Hi people! I haven't uploaded for awhile but today, here's the next, long chapter. Thank you for the feedbacks and enjoy your reading! (Oh, and for the second part, it is better to read it while listening to RainyMood and a special music I'll recommend you when it's time. You'll see! Well...if you want to, you don't have to but that's how Hell-and-Bliss and I imagined the ambience hihihi) Okay, now enjoy this crucial part! xxx

After a few long minutes staring at the bathroom's door, Lanie Parish decided to get up from the couch and headed to the bathroom. She knew Jenny had locked herself inside ten minutes earlier. She had rushed there after saying some kind of an excuse and she never reappeared. Her face looked so pale and exhausted that the medical examiner had looked at her with concern. Martha and Alexis were too occupied commenting a family album to notice the pretty blond girl had rushed into the bathroom.

But Lanie and Kate had seen her. Kate had let Lanie go and check on her, because she knew that as a doctor, Lanie was the best person to do something, in case of need.

"Jenny?" Lanie whispered as she knocked on the white wooden door.

"Yes?" a shaky voice answered after a few seconds.

"Are you okay? I'm worried about you…"

Lanie heard nothing but a moan and the noise of someone throwing up violently. She understood that Jenny was really sick and she was emptying her stomach.

"Jenny? Open the door…" she whispered, even more concerned.

The door half opened a few seconds later and Lanie understood Jenny let her in. She slipped into the room and locked the door behind her. When she turned around, she saw Jenny leaning on the bathtub, her face really pale and her eyes red because of the nausea.

"Are you alright?" Lanie asked shyly as she came closer.

Jenny nodded but her face told the opposite. Lanie grabbed a tissue from a box near the sink and lent it to Jenny who used it immediately to wipe her mouth.

"Are you worried because of all this?" Lanie wondered. "This" was the situation. The boys gone outside, the power cut, the tires slashed…And still, Lanie hadn't mentioned the incident upstairs. Kate had forbidden her to tell anyone about it.

"I know it may sound scary, Jenny, but I'm sure it's just a joke, you know. We're at Castle's after all, he knows some weirdoes and maybe it's just…"

"It's not that", Jenny replied softly as she fiddled with the tissue and interrupted Lanie's reassuring speech.

The brown girl placed a hand on Jenny's forehead to check if she had a fever.

"You're so cold. Have you been feeling sick for a long time?" she asked as she sat on the edge of the bathroom, next to Jenny, as she stared at her with concern.

"A few weeks, yes."

Her words made sense to Lanie. She remembered how tired Jenny had always been since the beginning of their stay, the way she had always refused to drink any alcohol, her aversion to the smell of coffee, her laziness… it was perfectly clear.

"Oh, I see," she said with a soft smile. "You're expecting a Kevin junior?"

Jenny let out a laugh.

"Or a Jenny junior", she said with a smile. Lanie stroked her arm, glad it was only that.

"Congratulations."

Jenny's smile faded.

"Thanks…" she whispered as her voice trailed off.

"You don't seem happy about it," Lanie noticed. Jenny raised her green eyes to Lanie's, worried.

"I'm scared, Lanie," the pretty blonde managed to say, her red eyes becoming teary as she spoke.

"Of what?"

Jenny waited before she replied, her lips shaking as well as her whole body.

"In my family, there were a lot of miscarriages the first months. My mom even lost a baby when she was my age, and I'm afraid the same story repeats itself. That's why I haven't told Kevin."

Lanie listened carefully every word her friend said. She raised an eyebrow as she heard Ryan's name.

"So he doesn't know yet…"

Jenny nodded.

"No. Because I've been sick as hell for weeks, and maybe, I'm going to lose it. I don't want to give him any false hope, you know?"

"Jenny, the first three months are the hardest", Lanie began softly. "All women get sick, and miscarriages are not necessarily hereditary. Of course, you can have family background, but it doesn't mean what happened to your mother will happen to you or the other women in your family."

