This is just an FYI piece of information: Zach is the Zamboni guy Emmalin meets in season 4 and he is also the boy who helps her prepapre her hockey video for Woodsen.
Patrick walked into the Hump Bar hoping Gloria was there. He hadn't seen her much since he returned from Afghanistan, only seeing her in passing at the Hanson baby shower and the Richardson wedding. He also had noticed she was becoming pretty close with her ex-husband so he wanted to settle it one way or another, "Gloria?"
Gloria turned around to face Patrick. She seemed a little disappointed to see him to be honest, "Hey Pat, what's up?"
"Well now that we're all home from Afghanistan, I was wondering if you wanted to, you know, give things another shot?" he asked.
"What do you mean like another date?" asked Gloria.
"Well yeah," said Patrick.
"Why should I? You called it off remember?" she asked.
"Only temporarily since Hector was in my platoon," said Patrick, "Now that I'm back we can still see each other."
"I don't know Pat. Your mother isn't exactly thrilled with us either," said Gloria.
"Wow, she's really still into Hector," thought Patrick, "come on Gloria, just one more date."
Gloria sighed and said, "Fine, just one more date."
"Cool, I'll pick you up from here at seven tonight," said Patrick.
"How did you know I'm staying here?" asked Gloria.
"From Mom," said Patrick.
"Of course," thought Gloria, "See you at seven Pat."
Holly walked into Mercer, a scarf around her neck to hide the bruises from where Tim had attempted to strangle her. She finally found Denise and walked over to her, "Mrs. Sherwood?"
"Hey Holly. How are you? What brings you here?" asked Denise.
"I wanted to talk about Tim. There's something off about him," said Holly.
"Yeah, like what?" asked Denise curiously.
"He just," Holly didn't know where to start, "He doesn't really eat, he has trouble sleeping, and he's in a bad mood all the time."
"How long has this behavior been going on?" asked Denise.
"Since he got home," said Holly.
"Have you talked to Roland about it?" asked Denise.
Holly shook he head slowly and started to cry, "No, I just want to get him help but I don't know what to do."
"Hey it'll be okay," said Denise embracing the younger woman, "It'll be okay."
Holly arrived home from the hospital and Tim was watching TV on the couch. He looked up when he hear someone enter, "Hey hon," he smiled and went to hug Holly only to have her pull away, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just don't feel like being touched," she said. Her scarf shifted and Tim could see the bruises.
Tim looked at the bruises surprisingly and asked, "Who did that to you?"
Holly looked down sadly and then looked back up at Tim, "You did. In your sleep. You hurt me Tim."
Tim put his hands to his head. He couldn't believe he had hurt the love of his life, "Oh my God!" he shouted. He couldn't stay in the house knowing that's what he did. He ran. He ran as fast as he could to nowhere in particular.
"Tim! TIM!" Holly shouted behind him. She had no idea where he was going and he was gone before she could catch up with him.
The phone rang interrupting Michael and Claudia Joy from their lunch. Claudia Joy answered the phone and said, "Holden residence."
"Mom," said Emmalin.
"Hi honey!" she said happily, "It's Emmalin," she whispered to Michael.
Michael got up and asked, "How are you doing Kiddo?"
"I'm great Dad. Listen are you both available to talk because there's something I've been meaning to tell you guys for a while," she said.
Michael and Claudia Joy looked at each other, "Of course sweetheart, you can tell us anything," said Claudia Joy.
"Well do you remember Zach?" asked Emmalin apprehensively.
The couple tried to remember but they couldn't for the life of them, "Who's Zach?" asked Michael.
"Um he was the guy that helped me out the hockey video together for Woodsen," Emmalin said.
Claudia Joy beamed as she remembered who Emmalin was talking about; Michael not so much, "Yes, I remember Zach," Claudia Joy said happily.
"Way to hide how much you like him Mom," said Emmalin, "Well we've actually been texting and talking again. And two months ago he asked if I would be his girlfriend. And I said yes."
