Title: Ghosts of the past, part 1

Author: Spudsy at: ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au

Author's notes: Well this is my second attempt at a story!!!!!!!!!
You guys write such looooooooong stories and they're sooooooooooo
good! I thought I'd try one!!!! LOL! I hope you like it. And thanks
sooooooooooooooooo much for everybody's feedback on my last story, I
hope you like this one just as much!!!!!!

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, but I sooooooooo wish they
were!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jimmy sat up suddenly in bed screaming, "It's normal size. It's
normal size."
He looked around him confused before it dawned on him that he had a
nightmare. It was the third one that night and he was completely
exhausted. He knew that stress was causing them but what could he do?
He'd got himself into a situation he could no longer handle alone.
His world was closing in on him and choking him. He feared he was
about to lose everything. Groaning, he slithered out from beneath the
mess of sheets and blankets and stumbled into the kitchen where he
took some Vitamin V and sat in front of the TV. He flicked through
the channels disinterestedly before settling on one of the adult
channels. The fear of his situation wouldn't leave him and after ten
minutes of watching a woman shriek "Spank me" to her chef husband as
he showed her what zucchinis should be used for, he emitted a loud
sigh of frustration and switched the TV off. His thoughts pounded
like tambourines in his head and he felt like screaming. He couldn't
live like this anymore.

***************Donnell, Young, Dole & Frutt office 10 a.m.

Jimmy skulked into the office wearing his faded grey suit and blue
tie. His hair was ruffled and his face grouchy. He'd missed the
morning meeting so he slipped quietly to his desk without
acknowledging anyone. Rebecca, who was in the library when he
arrived, approached him to fill him in on what was happening.
"You missed a good meeting this morning Jimmy," she said.
"I was busy." He barked defensively
"I never said you weren't I was just saying ..."
"I know what you were saying Rebecca. Yes I'm late and yes I missed
the meeting I know this I don't need a lecture from you and ... "
"I wasn't giving a lecture."
"If you're cranky take it out on someone else. I'm not in the mood."
He was shouting now.
"If I'm cranky!" squawked an equally angry Rebecca "I'm not cranky
it's you that's cranky bighead."
"Rude that's what you are rude!" Jimmy yelled grabbing his jacket
and
storming out of the office.
Bobby, who had just stepped out of his own office, was almost knocked
over by the irate Jimmy.
"What is going on?" he asked but no one answered, they were all
staring at the door, stunned, as it is slammed shut. "Is Jimmy
alright?" Bobby asked concerned.
"I don't think so," Lindsay said as she grabbed her blue Gucci
jacket "I'd better go after him. See if I can get him to talk."
"Good Luck!" said a shell-shocked Rebecca. She was concerned too but
not game to go near him.
Lindsay caught up to him at the elevator. She could see he was fuming
about something. They had always been close and she was sure she
could help if she could just get him to talk her. She'd have to be
careful though because if she pushed him he'd just close up. The
elevator opened and they got in. Neither had spoken yet.
"You going anywhere in particular?" she eventually asked casually.
"No you?" he answered suspiciously.
"No I just needed to get out of the office for a bit. You know how it
is."
"Yeah"
"Care to join me for coffee and a donut?" she asked.
He looked at her, suspicious, but she was staring straight ahead,
deep in thought. She looked concerned about something and not really
interested in his affairs. "Maybe she's having problems with Bobby
and she needs someone to talk to," Jimmy thought and his curiosity
got the better of his anger. Lindsay had always been there for him
and he'd always had a crush on her too. He'd do anything for her.
"Sure. Love to. Sounds great!" he replied.
Lindsay was pleased and relieved. She had been worried Jimmy would
see through her but he was very trusting. He hadn't realised she'd
manipulated him into believing he was helping her when in fact she
was trying to help him. "I've got him to go with me now how do I get
him to open up."
"It's normal size." He said out of the blue.
Lindsay smiled at him "Yeah Jimmy it is. It's normal size."
The elevator door opened and they headed to the coffee shop around
the corner. They arrived, ordered their coffees and grabbed a seat.
Neither wanted to talk first so Jimmy concentrated on the TV screen
above the counter, which was quietly playing a news bulletin. There
appeared to be a protest at the local zoo, something to do with the
hyenas being culled due to overpopulation. He shrugged. He had always
preferred the giraffe's anyway. And the only pet he'd ever owned was
a mangy cat; he was not a typical animal lover. He turned his
attention back to a brooding Lindsay.
"So are you ok Lindsay?" Jimmy asked, eager to help.
"Yeah I'll be fine ... It's nothing really its just ... I've got
a lot on
my mind ... its about Bobby..." she couldn't think of anything
more to
say "its not really something I can talk about cause it's not clear
in my own mind yet. Thanks for asking Jimmy." She said smiling
appreciatively and reaching out for his hand "Just having you here
helps."
Jimmy was pleased. So pleased he almost forgot his own problems. They
sat again in silence drinking their coffee and eating donuts. Jimmy
was really enjoying the taste of the sweet, raspberry filling. He had
tossed and turned most of the night and had dreamt of golden brown
omelettes when he had finally got to sleep. Unfortunately he hadn't
had time for breakfast and had been thinking of food all morning.
Lindsay noticed that he had relaxed and was enjoying the food and the
company. "Now is as good a time as any to get him talking" she
thought. She gave a big sigh and Jimmy looked at her surprised and
amused. She pretended to be a little embarrassed.
"Oh I didn't mean to do that." She said, laughing.
"It's ok Lindsay" Jimmy replied, grinning.
She stared at him with a concerned look on her face. "Are you ok
Jimmy? It looks like you have something on your mind too. Can I help?"
"Don't worry about me. You've got enough on your plate. Don't worry
about me."
"Jimmy now you have to tell me. I know something's wrong and if you
don't tell me I'll only worry more. Please Jimmy tell me." She looked
at him pleadingly and he couldn't refuse. She watched as the sadness
enveloped his face.
"I've been so stupid" he sighed. "Everyone's going to be mad at me.
I've let you all down. I've really screwed up this time."
"Jimmy what's happened?"
"I'm in trouble legally. I'm being sued."
"What for?"
"Sexual harassment and ... child abuse."
"WHAT? Who?" Lindsay cried, almost spilling the coffee that was on
its way to her mouth. "Bobby always said that she couldn't be trusted
with beverages" she thought ruefully.
"My neighbour. It's all a mistake. I'm innocent I swear."
"I believe you. Of course you're innocent, that goes without saying.
Tell me what happened."
"Well she's new to Boston. She moved here after her divorce. She has
two little boys. She's been in my building for about four months. I
don't know her well but we've always been friendly. We talk whenever
we meet. You know like in the elevator or the laundry that type of
thing." Lindsay nodded "I always thought she liked me. I thought we
were friends."
"What happened?"
"Last week she knocked on my door at about 3 in the morning. One of
her kids was sick and she wanted to take him to the emergency room
but she didn't want to take the other one. She asked if I'd mind
keeping an eye on him and drop him at school if she wasn't back in
time. I said that would be fine. I slept on her couch and when the
kid woke in the morning I took him back to my place for breakfast."
He could see Lindsay is wondering why he took the boy back to his
place. "They only had corn flakes. I hate corn flakes." She smiled at
him. "Anyway we had breakfast then I had a shower while he went home
to get ready for school. When I came out of the shower he was there
dressed and ready. I dropped him at school and that was it. That
night she thanked me for helping out. She even gave me a little kiss
on the cheek and invited me to dinner the next day. I had to refuse
because I already had plans. She said fine some other time. I haven't
spoken to any of them since."
"So why are they suing you?"
"Two days later the police came over. Apparently the kid must have
..."
he looked at Lindsay embarrassed "I have some videos" he says
sheepishly. Lindsay knew the type of videos he meant. "Well he must
have taken some. I don't have them lying around or anything I'm not
sure how he found it but ... his mother caught him watching one and
he
told her that I'd given it to him and that I'd watched it with him. I
didn't Lindsay I wouldn't. I had no idea I didn't even know any were
gone. It's not like I watch them all the time."
"Why didn't you call me? I would have come over. I could have helped."
"I know. I was embarrassed. I thought I could handle it myself. I let
the police search my place I didn't have anything to hide. They
searched everything even my computer but they didn't find anything
incriminating. I think they believe me. I wasn't put under arrest and
I'm sure there is no intention of charging me."
"I'm not following. I still can't see why you're being sued."
"I'm not sure but I think she's angry the police aren't charging me.
I guess she's just trying to protect her kids. She's applied for an
intervention order against me and yesterday I was served notice she's
suing me for harassing her and her son."
"And you didn't ever do or say anything to her?"
"No! I've never touched her. She kissed me. I've never touched either
of them. I've never even looked at her really. I mean she's pretty
but ... I'm kinda involved now."
Lindsay rolled her eyes. She along with everyone else in the firm
knew who he was involved with and didn't approve.
"I've only ever talked to her. I've never harassed her."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure!"
"Jimmy ... " Lindsay began, unsure how to put it "We all love you
we
really do but ... you do have a habit of asking inappropriate
questions. Are you sure you never said or asked her anything that
could be taken the wrong way?"
He looked at Lindsay appalled "I don't ask inappropriate question I
never."
"You do Jimmy" Lindsay laughed, "You asked Ellenor if she'd slept
with Spivak. You told Rebecca she was a frustrated older woman who
needed to have sex. You asked Bobby and I if we were sleeping
together during an office meeting. ... We know you don't mean
anything
by it Jimmy but if you said something like that to her she might take
offence. Are you sure you never said anything to her that could have
been misread? Did you ever talk to her about sex?"
Jimmy looked at Lindsay guiltily "I don't think so but then I never
really mean to ask it just comes out."
"Maybe I can speak to her for you. Maybe if I talk to her we can sort
it all out."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Of course we all would! Jimmy everyone loves you we'd do anything
for you. Come back to the office with me, we'll tell them what's
going on and you'll see. No one will be mad at you. You didn't do
anything wrong. They'll just want to help. Let us help."
"How do I get myself into such messes?" a relieved Jimmy said as he
got up to go.
"Your Jimmy" Lindsay replied, hugging him before they headed back to
the office.

