Chapter 12

The ride back to the sleeping quarters was an uncomfortably quiet one. The visit had not met Johnny's expectations, and now he was not only exhausted, but depressed. He tried to step out of the cart when James stopped it near the entrance of the women's dorm. He wanted to escort Lily to the door, but his feet felt as if they were made of lead.

"Good night, Thorn," Lily said softly, cutting a quick glance at James before returning her eyes to Johnny. "Please think about what I said."

"I-I will," Johnny commented, sitting up straighter in the seat as he watched her turn to walk away. "Lily?"

"Yes?"

"I- I've really missed ya," he drawled out, a little softer than he had intended. There was so much he wanted to say, but couldn't find the right words.

"I've missed you, too, but we can be together now. If you want to be," Lily replied, quickly turning away and rushing into the building.

"Damn," the paramedic cursed, rubbing his face with the palms of his hands. "I feel like I've worked a double shift… With Brice!"

James smiled to himself as he turned the cart in the direction of the men's dorm. "That's what hard work and fresh air will do for you, Brother John." James followed the trail along the edge of the wooded lot. "That's one of the many reasons we all like it here. We sleep well, and wake up refreshed. No stress, no worries… No hassles."

"No bills to pay… No water bombs to dodge… No chicks to dump me…"

James pulled to a stop as close to the front door as he could get. He knew Johnny was going to need a little assistance to get into bed. "That's right… No problems," he commented, wrapping his arm around the waist of his loopy friend. Everything was happening exactly as he had anticipated. He was amazed at how precise the reactions to the tea were becoming. As soon as John's conversion was completed, James would be allowed into the inner sanctuary. Then he would be trusted with the secrets of Father Hiram's power.

E!

Wake-up tones sounded, eliciting a series of grunts and a couple of muffled expletives from the men of Station 51's A-shift. The night had been a busy one, leaving them all groggy and fatigued. Mike was the first one to pull on his bunkers, popping the red suspender straps over his white t-shirt as he stumbled through the dorm door in search of the caffeine he could smell brewing.

The yawning engineer pushed through the kitchen door, his mouth stretched wide. Rubbing his eyes clear of the smoke and sleep from the previous night, he was surprised to find Roy sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a steaming cup of coffee.

"When did you get up?" He asked, realizing that it wasn't the on-coming captain that had started the pot of coffee.

Roy took a quick slurp of his coffee before answering. "A little over 24 hours ago," he grimaced. Had the senior paramedic not been so worried about his best friend, he would have made a joke about the tuft of hair sticking up from the back of Mike's head. Instead, he simply returned his attention to his coffee.

"Damn, did I go back to sleep, or did you two make the fastest pot of coffee in the history of the fire department?"

"Morning, Chet," Mike mumbled, removing a couple of mugs from the dish drain.

"Mornin' to you, too… Alfalfa," the Irishman snickered, seeing the tuft of hair standing up at the back of Mike's head, reminding him of his favorite 'Little Rascals' character.

Mike caught the joke, in spite of his sleepiness, and quickly patted down the offending locks of hair. "Yea, tough night for the He-man Woman Haters Club," he snickered, continuing with the Little Rascals theme of the conversation.

Hank was the last of the crew to shuffle into the kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep, Roy?" Captain Stanley asked, noting his senior medic had not exited the dorm room with the rest of the crew.

"Guess it was too much adrenaline from that last run," Roy groused, hoping his captain would buy the lie.

Hank looked at his second in command, noting the slight shrug of Mike's shoulders, indicating that he didn't know what was going on either.

"Well," the seasoned captain began, pulling out a chair beside Roy. "Maybe Joanne won't have a long 'honey-do' list for you on your off days, Pal."

"Coffee, Cap?"

Hank looked up at his temporary crew member. "Ah, yea, that'd be great, Greene. So, how was your first shift at 51's?"

"It was fantastic." The young man poured two cups of black coffee, then took a seat beside Hank, pushing one mug in the captain's direction. "I've really learned a lot from DeSoto, here," Kyle commented, lifting his coffee cup with a subtle nod in Roy's direction.

"Well, you should see DeSoto and Gage working together," Chet piped up, knowing why Roy was looking so glum. "They're like an old married couple; they don't even have to use words anymore," Chet explained.

Kyle Greene chuckled, then quickly grimaced. "Ugh, my teeth still taste like smoke," he groaned, setting down his mug and heading to the locker room for a quick brush up.

