Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Emily and Rhett worked on identifying John Does for the next two weeks. Although it was important work, it was also very repetitive work. At the end of the second week, she said, "I wish Agent O'Hara would bring us a new case."

"I asked her about that last night, and she said all her cases right now were just plain, ordinary cases."

Emily stared at Rhett, and she finally said, "Are you seeing Agent O'Hara socially?"

Rhett smiled a self-conscience smile and said, "Yes. We are dating."

"Wonderful. I have always thought you would be perfect together."

Rhett was still a little embarrassed, but he was also so happy. He was a little uncomfortable because it had been so long since he had been in a serious relationship. In truth, he had never been in a serious romantic relationship. He smiled. If he was going to jump into the pool, he might as well jump in the deep end. He knew he was already in love with Scarlett. He just hoped she was in love with him. He would have to go tell Miguel. He would be hurt if he was the last one to find out.

Rhett stopped what he was doing and in a moment of awareness started to leave the lab. He stopped and said, "Thanks. I will be right back. Carry on without me. I have to go tell Miguel that I am involved with Scarlett."

Emily looked at Rhett knowingly, but she just said, "Sure, Dr. Butler."

Rhett went down to Miguel's lab. He found his friend drawing and Egyptian coffin. He said, "Miguel, I have something to tell you."

"If you are going to tell me that you and Agent O'Hara are dating, I already know."

"How?"

"I heard you laughing the other day. I'm glad."

"Me too. It is great to be back in the land of the living. She doesn't make me forget about Bonnie, but she makes me believe there can be a happy future for me."

"It is about time you had some happiness." In a moment of vulnerability Miguel said, "I would like to find someone to get serious with." Then while regretting the admission immediately he said, "Did I tell you that I am going to Arizona for my vacation?"

"No, which part?"

"Near Flagstaff. I have a friend that lives there."

"What is her name?"

"Her name is Cathy. She is an artist also. She is a photographer. She is beautiful."

"Is she just a friend or is she more?"

"This one is actually my friend. I'm not her type if you know what I mean."

"Indeed, I do. I hope you have fun, but not too much fun. I want you to come back."

The men talked about other things for about thirty minutes, then Rhett returned to his lab.

Miguel smiled as he watched his friend leave the lab. He didn't have to worry about Rhett saying anything about him wanting to get serious with a woman to anyone else. The man had already forgotten all about it. He was safe as long as Rhett didn't mention it to Scarlett. Scarlett was definitely not obtuse. He would not want her fixing him up with women she thought were perfect for him. He already knew who would be perfect for him. Unfortunately, she didn't even know he was alive.

About that same time, Scarlett was meeting Melly for lunch. They were meeting at the Unconventional Diner on 9th Street. Rhett had taken Scarlett to it a few nights ago and she had liked it, so she was taking Melly. It had been about two months since Melly's surgery and three weeks since Scarlett's insightful moment. They had talked on the phone since they had seen each other, of course. Scarlett had shared that she and Rhett were dating now, and Melly was happy for her. Melly had talked about Beau and her volunteer work at Beau's school. She worked in the school library. She liked doing it. It brought back happy memories of her own time in grade school.

Melly had called that morning wanting to see Scarlett for lunch. She needed to talk to Scarlett about a problem she had. Scarlett still didn't know if she was going to tell Melly what she thought. Melly loved Ashley. She loved him enough to let him have sex with another woman so he would be happy.

When the waiter got to the table, Melly ordered a White Zinfandel, so Scarlett did too. After the waiter had told them the specials and they had ordered, Melly said, "I'm getting a divorce."

"What?! Why?!"

"He had continued to sneak out of the house or come home late. When I asked him about it, he said he had a meeting. After four weeks after we both knew we could have a normal sex life, I asked him if he was having an affair with Amy Morton. He said no, but I have always known when Ashley was lying. I accused him of lying." Melly stopped speaking and sighed.

Scarlett watched Melly take a sip of her wine and look off into the distance. After a few moments, Scarlett said, "Go ahead get it all out."

With another sigh Melly turned back to look at Scarlett and she said, "He confessed all. He and Amy have been having an affair for years."

"What?! Tell me all."

"I didn't know this, but Amy worked for the Fulton County Public Defenders' Office also. One time when they had gotten a non-guilty verdict on one of their clients facing murder charges, they went back to the office to celebrate. One thing led to another, and they had sex. He said he tried to resist his feelings for Amy, but as he said a man has needs. Two years later she joined the Innocence Project and moved to DC. Whenever she came to Georgia, she would look Ashley up and they would have sex. I didn't know this either, but Amy's parents live in Atlanta, so she visited frequently. Although I would be surprised if the harlot has visited once since she got him to move up here to DC. Amy convinced him to join the Innocence Project. Her words: 'Not only would he be working for the better good, but they could be together.' He told me he loves Amy."