***********Bobby's office...twenty minutes later

"What!?" Bobby yelled with outrage.
"Calm down Bobby, stop yelling!" Lindsay shushed him with irritation.
He always reacted by yelling and she was sick of it.
"He's being sued?" Bobby asked in a more normal voice.
"Yes. But don't worry. I'll deal with it."
"Tell Jimmy to get in here now!"
"No...I told him that I wouldn't tell you."
"Lindsay," he warned.
"No Bobby, he's not coming in here."
Bobby pouted and looked at his watch, "Are you coming to my place
tonight? I was going to make you a big dinner."
"Not stew again," she giggled.
"No," he frowned. "I was going to make you grilled chicken with baked
pumpkin risotto."
Lindsay licked her lips in anticipation, "I'll be there! As long as
you don't make me clean up!"
"I have never asked you to do all the cleaning up," he grinned. "We
can clean up together."
Lindsay gave him a peck on the cheek, "I have to see Jimmy's
neighbour. Don't say anything to him."
He sighed, "Okay. See you tonight."
"Bye."
After a quick conference with Jimmy about the neighbour's character,
she left the office.

****************Jimmy's apartment building

Lindsay looked at the buildings around her with distaste. Jimmy lived
across the other side of town, near Fenway Park. The buildings were
old and rundown and she remembered Jimmy complaining about how bad
the traffic was when there was a game on. She entered the building
and made her way to the woman's apartment. She knocked loudly and
heard a child scream somewhere inside. After a few minutes the door
swung open and a woman appeared, barefoot with a child in her arms.
Lindsay stared at her in shock. They shrieked in unison.
"Oh my God! Cordelia!"
"Oh my God! Lindsay!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End part 1. Hi! Spudsy here!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you like part 1. If
you do, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease send me feedback! I love feedback as
much as everybody and my feeling get hurt easily!! I would love to
hear what you think!!!!!!!!!!


Title: Skeletons in the Closet 2

Author: Spudsy

A/N: Hi!! I had to change the title cos someone told me there was already
one called Ghosts of the Past. Oooooops!!!!!!! Umm  thanks sooooooooo much
for all the feedback so far!!! Especially from Lisa and Sahiti and Deb!!
And everyone else who replied to!! I alsmost spilled my orange juice when I

saw all the replies!!! I hope you like this part as much as you liked that
one!!!!!!!!! I really enjoy writing this fic and if you have any comments
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease let me know!!! LOL Oh you can email me at
ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au

Disclaimer: Not my characters, although Cordelia is!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lindsay stared with an open mouth at the woman standing in the doorway.
Cordelia recovered first. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question!" Lindsay replied bitterly. "When did
you move to Boston?"

Cordelia's gaze dropped to the floor, "Four months ago."

"Why didn't you call me!?"

"I didn't think you'd want to know me after all this time."

"Cordelia Charlene Dole! You're my sister!" Cordelia makes no reply.

"Do Mom and Dad know you're here?" Lindsay asks frustrated.

"No and please don't tell them Lindsay. I just need some time..."

"You've had 20 years," Lindsay's bitter tone returned.

Cordelia's voice cut through the air, "So how did you find me?"

Lindsay stood up; "Jimmy Berluti is an associate in my firm."

Cordelia's eyes widened, "You know Jimmy!"

"Yes"

"Wow. Small world isn't it," she says in a snide tone.

"Yes. Yes it is." Lindsay is confused by her sister's behavior but having
been reminded why she is there comes to Jimmy's defense. "Jimmy wouldn't
hurt a fly...I know you know that. You wouldn't have left your son with him

if you doubted that. He helped you out no questions asked and you accuse
him of molesting your son!"

"Jeff did get a porn movie from his apartment. And he's a lawyer...he's
rich." "So you invented this suit against Jimmy for money?"

"Lindsay...it's not that simple."

"Then explain it to me Cordelia?"

Again Cordelia failed to respond.

"Cordelia you are my sister. Talk to me!" Lindsay pleaded, torn between the

anger at her sister and the need to know the truth.

Cordelia looked at her watch and sighed, "Okay." She led Lindsay into the
cramped apartment.

The walls were brown and peeling. The mess was spread from wall to wall. It

was worse than living with Helen. 'Bobby would have a fit if his place
looked like this,' Lindsay thought with amusement. She smiled at a shy
child who was staring at her from behind a couch, eyes wide. "I didn't even

know I had nephews," she commented sadly.

"Ben and Jeff," Cordelia answered fondly. The younger of the two boys, the
one that had been hiding behind the sofa dashed across and took refuge
behind his mother's peasant skirt, peering out curiously at Lindsay. He was

dressed in a grubby Winnie the Pooh playsuit. "This is Ben," Cordelia pried

the child's fingers off her skirt and pulled him around her.

"Hi Ben," Lindsay cooed, stooping down to be on his level. She was startled

by his piercing blue, blue eyes. It was almost as though she were looking
into Bobby's own.

"Hi," he whispered back.

"Sit," Cordelia gestured to a torn vinyl chair. Lindsay perched on it
uncomfortably. Cordelia sighed; she had been dreading this conversation
from the moment she had left home 20 years ago. "Did Mom and Dad ever tell
you why I left?"

"They said that you wanted to live with Aunt Miriam and they wanted you to
be happy, so they let you go," Lindsay replied immediately.

"That's a lie." Cordelia said incensed. Lindsay remained silent but her
eyes encouraged Cordelia to explain. "I didn't choose to leave, our dear
Daddy kicked me out because I was pregnant. I wanted to stay but they
wouldn't let me. What sort of example would I be for Lindsay they said."

"What!?" Lindsay exclaimed, disbelieving.

Cordelia wiped a tear that was trailing down her face. "I was never as good

as you. You were Daddy's little girl ... smart, pretty, well mannered, you
were always on centre stage. I could never be that and I always saw the
disappointment in their eyes. The jealousy ate at me...they threw me out
with
not a moment of regret because of you."

"That's not true"

"It is I begged and begged to be allowed to return. When I had my baby she
was so beautiful. I wanted to keep her but I was barely 16. I couldn't do
it on my own. I lost Roxy and not a day goes by that I don't hate them for
that. I lost my daughter because they didn't want theirs. They only wanted
you."

Lindsay tearfully considers what Cordelia is saying. It is a lot to take in

and she has a hard time understanding it "You hate me too" she eventually
says.

"Did you ever try and contact me? Did you even care that I was gone?"
Cordelia says angrily.

"I did Cordelia. I called Aunt Miriam but she said you'd left. I asked Mom
and dad about you all the time but they told me they didn't know where you
were and they didn't know how to contact you. I was only 10 Cordelia. I
didn't know what to do to find you. I was just a child. Are you punishing
me now for what our parents did to you?"

Cordelia looks suspiciously at Lindsay and calmly says; "I don't know what
you mean?"

"You moved to Boston because of me. You know Jimmy works with me and you
set him up to punish me. God you're even using your son to do it that's
despicable. You were going to make him lie under oath!"

Cordelia shakes her head denying Lindsay's accusation but Lindsay knows she

is right.

"Cordelia I was a child. I had no part in what happened to you. I didn't
chose any of this but you did. You do have a choice and you know what
you're doing is wrong. Don't do this. I'm your sister and I love you no
matter what. I'll be there for you whatever you need. Don't do this to
Jimmy and don't do this to your son. If you hate me fine hate me but don't
hurt innocent people just to hurt me." Lindsay stands and hands Cordelia a
business card. "Think about what I've said. I'll be there for you no matter

what. Just think about it. Call me."

Lindsay leaves and Cordelia cries as she looks at the card.

It's the next day and Lindsay is at Bobby's apartment. Bobby isn't home yet

so when there is a knock at the door Lindsay goes to open it.

Cordelia stands in the doorway and when she sees Lindsay she says, "I've
withdrawn my allegations against your friend."

Lindsay smiles and says, "Thankyou. I was hoping you'd have a change of
heart."

Cordelia turns to leave but Lindsay stops her saying "Cordelia don't go. I
want to know you please don't leave. Can we talk?"

"Why?" Cordelia asks.

"Because you're my sister! We're family!"

"Not anymore. Look at you Lindsay. You don't want to know me. You wouldn't
want your perfect pretty world dirtied by association with me."

"Our parents may be snobs Cordelia but I'm not. If you know anything about
my life you must be able to see the choices I've made demonstrate that. I'm

not them, I wont turn away from you give me a chance."

Cordelia reluctantly allows Lindsay to draw her into the apartment. They
sit on the couch and Lindsay compassionately says, "Tell me everything."

Cordelia sighs and begins her story. " We fought all the time. Nothing I
ever did was good enough for them. The only thing that made me happy was
riding. When I was 15, Dad sold my horse, Sammy...remember?" Lindsay nods.
"He claims it was because I was getting bad grades at school but really it
was just because he knew how much I loved him. So he sold him. I was so
angry I decided I don't need him and I rebelled. I started hanging out with

Greg and Brian and those guys because I knew what he thought of them. They
were from the wrong side of the tracks but that didn't matter to me. I
liked them and they liked me for who I was. It was the first time in my
life that I felt loved and respected for just being me.

"Brian and Greg accepted me no question. They didn't care if I wasn't well
mannered or smart; they only cared that I was happy. One night there was a
party and I got completely smashed I don't remember anything. I woke up in
the gutter in the middle of Boston but I somehow found my way home. 5 weeks

later, I realized I was pregnant."

"Who was..."

"The father? I don't know. I was sent to stay with Aunt Miriam so no one
would know, but she didn't want me around. She wanted money from them for
me to stay but they wouldn't give her any. She gave up and moved to London
and I was left on my own. Friends found me a place to stay and after I had
the baby they still wouldn't take me back..." she trailed off, shame
evident in her eyes.

"What happened? Tell me?"

"I didn't get a Harvard education Lindsay. Everything I learnt I learnt on
the street. That was my home, that's where my friends were and that's where

I made a living.

Lindsay smoothed her linen suit to calm herself down. "You mean ... you're
saying ... you were a...?" Lindsay swallowed hard not sure how to ask.

"You can't even say it Lindsay. You say you'll support me but you can't
even say it. I was a hooker, a prostitute, a call girl, a street walker
that was my life... so welcome to my nightmare!"

Lindsay stares at her speechless. Cordelia stands to leave "I told you you
didn't want to know me." She begins to walk away but Lindsay calls her
back.

"No! Stay! I do, it's just a shock. I find it hard to believe."

"Look Lindsay, I'm sorry if I'm ruining all you teenager fantasies about
love and families, but it just doesn't happen that way. No man told me that

he'd love me in sickness and in health. I didn't have everything handed to
me. I had to make a better life plan for myself. I had to survive somehow."

"Who...how...when..?"

"Sentences Lindsay. I thought those expensive speech pathologists cured
your stutter."

"I never stuttered!" Lindsay objected hotly. "I lithped" damn it always
reoccurred when she was upset .

Cordelia laughed, "Still got your temper too I see."

A smile cracked Lindsay's stony face; "Oh shut up."

Cordelia came back and sat down again. "Should I continue?"

Lindsay nodded.

"It was hard to survive, so I got into the prostitute scene in a big way,"
she smiled ruefully "but then I fell in love with a client."