As soon as the replacement paramedic left, Marco turned to his fellow linesmen. "Speaking of married couples… When's the big day?"

A huge grin crossed Chet's face as he leaned his hips against the counter. "March 27, 1976."

"So that means a bachelor party on the 26th, right amigo?"

Chet turned to his side, his blue eyes looking intently at his partner and best friend. This wasn't how he had planned on making the request, but it seemed as good a time as any. "Well… That's what the best man does, right?"

Marco felt his heart leap into his throat. His dark eyes sparkled and a big smile spread beneath his thick mustache. "That's right," he nodded.

"So… You'll do it?" Chet asked hopefully.

"Throw you a bachelor party, or be your best man?"

"Both."

Marco clapped his younger partner on the shoulder. "Yes… I'd be honored, Chet. Honored to do both."

Chet felt a sense of relief as he turned to his surrogate brothers in the room, even though one was obviously missing. "I'd, uh… I'd really appreciate it if the rest of you fellas would stand up with me on that day… You know," he shrugged, "be my groomsmen."

A chorus of cheers and varying forms of affirmation were given; even Roy was able to crack a smile and offer his support to his friend.

"I… I hope to ask Johnny to stand with me, too… As soon as he returns to us."

That comment sent Roy's mood plunging once again. 'I just hope he DOES return,' he thought to himself.

One by one, the men on A-shift were replaced by the on-coming B-shift. Mike informed the engineer about the faint grinding sound he had noticed when he had shifted Big Red into reverse to back into the apparatus bay after their last run. Afterwards, he gathered up his duffel and made his way across the parking lot just as Marco was getting into his car.

"Pick you up at 6:00?" Marco asked as he stood beside the open door of his sedan, hoping Mike hadn't changed his mind about the double date.

"Why don't I just go over to your Mom's house around quarter 'til? At least I won't feel like a teenager who can't drive yet," Mike joked, tossing his bag across the seat of his new pick-up truck. It had taken nearly a month to get the check from his insurance company after his accident, and another couple of weeks to find the right vehicle, but he was pleased with his selection.

"See you then," Marco waved as he backed out of his usual parking spot, relieved by Mike's response and happy that in a few hours he would be spending more time with Beverly.

Mike tossed his duffel bag onto the passenger's side of the seat of his truck. He couldn't remember being this nervous about going on a date since he was in high school. He whistled as he cranked up the vehicle and drove toward his apartment, secretly hoping that tonight would go well enough that Lexi might want to go out with him again, alone.

E!

The cool temperature in the Tehachapi Mountains sent a shiver down Johnny's back as he stepped out into the morning sun. Once again, he had enjoyed a deep sleep with vivid dreams. He felt refreshed and renewed. Yet, when he thought about his conversation with Lily the previous night, he felt his spirits sink. What did she mean when she said she might not be here when he returned? Where might she be going?

"I trust you slept well," James spoke up as Johnny stepped out of the dorm. He walked in sync with Johnny's long strides, anxious to begin his chores, and yet knowing he could not leave a potential recruit alone for even a minute.

"Uh, yea… Yea, I did," Johnny agreed, following James and a couple of the other men as they walked towards the dining hall.

"I am sure you are ready for breakfast," James commented.

"Yea, I am kinda hungry," Johnny responded, buttoning up his flannel shirt.

Once inside, the group of men sat down at the long table, eyeing the plates of eggs, bacon, and toast that were being placed before them. Johnny looked around the room, realizing that Lily was not present.

James saw Johnny's searching eyes. "Brother John, she's already eaten and gone to the pottery building. They are finishing up an order that we received a few weeks ago, so they had to get an early start."

"Oh," Johnny replied, unable to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

"Here you go, Brother John," Ian said, passing a white pitcher to their guest.

Johnny accepted the container of milk from the man to his left, and poured himself a glass. When the silent morning prayer was completed by Father Hiram, the group began eating their food. Johnny took a drink from his glass. It had been a long time since he had tasted unpasteurized milk, and he had forgotten just how good it tasted. He gulped down half his glass before joining in the conversation going on around him.

"So, James… What are we gonna do today?"

James used his cloth napkin to wipe the crumbs of toast from his beard. "How are you with working with animals?"

Johnny's eyes lit up with anticipation. "I love it. I lived on a ranch when I was a kid. I'm right at home around a barn," he commented, finishing up his breakfast.

