Sarah smiled as she stood on the porch of the boarding house, saying good night to Fabrizio as Leah and Tommy stood a few feet away saying good night to each other as well. It had been a nice evening. A walk on the lake and a picnic. Now their double date was over and both couples hated saying goodbye.

"Maybe I can see you again tomorrow? I know that we had just seen each other, but I really like where this is going," Sarah smiled, as Fabrizio took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I would like that too. Maybe after work, I can stop by. We go to a cafe? Or we go back to the house and we cook together?" Fabrizio suggested. Chippewa Falls was a small town, with not much to do, but Fabrizio found himself always coming up with ideas.

"Another cooking lesson? I'd like that!" Sarah's smile was bright and her eyes lit up with just the idea of being in close proximity of the handsome Italian and the Dawson's small kitchen would be the perfect place.

Fabrizio was about to answer her when someone came upon the porch. Both Sarah and Fabrizio were startled to see Jack, who looked at them with unhappy eyes. Sarah wondered what happened. Was it Rose and Lily?

"Jack? What are you doing here, amico? Is it Rose? Lily?" Fabrizio asked, not liking the look in his friend's eyes.

Jack took a deep breath, hating to be the bearer of bad news, but he had no choice. He had to warn Sarah that her brother was in town and was most likely here for her. "I...I have some bad news for Sarah and Leah. Very bad news. They need to know right away."

Sarah frowned, getting a sinking feeling. "What is it?"

"It must be serious for boy-o to look like he had just lost a game of poker," Tommy and Leah stepped up, also startled by Jack's arrival.

Jack looked at his friends and wished that the ground would just open up and swallow him. He did not want to ruin their night. He did not want to give this news which would most likely put an end to their relationships because most likely the girls were going to have to leave.

"Well...I might as well just go ahead and tell you. Your brother Cal is in town."

"What?!" Sarah's eyes widened in horror. This could not be happening!

"I was in town with a friend when I looked up at a hotel window and saw him glaring down at me. I wasn't sure it was him, so I asked my friend to check...and sure enough he's here with his new fiancee," Jack explained.

"Father must have sent him...but how did he know I was here?" Sarah looked at Leah, almost suspiciously. "You didn't write home did you?"

"No! Of course not! I knew what would happen if I did!" Leah shook her head, taken aback that Sarah would think such a thing of her.

"It's just that I know how homesick you are. You wouldn't think that it would affect me since your parents aren't forcing you into a loveless marriage like mine are!"

"Sarah, I swear that I didn't write home! I wouldn't do that to you!"

Jack had enough. Standing here on this porch arguing would just draw unwanted attention. "Look, it doesn't matter how Cal found out you're here. What matters is that he is here and most likely he's looking for you. It's probably not safe to stay here anymore."

"Jack's right. You must stay somewhere safer. Where your brother can't find you," Fabrizio nodded, seeing Jack's point.

"But where?" Leah frowned. Really, the situation looked to be hopeless. It would probably be best if they gave themselves up now and just return to their lives. She knew that she'd probably still be able to see Tommy, but Sarah's budding relationship with Fabrizio would be over for sure.

"Come back to the house with us. You'll have to share a room, and it'll probably be cramped, but it'd be a good hiding place from Cal," Jack suggested, not thinking about the fact that Cal could still show up on his doorstep.

"I don't know, Jack. I don't want to send trouble your way. Cal is still sort of obsessed with Rose, despite his new engagement. There's no telling what he'd do if he caught us with you guys," Sarah chewed on her bottom lip. She did not know what to do. She just knew that she did not want to return to her old life, where her father was waiting to sell her to the highest bidder.

"Jack is right. It is not safe here. It's safer at our house. We can protect you there," Fabrizio sided with his friend, willing to do what he could to protect this girl who had fallen into his life unexpectedly. He had thought he'd never be able to care for another woman again after Helga, but he had been wrong. He's grown to care a great deal about Sarah. He just couldn't help himself.

"We won't be imposing?" Leah questioned, not really sure how any of this was supposed to work without causing a scandal.

"Of course, you won't! The more the merrier, lassie," Tommy chuckled.

"This town does like to gossip, though. So if asked, just tell the clerk that you're leaving town again. That'll at least throw Cal off your trail if he goes around asking questions," Jack suggested.

"That's a good idea. Come along, Leah. Let's hurry. The sooner we're at the Dawson's, the better," Sally grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her into the house.

"Boy-o, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Tommy looked at his friend worriedly.

"Besides buying them a ticket out of town? It's the next best thing unless you want your girls going back to Pennsylvania…"

Fabrizio quickly shook his head. "Sarah would not like going back to her old life. She likes it here with me...with us. I will make sure she stays. I'll fight Hockley if I have to."

"You may have to, Fabri. Cal doesn't like being told no."

(A/N: Sorry for the short chapter.)