"You what!?"

"Yeah. You can never really know how things will turn out. It wasn't like
Pretty Woman though. He wasn't a knight in shining armor who whisked me
away to a life of bliss. His name was Garry...he was a mechanic and he was
my
first true love."

"Was? What happened to him?"

"I killed him."

If Lindsay was shocked before, she was completely speechless now. "You ...
you ... what!"

"Well the good times turned bad and he began to beat me up. Once a whore
always a whore he used to say. He'd always liked things a little strange
and I'd thought he was just kinky at first, but when he started beating me
I realized my mistake. One time he beat me with a rolling pin as I made him

breakfast because I spilt some orange juice ... over time always being
shouted at and corrected and abused kinda loses its charm."

"So it was self defense?"

"Always the lawyer aren't you? Yes it was self-defense. I wasn't going to
take anymore. I served pasta when he wanted steak I was prepared for his
attack and hit him with a golf club." She grimaced. "Patience is its own
reward."

"That's premeditated!"

"Well...the jury saw it as self defense. They saw that I had been violated.

My lawyer was young but he believed in me. He wasn't Harvard educated but
he got the job done. The jury saw I was on a losing streak...I had been
beaten 4 times in the last 2 weeks...they believed him when he said I had
no
choice and let me go."

"So Garry's the father of these guys?"

"No."

Lindsay felt a headache coming along. She was getting lost in the details.
This was more confusing than when Bobby tried to teach her the rules of
poker. "Then who is?"

"Their father was a wealthy CEO of a multinational company. I was his
mistress for about four years. We weren't soulmates. There was no pillow
talk it was more of a business transaction. I didn't love him but through
him I had a roof over m head and food on my table and no longer needed to
let a stranger in my bed each night to achieve this. He wanted a family.
His wife didn't so he paid me to give him one. I gave him my body and he
gave me security. He was a good father to the boys."

"Was? He isn't dead too is he?"

"No...he's in jail."

"What?"

"He was found guilty of fraud and they locked him up. He's bankrupt and I
get nothing from him anymore. All his assets were in his wife Selena's name

and she doesn't want to know me. I lost my house. I would have been on the
streets again but I'd been careful with money when we were together. I had
enough saved to get me back to Boston and to survive on until I worked out
what to do"

"Why didn't you see Mom and Dad about money."

"Frankly my dear you are a complete idiot! Has nothing I've said sunken
into that supposed brain of yours. News flash, Lindsay! They threw me out
after one youthful indiscretion. It was the ultimate betrayal! Do you
really think they'd have anything to do with me now? You really think
they'd care? I'm their biggest disappointment. Mom would be embarrassed in
front of her bridge playing, vodka drinking friends and Dad would just
explode if he knew how his eldest daughter had made a living."

"Things were never the same after you left Cordelia. Everyone kept to
themselves. We weren't a family without you."

Cordelia shrugged as if she didn't care.

"Mom started drinking heavily...more heavily than before anyway...and Dad
found
comfort elsewhere...You do know they're divorced now don't you? I lived in
a
little fantasy world thinking that everything would be ok, that you would
come back and we would be a happy family again."

"Lindsay...they never had a good marriage. They were never happy. Theirs
was
never a pretty love. You were just too young to read between the lines. You

didn't see it because you were their little perfect princess. He was always

having affairs, but expected us to be squeaky clean and fit the perfect
image of the perfect family. We couldn't make mistakes but he could do
whatever he liked. Dad is such a hypocrite, I hate him! I can't talk to..."

The door opens and Bobby steps into the room. His eyes move from Lindsay to

Cordelia and back again. Lindsay and Cordelia rise and Lindsay is about to
make introductions when Cordelia says "Hello Bobby"

"You two know each other?" Lindsay says surprised. She can practically see
the steam coming out of Bobby's ears as he grabs her by the elbow and drags

her into the kitchen.

Once in there he shouts, "What the hell is she doing here?"

Lindsay dumbfounded asks, "You know her?"

Bobby looks at her angrily and says "Oh yeah I know Elisa."


Title: Skeletons in the Closet 3
Author: Me!!!!!!! Spudsy!!!!
A/N: Wow!!!!!!!! Thanks soooooooo much for all the feedback!!!!! I
couldn't believe you all read it!!!!!!! My dog Jessie was
sooooooo
scared cos I was screaming soooooooo loud!!!!!!! Anyway, I hope you
like this part as well! You guys are soooo nice!!!!!!!! Feedback can
be sent to ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au Oh and I wanted to apologise to
Lisa for using the name Elisa. I didn't realise that was your real
name!!!!! I used it cos my friend is called Elisa. I'll keep calling
her Cordelia now so that you don't feel bad!!! I'm reeeeeeeeeeeeally
sorry!!!! So Elisa, pleeeeeeeeese forgive me!! And finally, Elisa you
are sooooo clever for seeing all those titles in my last part!!! And
since I don't want Elisa to feel all alone, whoever guesses the
number of titles I used will get a character named after her!!! But
don't worry, she won't be a prostitute!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Not my characters!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lindsay dumbfounded asks, "You know her?"
Bobby looks at her angrily and says "Oh yeah I know Elisa."
------------------
Lindsay is stunned by Bobby's heightened reaction. His anger at
finding Cordelia there seems a little irrational unless they have a
rather torrid history together. Her mind flits back to those
piercing, child's eyes that so mesmerized her the day before. That
dark haired, serious, little boy, with his sad blue eyes and an air
of vulnerability. The more she remembers about him the less she likes
what her mind sees. There is an undeniable connection between that
frightened little boy and this man with the same eyes staring angrily
at her now. The look was the same as the one he had given her when he
had woken up to a mess she and Helen had made during an impromptu
party.

"How?" she asks. It's the only word that can escape from her suddenly
dry mouth. It's also a question she's not sure she wants answered.
"She was a client" he replies half-heartedly as if he'd rather do
anything than expand on the subject.
"Did you sleep with her?"
"She was a client!" he says defensively surprised at her accusation.
"Yes well you're a man ... Bobby did you sleep with her?"
"No I didn't sleep with her." He turns away and gets a drink Lindsay
hears him mumble "I'm one of the few who hasn't."
She watches his Armani clad shoulders tense and knows he's hiding
something from her. "That woman is my sister" she says.
Bobby turns and looks at her totally shocked. "You're sister!" he
says incredulous.
"Yes! So tell me the truth. Did you sleep with her?"
"Why can't you get past that? Why do you want to know about it
Lindsay? Even if I did why does it matter now?"

Lindsay is surprised by his reaction but before she can respond Bobby
speaks again. "I knew her before I met you. Its not like I had any
way of knowing she was your sister, why is this so ... you know
there's been others ... for both of us, if I found out you'd slept
with my brother it wouldn't..."
"You don't have a brother Bobby" Lindsay says interrupting him.
"Yeah well until 30 seconds ago you didn't have a sister"
"Bobby!!!!"
"I just don't understand why you're harassing me. I said no but you
don't want to believe me for some reason" He looks at Lindsay hoping
she will tell him what the reason is, when she doesn't he says "Look
whatever she's told you it isn't true. She may be your sister but
what I remember her as is a liar who uses people, chews them up then
spits them out. Finish whatever it is you two are doing out there
then get her out of my apartment and I'd appreciate it if you never
invite her here again."

Having said that he storms out of the kitchen
towards his bedroom. His footsteps make the walls of the apartment
shake and Lindsay finds herself thinking that he has more mood
changes than Madonna. She hears loud music pound from his bedroom,
recognising the characteristic sound of Limp Bizkit, a CD that his
cousin's son had left at his apartment.

Lindsay's brow furrows as she watches him go, his final words ringing
in her head. "That bitch!" she says to herself and storms out to
confront her sister "How the hell did you know I'd be here? This is
Bobby's apartment, how did you know where to find me?"

"What did he say about me?" Cordelia asks uncomfortably.
"He didn't say anything! How do you know Bobby? What are you doing
here and this time don't lie to me!!!!!"
"For God sakes Lindsay, what are you, a high-school cheerleader? You
like daytime soaps? Stop trying to read things into what I'm saying!
Everything I've told you so far is the truth."
"Why did Bobby call you Elisa?"
"Because that's the name he knows me by."

Lindsay arches an eyebrow (something she had perfected after spending
so much time with Bobby).
Cordelia then says, "Would you want to go through your whole life
known as Cordelia?"

Lindsay shakes her head and despite her anger cannot hold back a grin.
"You were just lucky Mom and dad were out of their Shakespeare craze
and were looking to get written into crazy aunt Lindsay's will when
you were born." Again Lindsay smiles "And besides as a street worker
Cordy doesn't work well either. I found that out when a client took
my name to mean I liked being tied up. It's bad enough having a phone
number that reads 1800-BABE, but I'm not into bondage. I needed a new
name, someone suggested Elisa, I liked it so I kept it."

Finally one question answered Lindsay thinks. But why is everyone
avoiding the important question? She repeats it again calmly but
firmly "How do you know Bobby and how did you find me here?"
"Lindsay I'll tell you everything but let me tell it my way."
Lindsay nods her head in agreement. She's frustrated about being kept
in the dark so long and is willing to take answers now anyway she can
get them.
"I promise I'll tell you the full story"
"About time too" Lindsay grumbles to herself not wanting to give
Cordelia a reason to change her mind. She straightens her A-line
Valentino skirt and waits for her sister to continue.
"I didn't come back to Boston because I was mad at you. I came back
because of my child."
"Ben?" Lindsay asks afraid to hear of Ben's connection to Boston but
positive she knows what it is.
"No, Roxy, my daughter. She was born here. It's the only place I know
with a connection to her. I want to find her. That's why I came but
on my very first day here I bought a newspaper to look for an
apartment but what did I see but my sister, the little precious
princess on the front cover."
Lindsay looks doubtfully at Cordelia.
"It's true. There was an article and a photo of you and Jimmy. You
represented a couple who sued a gun manufacturer after their daughter
was killed. You won 8 million dollars for them."
Lindsay nods remembering the case.
"I sat there staring at that picture and the more I looked at it the
more infuriated I was. It just reminded me of how unfair everything
was. You were given everything and now you were a partner in a
prestigious law firm, famous, respected, talented and so successful.
"You dealt in millions of dollars while I lived hand to mouth,
everything I had I earned through selling myself. I lost my daughter,
I had sons who one day would learn the truth about their mother and
all because of you. It was wrong of me, I realize that now but I
decided I was going to ruin your life like you had ruined mine."
"Cor...." Lindsay begins tearfully but Cordelia stops her.
"Hear me out please" she asks and Lindsay nods.
"I didn't want to be obvious so I decided to start with your friends.
I didn't want to risk you seeing me so I didn't attempt to find out
about you; instead I focussed on Jimmy. I looked in the phonebook and
found a J Berluti. I called and asked for Jimmy. When he said he was
Jimmy I asked if he was Jimmy the plumber. He said he was a lawyer
and so I knew I had the right person. The next day I went to his
building. I don't know what I planned on doing I was just playing
things by ear. It would probably have been something petty like
breaking in and trashing the place but when I got there I found a
vacant apartment to rent next door to him. It was the first place I'd
seen that I could afford. It was too good an opportunity to miss so I
took it."