"But it can", Jenny protested as a tear slipped down to her cheek. "And I'm terrified it might."

"Have you seen a doctor?"

"I saw my gynecologist two weeks ago."

"And what did she say?"

"She confirmed I'm two months pregnant and everything's alright, but…"

"No buts," Lanie interrupted her. "If you think too much, you're going to stress for nothing and there, you might have health troubles. You need to trust what your doctor told you. And I'm also sure everything's normal."

Slightly reassured, Jenny smiled and sniffed, wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her thumb.

"You think I should tell him?"

"It's up to you, if you feel ready or not. But I know Kevin and I'm sure he'll be the happiest man in the world. He loves you like a crazy, you know."

"I know…" Jenny smiled as she sniffed. "That's why I don't want to fail him."

Lanie caught her hand.

"Hey! You won't. Ever," she said. "Look at your wedding ring…He loves you in health or sickness, for better or worse, right? So if anything bad should happen to you, you'll get through this together, I'm sure. But it won't happen. Your pregnancy will be fine and even if you feel sick, it's normal. You'll see, everything is going to be fine. You'll have a perfect healthy baby, as beautiful as her or his parents."

Hearing her words, Jenny smiled at her.

"Thank you Lanie. You know, I love talking with you."

"I love it too," the medical examiner replied, grinning.

"Really? I'm always afraid you're still mad at me for…that night at the restaurant, when I…kinda got carried away", she said, embarrassed.

Lanie rolled her eyes.

"Oh don't worry about it, it's forgotten."

"How can you forget it? I made you guys break up!"

Lanie chuckled, amused by her words and her desperate look.

"No honey, we didn't need you for that. We broke up like two grownups."

"Because of marriage, then? Oh, I'm sorry if I'm being too intrusive."

"Because of many things," Lanie interrupted. "Some things that both of us had to clear out, apart. We needed a break."

"But you're going to get back together, right?" Jenny asked, concerned. Lanie smiled at her and shrugged.

"We'll see."

"…you still love him?" Jenny dared asking after a few seconds.

"It might be," Lanie admitted finally.

Jenny smiled as she noticed the gaze and the smile Lanie was trying to hide.

"Well, he's still in love with you. You can tell by the way he looks at you. And last night, if you had seen how jealous he was of the guy who was with you at the pool…I thought he was going to commit murder", she laughed.

Lanie did her best not to grin once again but failed.

"Well I have to admit…I liked seeing him being jealous", she admitted as she grinned at Jenny.

"I bet you did…See, you still love him", Jenny said as she gently nudged her.

"Of course I do. But love is not everything", Lanie explained.

"It's the most important! If there's love, love can change everything. You know, it hasn't always been perfect with Kevin…"

"Oh come on."

"I swear! We've had ups and downs. I've had doubts too. But we worked our relationship out. And now I can't imagine my life without him. I'm sure you guys can solve your problems together."

"You think so?"

"I'm sure. So please…as soon as he gets back, run to him."

Lanie smiled at the thought and nodded.

"Your hormones are already getting you crazy", she teased with her typical sense of humor. Then she looked at Jenny before she continued.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Way better. My belly is still painful though, but it was good talking to you…I feel better and more secure."

"I can assure you everything is going to be just fine," Lanie promised as she stroked her shoulder.

Jenny smiled back at her. "I can't wait to tell the father now," she admitted, feeling a little bit anxious just imagining the scene.

"He's going to be over the moon."

"Just like Javier when you'll be jumping at his neck", Jenny teased. Lanie sighed heavily and got up from the bathtub.

"Sometimes I feel like you're becoming me in terms of humor, it's scary," Lanie said as she offered her a hand so she could stand up easily as well.

"Is it bad?" Jenny asked as she grabbed her hand.

"Ask Kate…" Lanie replied, smiling, as she could imagine her best friend's smile every time she teased her about her writer boy. "Speaking of whom, what about joining the others?" she added as she pointed the bathroom's door.

