the other, but she could hardly climb in a window. Frowning intensely, Alex turned the corner towards the offices and stopped at the Pepsi machine. She heard the office door slam and the fading sounds of footsteps going up to R&D. She hoped it was James as she headed for the door. James had slept badly all night. He had tossed and turned and panicked himself sleepless. Alex had never called him and when he had called the restaurant to see if she got the message, the maître d' was unavailable. Sighing heavily, James helped himself to another cup of coffee and went around the long way to his office. He was in no mood to deal with Francine and her incessant demand to be married before their baby was born. Dragging hard on the Marlboro, he was in the middle of closing his office door when he heard Jeff and Allen's conversation. Alex was going to come in today, despite the fact that she was off. He would find a way to talk to her then. He had to. "Have you seen, Alex," asked David when he reached the R&D offices. "No. Is she here," asked James looking up from Frank's designs. "Yeah. She was in the machine shop about 15 minutes ago looking for you." James closed his eyes and sighed quietly. She was alright, at least he knew that much. Whatever else, she was here under the same roof with him and he would find and talk to her. "Thanks Dave. Frank, can we finish this later," he asked. "Sure, James. Go get her," Frank laughed happy to have James' cigarettes out of his office. Harry was bad enough but to have both of them there was killing him. James all but sprinted down the stairs. He reached his office door, pulled it open with such force that it banged against the wall. James half expected Alex to be sitting in his office waiting for him, but she wasn't. James heard Allen and Alex going over the cost of goods and went to the doorway. He watched as Alex continued to study the pages, her blue eyes taking in every detail and her fingers tracing delicate lines from one number to another. His flesh yearned to feel that touch again and he almost went and dragged her into his office. Allen was finishing the comparisons when James' movement caught his eye. Looking up at him, he saw James' intense stare at Alex, "James, you need something," asked Allen. Alex looked up quickly and caught the end of that stare. She returned it with an icy gaze of her own letting him know she was unapproachable and not willing to discuss the events of the past 24 hours. Alex watched as James shook his head and closed his door, retreating once more into his office. "Wonder what that was all about," asked Allen after James had shut the door. Alex shrugged and returned her attention to the reports on the desk, "Here's your problem, Allen," she pointed out pulling her chair closer to the desk, "You forgot to include the spare parts with those last machines. " "Shit. No wonder I'm off. " "In more ways than one," commented Alex chuckling. "Hey, now." "I got to go, Allen, unless you need something else. " "Nope that's it," he replied standing and stretching from his hunched over position, "I'll see you later. Right now, I need a Mt. Dew." Alex gathered her things, watched Allen go through James' office to the vending machines and sat there trying to decide which would be the best way to exit the building. Either way she'd have to face one of them. Alex got up and decided that Francine's office would be best. She could at least ignore her. It would be too hard to see James. Alex walked as calmly through the office as possible and was almost to the door when Francine called her name. "Hello Alex," she mewed smugly from behind her desk. Alex turned on her heel and faced the woman, "Hello, Francine. Something I can do for you," she asked. "Actually, yes there is," Francine began with a smile, leaning back in her chair, "Two things actually, first you can take your claws out of James, he's ours now," patting her belly for emphasis, "and second you can convince him to do the right thing. " "And that would be," Alex prompted. "Marrying me, of course. Alex, don't you see? You were a distraction, a campaign stop, if you will," Francine continued, examining her nails, "James loves me and as soon as you let him go, you'll see where his heart lies. " Alex chuckled, "You know, Francine, that's really funny. I gave James that same option last night. Marry you or stay with me," Alex said imitating a scale with her hands, "Only he offered a third choice, for he and I to get married and raise the baby ourselves. " Alex smiled as Francine gasped and stood up suddenly, the reaction was priceless to Alex, "Frankly, I think you'll be a terrible mother. And I despise the fact that you'll have any kind of hold on James, but know this, I am not, under any circumstances, letting go of him. Whether you like you it or not, we love each other. This baby will not change his feelings for me or you. And I will never desert him to the likes of you," Alex hissed before turning on her heel and heading for the door. "You'll never see my child, Alex. I'll see you dead before I let you raise my child," threatened Francine as Alex left the plant. Francine sunk into her chair and fumed. Nothing was going according to plan. Alex was supposed to have left James after she found out about the baby. Francine calmed herself for a moment and as the anger faded a new thought entered her mind, if Alex and James were still a couple why wasn't James with her when she left. As far as Francine knew, they hadn't said a word to each other while Alex was here. Francine smiled, "Maybe they're together now, but something is definitely wrong." What James would have given to hear the conversation between Alex and Francine; after concealing himself in his office, James collapsed in his chair more depressed than last night. He had left the restaurant and drove home only to find Alex's things there. He had spent half the night pacing the floor and the other half wondering why Alex hadn't called him back. After seeing the look in her eyes just a few moments ago, it was obvious that he had done her a great injustice by asking her to raise Francine's baby. It was hard enough for Alex to accept the fact that she was pregnant to begin with, but to request that she raise the child as her own was the worst possible thing he could have done. "I'm such an idiot," he said aloud exhaling the cigarette fumes, "I hope she can forgive me." James was still calling himself every name in the book when a knock resounded on his door, "Come in," he barked at it. "Hey James," said Sam as he came through the door, "Got a minute?" "Sure Sam. What's up?" "Rob and I went to Ashmore Valley