Cordelia pauses in telling her story and looks at Lindsay tearfully.
As much as Lindsay wants to be angry with her, and as afraid as she
is of hearing of Cordelia's and Bobby's past, she can sense her
sisters pain. Compassion wins out over anger and fear and she takes
her sisters hand "Go on"

"I'd been angry at you for so long Lindsay. I realize now that anger
was misplaced. I was wrong to hate you but I was only fifteen when my
life was turned upside down. I was still just a child myself and as
such didn't really see the big picture. 20 years of hating someone,
20 years of anger is hard to get past"
Again Cordelia pauses. Lindsay squeezes her hand encouraging her to
keep going.

"I decided to take things slow. I'd waited 20 years for revenge there
was no point rushing things now. I thought the more I got to know
Jimmy the easier it would be to set him up. He was so gullible and
irrationally I took that as being somehow your fault too. That's the
mind frame I was in. That's how easy it was to hate you. But then I
met you and you weren't a bit like I remembered you at all.""
Lindsay smiles and says "I'd hope not Cordelia the last time you saw
me I was 10"

Cordelia smiles "No its not just that. You were such a bubbly child.
Always entertaining everyone, always singing, dancing, telling
incredible stories, everyone loved you. I'd always pictured you this
way. I'd pictured you as the cheerleader who always got her way. You
know that perfect girl who breezes through life getting everything
she ever wants handed to her. That girl who everyone wanted to be
with but who really made everyone's life hell because she was such a
pretentious snob."

Lindsay nods picturing just which girl Cordelia meant. For her it had
been a superficial-designer-clothes-wearing cheerleader called Pippa.
"But when I met you I saw that's not who you are. I looked in your
eyes and the light I remember always being there was gone. Last night
for the first time I thought about you and realized you had been hurt
too. You weren't the eternally happy child I remembered. I wont try
to hurt you again, I'll just find my daughter and then I'll be gone
and out of your life for good."

"No Cordelia no! That's not what I want. I want to know you. You are
my sister no matter what ... " Lindsay pauses thinking of the 'what'
she suspects and decides yes what she has to say is true " no matter
what I still love you."
"No you just think that. You'll be better off not knowing me."
Lindsay grabs Cordelia's hands to stress what she has to say, "The
reason the light went out of my eyes was because my sister, the
person I adored went away. My life felt apart when you left! I was
unhappy, and Daddy seemed to think that love could be bought with a
signature on a Hallmark card and a platinum visa card. He didn't
realise that a signature couldn't give hugs. Please don't do that to
me again!!!!!!!!"

Bobby returns to the room to find Cordelia and Lindsay both in tears
and holding tightly to one another. He had been hoping Cordelia would
be gone and is about to request she do so when Lindsay's eyes meet
his. "Excuse me" she says to Cordelia as she rises and leads Bobby
away.

Again they find themselves in the kitchen.
"I told you to get rid of her" Bobby hisses, taking chicken out of
the freezer in preparation for the Chicken Cacciatore he was going to
make.
"I haven't seen my sister for 20 years. I won't turn her away now and
neither will you. I plan to get to know her so don't try and stop me.
You owe her that much." Lindsay angrily replies
"I don't owe 'her' anything! Trust me, she's already got more from me
than she deserves."

Lindsay looks at him, her mind spinning in a million directions but
none of them are where she wants to be right now.
"Well you owe me that much" she states leaving him to his beloved
cooking

Bobby begins to object but realizes he's left on his own. He sighs
and follows Lindsay to the other room. he doesn't like it when she
gets the last word. He arrives in time to see Lindsay click the
remote control. He's sure the movie was Silence of the lambs, his all
time favourite and knows she's stopped it just to annoy him. He sighs
rudely...he can be annoying too if he wants. He sees that Cordelia
had picked up a book of Lindsay's, Jack and Jill by James Patterson.
She throws it casually down as the couple appears. Bobby sullenly
sits on the chair opposite the couch afraid of what has been said and
what is yet to be said. His presence in the room reminds Lindsay of a
question that still remains unanswered. She looks at Cordelia and
asks, "How did you know to find me here?"

"You gave me your card." Lindsay opens her mouth to say Bobby's
address is not on that but Cordelia indicates she should keep quiet.
"So I rang your office, when the receptionist answered Donnell,
Young, Dole and Frutt I was surprised. The article had the name
printed as O'Donnell."

Lindsay nods remembering how annoyed Bobby had been about that.
"I wondered if it could possibly be Bobby and Eugene you were
partnered with so I asked the office address and sure enough it was
the same address as I remembered. When I asked for you I was told
you'd gone for the day so I rang you at home. Your roommate said you
were at Bobby's so I put two and two together and came here."

Damn Helen, she could be as dumb as a lapdog sometimes, she thinks.
Doesn't she know they deal with serial killers? Can't she keep
anything secret? She was as bad as Lucy. Lindsay is about to ask how
Cordelia knew where here was but the phone ringing stops her. Bobby
moves to answer it but Lindsay tells him to let the machine get it.
He decides that he'd rather wrestle an angry cow than cross Lindsay.
After witnessing her tackling Ellenor on the conference table, he
knew that when she was riled she was a force to be reckoned with.

The caller is Ellenor and they listen to her message "Bobby call as
soon as you get this message we have an emergency." Bobby looks at
Lindsay but she shakes her head at him then turns to Cordelia and
says "How did you know where Bobby lives?"

"I told you about my murder trial" Lindsay nods. "Well Eugene was my
lawyer. I spent a lot of time at the office I pretty much had no
place else to go. My name wasn't on the lease of the flat I'd been
living in so after Garry ... died...I was homeless. We'd all became
close and I really had nowhere else to turn."
Lindsay looks with horror at Bobby. She's heard stories about his
early years and how green and compassionate he could be. How
desperate he was to save everybody who walked through his door at
times to the detriment of himself. She fears she's about to hear
Cordelia lived here with him. Bobby won't meet her eyes. He seems
inordinately interested in the buttons on his favourite blue Armani
suit.

The phone rings again and his relieved eyes rise until they meet with
Lindsay's. Hers inform him not to dare touching it.
Again it's Ellenor. "Ok neither of you are answering your cells I can
only assume you're home so pick up .... C'mon Bobby pick up....
Dammit.... You had better not be home.... Call me as soon as you get
this!"

"Lindsay?" Bobby says indicating the phone.
"Ellenor can wait" Lindsay replies then turning to Cordelia
says, "Did you live here?"

Cordelia looks surprised by the question "No! No Bobby found me
somewhere to stay. I didn't stay here it's just that we spent a lot
of time together" Cordelia notices Bobby about to object so she
clarifies "Working on my case. I was scared. It was Eugene's first
jury trial so he turned to Bobby for advice. We just spent a lot of
time together. Bobby, Eugene and Rebecca the receptionist they had
then they were nice to me. They were the first friends I remember
having who didn't actually want something from me. I liked them. I
liked being with them."

Bobby grunts disgustedly and Lindsay shoots him a questioning look.
He shrugs and looks away. When Lindsay looks back at Cordelia she is
looking at Bobby with a disappointed and wistful look. Her voice when
she takes up her story again is more subdued. "The CEO I lived with
that I mentioned before well I met him at that office. I left Boston
after we made our arrangement and I haven't seen Bobby since."
Lindsay looks again at Bobby but he wont look at her. She watches him
fidget restlessly in his seat. "Do you dispute any of what she's said
Bobby?" Lindsay asks.

He looks up to answer her but the phone rings again. "Ok I know
you're both there this is an emergency God Dammit quit screwing
around and answer the damn phone!!!!!!!!" growling he dives for it
and shouts "What!!!" angrily.

Lindsay looks Cordelia in the eye and asks "Cordelia, be straight
with me, are Ben and Bobby related?"

Cordelia turns away from Lindsay, takes a deep breath, then turns
back and whispers "Yes"

Lindsay horrified looks up to see Bobby staring at her his face
turned completely white. Swearing he hangs up the phone and
says; "Lindsay we need to go there's been an accident."

End of part 3!

Well??!! What did you think!!?? LOL!!! Part 4 should be finished
soon. And since everyone is begging for feedback, I will too! LOL!
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me what you think!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Skeletons in the Closet, 4

Author: Spudsy! ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au

A/N: Hi!!!!!!!! I'm sorry I've taken sooooooooooo long to post this
part!!!!!!! I've been sooooooooooo busy!!!! But here it is. I'd never
compare mine to Soulmates (Jewel is soooooo good!), but I tried
really
hard with this part!!!! You've all been incredibly nice about the
other parts, so pleeeeeease send feedback on this part!! I'll die
without it!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lindsay looks Cordelia in the eye and asks "Cordelia, be straight
with me, are Ben and Bobby related?"
Cordelia turns away from Lindsay, takes a deep breath, then turns
back and whispers "Yes"

Lindsay horrified looks up to see Bobby staring at her his face
turned completely white. Swearing he hangs up the phone and says;
"Lindsay we need to go there's been an accident."

--------------------

Lindsay stares at Bobby with Cordelia's affirmation still trilling in
her head. She's barely registered what he said. "Lindsay come on!" he
says, imploring her to get with the program. She finally sees him and
the concern on his face.
"Huh? What?" she asks shaking her thoughts away.
"I said there's been an accident." He says, frantically looking for
his keys "We need to go to the hospital now."
Lindsay quickly stands and rushes to get her coat and favourite
Valentino bag. "Who?" she asks.
"Lucy's been hit by a car. She's in a critical condition. Everyone's
there, come on we have to go."

Cordelia watches the commotion unsure what she should do. She'd make
an offer of assistance but doubts Bobby would appreciate it. Left
momentarily alone with Bobby, she looks at him, wondering if the
tension and hostility she felt from him will dissipate now they are
alone.

"Bobby" she begins to say but he turns on her saying angrily "There
is nothing you have to say that I would want to hear."
"After all this time...." she begins tearfully, again only to be
stopped once more by Bobby.
"Time has taught me there are good people who don't chew you up and
spit you out. Your sister is one of them. If you plan on hurting her
let me warn you this time I wont take it lying down. I'm not used to
being on my back for a living" he finishes snidely.

