"The pizza's here," Shane called to Jeannie from the kitchen. Kim had left early that morning and as agreed, Jeannie took her to the airport. The rest of the day, Jeannie enjoyed the freedom of having the car all to herself, a privilege she sorely missed from California. The only concession she had to make was that Shane insisted on spending the evening together, starting with pizza for dinner. Jeannie would have much preferred being with friends but since she had concert tickets for the next night, one evening with Shane was a manageable compromise.

"I hope you ordered Triple-Meat-Lovers," Jeannie warned as she walked into the kitchen.

"Yes, yes, yes. I got you all three meats. So uncivilized if you don't mind me saying," Shane admonished as he dug into his single-ingredient mushroom pizza.

"Uncivilized? At least we don't eat kidneys in our pies!" Jeannie looked at Shane, pleased she had one-upped him and Shane smiled back at her verbal victory. Jeannie had become downright friendly since her day of shopping with Kim. Shane didn't know what magic words Kim had said to bring about the change but he welcomed Jeannie's new disposition.

"I rented "The Bourne Supremacy" to watch after dinner."

"Ooh, a spy thriller for a spy. Isn't that a bit redundant?" Jeannie teased.

"No more redundant than you watching "Mean Girls" again and again." Jeannie couldn't help but laugh at this observation and Shane finally felt he and Jeannie were starting to make a connection. The evening was shaping up to be something special, Shane thought to himself.

He had initially been worried what he and Jeannie would talk about, especially without Kim there as the go-between. But his worries had been for nothing as he discovered they shared many of the same tastes and interests. He was impressed with her knowledge of Shakespeare and they talked at length about their favorite plays and sonnets. Like Shane, Jeannie too shared a secret passion for mysteries and dinner ended with a friendly argument over who was the better sleuth, Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot.

Later, while they were cleaning up the pizza boxes, the doorbell rang. At first, neither heard it. The music from the ipod station was blaring, some British rock band with a silly Black-Something-with-Rusty-Something-Else name that Shane quickly forgot. It was hardly Shane's preference in music but he had regrettably acceded to Jeannie's choice. Then the ringing became more insistent as if someone was leaning on the bell. Jeannie went to answer it thinking it was surely Stephanie or Chelsea come to rescue her from her evening trapped with Shane. She remembered how she had complained incessantly to them about being "stuck home with my Dad." Instead it was Bo who came rushing into the kitchen.

"Shane, we've got to go. We got word a shipment is being unloaded on the pier tonight." Shane knew Bo was referring to the ISA assignment. Still, he hesitated and looked uncomfortably at Jeannie. "Come on Shane, we don't have much time. We miss this shipment, there may not be another," Bo urged hurriedly.

Jeannie sensed the urgency and offered, "It's okay, I'll be fine. I can always call some friends to watch that movie with me." Jeannie smiled trying to alleviate some of Shane's concern.

Shane hesitated once more, feeling tremendous guilt abandoning her. He had promised Kim he'd look after Jeannie, spend time with her and here the ISA was again intruding into his life. "If you go out, be home by eleven. You understand?" Shane called to Jeannie as he rushed out the door, resigned to the fact that the ISA still had to come first.

"I understand," she shouted after them then turned to look around the empty room. Jeannie felt an unexpected disappointment come over her. She had been having a good time with Shane and to her surprise, she regretted the interruption. "Oh well," she shrugged and picked up the phone to call Stephanie's cell. "Hey Stephanie, want to come over and watch a movie?"

"Jeannie, I was just going to call you. Everybody is here at the beach. It's turning into a huge party. You've got to come."

"I don't know. My Dad just left and I'm not sure I should leave."

"Jeannie, you've got your car and Tim is here asking about you." Stephanie tempted her by mentioning a student from Salem University Jeannie had met at the benefit. She had hoped to see him again and a party at the beach sounded like the perfect opportunity. Jeannie looked around the empty house once more, then grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

It was crowded at the beach and Jeannie had a hard time finding a spot to park. She couldn't believe all the people that had gathered. There was an impromptu band playing, couples dancing, and kegs of beer and vodka bottles littering the sand. After about fifteen minutes of wandering, Jeannie finally found Stephanie and Chelsea. "Hey guys!" She waved at them and then said more worriedly, "You know, I think I should go."

"What! You just got here. Come on, we'll find Tim. We told him you were coming." Chelsea took Jeannie's arm and together they headed into the crowd. After a short stroll down towards the water, Chelsea found who she was looking for. "Hey Tim, look who's here," she shouted to a group of college students. A tall boy with sandy blonde hair tucked under a Yankees baseball cap turned and ran towards them.

