Dean and Kendra’s residence… (Thursday)
Kendra watched with envy as her husband dug into his breakfast. Since their visit with Dr. Rosenberg on Tuesday she was an emotional time bomb, ready to go off at any second. She couldn’t eat or sleep. All she wanted was their results. And positive results at that! Thank God she had competent assistants taking care of the fashion show; otherwise her life would be one big hot mess.
“Don’t forget our appointment tomorrow,” she reminded him for what she thought must be the fifty billionth time. She didn’t mean to be such a nag bag but with the Chace Industries audit going on this week, their appointment could easily slip his mind.
“I’ve set reminders everywhere I can think of. There’s no way I’m going to miss it,” Dean kissed the top of her head gently as he got ready to leave. She didn’t know why this ordinary gesture brought tears to her eyes suddenly. But she guessed it had to do with the fact it was from an extraordinary man.
“It will all work out,” he whispered softly on her hair. “We’ll be fine. I promise.”
“How can you be so sure?” She asked quietly, trying to keep the tears from her voice. She felt like a little girl again, unsure of herself and her bearings.
“Because we’ll still have each other, no matter what the results say!” Dean stated simply. She wanted to believe him and she wished she had the same conviction but the pessimist in her kept taunting her, reminding her she couldn’t have too many blessings in her life; she already had a wonderful husband, a burgeoning bank account and a high-flying career.
Out of habit she followed him outside to see him off. As she watched him speed down the quiet suburban street she couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky she was to have him. At that moment, she couldn’t help but be grateful for him. He had enough faith for both of them and that’s what she needed the most in her life.
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I know I was in here yesterday. Maybe the encryption key was changed! Alfonso thought as he tried in vain to access BAU’s database. The more frustrated he got, the harder he hit the keys, as if it would help him sneak through in some unknown way. He tried over and over, using different combinations and all he kept getting was the bleeping DENIED sounds!
After what felt like the millionth try, he slumped to the floor and stared at the screen intently, wishing he could make it give up its secrets to him. He was sick of seeing the word DENIED! He knew his way around the computer and had become quite proficient at hacking his way into secure systems. He had to learn since they did not have the kind of money to pay someone else to do it for them. So it definitely wasn’t an end-user problem.
Another DENIED and this time he gave in to his anger as he smashed the mouse on the glass table. He stood up abruptly and launched into a string of expletives, swearing whoever it was at BAU blocking his access.
The epiphany hit him like a ton of bricks. The BAU had obviously caught on to him. But it was his own stupid fault. After all, accessing their databank was supposed to be a onetime mission. But when he’d accidentally come across the sealed files, he knew he’d hit the jackpot. Once he’d started with the files, he couldn’t stop.
He figured his ex had obviously reported the Digitag, she’d left at his place, missing or stolen or whatever and the BAU was on to him. Any second now he expected federal agents to storm his house and take him into custody.
He didn’t even want to start thinking about the many federal laws he’d violated. But his treacherous mind delved deeper into dark places. How many years would he get for impersonating a federal agent? For accessing and tampering with sealed files? For hacking into a federal databank? The list of his violations was endless.
He forced himself to calm down. It wasn’t long before he began to rationalize…
His ex wouldn’t rat him out. They had an understanding. But her Digitag had obviously been disabled. The fact that he was still not behind bars was a good sign too.
When it’s all said and done, the situation wasn’t bad. It could have been worse. So what if he couldn’t access BAU’s systems? The sealed files he’d had the brains to copy before his access was denied would keep him going for a long time.
A small smile brightened his strained features as he saw the ‘up’ side to the messy situation and he knew just the person to help him celebrate. Without wasting any more time worrying about the blasted Digitag he reached for his cell phone.
He had not spoken to Charisse in over a week because his other missions had kept him occupied. He had left a few messages for her on IM but she seemed to be just as busy. He had never been in a long term relationship, never been in love. He was the ‘love them and leave them’ guy. So the fact that she was constantly on his mind unsettled him big time. He didn’t like admitting it, but strangely enough he had missed her.