Jenny nodded before she grabbed Lanie's arm once again.

"Lanie, wait…"

The medical examiner turned back. Jenny bit her lips.

"I'm going to tell Kevin, but with all this, I don't know exactly when, so…"

Lanie gently interrupted her.

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed."

Jenny smiled at her once again, whispered a "thank you" and hugged her tight with all the strength she had. Lanie was surprised by her gesture but finally responded by holding her tight as well. Jenny was exhausted, and because of her hormones, she hardly fought the urge to cry again. Lanie heard her sniff discreetly.

"It's okay, Jenny. Everything's going to be okay," she whispered to comfort her as she rubbed her back.

/

(**n/a : better sensations with RainyMood**)

The weather had become nasty and a heavy rain was pouring since Rick, Javier and Kevin were outside, in the dark. For twenty minutes now, they had been walking around step by step, with only one flashlight and a small gun for three. They had checked the surroundings first, went to see the tires of all the cars again. They were definitely slashed. Even the writer's Ferrari. Then they had decided to walk further, from the main alley to the woods, forming an arc of circle.

"What are we looking for exactly?" Esposito asked irritated as he was leading the way, holding the light right in front of him and holding the gun in his other hand.

"What, exactly, I don't know...I'd say somebody suspect," Castle replied as he blinked because of the rain that was drenching his face. "and Royal, for sure. I promised Alexis we would bring him back."

"Nothing's here", Ryan said as he brought up the rear and looked behind from time to time.

"Somebody suspect...there's no one here. No one is crazy enough to go outside with such a weather", Javier said as he shrugged. Some rain was slipping into his neck from the collar of his k-way. He shivered as he was frozen.

"Anyway, it's not a coincidence all the tires of our cars are slashed and the power is cut," Ryan said. "I don't mean to freak out but it cannot be a coincidence."

"Do you really think a maniac is trying to get to us?" Rick asked as it was hard to believe.

"I don't know...but you gotta admit it's not normal", Ryan replied.

"Besides, Royal left in a hurry earlier. He must have felt something."

"By the way, isn't your dog supposed to obey when you call him?" Esposito asked.

They had been trying unsuccessfully to call Royal many times since they were outside, but the golden retriever hadn't reappeared.

"Yes. But he's not my dog, it's Kay Cappuccio's," Castle said. "By the way, Alexis won't be the only one to blame me if we don't find him."

"There's no reason we don't", Ryan said, trying to stay positive. "Right? He shouldn't be far."

Castle slowed down his pace and touched some bushes from the back of his hand, on the right.

"That's what I think but..."

Because of the rain, the dark and only a flashlight for three, he barely could see something. Despite their callings, there was still nothing.

"Royal?" he called again. But his voice was barely audible because of the sound of the rain falling on the leaves.

"Wait, what is this?" Ryan interrupted as he glanced at a bush suddenly.

The boys turned back at the same time, on the alert.

"What?" Javier asked, raising his gun.

"There, I think I saw something move," Ryan said, as he pointed a dark undergrowth.

Frowning, Kevin started to walk further but Javier interrupted him.

"Wait, bro. I've got the weapon. I should go first."

He walked towards the bush in question, using the light in front of him, holding the gun tight, ready to shoot at any moment. Castle stayed right behind him, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I don't see anything." Javier said without turning back. "Are you sure you saw something?"

"I saw the bush move" Ryan nodded. "It was fast but I don't think it was my imagination."

"Royal?" Rick said, in a half question. "Royal?" he called again, louder. But still nothing.

"Nah, there's nothing", Javier said as he put his gun down. "False alarm."

"I was sure I saw..." Ryan began.

"There's nothing man", Javier interrupted. "I checked. Plus, moving bushes, there are plenty of them everywhere with that shitty weather."