"Hey, Jeannie, I'm glad you came. Isn't this just wild?"

"Yeah, I can't believe all these people." Jeannie was sure all of Salem High was here, and the University, too. So why shouldn't she join in the fun, she thought to herself. Besides, she decided, Shane had said she could be out until eleven.

Tim grabbed Jeannie's hand and pulled her to where the band was playing. It was more loud than good but Jeannie didn't care. Tim was really cute and she could tell he was interested in her. He leaned in and they started to dance and Jeannie forgot all about leaving.

After a second and third dance, Tim led Jeannie over to one of the many kegs. She usually wasn't one to drink but she didn't think a sip or two would matter. Tim filled a paper cup for her and she willingly accepted it. "Come on, I want you to meet some of my frat buddies." He looped his arm around her waist and led her to a group of college boys gathered around a keg. Greeting them, Jeannie didn't notice the raised eyebrows and knowing glances they gave to each other but she did feel Tim tighten his hold around her waist and that pleased her. Jeannie was enjoying the attention Tim was lavishing on her and was especially excited to find out he was going to the same concert tomorrow night. She smiled to herself at the idea of spending another night with Tim.

"Let's go dance some more," Tim said guiding Jeannie back towards the band. Jeannie was having so much fun dancing and partying that she totally lost track of time. It wasn't until Tim mentioned the fireworks that she realized how late it was. "Let's head down to the dock, they're going to set off fireworks at midnight."

"Midnight? I'm supposed to be home at eleven."

"You're kidding?" He asked with disbelief.

"No, I got to go," she shouted as she ran up the hill towards the street with Tim in pursuit. "Oh my god, I don't remember where I parked," she cried out feeling panic set in.

"Don't worry, we'll find your car." Tim tried to calm Jeannie down and for the next hour they searched the streets for her car.

Shane returned home a little after midnight tired and discouraged. It had been a false lead and that only added to the disappointment of his spoiled evening with Jeannie. He had hoped she would be awake when he got home but by the time he returned, the house was dark and quiet. Still, Shane decided he should check on her before heading to bed. He stepped quietly through the main house and lightly knocked on her bedroom door. Hearing no response, he slowly opened the door and peeking in, he was surprised to find the room empty. He called out to Jeannie but there was no answer. Then reality set in and he ran to check the garage. Although he knew what to expect before he got there, he still sadly shook his head, disappointed to find the car was gone.

Heading back into the house, Shane could feel his anger rising. He had made it very clear to Jeannie that she needed to be home at eleven. Kim, too, was always firm about an eleven o'clock curfew so there should have been no confusion. "She better have a good excuse," Shane thought to himself as he settled into the darkened living room to await Jeannie's return.

It was well past one o'clock when Jeannie stepped into the house. It had taken her and Tim quite some time to find the car and when they did, it was penned in. Thank goodness Tim was there because Jeannie had been so upset, she had no idea what to do. But Tim searched the party, eventually finding the cars' owners and soon Jeannie was on her way home. She just hoped Shane was still on his stakeout.

Then from the darkened recesses of the living room, she heard his voice. "It's past eleven o'clock." Jeannie stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and saw him sitting in the dark. He reached over and turned on the small reading lamp by the chair and Jeannie could see his face in the shadows, a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"I know. I just lost track of time." Jeannie tried to explain.

"I'd say. Where have you been?"

"Just hanging out with Stephanie and Chelsea." Jeannie thought it wise not to mention Tim, or the beach or the drinking.

"All right. We'll talk about it more at breakfast," Shane said moving closer and Jeannie was convinced everything would have been fine if Shane had not smelled the liquor on her breath. Shocked, he said "Have you been drinking?"

Caught, Jeannie was resigned to telling the truth. "It was just a party. And I forgot the time. Chelsea and Stephanie were there, too."

"They're older than you."

"Not that much older," Jeannie argued.

Shane could feel his anger rising again. "Tomorrow you'll spend the day at home, all day."

For the second time that night, Jeannie felt panic set in. "I have a concert to go to tomorrow night."

"Well you should have thought about that before drinking." He ran his hands through his hair, totally exasperated with the situation.

"You can't ground me. You have no right."

"Oh yes I can."

"Who do you think you are?" Jeannie spat at him angrily.

"I'm your father."

"In name only!" Jeannie impulsively shot out.

Shane was so wounded by her words that even through her anger, Jeannie regretted saying them. He looked at her with sadness literally pouring out of his eyes and said in a measured tone, "Maybe in name only but I am still your father." With that, he quietly turned and left the room. Jeannie angrily ran up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door sending a shudder throughout the house. Shane cringed at the sound as he headed to the guest house, wondering how he was going to tell Kim about this.