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Charisse came home to an empty house. But nothing new there. She made her way to her room and fell back on her bed. She was tired but felt vaguely fulfilled as she stared up at the ceiling and went over her first few days in Statham Island.
She had accomplished a lot at work and fit in better than she’d expected. But she had a feeling Dean had something to do with that. He’d assumed the role of big brother, always hovering around her and making sure her every whim was taken care of. Plus it helped she had his assistant at her beck and call. But she saw more of him at work than she did at home and if she didn’t know better she’d think he was going out of his way to avoid her at home and for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why.
It didn’t take her long though to put Dean and work out of her mind. Soon she started thinking about Alfonso. Everything about their date had been phenomenal. But her thoughts always returned to that moment when his lips had briefly touched hers, hinting at things to come and promises of so much more.
Now every time she saw a red umbrella, she was transported back to that moment in time when they shared their perfect kiss in the rain. She could still feel the kiss even now and as fleeting as it was it had left her stunned for days.
Alfonso made her feel things she had never felt before. She wanted to explore those feelings and discover for herself what they meant. Still dazed by her blissful memories, she blindly reached for her ringing cell phone.
“Hi! Guess who?” The low sexy drawl, followed by his deep throaty laugh, made her blink rapidly as she tried to understand how her daydream had come to life.
“Hello,” she murmured breathlessly, after a while of shocked silence on both ends.
“You had me worried for a minute there you couldn’t recognize my voice! Am I that forgettable?” Alfonso asked casually. But he was more worried than he would ever let on and his overactive mind didn’t help his case as he imagined the dozens of impressive suits she met every day in her fancy corporate job. For the first time in his life he felt a little unsure of himself with a woman and that didn’t sit well with him.
“Sorry. I was daydreaming about red umbrellas in the rain! That’s how forgettable you are!” Charisse gushed without thinking and regretted it moments later when she realized what she’d admitted to. She was glad he was safely on the other side of the phone and couldn’t see her blush furiously.
“Is that good thing or a bad thing? And if it’s a bad thing I’d like to know at which point I went wrong…you know, for future reference?” He laughed gleefully when her admission finally sank in. He was immediately filled with an urge to break into a victory dance. At least he was on her mind. She couldn’t really think about red umbrellas without thinking about the rest, right?
“I was wondering if you’re interested in fashion, your sister being a model and all. Kendra gave me two tickets to Le Good Life’s fashion event of the year. Would you like to be my plus 1?” She asked once his pleased chuckles had stopped.
“We must be telepathic. My sister Leonor is in that fashion show and that’s why I rang, to ask YOU out! So, I guess the answer is YES, I’ll be your plus 1,” Alfonso drawled on his end…
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Friday…
“What’s taking so damn long?” Dean growled under his breath. They were in Dr. Rosenberg’s office, waiting for her to make an appearance. The longer she took to grace them with her presence, the more frustrated he got. Kendra, on the other hand, was the picture of calm and poise as she sat staring into space.
“Mr. and Mrs. Chace, I’m sorry for the delay,” Dr. Rosenberg shook their hands warmly when she entered the room five minutes later. She’d had a chaotic day and she hoped it didn’t show. Her assistant was off sick and it was obvious the temp filling in for her had no medical or administration background since she’d done a thorough job of mixing up her patients’ files.
She quickly leafed through the file on her lap and breathed a huge sigh of relief when she saw the correct names on the first page. At least the temp didn’t mess up the Chace file.
“Have you ever considered alternate…” Kendra didn’t let the doctor finish what she was going to say. She immediately cut in.
“Something’s wrong isn’t it? I knew it!” She cried hysterically. Dean sat immobile in his hard uncomfortable chair, unable to focus on anything except his wife’s shrill cries.
“Mrs. Chace, your tests did not turn out as well as I hoped. The ultrasound scan picked up some scarring—basically— Conception is going to—I’m sorry…” Kendra heard bits and pieces of the doctor’s explanation. She was talking about Fallopian tubes and scarring and none of it meant anything to her.
“I can’t have kids? Is that it?” She asked quietly, silencing Dr. Rosenberg and pushing her husband deeper into shock.