"Good," James said, slapping the younger man on the shoulder. "Because Ian and a couple of the other fellows could really use a hand with the livestock."

"Well, a'right!" Johnny exclaimed, finishing his milk as he stood up to follow the other men out the door. He couldn't wait to get his hands dirty in something other than human body fluids and soot.

E!

Roy was still brooding when he walked into his house. Joanne met him at the door, immediately noticing the dark circles beneath his eyes.

"Tough shift?"

"Kind of," he commented, dropping his bag near the couch. "I, ah…," he began, then hesitated. He wanted to tell her about Iris and Johnny, but first, he needed to process it himself. "I'm gonna get a shower, and…" Roy looked around the kitchen. "Are we alone?"

Joanne smiled, completely misunderstanding his question. "Uh-huh," she said with a flirtatious grin as she sauntered up to her husband. "Kids are at school and Corrie doesn't come back until tomorrow."

She stood in front of him, lightly placing her hands along his shoulders. "Got something you want to do?" She asked, running her fingers along his trapezius muscles before sliding them gently into his hair at the back of his neck.

"I… I really need to talk to you about something," he said, stepping away from her. He knew what she wanted, but his exhaustion and frustration were preventing him from carrying out her not-so-subtle request.

Joanne stepped back, her green eyes narrowing in concern. "Roy… You're scaring me. What's wrong?"

Roy, realizing his mistake, returned to her and planted a chaste kiss on her ruby lips. "Nothing involving us, baby," he remarked, settling his hands on her hips. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her. "It's just this whole thing with Johnny."

Joanne nodded her understanding. She knew how close Roy and Johnny were, and she knew that when things weren't right between them, it affected Roy on a very deep level - more than anyone realized, including Roy. They were more than partners and best friends; they were brothers, and when one of them hurt, so did the other.

"Why don't I fix you something to eat while you shower? You'll feel better when you're clean and have a full stomach," she stated, turning towards the refrigerator.

Roy stood in the kitchen a moment longer, watching his beautiful wife begin preparing his breakfast. She never ceased to amaze him. Even after all they had been through, she still loved him, and she always made sure that he knew it. Some days, he simply didn't feel deserving of her love and devotion.

Joanne could feel Roy watching her, even though her back was to him. When she turned around, she saw his blue eyes had become cloudy with remorse. "Roy?"

"Hmm?"

Setting the carton of eggs on the counter, she took a couple of steps in his direction. "It'll be okay, sweetie. Go on and get your shower. I'll have breakfast and coffee ready when you get out, and then we can talk as long as you'd like."

Roy looked at her, his eyes growing misty. "God Jo, I… I don't de-deserve you," he said in a hoarse whisper.

"Roy… I love you and you love me. Nothing else matters," she stated, continuing with her breakfast preparations.

"I love you… With all my heart and soul," he commented, then slowly turned to trudge up the stairs.

Joanne poured the scrambled eggs into the hot skillet. The sizzling sound filled the small kitchen, but not enough to drown out the sound of her own heartbeat rushing in her ears. Was the situation between Roy and Johnny so bad that it threatened their partnership, or even worse, their friendship?

Twenty minutes later, Roy returned to the kitchen smelling like Irish Spring soap. His thinning damp hair was combed neatly in place, and even though he hadn't slept, he felt refreshed.

"I hope you're hungrier than your son was this morning," Joanne stated, placing two slices of toast on the plate full of eggs.

"I'm starving," Roy commented, taking his usual seat at the head of the table. "What's wrong with Chris?" He looked up as Joanne placed his plate on the placemat in front of him, followed quickly by a glass of apple juice and a cup of strong black coffee.

She lightly kissed the top of his head before sitting down beside him with her own cup of coffee. "I don't know. He just said he wasn't hungry. He drank a little apple juice, but didn't eat anything before he got on the bus this morning."

"Well," Roy said, lifting his juice glass to his mouth. "Maybe he's just worried about a test, or something."

"He's only in the third grade, Roy. If he had a test coming up, I would've known about it." Joanne sipped her coffee, wondering if she should have kept the child home from school today.

Roy noticed her furrowed brow and knew that she was second guessing herself. "If he gets sick at school, they'll call us to come and get him."

"I suppose." Joanne offered him a weak smile, then plunged into the conversation Roy had begun earlier. "Now, what's going on with Johnny? He hasn't accepted your apology?"

