Happy New Year - I hope you all had a great Christmas vacation. I'm back as promised.
Thank you for the reviews and Christmas wishes, and don't worry there is still a lot of story to come.
SPOILERS - this week - Chaos at Pine Valley airport, Bianca and Marissa fight back and Caleb , Scott and Adam have a business meeting.
...
Erica and Krystal tried to push through the crush of screaming protestors at the airport, Jesse and a police escourt was with them trying to find a route through. Erica had come in a rather unsubtle disguise of an Armani head scarf and expensive Calvin Klein shades but surprisingly it was working. No one was paying them too much attention; the crowd was too busy chanting and posturing.
"This is no good." called Jesse as they were forced back once more by the crush of pro and anti-Marissa protestors. "This rent-a-mob is just here to cause trouble."
He escourted the two women to a quieter corner, further away from the exit gate and got Brot on the radio. After a brief conversation he turned to the two worried mothers.
"They've arrived safely," Jesse informed them, "But Brot thinks it will be safer to escourt them out the back way."
He had to shout to be heard over the crowd. People were just begining to appear from the plane and the protestors were surging forward towards the security cordon chanting slogans at the top of their voice.
"Can you take us to them?" Krystal asked.
"It might be safer to take you straight to the safe house." suggested Jesse.
Just them a glass bottle was thrown and there was a scream.
And then all hell broke lose.
...
Ten hours earlier everything was perfectly calm in Pine Valley. Jesse walked into Krystal's to find the owner leaning on the bar with a wide smile on her face.
"Something tells me that isn't for me." he said stepping closer.
Krystal gave him a glance of appraisal, looking him up and down.
"Well you are looking particularly fine this morning." she said playfully.
"And you look beautiful." He said giving her a charming smile and kissing her lightly on the lips. They were now dating in an unofficial capacity, enjoying each other's company without too many strings attached, it seemed to suit them both for now.
"So what was that stunning smile about?" Jesse asked, swinging around to take a seat on the bar opposite Krystal.
"I just had a call from Marissa, she and AJ and everyone will be back tonight."
"That is good news, especially now that this press nonsense is calming down."
"Hence the smile." said Krystal, happily. She gave Jesse a smile of his own. "So coffee..?"
…
Krystal and Jesse were still happily flirting with each other over the bar when Caleb walked in, a deep frown on his face. He walked straight up to Krystal interrupting them both.
"Have you got the number for Marissa's hotel?" he asked. "She's not answering her cell."
Krystal looked at Caleb confused.
"She'll already be on the plane."
"Damn it." snapped Caleb balling his hands up in to fists.
"What's the matter?" Jesse asked.
For the first time Caleb registered the presence of the Chief of Police.
Caleb sighed.
"Asher called me. There has been a worrying development on his website; the one he started up defending Marissa and AJ. Someone posted on the site that Marissa and Bianca were coming home today suggesting that they raise a welcome home committee to show their support. Only the anti-Marissa lot have taken over the site and are suggesting they create a welcome home committee of their own. It could just be words, but they have the airport and the time of the flight…"
"But how could anyone get hold of that information?" Krystal asked. "I only found out this morning, and they wouldn't tell anyone but family and friends."
"There has to be a leak somewhere." said Caleb.
Jesse sighed and grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair.
"I'd better get back to the office and find out if I'm going to have a riot on my hands." He patted Caleb on the shoulder. "Thanks for the heads up. Can you get Asher to call me if he has any more information?"
"Will do." said Caleb with a stoic nod.
Krystal came from behind the bar and grabbed Jesse's arm.
"Just be careful." she said and gave him a brief kiss. He gave her a grin in return before he hurried out the door.
Krystal turned to see Caleb watching her, one eyebrow raised.
"You and the Chief, hey?" he asked with a smirk.
"We're both adults." Krystal replied good-naturedly, swatting Caleb's arm at the insinuation. Then she picked up her phone and began dialling.
"I thought you couldn't reach her?"
"Marissa? No I can't." said Krystal. "I'm calling Erica; she needs to know what's going on."
Caleb was still staring.
"And you and Erica are getting along as well? I never thought I'd see the day."
Krystal harrumphed for a bit.
"Well, we still don't see eye to eye on a lot of things but there is one thing we both agree on. We love our daughters and we want them both to be happy."
Caleb nodded his head in agreement, but before he could say anymore Krystal was distracted by Erica answering the phone.
"Erica," said Krystal uncomfortably, "We may have a problem…"
…