Exterminators to check on the guy who went to Alex's and tore the place up. I think we have a lead and a problem in that order." "Tell me," he insisted. "The company keeps photo id's off all the employees, like we do. We ran through them and found a man we've already crossed paths with. Mrs. Johnson swears it's the same man whom she let into the house. " "Who," James asked beginning to feel his skin crawl. "Dan Reynolds. " "Oh, shit. He's after Alex?" "It's more than possible, especially after what happened last night." James looked confused, "What do you know about last night?" "Rob took Grayson and Alex's statements. They both said that Dan was responsible for the attack. " "What attack?" "You don't know what happened to Grayson and Alex, do you, James," questioned Sam. "What happened, Sam," demanded James coming around his desk and getting in his face. "Grayson and Alex were attacked outside the W Restaurant last night. Grayson was beat up pretty badly and Alex was hurt as well. " "Oh, God; what have I done," James asked collapsing into one of the arm chairs. "James, are you alright? If it helps, Jeff was there as well." "Jeff knows," James said looking up suddenly. "Yeah. The doctors called him because they couldn't find anyone else and his number was in Alex's purse." "I got to find, Jeff," said James rushing into the plant. Sam watched James leave the office and shook his head. Whatever was going on there was more pain to come. Allen came through the door then and found Sam staring at James' empty chair, "What's up," he asked passing through. "Have you seen Alex," Sam asked. "She just left. " "Oh, thanks," Sam responded following him into the plant. James found Jeff in the weld shop and pulled him aside, "Why didn't you tell me about last night?" "There was nothing to tell," Jeff replied, "Alex is fine; so is Grayson." "What the hell happened?" "After you abandoned her at the restaurant, she called Gray for a ride, the minute she stepped out Dan Reynolds had her. Grayson might have saved her life and could have died himself." "Dan Reynolds again; that son-of-a-bitch is starting to annoy me." "There you are," said Sam finally catching up with James. "What now Sam; more bad news." "Actually some good; Dan and his partner have been arrested on the New Jersey turnpike. They are being brought back here this afternoon. " "That is good news. Thanks Sam," accepted Jeff. "You're welcome. I better get back to work. " "What hospital," asked James watching Sam's retreating back. "Memorial. " James shook his head in acknowledgement and left Jeff standing there as he headed for the door, "Has Alex left," James asked Francine as he passed through the office. "Wouldn't you rather see me? I am the mother of your child, James," she responded. "I don't have time for your games, Francine. Has Alex left?" "James this isn't a game, it's a child's life. If you can't take this seriously maybe I should just do away with it altogether. " "Don't you dare," shouted James, "Don't you even consider making that decision. This is my child too, Francine. " "Well a lot you care about it. You'd rather let Alex raise my child than me? How do you think that makes me feel?" "You talked to Alex?" "Of course I talked to Alex. I wanted to know what her intentions were." "And?" "And what do you think? She's going to hold onto you for dear life. I will not let her raise our child, James. That's my privilege." "Francine, we'll talk about this later. In the meantime, you do anything to jeopardize my child and there will be hell to pay. Do you understand," James demanded grabbing her upper arms in his urgency. "Yes, James, I do understand. I understand completely. " "Good," he said letting go of her arms, thrusting her into her chair, and then charging out of the building. Francine watched him go and picked up the phone, "It's me," she said into the receiver, "we got a problem. " Chapter 23 Alex made a few pit stops along the way and arrived at the hospital just as lunch was served. She found Grayson sitting up as gingerly as possible playing in the mound of unappetizing mashed potatoes. "Hey stranger," she said walking into the room. "Alex," Grayson replied trying to smile. The stitches in his lip as well as the bruises on his cheeks restricted the movement. "How are you feeling?" "Much better since I have the prettiest nurse here. " "Where is she," Alex joked removing the nasty lunch from his bed stand and placing on the empty bed beside her. "Very funny. What'd you bring me?" "Tons of goodies; first and foremost, let's do something with that hair." Alex pulled the brush she had grabbed from home and ran it through the tangles in Grayson's hair, "Anything good on," she commented as the TV droned overhead. "Only if you're in the mood for soap operas or cartoons." "Cartoons would be good. " Grayson used his free hand to search for a decent cartoon reveling in the gentle strokes that Alex applied to his hair. "I can do that you know," he said. "I like doing it. Besides, how are you going to maneuver a gum band around this mass of hair with only one hand. " "Good point," he responded, turning his attention back to the television, "Cool, Speed Racer. " "That works; here's your glasses," Alex smiled as she continued to pull the various lengths into a decent looking ponytail. "Hello, who is this," came a voice from the door as she made her way into the room, "You are relative, no?" Alex and Grayson watched as the stocky nurse puttered closer to the bed. Her graying hair had been pulled into a tight bun which only served to relieve the mass of wrinkles that creased her face. "Yes, I'm his sister," replied Alex. "Sister, huh? Well I suppose it is possible. I am Nurse Willamina, I take care of brother. But you can't stay long. The mister needs his rest.” Alex smiled at the heavy Danish accent, "Well then I won't stay very long." "Good. You be out in an hour," she decreed pointing her finger at Alex, then turning her attention to Grayson, "You eat lunch! No pick, eat!" "Scout's Honor," promised Alex, "And I'll make sure he eats." The nurse harrumphed herself from the room never taking her eyes off of Alex. She doubted Alex was a sister, but she was just a nurse and refused to comment on the patient's lives. "What a personality," laughed Alex. "Try dealing with that first thing in the morning. She came in and demanded to help me go to the bathroom; insisting I couldn't do it myself. The damned sponge bath was the worst.” Alex laughed heartily and finished the ponytail for Grayson, "It isn’t the best, but it looks better," she commented going to the bag she brought with her, "This should help," she said handing him a baseball