"I haven't even spoken to him, yet," he stated, lifting his fork full of eggs to his mouth. "But… Jo, you introduced Iris and Johnny, right?"

"Yes… Still think they're seeing each other?" She asked, eyeing her husband as if she were admonishing one of her children.

"I wish it was that simple." He inhaled deeply, knowing that what he was about to tell her was going to come as quite a surprise. "Listen, you can't breathe a word of this to anybody, or else Caroline might lose her job."

"What?" Joanne questioned, her voice strained. "Why?"

"Caroline overheard Iris talking to a detective about an old murder case… But that's not all."

"Roy…"

He pressed his lips into a thin line, dreading her reaction to the news. "It seems your introduction of Johnny and Iris wasn't necessary. They've known each other for a very long time."

Joanne's eyes widened in shock. "WHAT? But… How?"

Roy returned his attention to his plate of food. "I don't know."

Joanne shook her head, confused by the information she was receiving. "Okay, wait… You said a detective was talking to Iris about an old murder case?"

"Yes, and…," he cleared his throat, "Ahem, Caroline thinks the guy was Lieutenant Crockett, and he said that Johnny was a witness."

"Oh, dear God!" Joanne gasped, worry making her voice sound strained. "Poor Johnny! When did this happen, and… How is Iris involved?"

"I don't know," he muttered. "It's got to be why he's been acting so depressed lately, but… I just can't figure it out."

Joanne looked down at her nails for a moment, then back up at her husband. "Well… Your conversation didn't go so well with Iris, so… Maybe you could…"

Roy knew what she was thinking, and truthfully, he had considered the same thing. "I don't know, yet. I thought I'd keep trying to get Johnny on the phone, but if I can't…"

"Then you'll go talk to Lieutenant Crockett about it?"

Roy held his fork suspended over his plate as he stared into the air between them. "Yea… It might really make Johnny mad, but… But he's my best friend, Jo. I can't just let this go, you know?"

Joanne placed a hand on Roy's firm shoulder, leaning in to kiss him lightly on his ruddy cheek. "Johnny wouldn't let it go, if it were you struggling."

Roy stared into her emerald green eyes, feeling a stab of guilt in his heart.

He lowered his gaze, nodding his head. He still didn't understand why his best friend didn't trust him with this news. "I know. But when it WAS me, I wasn't keeping secrets from my best friend."

E!

Marco and Beverly sat in the chairs on the front porch of Marco's childhood home. They rocked in companionable silence, lulled by the common sounds of the lively neighborhood.

Beverly turned her head slightly, seeing Marco watching her intently. She smiled at him, her face coloring a hint of pink. "What?"

"I'm just admiring the view," the mustached man said.

Beverly gave a slight chuckle, one that confirmed to Marco that she really didn't know how beautiful she was, both inside and out. "That's awfully sweet of you."

"It's true. You're a gorgeous woman, Bev."

Eager to change the subject, Beverly quickly diverted the conversation to Marco's sister. "Is Lexi nervous?"

Marco returned his head facing the street, exhaling a cleansing breath. "Yes, I think so. I just don't understand why." He returned his gaze to the woman beside him, seeking her counseling skills. "It isn't like Mike is going to proposition her, or mistreat her in any way."

"Of course he won't, but you've got to understand that in a way, this is like Lexi's first date. It's like she's picking up where she left off when she was only fourteen. And she's afraid of doing or saying something that will embarrass her… Or you, or me, or Mi-"

"Like what?" Marco interrupted. "Well…," she hesitated, still not completely comfortable with self-disclosure, even around the man with whom she was quickly falling in love. "For one thing, she's afraid that someone might recognize her."

"Like a former john?"

"Or a cop, another pimp, one of the other girls in the stable."

"Stable?" He asked, perplexed. He thought he had learned all the terminology, but this was a new one to him.

"It's what pimps call their group of girls – their stable."

Marco pressed his lips together, wanting to curse the despicable men who profited from the sufferings of the women they prostituted. Instead, he merely gave a one word reply. "Oh."

"It's just another way of dehumanizing them… Us." Beverly said in a lowered voice, grateful that she was no longer a part of that life, yet not willing to completely separate herself from the sisterhood of those who had survived the streets. "She'll be okay. Mike is the best possible choice for this."

"I know, Bev. Some things are just difficult when it's the first time in a long while," he said, offering her a chance to elaborate on her own struggles.