“I’m sorry, but the extensive scarring is going to make it difficult to conceive naturally. With technology these days, there are other methods. We could try IVF and if that fails we could explore surrogacy and adoption. I know this is a lot to deal with right now,” Dr. Rosenberg continued softly.
It took her a long time to realize the heart wrenching sounds were from her. She couldn’t remember when Dr. Rosenberg left the room or when Dean took her in his arms. As much as she tried to listen to him and stop crying for his sake, she couldn’t. She didn’t know how to. All she knew was the terrible, terrible loss slowly poisoning her heart.
“Hey, it’s okay. We’ll get a second opinion. We’ll have more tests done. We are going to have a baby. I promise,” Dean whispered feverishly. He knew he was making promises he couldn’t keep but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. He’d give Kendra anything she wanted and right now she so desperately wanted his child.
“I’m sorry,” Kendra smiled tearfully. She was too numb to entertain talks of second opinions or even think about Dr. Rosenberg’s prognosis. All she could focus on was taking her next breath, and the next one and the one after that because she honestly didn’t think she could live through the pain in her heart.
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault. We’ll be fine…” her husband answered, echoing his words of the day before. Again she wanted to believe him but she knew they wouldn’t be fine…not for a long time, at least…
~LMAO@Pixx!
~Me thinks,Pixx likes the bad boyz!
~Why be jealous of Amanda,she does not have Alf anymore…………..?
~Charisse & Alfy,sitting on a hill………………!!!^^
First of all I love Dean's car, it's as sexy as Alfy. It was such a sweet moment between him and his wife, made me go "Awwwwwwww!!!".
Mmmm Afly *dribble* OMG! Alfy is the hacker!!!
I did not see that coming, and he was dating the idiot girl who lost her digitag…that's so HOT!!! (I'm mean the hacker thing, I'm jealous of idiot girl who lost her digitag).
Ugh! I can't read this part about Charisse freaking out about my Alfy…how dare she. And how dare he think about her!?!
Eeeeee!!!! I can't wait to hear Kendra and Dean's results.
I just had another 'Awwwwwwwwww!!!' moment. I'm so sorry for Kendra *cry*
~Thanks Ning,but maybe Alf is a nice guy,who knows?? I guess you will just have to keep reading………to find out!Oh! and, we got it right with 'SUITS' meaning the guys that wear suits where she works!Yeah!(not suitors!):D
~Maybe Charisse will catch on!;P
~ Dean & Kendra!!!Hmm!(",)???????……….^^
OMGAWD IT'S ALF?!?! That crazy guy, what did he think he was doing!! Omgosh, he seemed like a nice guy and I don't want him to end up behind bars.
Poor Dean, having to avoid Charisse at home, haha. It's actually kind of funny if you were in Charisse's shoes. XD And poor him for having to be the pillar of support for his wife. It can be really demanding to be the strong one.
I hope they pull through. (Scarring though makes me think that Kendra has had abortions before. 
) I wonder how long it'll take before Kendra starts going mad with disappointment, especially with Dean's constant reassurances.
By the way, I think you meant "suitors" in "…dozens of impressive suits she met every day.." ^^
Aww Jill, I just saw your comment now and you are no poor substitute I'm just glad you and Tina haven't started charging for your services.
I was really hoping someone would mention the possibility of the temp messing up the files and I'm glad you picked it up but whether or not she did, I can't say
To have the pic done that way was Karima's idea and pure genious. But I can't take all the credit for it since DH also helped with the photoshopping but I'm glad you think it's art and it turned out okay
No thanks needed – thank YOU guys for putting out such a fabulous story!
The drama is so real, it makes the reader feel like everything is happening to THEM!
Looks like there's some sneaky stuff going on with files all over the Island! I sure hope the new clerk at the Dr. Office mixed up the files & Kendra and Dean will get to have a child!
And I can't wait to see what's in those sealed files the Smexy Alphonso got his hot little hands on! I'm betting it's going to rock his world! (and his sister's too!)
I love, love LOVE this story!!!
Thanks Jilly for your awesomeness and for proofing our chapters. I don't know what Karima and I would do without you