Cordelia is both horrified and hurt by his words. She immediately
wanted to deny she was there to hurt Lindsay but she hesitated
remembering that had been her original plan. Her hesitation tells
Bobby exactly what he wanted to know. Lindsay returns to find Bobby
and Cordelia glaring at each other. If she wanted to deny their
history the identical looks of anger and pain on their faces makes it
almost impossible.

"You ready?" Bobby asks impatiently.
She nods and walks towards the door. She's too busy processing the
millions of thoughts running through her head to form words.

The three enter the elevator, the tension was so thick it could be
cut with a knife. Bobby quickly reaches around Cordelia to hit the
button, unfortunately he brushes against Cordelia's breasts and he
turns bright red. Lindsay turns at that moment and sees what he did,
"What the hell are you two doing!" Her arms fold in disgust as Bobby
splutters his defence.

Exiting Cordelia squeezes Lindsay's hand and says, "I hope everything
works out for your friend." Lindsay nods appreciatively. As the
elevator doors close on them Bobby turns to look at Lindsay but she
turns her face away from him. He places his arm across her shoulders
and begins to draw her close but she shakes him off. The doors open
to the carpark and she hurries out and towards their car.

As they drive to the hospital Bobby talks and talks. The alternative
is to allow his mind to wander to the friend fighting for her life or
the fiend who's returned and is likely to disrupt his. Although he
doesn't stop talking all the way Lindsay doesn't hear a word. She's
too preoccupied with her own thoughts to hear his rambling. Her fears
for Lucy also don't register too highly yet. The shock of finding her
sister, of discovering that sister's hatred and now learning there is
a connection between her sister and Bobby is too much for her.
Nothing else is getting in. She never was good at concentrating on
more than two things at a time.

Her dreams are shattered. She and Bobby have only been together for a
few months but things had been going so well this time. Having
finally allowed herself to love him again she now fears no matter
what
she cannot go back to being without. They've never discussed a future
together but that hadn't stopped Lindsay from revelling in the luxury
of dreaming of one. Marriage, a house, children, she wanted it all
and she wanted it with Bobby. She never expected him to want it to
because she never expects him to know what he wants. He's not exactly
the most emotionally-in-touch man she has known but he's still the
one
she wants. She always felt Bobby didn't plan for the future because he
was scared of seeing himself still doing what they do in ten years
time.

Now however she fears his failure to look to the future is a result
of his inability to recover from his past. A past he apparently
shared
with her sister and their children.

Why had he never told her about that? Did he just not want his
children or is there more to it than she knows? When she first came
to work there he told her he was between relationships. Was it her
sister he was recovering from? Why hadn't anybody told her he had
children? Had it been so easy for him to fall into her bed because
deep down Lindsay had reminded him of Cordelia? Was she just a
replacement for the woman he loved but lost? Does he keep his
emotions
in a vault with her because his heart really belongs to someone else?
What happened between Bobby and Cordelia to create this closed off
man? Its not so much that he has children that has thrown her but
that
he never felt it necessary to share this information with her. That
he'd obviously never let her in.

When they arrived at the hospital Ellenor, Eugene and Rebecca were
already there as was Lucy's father. They were told she had been taken
in to surgery and the doctors were hopeful but not confident. They
sit in the waiting area. Lindsay chooses a seat as far away from
Bobby
as she can. There are no spaces near her so he is forced to stay where
he is. It concerned him that she was acting so cold to him. He could
only assume it was his attitude to her sister that has upset her but
he didn't know Elisa was her sister. He still can't believe the
misfortune of Elisa and Lindsay being sisters. What did he do to God
to cause Him to mess with his life like this?

Bobby sees Jimmy arrive. He notices Lindsay look up from the magazine
she's been pretending to read. "Oh Jimmy" she says remembering her
news. She gets up and rushes to him drawing him away from the others.
Bobby watching on sees them hug and smile. A flash of annoyance as
well as jealousy runs through him. Isn't he the one she's supposed to
love? Shouldn't it be his arms around her and his smile she returns?
Lindsay won't even look at him let alone let him touch her. He gets
up to get a cup of water. Sitting idle is not his style. It would be
reasonably bearable if Lindsay were with him but she isn't with him
today.Lindsay informed Jimmy that everything has been sorted out with
his neighbor and all accusations against him have been dismissed.
Jimmy was so relieved he threw his arms around her exuberantly which
made Lindsay laugh.

"How?" he asked in amazement when he released her.
"It's a long story Jimmy and not really one I want to get into now
but believe me its all over. You don't need to worry about it
anymore." Jimmy nods at her relieved and then goes to sit with the
others. He takes the seat Lindsay was in leaving her with no choice
but to take the one next to Bobby.

"What was that all about" Bobby asks when Lindsay sits.
"What?"
"You and Jimmy"
"I had his baby, didn't you know?" Lindsay mutters under her breath.
"What?" Bobby asks, thinking he heard the word baby.
"Nothing" she says. If she explained Cordelia was the one suing Jimmy
it will only anger Bobby and cause a discussion (fight) about
Cordelia that she isn't ready to have happen. She doesn't want that
now and especially not here.

"What have I done?" Bobby asks her.

Lindsay takes a deep breath and then gets up and walks away. Bobby
follows soon after. He finds her in the hallway leaning against the
wall with her hands over her face. She doesn't notice him approach
and he takes advantage of that. Placing a hand either side of her
head
trapping her in he again says "Lindsay what have I done?"

Lindsay looks at him angrily. If she told him she was upset because
she'd wanted to be the mother of his children she knows there would
be a man shaped hole in the opposite wall caused by him running as
fast and far away as possible. Lindsay thinks about all the confusing
things that have happened in the past two days. There is only one
thing she knows for sure. She doesn't want to lose Bobby (how else
will she manage to get the tight bottle tops open)

"I'm just scared" she says and rests her cheek against him allowing
her body to sink into his and his protective arms to comfort her.
"Lucy will pull through" he says rubbing her back pleased she is
letting him get this close "she's too stubborn not to."
Lindsay despite everything laughs "Come on let's go join the others"
she says. They walk back to and sit in the waiting room holding hands

After about an hour of waiting and just as the tension had been
becoming unbearable for all a hospital worker enter the room. She
tells them Lucy is still doing well in surgery but it will be a few
more hours before it is over. She then asks if anyone is interested
in donating blood. They often find doing something productive helps
the stress of waiting so if anyone is interested they can go with
her.
They all decide it is a good idea and follow her down the hall.
Lindsay hates needles, but doesn't want to be left on her own, so
follows nervously.

After having given blood (Lindsay was worried that they had drained
her completely) they are given drinks, snacks and magazines and are
told to stay there for a while to give themselves time to recover.
They dive for the new magazines having exhausted the supply in the
waiting room. Bobby snorts while reading one and Bec asks him what's
so amusing. He hands it over to her and says "This recipe for gumbo
has chick peas in it. Who the hell puts chick peas in gumbo?" Bec
laughs and says "You think that's bad this one here is grilled fish
with a plum sauce. I can't think of anything more disgusting." They
both turn at the sound of ripping and see Jimmy tearing a page out of
a magazine.

"Jimmy! You can't do that!" Eugene laughs.
Jimmy looks up with guilt written all over his face, "What? It's a
good recipe."
"Its not your magazine," Bec explains.
"Is it like cutting the tags of pillows? Will I get arrested?" Jimmy
asks, suddenly worried.
"You don't get arrested if you cut the tags off pillows," Bobby
laughs.
"You've tried?" Jimmy asks, horrified.
Bobby, Bec and Eugene share an amused glance.

They continue chatting and snacking all except Lindsay. She's quiet
and reserved (she never has been a fan of reading cooking magazines).
Bobby is concerned about her. He wants to talk to her about Elisa he
wonders why Lindsay never told him she had a sister. Wonders how much
Lindsay knows of Elisa's past. He wonders why Elisa is back and how
much that will effect he and Lindsay. He has a million questions for
Lindsay as he's sure she has for him but a combination of fear and
circumstance make them impossible to ask.

When they are given permission to leave they return to continue their
wait for news about Lucy. They are restless and all except Lindsay
act as if hey are playing a game of musical chairs. Standing, walking
around, sitting again, standing, walking around, sitting again.
Lindsay stays seated. Her thoughts prevent her joining in with the
others. Any attempts made to engage her in conversation fail so soon
everyone stops making them.

Lucy's surgery is completed and she is brought to the ICU to recover.
Her condition is still precarious due mainly to a severe loss of
blood. They are told her progress over the next 24 hours will give
them a better idea of how completely she will pull through. Her
father sits in the room with her holding her hand while the others
wait somberly outside. Having Lucy so close to them they can see her
but also being so unreachable reminds them how easily they could lose
her. The stories, laughing and recipe swapping stops as they sit and
stare at the room: all willing Lucy to stay strong and fight. They
sit
quietly leaning on one another and drawing strength from one another.
Bobby takes Lindsay's hand and for the first time since they returned
from donating blood she doesn't draw away.

They watch as medical personnel enter the room and are surprised when
they here raised voices shortly afterwards. Her father comes out of
the room visibly distressed. Everyone fears the worst. Bec rises and
goes to comfort him.

"She needs more blood but they don't have any left. They won't use
mine. They say I'm not a match. They say I can't be her father." He
sobs " I'm her father! I know my wife. Lucy's my daughter! We planned
for her for a long time. We made dreams for 9 months and then when
she arrived she was more beautiful than we ever imagined. I was there
every step of the way! She's my daughter! They've got it wrong! I
don't care what some guy in a white coat says. She's my daughter!!!!"
Having said that he breaks down completely and runs out of the room.

Everyone is too stunned to speak. The implications of what's been
said running through their head. They share looks amongst themselves
but nobody really knows what to say so the go back to their seats.
With Lucy fighting for life mere feet away from them nobody wants to
make comment on what they've just discovered about her origins. They
watch the medical personnel exit Lucy's room. They pause as a group
look over at the seated group watching them and then disburse. One
approaches them and informs them Lucy has lost a lot of blood and
they weren't able to replace it all during surgery. The hospital has
exhausted its supply of her blood type but would like to give her
another transfusion. She then goes on to say one of the group has the
same rare blood type and they'd like to ask that person for a second
donation.

She flicks through her paper work before walking towards Bobby and
Lindsay. Lindsay looks at Bobby horrified. She knows her mind is
probably making a leap too large to be true but after all she's
already discovered today surely this is possible too. A youthful
indiscretion and Lucy could easily be his daughter. He already has
two children she didn't know about why not a third. She watches
Bobby's face for a reaction and she hears the nurse say, "Will you do
it?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Uh oh! If you want to know what is happening, pleeeeeeeeeeease send
feedback!!!!! It will make my day!!!