"If he loves that harlot, why had he not gotten a divorce and married her."

Melly once again looked away for a long time. Finally, with a whisper, she said, "I asked him that. He said he couldn't divorce me because I needed him so much. I had no way to support myself. I had no true friends. The only friend I had was you and you weren't much of a friend because you were having an affair with him. No friend would do that to her supposedly best friend." Melly's voice got even softer when she added, "He made me feel so pathetic. Such a fool. I loved him enough to let him have sex with another woman." Then Melly drew on her inner strength and her voice got louder when she said, "I told him I was going to file for divorce, and he needed to move out that very night."

"When did all this happen?"

"A week ago."

"A week ago?! Why didn't you call me?"

"I had hoped he would return to me and beg my forgiveness."

"I guess he didn't."

"No. Instead he moved in with Amy. He filed for divorce and requested custody of Beau. I don't have the money to fight him. I went to see a lawyer and he wanted a thousand dollars retainer. He thought it is going to cost more than that to retain custody of Beau." Melly put her hand over her mouth and Scarlett heard the sob in her voice when she said, "I can't lose Beau also. He is all I have now."

"You have me and all my money."

"Scarlett, I can't take your money."

"Why not? I only have it because I have never found anything I wanted to spend it on. First, thing we will do is get you a job."

"Where? I'm not qualified to do anything. I've never even had a job before."

"I don't know, you have a B.A."

"In English, but there aren't many jobs that require a B.A. in English

"We will find you something. You could be a receptionist or file clerk or cashier or oh, I don't know, but there are probably a thousand jobs you could hold down." At that time, the waiter brought their food. After he set it down and asked if they needed anything else, Scarlett said to him, "Yes, we both need another White Zinfandel. We are celebrating."

After the waiter left, Melly said, "What are we celebrating?"

"Your liberation day. You are getting rid of that bag of hot air. He might have been adequate in bed, but besides that he was just a bore. Furthermore, he pretends to be so noble, but he isn't. No, not only was he cheating on you with that harlot, but he slept with your best friend. Only a jerk does that. Also, not only was he cheating on you with that harlot, but he cheated on both of you with me. He didn't even put up a token protest when I came on to him. Besides, after the first time I never sought him out. He always came to me."

"Scarlett, the rent is due on our apartment, and I don't have the money. Ashley said he needed his money to pay his rent."

"I thought he was living with Amy."

"I guess she is making him pay his fair share of the expenses."

"Aren't you entitled to spousal support not to mention child support?"

"Not until I can get the court to award it to me."

"Very well, first thing we need to do is get you moved."

"Where am I going to move to? I can't afford anything. I literally have just a hundred dollars in our checking account."

"Correction. First thing we are going to do is get all the money out of your checking account."

"What if Ashley has written checks on that money?"

"Then he is going to have some hot checks out there. That is what he gets for not giving you any money."

"Scarlett! Are you sure this is right?"

Scarlett looked directly at Melly and said, "You have always been too soft hearted. Let me repeat what he has done. He had an affair with another woman, he moved you away from all your family and friends so he could continue that affair, he willingly had sex with your best friend," When Melly started to object, Scarlett added, "He didn't know that you had arranged all that. He doesn't get a pass on that. He has filed for divorce, moved in with another woman, is trying to take Beau away from you, and his final insult is that he has left you without any money. Do you even have food in the cabinet or the refrigerator?" When Melly blushed, Scarlett continued, "I didn't think so. Honey, I know you don't want to admit this, but this is war. No tender feelings. Furthermore, we are going to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. When I thought it was just the three of us, I wasn't worried, but we have no idea what that slut's sexual history is or that man whore Ashley's sexual history is either. Amy might not be the only woman he has strayed with. We will go see my doctor."

The women finished eating while Scarlett was making plans for Melly's future. As they got up to leave, Scarlett said, "Let me tell Sam, I won't be back today."

"Will you get in trouble?"

"Nah, I have a bunch of comp time."

"Comp time?"

"They can't pay me overtime, so they give me extra time off. I probably have a thousand hours of comp time."

"I guess you rarely use them."

"Rarely ever, so now is the perfect time to use them. I don't have any hot cases."

As the women walked into the parking lot, Scarlett said, "Where is your car?"

"Ashley took our car. I had to take the bus."

"Oh Honey, he is going to pay for doing this to you."

Melanie smiled. She knew that Scarlett would truly make Ashley pay for hurting her.