"Wait, you've had a boyfriend for two months and you're just now telling us!" asked Claudia Joy a little hurt.
"Well I didn't want you to hate him all of a sudden but I see that won't be the case," said Emmalin, "And we were also still getting to know each other."
Michael was still standing there not knowing what to say. His little girl had a boyfriend. Granted it hadn't been the first time, but still, his little girl had a boyfriend, "So how far have you progressed in this relationship?" asked Michael curiously.
"We haven't done anything like that Dad, if that's what you're thinking," said Emmalin, "Unlike Amanda I want to wait."
Michael felt a little relieved but said, "Well if he does anymore then kiss you…"
"Michael," Claudia Joy warned. Granted she didn't want that either, but Emmalin was an adult who was responsible for making her own decisions.
"Well we also wanted to come down and spend time with you this weekend. Just to refresh your memory," said Emmalin.
Michael and Claudia Joy looked at each other once again but not 100% sure what to think, "Well tell Zach we look forward to meeting him again," said Michael.
Joan knocked on the door to Nicole's and Charlie's house with Sara Elizabeth in tow. Sara Elizabeth was dying to see the baby and Joan wanted to see her Godson again. Charlie answered the door and smiled, "Hi Colonel. Nicholas is in his play pen."
Joan nodded and the three girls entered the house. Sara Elizabeth ran over to the play pen where Nicholas was doing nothing more than kicking and babbling, "Can I hold him Aunt Charlie?" she asked.
Charlie nodded, "Just sit down and your Mommy will position you correctly." Charlie carried Nicholas over to Sara Elizabeth and placed him in her arms, "Make sure you always support his head."
Joan looked around the house and asked, "Just wondering, where's Nicole?"
"In our room," said Charlie, "Mirgraine. She just needs to wait until the meds kick in."
"Got you," said Joan.
"So this is a big step for you. Retirement," said Charlie.
"Yeah I honestly don't know what I'll be doing with myself," Joan chuckled lightly.
"Hey, 23 years of service is a huge accomplishment," said Charlie, "so what are you going to do in Baltimore?"
"I don't know," said Joan honestly, "I mean first find good schools but then possibly coach track. It was my track coach that really turned my life around and so I want to make a difference for someone else the same way."
"That is an important thing to do Colonel. Make a difference in kid's lives," said Charlie as Nicole emerged from upstairs.
"Hey Colonel," said Nicole to Joan.
"Hi Nicole. You feeling better?" asked Joan.
"A little," she said and sat down next to Charlie, "Hi Sara Elizabeth."
Joan nudged her daughter and asked, "Can you say hi to Aunt Niki."
"Hello," she said softly barely looking up from the baby.
"She came over to see him mainly," said Charlie. Nicole nodded her understanding.
Nicholas started to cry in Sara Elizabeth's arms and Sara Elizabeth looked up and asked, "What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything sweetheart, he's just hungry," said Charlie taking the baby.
"Well I guess it's best if we get going. We were actually headed for the park today but she insisted on coming to see the baby," chuckled Joan, "Feel better Captain."
"Thank you Colonel," Nicole nodded from the kitchen where she was preparing the bottle.
"Bye bye Aunt Niki, Aunt Charlie," said Sara Elizabeth.
Hector, Patrick, and Eddie had been helping Holly find Tim for an hour now and they still hadn't had any luck. Finally Hector called and said he had found him at the north gate. He brought him home the Truman house, "I'm fine Cruz. Nothing happened okay?"
Hector sat down next to Tim on the couch. He had the feeling he knew where the cause of all of Tim's behavior was coming from, "Listen to me Truman. That battle in Afghanistan was one of the most intestine things we ever went through in our lives. Yes you had to kill someone and yes people died but you did what you had to do. You saved my life Truman, and you saved a lot of other lives that day.
Tim started to sob uncontrollably. He just couldn't take it anymore. Holly emerged from their bedroom and said, "Tim please let us help you."
Tim hugged both Hector and Holly before finally whispering, "Okay."