Jesse picked his young son up in his arms, cradling him against his chest, and headed for the stairs. Over his shoulder he called, "Alexander bed!"

Alex followed his father, wearing a dejected expression. "Try for a couple of hours okay Al," Jesse suggested, as they climbed the stairs. "I'll wake you when the police arrive. You won't miss out on anything I promise!"

Danny poked his head around the kitchen door then, "DJ wants to speak to you Steph, you too Kimmy!"

Stephanie looked over at Kimmy, indicating that she should talk to DJ first.

When Kimmy had left the room, Dean noticed Stephanie looking at him oddly, "What!" he said self-consciously.

Stephanie continued to frown, "Where did you get those clothes?"

Dean looked down at his shirt, which looked like it hadn't seen the light of day since the '70's. "Oh yeah! It's either an old shirt of your uncle's, or it belongs to your grandpa – I'm not sure which! I kind of left here in a hurry, so your grandma lent me some clothes – she also complimented my many physical attributes – just so you know!" He grinned at Stephanie.

Stephanie brought her hand up to her mouth to suppress her giggles.

"That's a quality shirt!" Danny informed them both. "They don't make them like that anymore!"

"And I can see why," Stephanie laughed.

Joey rejoined the conversation, finished with his phone call, "Carmen's coming over shortly."

Jesse returned to the living room glancing around, "Where's Kimmy?"

"Kitchen! Talking to DJ," Stephanie answered, at the precise moment Kimmy reappeared.

"Steph, your turn," Kimmy stood in the kitchen doorway, looking a little upset. Stephanie moved around her in the doorway, disappearing into the kitchen.

Jesse moved to stand in front of Kimmy, "What's the matter! Your heads not hurting again is it?" he asked concerned.

Kimmy shook her head. "No, it's fine! It's just hard, with everything that's happened – DJ being so far away!"

Jesse put a hand on her arm, "I know!"

"DJ said to tell you how sorry she is about the club. She knows how much it meant to you," Kimmy said quietly.

Jesse nodded, "It did, but it's just four walls." He gently pulled Kimmy into his arms, "People on the other hand are irreplaceable!"