"Yea, but when it's with someone as nice as Mike… Or you… It makes it much easier," she said, knowing that she was no longer talking about Lexi.

Both of them turned their attention to the driveway as a pick-up parked beside Marco's sedan.

"Well, speak of the devil and he shall appear," Marco quoted with a genuine smile.

"I'll go get her," Beverly commented, standing up with a slight wave in Mike's direction, then turning to walk into the house.

When she stepped into the kitchen, Beverly saw Lexi and Maria embracing. Maria was stroking her daughter's long dark hair, reassuring her that tonight would go well.

"Ready to go?"

Lexi broke the hug, turning to face her mentor. "He's here?"

"Yes… And looking quite handsome, I must say," she said, reaching out to Lexi. "C'mon, it's time to do this."

Lexi gave a soft whimper, giving her mother a slight nod as she followed Beverly out the door.

"You girls have a good time," Maria called after them. "Antonio and I are going to read stories while you're gone."

"Thank you, Mama," Lexi said, glancing over her shoulder as she walked towards the front door.

Mike and Marco were enjoying a casual conversation about football when the door opened. Mike's first sight of Lexi nearly took his breath away. She looked so pretty; her physical wounds were completely healed and she had gained a little more weight. He noticed how quickly she glanced away from him, and knew she was feeling nervous. Marco had already explained her fears to him.

"Hello, Lexi. You're looking very pretty tonight."

"Thank you," she said softly.

"Well, I'm hungry; how about the rest of you?" Marco asked, ushering Beverly towards his car.

"I'm famished. Are you hungry, Lexi?" Mike asked, allowing his date to walk ahead of him to the car where he quickly opened the door for her.

"A little," she said, taking a seat in the back of her brother's sedan while Mike closed the door and walked around to the other side, sitting behind Marco. "Well, this feels funny," he chided.

"What does?" Marco asked, peering in his rearview mirror.

"Usually, I'm driving and you're the one sitting behind me."

"Sometimes change is good," Marco joked, sending a round of tension-releasing laughter amid the small group. So, how does Peking Palace sound? I haven't had General Tso's chicken in a long time."

"Sounds good to me," Mike spoke up. "Lexi?"

"Sure."

"Me, too," Beverly added.

"Great," Marco said, turning on his left blinker.

"Let's do it," Mike agreed, watching as Lexi relaxed in the seat. Maybe this night would go well after all.

E!

Night fell quickly in the Tehachapi Mountains, and an unusual coolness fell across the compound. Johnny was relaxing near one of the fire pits, watching the stars peek through the dark sky above him, grateful to be away from the bright lights and fast-paced life of the city. He heard various group members whispering among themselves, and saw some overt flirting going on between both genders. Looking up at the full moon, he remembered what James had told him about what happened between members of the family when the moon was full. The flirtation he was observing was nothing more than foreplay, he presumed.

Suddenly the deep rumble of something that sounded like a distant shofar horn caught everyone's attention. He looked around, seeing that most of the family were on their feet and quickly heading towards Father Hiram's quarters.

"What's goin' on?" Johnny asked Ian as the young man he had spent most of the day with walked past him.

"Father Hiram is calling us to assemble at the sanctuary."

"Oh, yea," Johnny commented, brushing off his jeans as he followed the rest of the group towards the tall circular structure between the male and female dorms.

The small crowd formed just outside the entrance of the raised structure. Father Hiram often addressed the members of the family from this site. As soon as the group of approximately fifty people reached the entrance, Father Hiram stepped out of his residence, followed closely by two young women, their heads bowed and hands clasped together beneath their chins.

The first woman to walk out was very petite, with dark hair. When she stepped to the left of Father Hiram, Johnny could see that she was of Asian descent. He didn't recognize her, had not seen her around the compound. The second woman who walked out was taller than the first, very slim, with long blonde hair held in place by a beaded headband. Her skin was pale, and the paramedic in Johnny wondered if perhaps the young woman was anemic. She stepped into place to the right of Father Hiram, lifting her chin slightly.

Johnny gasped, recognizing the young woman as a former waitress from the Pourhouse. "Gretchen?" He whispered to himself.

"My children," Father Hiram began, waving his hands to settle the crowd. "The time has come for us to celebrate new life among our family." He reached out his arms, pulling the two silent women closer to his sides. "Sister Kim and Sister Gretchen are each with child."