Title: Skeletons in the closet, part 5

Author: Spudsy! ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au

A/N: Wow! Thanks soooooooo much for the incredible feeeedbacK! My
parents have tried to repress these excited reactions of mine with
sedatives, but they do nothing to me when I get feedback!!!!!!!! So
don't listen to my parents...send feedback now!!!!!!!!!! This part
continues from the last one (well duh!!!!!! LOL). I hope you like
it!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She flicks through her paper work before walking towards Bobby and
Lindsay. Lindsay looks at Bobby horrified. She knows her mind is
probably making a leap too large to be true but after all she's
already discovered today surely this is possible too. A youthful
indiscretion and Lucy could easily be his daughter. He already has
two children she didn't know about why not a third. She watches
Bobby's face for a reaction and she hears the nurse say, "Will you do
it?"

-----------------------------------

Bobby doesn't answer but turns to look at Lindsay. He looks at her
questioningly so she looks up at the nurse and realizes she was
talking to her.

"Me?" Lindsay asks surprised "I'm a match?"
The nurse nods and again asks, "Will you do it?"
Lindsay feels an overwhelming sense of relief envelope her and said
in a relieved voice "Yes"

The nurse tells her she will feel weak afterwards and will need to
take things very easy. Lindsay weakly jokes, "Its not like I was
going anywhere anyway!"

Bobby follows Lindsay and the nurse down the hall, hating the
antiseptic smell and sterility of the place. "Are you sure you want
to do this?" he asks Lindsay concerned.
"I don't turn my back on friends and family Bobby" she snaps at him
and walks faster in the hopes of shaking him. But he's like a bad
smell and hurries after her, as fast as his manly legs would carry
him.

He grabs her arms and says, eyes pleading, "I'm getting this because
of your sister."

Lindsay stops walking and looks at him. She waits to see if he is
finally going to admit something to her but all he does is shake his
head and say "Maybe I just don't know her as well as you do."

"Bobby I don't know her at all. I haven't seen her or heard from her
since I was 10." Her voice was bitter.

Bobby looks surprised at this and Lindsay thinks he looks a little
relieved too. She doesn't like that it just reminds her that he knows
more than she does. "Bobby I want to know everything!" She says
partly angry, partly terrified at what he'd say. But as her
imagination at this point had run wild (it rarely had chance to
express itself, and as a result was partying non-stop) anything he
said couldn't be worse than what she was thinking.

Bobby sighs and looks at the floor. He opens his mouth to speak but
the nurse approaches them and says "Are you coming?"

Bobby looks up and says to Lindsay "You'd better go."

"Convenient isn't it" she says before walking away

Bobby watches her leave. He doesn't trust Elisa. Lindsay has been
cold and distant all night and he knows she must be the reason. What
could Elisa have possibly told Lindsay? He goes back to sit with the
others. He notices them become quiet when he returns and gets the
impression they were talking about him. He's sure they noticed
Lindsay's unusual behavior too. She had been kind of obvious with her
effort to keep a distance from Bobby and determined silence
throughout the night. Ellenor looks as though she wants to gloat
about how she knew their relationship wouldn't last, but Rebecca is
glaring at her. Bobby smiles inside, he can always count on Bec to be
on his side.

After another agonizing wait Bobby looks up to see Lindsay wheeled
into Lucy's room in a wheelchair. He jumps up from his chair and
rushes in saying "What happened? Are you ok? I shouldn't have let you
do this!"

"Let me do this!" she says curtly "It wasn't your choice Bobby it was
mine. You don't have a say over what I do, its not like we're..." her
voice fades away and she doesn't finish the thought but Bobby still
feels the sting anyway. Lindsay sees the hurt and concern on his face
and sighing says "I'm fine, this is just a precaution. They don't
want me fainting, hitting my head and then hiring one of those sleazy
lawyer type people and suing them."

He smiles and walks towards her. He squats down so their faces are
level but she doesn't meet his eyes. "I could be your sleazy lawyer
type person if you want" he says. She laughs and looks at him. "We
need to talk don't we?" he says playing with her hand. Lindsay nods
and he says softly "But not now" She nods again.

Lindsay explains that they want her to stay in the room with Lucy so
they can keep an eye on her too. A nurse comes in and tells Bobby he
will have to wait outside. He kisses Lindsay's cheek and says "I'll
be just out there if you need me." She watches him go. She does love
him but she fears he doesn't feel as strongly for her. As much as she
knows they need to talk she's afraid to do so too.
Lucy's father returns to the room. "How's she doing?" he asks.
"Ok I think" Lindsay replied feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Are you the one who matched?"

"Yes" She says feeling guilty when he looks ashamed.
"I feel...inadequate...I couldn't even provide my own daughter with
blood...so...thankyou"

Lindsay accepts his thanks with a small nod, "We love her too.
Everyone out there would have done it if they could have."

"I'm scared" he says looking at Lucy lying there with tubes and other
medical equipment all over her
"I'm sure she'll be ok" Lindsay says "Lucy is strong...determined..."
"Wilful...headstrong...pigheaded," he continues with a laugh.
Lindsay nods and smiles, "Exactly. She'll pull through."
"My wife before she died gave me a letter to give Lucy when she
turned 21. I'm scared. I want to give it to her now." Lindsay notices
he has an envelope in his hands and she looks at Lucy. He continues
talking "They say she may be able to hear and in case she does I want
her to know what her mother wanted to tell her. Will you read it to
her?"
"Me?" Lindsay says surprised "I don't know wouldn't you rather do it?"
"It's personal. Something her mother wanted her to know. Its not my
place to read it."
"You're her father!"

He gives Lucy a long look before replying in almost a whisper, "I
know" and lays the envelope on the bed and walks out of the room.
Lindsay looks at it then picks it up and opens it. Inside is a letter
and another envelope. Lindsay takes the letter and begins to read it
aloud to Lucy.

My Darling daughter,

I call you that because that's what you'll always be to me in my mind
and in my heart. Know my dear that I have always loved you. Your were
my precious girl and everyday I had with you was a gift. A gift given
to me by a frightened little girl who I hope one day gets the chance
to know and love you as I did.

I always wanted to tell you. I always planned on telling you sooner
than this but then when I became ill I became afraid. Afraid that my
last moments with you would be ones of anger and betrayal. I was
selfish I guess but I also wanted you to love me. I didn't want you
to know the truth immediately after my death because I didn't want
you to feel you'd lost your mother twice. Once in death and once in
deceit. I guess I also wanted to be loved even if it was for just a
little bit longer.

Your father and I longed for a baby. We wanted you very much. When I
knew I was having a child it was the happiest time of my life. My
baby girl came early she was so eager to arrive to be bundled in our
love. Your father was there for her birth then had to rush away. We
hadn't expected the baby to come so soon and he was committed
elsewhere the next day. You will recall before my illness that your
fathered traveled a lot for work. Something he gave up knowing there
would come a time when to continue to do so would mean his beloved
daughter would be left alone. He would do anything for you Lucy he
gave up a job he loved to drive taxi's so his little girl would
always have one of us there.

Holding his child for the first time he was so amazed and delighted
with his baby girl. He cried tears of joy. His 'sweet little Lucy' he
said over and over again. He kissed me goodbye and said, "take care
of my little angel". Angel was a prophetic word because early the
next day she died. I'd never seen your father so happy as when he
held his daughter in his arms I could not bring myself to tell him
he'd never be able to do it again. My only consolation was he didn't
know she was gone. My greatest fear the moment when I'd have to tell
him.

In the hospital I met a young girl. She had no home or family but she
had a sweet little baby girl she loved very much. I befriended her.
We'd held our little girls and talked and talked. After my sweet baby
died she held me all night long as I cried. I told her of all my
dreams for my baby. I told her of the plans we'd made. Of how much
we'd wanted this child and of how the doctors believed I wouldn't be
able to have another. We became inseparable. Two broken hearts
reaching out for love. She needed a mother I needed a daughter. We
needed each other. I wouldn't have got through those terrible days
without her.

She was afraid for her baby. She knew she couldn't keep her but
feared what would become of her. She wanted her to have a wonderful
life. She loved her too much to just give her to a stranger so she
gave her to me. I have loved you as if you were my very own. Your
father never knew you weren't his child and I leave it up to you to
decide if he needs too. I never meant to cause either of you pain. I
just wanted a baby, my child, my sweet little Lucy.
Included with this letter is your true birth certificate I hope, if
you decide to, you do find your mother. I know she will be as proud
of you as I always have been. Please forgive me my darling girl.

Your loving mother

Lindsay wept as she opened the second envelope. What she found there
came as no surprise to her but she had no idea what she should do
next. The choice was Lucy's alone. She looked up at Lucy and was
surprised to see tired eyes looking back at her. "What is my real
name?" Lucy rasped. Lindsay stood and brought the certificate to
where Lucy could see. Lucy read it then looked at Lindsay. Lindsay
nodded and asked "Would you like to know your mother?"
"Yes" Lucy said before drifting off to sleep again.

Bobby and Jimmy sat together in the waiting room. They were intently
filling out a Cosmo questionnaire "Is your man a stud or a dud?"
Bobby was hoping if he got a good result it might help sway Lindsay
to forgive him for whatever he'd done wrong this time. The mood was a
bit more relaxed as they'd been told Lucy had briefly regained
consciousness. Everyone was chattering far more relaxed now as they
waited for the doctor's verdict. Jimmy looked up as he tried to
decide his answer for question 16. In doing so he saw Cordelia arrive
in the room.

"Oh God what's she doing here" he groaned hoping Lindsay hadn't been
wrong in saying everything was sorted.

Bobby looked up to see what had upset Jimmy. He stared first at
Cordelia and then noticed the two children by her side. As he looked
into eyes he would recognize anywhere the truth behind Lindsay
distress was revealed. "Oh shit" he said as he stared with disbelief
at the woman he'd just discovered is more devious than he'd ever give
her credit for.

END PART 5


Title: Skeletons in the closet, part 6

Author: Me! Spudsy! ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au

A/N: Wow it has been soooooooooo long since I was last here!!!!!!!! I
was starting to feel like a giraffe locked in a cardboard box without
the internet over the last month!!!  I reeeeeeeeally need feedback on
this, it was sooooo hard to write, but I'm beginning to like the
way
its turning out. Thanks for all your feedback so far!!!!!!!
Especially thanks to Marie who has been soooooooo nice about this
fic!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: They don't belong to me!!!!!