(n/a: even better sensations with John Murphy - 28 Theme (28 Weeks Later OST soundtrack))

The wind was blowing hard and it was difficult to see something. The atmosphere was even more disturbing.

"Let's continue", Rick said, trying to keep faith and not start to panic. He was trying to stay positive in front of the two cops but he was starting to think the situation was getting more and more stressful.

The branches were cracking at each step, and the trees surrounding them were threatening...added to the fact that everything could happen to them at any moment.

Even if they had a gun, they didn't know where the threat could come from. Who it was, and what it was, they didn't even know. That was what Rick feared the most.

"Wait...Look out there!" Rick said suddenly, dragging the cops' attention.

"What?" Esposito asked trying to look at the direction he was pointing.

"I feel like there's something out there...right there." Castle said as he pointed at the road. "Can you light it up?"

"Are you sure? Maybe..." Javier said before he stopped. He could see something too, about forty meters ahead. It was an intermittent weak glow.

The three men walked further carefully, heading to the glow. As they approached, they realized it was a car light. Warning lights actually.

"It's a car", Javier said. "Somebody had a car accident?" he wondered as he walked faster.

"With that weather, it wouldn't be impossible", Rick said as he hurried too, followed closely by Ryan.

The shape of the car was more precise as they approached. It was a dark saloon car, parked on the side of the road, near the woods. The tires had formed a long mark of mud and leaves in a strange arc of circle. As if the braking had been chaotic and brutal. The boys hurried, looking for the driver or a passenger in distress.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Javier called out as he checked the car windows that were closed while Ryan and Castle turned around the car. Rick was the first to see the damages.

"The windshield is a mess", he shouted, his voice covered by the rain. "And it seems that the tires are slashed."

All of them. As if they had exploded and the car had ended its crazy race on the side of the road.

"I'm going to open the door", Esposito warned as he put the gun in the pocket of his jean. Then he pointed the light to the driver's window, trying to see something inside, before he grabbed the knob. It opened easily.

"Esposito? Do you see something?" Rick asked as he came closer.

The car was empty. But what was inside wasn't good at all...

There was broken glass on the front seats, driver and passenger. The airbag had been used. The shock must had been violent. But the most terrifying were the traces of blood. Some drops of different sizes, everywhere. On the beige leather seat, as well as on the wheel and the passenger window.

Still, there was no one.

"Where's the driver?" Rick asked, over Javier's shoulder as he swallowed hard.

"Maybe he or she went for help. It's a mess here. Did you see that?"

On the other side, detective Ryan was checking the surroundings, worried. He had a bad feeling. Something had caught his attention. He headed to the undergrowth, a few meters away from the car but not too far from the boys either. He had seen something, next to a tree. There was a pile of leaves, and it was too good to be natural...

"I have a weird feeling of déjà-vu," Castle whispered, frowning. That car...

Ryan headed to the pile of branches and moved some away with his foot before he stopped suddenly. His foot had touched something. He slowly leaned forward and started to take more branches away, faster. It wasn't normal.

His heart stopped when he found out what it was.

"Oh my God..."

He felt a wave of nausea and fought the urge to puke.

"Guys!" he managed to call, as he kept putting the leaves away.

Esposito and Castle stopped watching the car and rushed to their friend.

"What's wrong?"

"I found...I found a body..." Kevin managed to say as he looked down.

It was a woman, half naked. Her golden dress had been ripped off to the thighs, and one could see her long pale legs, curled up, covered with blood and mud. A thong was hung up to her ankles. Her arms were full of cuts and stiffened, like a dead spider. She had been stabbed repeatedly. The features of her face were fixed and revealed she had a painful death...

Ryan swallowed hard before he started to speak. "Guys, I...I think it's Gina."

Rick stopped, his mouth dry, his face livid. The bad feeling he had earlier wasn't a coincidence. He had recognized the car. Just like he recognized the body laying in front of them.

It was definitely his ex-wife. She had been murdered.

.

to be continued...