Smiles spread among the assembled group and hands were raised to praise their leader.

"Yes, my progeny shall be the first born in our family, and then all of you may follow as we replenish our numbers, and share our love with the next generation. Tonight is the beginning of the full moon. Those of you who belong to our family are permitted to fully enjoy yourselves this evening," he stated with a knowing smile, then turned around and walked back into his sanctuary, followed closely by the two young women.

Johnny stood statue-still, unable to believe what he was hearing. Neither woman looked particularly happy about the announcement making him wonder if they had agreed to the arrangement. And what did Father Hiram mean by 'replenish?' Johnny had the feeling that something other than deprogrammers had diminished the numbers of the family.

Johnny looked around, noting the joyous smiles as men and women began pairing up and moving into the shadows of the compound. He watched as James walked away quietly, unaccompanied. Johnny was about to follow him when a distinctly feminine hand touched his lower back.

"Take a walk with me?" A soft familiar voice asked.

Johnny turned around, a smile tugging at the left corner of his face. "Lily?"

"Let's walk back to the boulder where we talked last night. Maybe we can finish our conversation… Or something," she suggested.

Johnny looked around, realizing that they were alone, and became somewhat worried. "But, don't we need a chaperone?"

"They're all busy. Besides… I trust you, Thorn," she said, reaching for his hand as they began to meander down the pathway. "You may not have joined us officially, but I know you well enough to know that this is where you belong. Inside, I think you know it, too."

"I- um, I'm thinkin' 'bout it," he turned back to look at the sanctuary one last time. "Wha- what happened back there?"

Lily continued her leisurely pace down the long pathway that led to the front gate of the compound. She never shifted her gaze from the lane that sprawled out in front of them. "You're a grown man, Thorn, and a paramedic. I would think you know all about human reproduction." She smiled, glancing at him over her shoulder as she walked slightly ahead of him. "Father Hiram believes that it is time for us to share our love with the next generation."

"Yea, yea, I heard all that, but… How does he know it's the right time? I mean, why now?" He asked, still perplexed about Father Hiram's alleged powers.

"How does he know anything, Thorn? He's a true modern-day prophet. He knows what is best for us, his followers." Lily kept her voice calm, hoping that soon Johnny would be convinced of Father Hiram's powers as well.

"Do you trust 'im?"

"Completely," she replied, grateful that they were beyond the glow of the dying fires. What she needed to do had to be done in the darkness, away from the prying eyes of the rest of the family. She reached out her hand, grasping Johnny's and feeling him flinch, jerking his hand away from hers.

"We c-can't."

She smiled inwardly, grasping his hand more forcefully and lacing their fingers together as they continued on their way. "No one will see us. Only you and I will know. I…" She hesitated for a moment, never slowing her pace. "I need you, Thorn. I need to spend time with you just like when we were kids."

"That was a long time ago, Lil'," he countered, still unsure about what she was suggesting. He had been warned about the rules regarding physical contact between members and non-members of the family. He knew she could face serious consequences if they were found out, although no one had explained to him exactly what might happen to a disobedient member of the family.

"Yes it was, and now we aren't kids," she said, leaning into his shoulder as they walked side by side. "Everyone else is busy right now. And trust me, they will NOT be concerned about what you and I are doing tonight."

"Not even James?" He asked, worriedly.

"Especially not James. He isn't interested in tonight's activities… At least, not with a woman."

Johnny's eyebrows shot up into his bangs. "Really? I, uh, I had no idea."

"He prefers Ian, not that I care," she added. "The heart loves who it loves, no matter what society says, right?"

"I guess," Johnny responded, still trying to wrap his head around the information he was being given.

Eventually the couple made their way to the boulder near the front gate. This time, Lily deliberately took Johnny to the back side of the stone where the grass was soft and full. She knelt down, curling her legs beneath her.

"Relax, Thorn. We've got all night," she said, tugging on his arm, encouraging him to sit down beside her.

"It's kinda hard to relax when you're scared of gettin' caught."

"I'm not scared," she said, leaning in close enough to hear him breathing hard.

Johnny gulped, feeling his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. He didn't know what to say, or do. His mind and body were warring with each other. His body definitely wanted to be near her, but his mind was yelling at him that they were in danger of being caught. His defenses were being worn down by her persistence, and the effects of the evening tea.