--------------------------------

Bobby looked up to see what had upset Jimmy. He stared first at
Cordelia and then noticed the two children by her side. As he looked
into eyes he would recognize anywhere the truth behind Lindsay's
distress was revealed. "Oh shit," he said as he stared with disbelief
at the woman he'd just discovered is more devious than he'd ever give
her credit for.

--------------------------------

"What the hell are you doing here!?" Bobby snaps.

"Is Lindsay here?" Cordelia asks nervously. One of the boys
sidles
behind his mother's skirt.

Jimmy looks from Bobby to Cordelia and back to Bobby, "You know
each
other?"

"Unfortunately," Bobby replies.

"Please Bobby, can you tell me where Lindsay is?"

"Don't you think you've caused enough trouble?" and
mutters under his
breath, "You can never really know how much trouble you've
caused."

Jimmy wears a completely befuddled expression. Cordelia looks to him
pleadingly and he points towards Lucy's room. He and Bobby are
two
silent witnesses as the door closes behind her. Bobby wishes Ellenor,
Eugene or Rebecca were there, but they had gone to get something to
eat after they had heard that Lucy had woken up.

The older boy Jeff gets off his chair and walks over to Jimmy,
"Hi
Jimmy," he whispers. He holds out a battered stuffed camel toy,
"This
is Bob."

Bobby's eyes widen in astonishment, "You know him!?"

"He's Elisa's son, she lives next door to me."

 "She was the one who was suing you wasn't she?" Bobby
asks slowly,
thinking `that sly bitch, how dare she take advantage of someone
like
Jimmy'. He can't believe how low she has sunk this time,
especially
after last time. He takes a deep breath to dispel his anger.

Jimmy is immediately on the defensive, "How did you know about
that?"

"Lindsay told..." he trails off, everything suddenly becoming
clear,
like a dirty window that has just been Windexed.

Jeff sits next to Jimmy, listening to their conversation. He suddenly
turns to Bobby and says with a sense of wonderment, "You're
eyes are
the same colour as mine."

This floors Jimmy, he can't believe he didn't notice it
earlier.
Bobby is immediately uncomfortable as Jimmy's eyes narrow.
"How do
YOU know her?"

"It's a long story..."

"Are you their father?" Jimmy asks with typical bluntness.

But Bobby isn't given a chance to answer as Lucy's father has
just
walked into Lucy's room and a yelp of "Who are you!?" is
heard. They
both turn towards the noise. Jimmy realises almost simultaneously
that he won't get an answer from Bobby and that he is very
hungry. He
mumbles an apology and flees the scene.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Who are you!?" Lucy's father yelps.

"Dad-" Lucy soothes.

Lindsay gets out of her wheelchair and leads Cordelia towards the oak
paneled door.

"No! Stay!" Lucy pleads.

The two women exchange a look and stand next to the door. Lindsay
eyes Mr Hatcher who is running his hands up and down his red
suspenders in an agitated manner. She thinks how distinguished
suspenders make a man and thinks that if she and Bobby were still
together, she'd buy him some for his next birthday. She continues
staring at Mr. Hatcher, also realising how clown-like he looks, with
his big feet, white hair sticking out haphazardly, and round abdomen.
Even his nose is red and large. She should have guessed right from
the outset that this man could not be delicate Lucy's father!

"Dad..." Lucy begins, a catch in her voice indicates her
nervousness. "I read Mom's letter."

"Honey, what she said is for you...not me."

"I want you to know."

Her father hesitates and nods his agreement. Lucy picks up the letter
and begins to read.

Her father listens with a stony expression. Meanwhile, Cordelia's
eyes moisten as she hears about Lucy's mother's gratitude
towards
her. She never knew Lucy's mother's real name. She had
introduced
herself as Trixie Smith, but Cordelia had always assumed it was a
made up name, thus preventing her later on from finding her daughter.
She looks at Lucy's father whose own eyes are wide with surprise
and
he frowns, which gives away how hurt he is by his wife's deceit.
Lucy
finishes and there is a silence in the room.

The silence gets to Lucy and she finally whispers, "Dad?"

He shakes his head, unable to put his feelings into words. He
eventually turns to Cordelia, "You were the girl?"

She drops her head and nods.

"How dare you," he whispers menacingly.

Lucy turns to him, startled, "Dad!"

"How DARE you!!" he yells. "How dare you deceive me!"
he turns back
to Lucy, "I loved you as though you were my own. You're whole
life
has been a lie."

Lucy bursts into tears as her father shoves his way past a speechless
Lindsay and Cordelia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bobby hears the shouted words from Lucy's room. The door opens
and
Lucy's father storms out, tears forming tracks down his face.
Bobby
opens the wood paneled door and walks into the confusion inside.

"What happened?" he asks.

Lindsay just glares at Bobby and doesn't answer. Cordelia is
attempting to comfort Lucy but her gentle murmurs and hugs go
unnoticed.

"I shouldn't have told him!" Lucy sobs.

Lindsay turns to her, "He had a right to know Lucy. People are
destroyed by lies and deception." She turns and gives Bobby a
pointed
stare, but notices that he is staring at Cordelia with an intense
look of concentration. Lindsay feels tears prick her eyes. She
completely understands Mr. Hatcher's hurt, she just wishes Bobby
would come clean and put her out of her misery. She wipes the stupid
tears away and pledges to confront Bobby about it later.

Bobby remains puzzled and watches as Lindsay edges away from him. The
smell of Bobby's aftershave is messing with her mind and she is
filled with mixed feelings of desire and hate. The door opens
slightly and the young boy, Ben walks in and stands next to Bobby.
Lindsay sees him cling to Bobby's hand as though it were a
lifeline
and ask in a very small, sad voice, "I don't like it when you
go."

Lindsay immediately finds the last shreds of hope being dissolved
away. She feels like a victim of circumstance. Why did her soulmate
have to be such a hypocrite? He acted as though he were such a family
man yet here he was rejecting his responsibilities to his own flesh
and blood. Her emotions were mixed with both anger at Bobby for
leaving his own children and pretending they didn't exist and
also
hurt that he hadn't found it necessary to confess all this to
her.
This was the ultimate betrayal. If he didn't want to dredge up
his
past, she could always dredge up her own and start dating that
hypocrite Chris Kelton again. That would show him. She thought they
had been close, but now it was obvious that this man standing beside
her was a complete stranger. Bobby sees the look of anger on her face
and drops the boy's hand and urges him back outside. "Sit
with your
brother," he convinces the child. Lindsay sees this poor child
trying
to find a place in Bobby's vault of a heart. She knows how hard
it is
to break through the emotions of this rigid man. She decides that she
needs to figure out a new life plan for herself that doesn't
involve
Bobby. But her heart ached for Bobby and if wishing made it so, they
would be together forever.

Bobby turns to Lucy and asks in a concerned voice, "What happened
Lucy?"

"My parent's aren't my real parents."

Bobby looks at Cordelia, still puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Lucy's answer is interrupted by a breathless Ellenor who
announces to
the group, "How long have I been gone? There are two kids the
spitting image of Bobby out there."

She is met with a frosty silence from Lindsay.  There is a pause
before Lucy continues her explanation in a low voice. Bobby can't
believe what he is hearing. Cordelia sure did get around. Ellenor
can't believe her luck at walking in just in time to hear this
bizarre tale.

"You're Lucy's mother?" she asks with disbelief when
Lucy had
finished.

"Yes. I was young then and I didn't know what I was going to
do with
a baby. Lucy's mother, she told me her name was Mrs. Smith..."

"Her name was Petunia," Lucy informs her.

"Oh...Petunia...was so upset with losing her baby it seemed
the best
option. I have never regretted placing you in such a loving family,
Lucy." She assures her. "Some days I desperately wanted you
back, but
I knew I had done the right thing."

Lucy wipes her nose on her sleeve and turns to Lindsay, "I guess
that
makes you my aunt," she says with a devilish grin.

"Don't start asking for favours," Lindsay warns with a
smile.

"And if you and Bobby ever get around to marrying, that will make
him
my uncle," Lucy says with absolute glee. They all turn to Bobby
and
see his grim face.

"Why don't you introduce your boys to Lucy, Elisa," Bobby
says coldly.

"Who's Elisa?" Lucy asks curiously, looking from Bobby to
Cordelia.

"I'm known as Elisa now," Cordelia explained.

"Oh. You have more children?" Lucy asks.

Cordelia grins, "Two boys. Do you want to meet them?"

Lucy nods eagerly; she had always wanted brothers and sisters.

Cordelia goes out into the waiting room while the others wait in
suspense, all thinking different things. Thoughts ranged from joy for
Lucy (the whole horrible scene with her father momentarily forgotten)
to dread for Lindsay to anger for Bobby.

A bloodcurdling shriek echoed throughout the hospital,
"They're gone!
Oh my god, they're gone!"

They all race out to the waiting room where a trail of Skittles
threads out of the room and down the hall. All that can be heard is
Cordelia's sobs, "Who took my babies?" She staggers as
though she is
about to fall and Bobby catches her just in time. Lindsay looks on in
horror as her sister wraps her arms around him, crying into his
shoulder as though it was the most natural place in the world to be.
It was a practical joke that never seemed to end. `Welcome to my
nightmare,' she thinks grimly.

----------------------------------

Well? What did you think? I hope you liked it!!!!!!!! I can't
wait to
hear what you think!!!


Title: Skeletons in the Closet part 7

Author: Spudsy! ms_spudette@yahoo.com.au

A/N: Hey!!!!!! I want to say hi to my new friend Marie!!! Hope you're
ok marie, I haven't heard from you in soooooo long!!!!! Now I am
sooooooo sorry for this part!!!! It may be a little bit wacky cos
I've been tired lately!!!! LOL Once my part time job which keeps me
up some nights, made me so tired I actually crashed into the VCR and
broke it!!! I got WHIP LASH!!! LOL My family wouldn't speak to me for
weeks!!!!! Until I bought them a bunch of roses and my parent's
favourite movie, Bed of Roses. LOL Anyway, enough wacky rambling!!!!!
Here's part 7. If you like it pleeeeeeeeease send feedback!!! Well
its late and I'm going to bed. Have sweet dreams of Bobby and his
snoopy boxers everyone!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just borrowing them for a little while Mr.
Kelley. If I ever rose to the stage where I owned them I'd be on
cloud nine!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They all race out to the waiting room where a trail of Skittles
threads out of the room and down the hall. All that can be heard is
Cordelia's sobs, "Who took my babies?" She staggers as though she is
about to fall and Bobby catches her just in time. Lindsay looks on in
horror as her sister wraps her arms around him, crying into his
shoulder as though it was the most natural place in the world to be.
It was a practical joke that never seemed to end. `Welcome to my
nightmare,' she thinks grimly.