"So, are you going to send the film back to the authorities? That way they'll have what they need and you can stay here with us… With me," she said, pleadingly.

"I dunno," he managed to say, feeling her breath hot against his face.

The kiss was feather-light, and he inhaled her sent as she pulled back, breaking their contact.

"You were my first, Thorn. Make love to me again, tonight," she whispered seductively.

"We were so young," he whispered, remembering their first awkward union. Iris had been at work, leaving them at home alone. Even though it had been uncomfortable for Lily, he had never felt such sensations as he had felt on that day. He closed his eyes, remembering the soft warmth of her skin against his. They had not used protection, having never intended to have sex that afternoon, and both of them had been relieved when there had been no pregnancy as a result. Over the next year, they had fallen in love, sharing their bodies on many subsequent occasions. Then he left for the academy, and she fell for the teachings of a cult, or so Iris had explained.

"You were my first, too," he whispered again, their lips meeting once more.

She reached for his hands, placing them at the hem of her garment, encouraging him to disrobe her, much as he had done on that first afternoon.

"No… Not that I don't want to, Lily. I do, I really do, but… I don't want you to regret this," he said, pushing her away from him. Even though his mind seemed muddled, he still was able to recall the fear resulting from their first love-making session, the worries about regrets and the concern for a possible pregnancy. If she were to conceive tonight, then they would be found out, their deeds exposed for the entire family to see. No, no matter how badly he wanted her, he wasn't willing to take the risk.

"I only regret leaving you, all those years ago." She smiled at him, her eyes welling with unshed tears. "But we're together again. Father Hiram brought you back here, don't you see?"

"Coincidence brought me here," he corrected.

"There is no such thing as coincidence, Thorn. We were meant to be together, forever. This is the beginning of forever."

E!

Marco pulled his sedan into the driveway of his mother's residence. Before he turned off the ignition, Mike tapped him on the shoulder.

"I'll walk her to the door, make sure she gets in safely," he said to his friend. "That way, you can take Beverly on home."

"Thanks, amigo," Marco commented, trusting his sister into the very capable hands of his friend. "Goodnight, Lexi."

"Goodnight, Marco. Thanks for taking me out tonight," she said, watching as Mike walked around the front of the car to open her door. "Goodnight, Beverly."

"We had a good time tonight, Lexi. I'm glad everything went well," Beverly offered, looking over her shoulder.

Mike opened the door, offering his hand to his date. "See you next shift, Marco. Goodnight, Beverly."

Mike placed his hand on the small of her back, barely touching her. As they walked nearer the porch, he leaned in slightly. "How much you wanna bet he doesn't back out of the driveway until we're on the porch?"

Lexi laughed, something she had been doing a lot all evening. "Probably… He's a great big brother, protective, you know?"

As they walked up the steps, Marco's headlights shifted as he backed out of the driveway.

"See? I know him," Mike laughed, stepping up to the front door. "Lexi, I really enjoyed this evening."

She smiled, feeling as if she were floating. "I did, too."

"Well, would you and Antonio like to go to a Dodgers game this weekend? I can get tickets for the three of us," he asked hopefully.

Lexi felt her breath catch in her throat. Not only was Mike asking her out again, but he was including her son. "Um, you… You really want to do that?"

"Yes, I do… Do you want to go?" He asked, beginning to think she might not have enjoyed the evening as much as he had thought.

"Y-Yes… Yes, I'd love to go. And Antonio will be beside himself," she said, her smile beaming in the glow of the porch light.

"Great," Mike said with relief. "I'll see what I can arrange, and then I'll give you a call. Is that okay?"

"I'd really like that, Mike. Thank you for a wonderful night, and… And for thinking about my son, too."

Had this been any other woman, this would have been where Mike leaned in for a quick kiss. But this wasn't just another date. This was Lexi Lopez, and he knew he needed to take things slowly with her. They had just enjoyed a wonderful evening, and she had agreed to go out with him again. He waited for her to go inside, and listened for the sound of the locking mechanism being engaged, then turned to walk to his truck. This time, he was the one who felt like he was floating.

E!

"Mom? Dad?"

Roy and Joanne quickly pulled themselves upright, squinting their eyes at the child standing in the doorway to their bedroom.

"Son?" Roy called out. "Chris, what's wrong?"

Roy had assumed that Chris was coming down with stomach flu when he had vomited shortly after eating his dinner. Now his gut told him it was something much worse.

"I… I don't feel good," he sniffled. "My belly h-hurts."

Roy bolted out of bed, followed quickly by Joanne who was pulling on her robe as Roy kneeled down in front of the crying child.

"Where does it hurt?" He asked, the paramedic in him taking over.

"H-here," the child cried, placing his warm hand along the right side of his abdomen.

Joanne touched his forehead just as Roy began to palpate the child's lower right quadrant.

"Roy, he's burning up," she said worriedly just as Christ howled in pain.

"Aarrgh! That HU-HURTS!"

Roy quickly looked up at his wife. "We've got to get him to Rampart. I think it's his appendix."

Joanne covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, no."

"Call Mrs. Kennedy, and see if she can come over and sit with Jennifer. I'll get him ready."

"Nooo," Chris cried, knowing that there would be needles involved if he was taken to the emergency room.

"Chris, listen to me," Roy said, looking directly into Chris' watery eyes. "This isn't something that I can fix. We're gonna have to take you to see a doctor." He ran his thumb beneath his son's eyes, removing the tears that were spilling out. "Your Mom and I will be right there with you the whole time, okay?"

"Umm, owweee," he cried, realizing that he had no choice.

Roy quickly pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, grabbing his wallet before rushing into Chris' room to get the child's robe. When he returned, he saw that Joanne was quickly getting dressed.

"She's on her way over," she said to her husband. "I'll go meet her at the front door while you carry Chris out to the car.

Roy scooped his crying son into his arms, quickly following Joanne down the stairs. He knew that he needed to get Chris to Rampart before the appendix ruptured. As he was securing Chis into the back seat, Mrs. Kennedy walked through the hedges and into their yard, wearing her robe and a scarf wrapped around her curlers. She waved to Roy and Chris, nodding her head as Joanne gave her a quick rundown of what was happening.

"She'll be fine with me. You just take care of your little boy, Joanne," the older woman stated as she closed and locked the garage door. In less than a minute, the DeSoto trio were on their way down the street, heading for Rampart Emergency.

A couple of hours later, dawn began to break while Roy and Joanne stood near the window in the surgical waiting room. Roy's initial diagnosis had been confirmed by Dr. Brackett who had just gotten to the ER when Chris was brought in. Now the head of the Emergency Department was operating on a very sick little boy. He finished closing the wound, then stepped out of the OR, removing his sweat-soaked surgical mask. He pushed open the doors, heading quickly to the waiting room to deliver the news.

"Roy? Joanne?"

The DeSotos turned around at the sound of the deep voice of their physician and friend.

"How's he doing, Doc?" Roy asked, pulling his trembling wife closer to his side.

Dr. Brackett's lips twitched slightly before parting into a smile. "He's doing just fine. We got it out in time."

"Oh, thank God," Joanne gasped, leaning her head against Roy's chest.

"He's going to be on antibiotics for a few days just to be safe, but I think he'll be up and moving again real soon." He patted both of his friends on their shoulders. "He'll be in recovery for an hour or so, and then you can see him before he gets moved to a room on pediatrics."

Roy fought with his emotions, but somehow managed to croak out his gratitude to his medical director. "Th-ahem, thanks, Doc. We're really glad it was you on duty when we brought him in," he said, his voice fading to a whisper.

"I'm glad I could be here when you needed me. Now, why don't you two go get something to eat? He's got a nurse sitting right beside him, and she won't leave him alone for even a second until you're able to go back to see him."

"I don't think I can eat anything, Roy. I… I just want to see my baby," Joanne said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

"At least drink some juice or something. When he wakes up, he's going to want us to stay with him. You don't want to have to leave him to go eat later, do you?"

Joanne shook her head, allowing herself to be ushered toward the hallway.

"Roy?"

Roy turned, looking over his shoulder at Dr. Brackett.

"Johnny's supposed to come in sometime today so I can check his injury, make sure he's able to return to work. Is it okay if I tell him about Chris? I'm sure he'll want to visit with him for a few minutes. That'll give you and Joanne a brea-"

"Dr. Kelly Brackett to the ER, STAT. Dr. Brackett to the ER, STAT," came the female voice over the paging system.

Dr. Brackett didn't wait for an answer from the DeSotos before he turned and jogged toward the stairs. He knew how close his star paramedics were, and he had no reason to doubt that Christopher DeSoto would welcome his Uncle Johnny's visit later in the day.

E!