----------------------------------

Lindsay waits for Bobby to let go of her sister, to lead her to a
chair or to pass her off to someone else but he doesn't he holds her
to him allowing her to take comfort in his arms. "We'll find them."
he says to her over and over again an increasingly urgent tone
appearing in his voice as if he's just realizing the devastation of
the loss. "We have to find them!" He says decisively then pulling
away shouts "Has anyone called the police?"

"Ellenor did," Jimmy said, arms laden with food he'd just bought at
the cafeteria and bubbling with excitement over the commotion he's
returned to find. This sure beats sitting home and watching his
videos.

Ellenor returning to the waiting room having called the police and
notified security of the situation feels an adrenaline rush. She is
just as thrilled with the situation as Jimmy. This whole sordid story
is exciting and she can't wait for all the details to come out.
Things had been a bit tedious lately, especially since Bobby and
Lindsay got together. She feels petty jealousies arise at all sorts
of inconvenient times. It's not fair Lindsay gets the good clients,
Lindsay gets the good friends, Lindsay gets the good boyfriend who
keeps people out of jail not one who ends up in jail himself. She
wonders what Fred is doing now then realises he's in prison so it's
not like he could be doing anything too exciting. It's about time
Lindsay got to see what life is really like instead of having
everything picture perfect. She still doesn't know how it turned out
Lindsay and Lucy are related but is thrilled anyway because she is
sure its something Lindsay wont be happy about. She arrives back in
time to hear Jimmy inform Bobby she called the police.

"The police are on their way," she announces, "Security has closed
off all exits and they're performing a search in the building."

Bobby looks at her and smiles gratefully. Ellenor stands next to
Jimmy and Lindsay and looks to Lindsay expecting another smile of
approval but Lindsay's eyes look dead.

Without Bobby's arms stabilising her Cordelia is hopping up and down
with nerves. Ellenor finds it quite amusing to watch. She decides
Cordelia reminds her of a kangaroo. Cordelia begins wailing, "Someone
took my babies?"

Ellenor couldn't help but find her wailing amusing and, almost
unintentionally, in the worst accent she can muster says, "A dingo
took my baby!"

She hears a sharp laugh from Lindsay and giggles thinking there is
life in her yet but when she looks at Lindsay sees that Lindsay has
got her amusement in check and is now glaring at her. "God she needs
therapy with all those personalities inside her" Ellenor
thinks "she's likely to turn around and attack someone one of these
days. It could be fun trying to bait her."

She feels a tugging on her arm and turns to look at Jimmy. He has
gone almost completely white "Wha ... Wha ... what did you say?" He
stammers.

"I said it was a dingo" Ellenor replies annoyed Jimmy is going to get
cranky with her now too. It was just an innocent joke dammit when
will this lot lighten up.

Jimmy's eyes widen in terror and he becomes hysterical. "There's a
dingo! Where? I'm scared of dingoes. They're dangerous you know!"
Dropping all his purchases he runs out of the room looking around
frantically as if expecting to be attacked by a viscious creature at
any time.

Lindsay stands back, watching the drama play out in front of her. Her
stomach is turning both with worry for her nephews and a feeling that
she had lost Bobby for good. She may have been upset to discover the
existence of the boys but that doesn't mean she doesn't love them.
She does love the boys. How could she not? They her sisters children,
innocent victims of all the mistakes of their parents. She could
never wish them harm. They are a part of Bobby and he is a part of
her and therefore they are a part of her too. With all these parts of
her scattered everywhere no wonder she doesn't feel whole anymore.

She turns away from the emotional voices, the strained faces and
worried stances and lets her mind wander to happier times. The time
that she and Bobby shared their first sweet kiss. The Christmas
party. The new year when he had told her that he wanted to be her
partner. They had sealed their love with a kiss and made love knowing
that they would always be together. That's what she'd believed until
now. How could things go so wrong so quickly? 48 hours ago her life
was still perfect. Since then its been one disaster after another so
much so its getting to the point of ridiculousness. If she didn't
know it is impossible because Bobby has always been so stuffy she'd
think he'd maybe slipped something into her drink like that bastard
Chris Kelton and this is just a really bad trip. Then again how well
does she really know Bobby. Maybe he's stuffy with her because he
just doesn't care. She isn't the great love of his life but just who
he's settled for. She doesn't do for him sexually what her sister
could and with her he's just going through the motions. She looks at
Cordelia and knows she could never be like her for one thing she's
never really liked the feel of leather.

The police arrive and Lindsay looks at them curiously, but as though
she was watching from afar. She didn't feel like she was physically
in the room anymore. She's too caught up in her swirling thoughts to
feel she belongs in the midst of the action. People bustle around her
virtually unseen. She looks at the policemen. Standing calmly with
notebooks in hand and pens poised. His words don't penetrate her
brain but his manner is so comforting. He's strong and manly and
decisive. A real take charge man. He wouldn't leave her lost he'd
take her hand and lead her through life. A strong and noble police
officer wouldn't break her heart the way Bobby did. A sly grin formed
as she thought she had always liked a man in uniform. She shakes her
head to rid herself of these thoughts. She feels she really is going
out of her mind. She's having a breakdown. Soon Bobby and Cordelia
will be bringing their children to visit poor old aunt Lindsay in
whatever mental institution he place her in. She hopes it has a nice
garden maybe a mountain and a tambourine. She's always been
fascinated with the tambourine.

She turns her attention back to the scene in front of her.

"What are they wearing ma'am?" The young police officer asks calmly.

Cordelia wipes new tears from her eyes and concentrates hard. She
hadn't been blessed with Lindsay's brains and she always had had
trouble remembering details.

"Ben was in his little Osh Kosh blue overalls and white shirt. He
loves Bob the builder. He even carries little pretend tools around
with him. Oh Bobby, its getting late and he's only a baby, he'll want
to sleep and you know he can't sleep without his cowboy pajama's on.
He'll be so distressed. My poor sweet baby boy. Bobby we need to find
the baby."

"We will" Bobby says rubbing her arm.

"And the other boy ma'am?" The officer asked having taking down Ben's
details.

"Ummm….Jeff well he was dressed like GI Joe. He loves GI Joe. He had
on cargo pants and a camouflage top. Oh god how will they find him
now he could be anywhere." She throws herself back into Bobby's
arms "He liked to fill all the pockets with candy. He'd pretend they
were bullets, or grenades or ... or cyanide pills. I know I probably
should have stopped him but its hard raising sons on your own. They
need their father Bobby. I can't keep doing this alone. It's too
hard. Boys need a man around"

"I know ... we'll work something out ... you won't have to be alone
now."

Lindsay looks at her, the words taking a few moments to sink
in. "They need their father Bobby" she whispers once and flees the
scene.

*********

Bobby watched Lindsay leave; helplessly torn between following his
one true love and helping find some very special little boys. He
wanted to go after her but was anchored to the spot by Cordelia's
unrelenting grasp. He'd forgotten how clingy she could be. Thank god
it isn't genetic and Lindsay is strong and independent even if she
does get bossy sometimes. He leads her to a chair and the police
officer sits near her continuing with his questioning. When he
realises he is no longer really needed he squeezes Cordelia's hand
saying "I'll be right back"

He finds Lindsay outside pacing restlessly. "You ok?" He asks her
wanting to take her in his arms and forget this nightmare ever
happened.

"Bobby I ... " she begins to say then sinks down against the wall
looking at the ground "I just ... I feel like I'm stuck in a bad
episode of passions."

Bobby puts his fingers under her chin and raises it so she looks at
him "That statement is wrong Lindsay on so many levels" She looks up
at him ready for the lecture on how insensitive and self obsessed she
is being but instead he says "That assumes there is a such a thing as
a good episode of passions." Despite herself Lindsay laughs then
starts to cry. She loves this man so much but he isn't hers anymore
He wraps her in his arms soothingly. She can smell Cordelia's perfume
on his jacket and it makes her feel sick in the stomach. She realizes
no matter what happens she will always just be another woman to him.

She pulls out of his arms suddenly angry and asks "Bobby why...."

"Mr Donnell can you come back here for a moment" a policeman says
interrupting her.

Bobby shrugs at Lindsay and smirking says "duty calls" before leaving
to follow the policeman.

Lindsay watches him go, knowing this will always be how it is now
that everything is out in the open. She will always come last. She
stands in the cold night air devastated watching her life walk away.
She can't believe it was only yesterday that her sister catapulted
into her life and destroyed it on impact. Boom. Destroying her sweet
Bobby dreams. Cordelia had always had that way about her. While
Cordelia was gone Lindsay's remembered only the good times but now
all those other memories, instances of Cordelia's deceit and
treachery start filtering back.

When she was six on the night before Christmas when all through the
house not a single soul stirred not even a mouse. Lindsay had snuck
down the stairs of their big Georgian house and into the living room.
She wanted to wait for Santa and tell him how good she had been.
Instead she had found Cordelia opening all the presents and peeking
inside. When Lindsay had expressed her concern at
this "Cordeeeeeee!!!!!" she had screeched horrified. Cordelia had
smirked and informed her that Mom and Dad had gone all out and bought
some awesome presents. Lindsay had become excited at the idea of
gifts and mesmerized by all the pretty coloured boxes.

"Has Santa come already?" Innocent Lindsay had asked.

"Santa?" Cordelia had laughed meanly. "There is no Santa, Lindsay.
And while I'm telling you this, there is no Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy
or Prince Charming. They're stories made up by adults to make kids be
good."

"No Prince Charming?" Lindsay had questioned, tears welling up in her
cute big eyes. "That's not true every princess has a prince charming
and I'm a princess Daddy says so." She had told Cordelia with
determination. Cordelia had laughed in her face. And twenty five
years later, Lindsay thought that she had met her Prince Charming.
But it had turned out, Cordelia was right after all. It was all just
a stupid kids dream. Bobby is just like every other person she's ever
loved, willing to screw her over to get what he wants, telling her
what she wants to hear but never the truth. And as usual she's fallen
for the act completely. Stupid gullible Lindsay.

Lindsay remembers with a sick feeling to her stomach the time Cordy
had wanted to prove that cats could land on their feet and had thrown
Lindsay's kitten, Lumpy, off the second floor balcony. Lindsay
remembers watching helplessly as her cat came to a bone crushing thud
against a rock. Cordy had then blamed it all on Lindsay telling their
parents Lindsay tried to make the cat fly even though she'd told her
it couldn't. Her parents had never bought her another animal again.
Cordy was good at stealing what was dearest to Lindsay's heart. And
its looking as if the only constant in her life is that her sister
can destroy any happiness she manages to find. Life with Cordy had
always been difficult and Lindsay in a lightbulb flashing moment
knows she doesn't want to do it anymore.

Lindsay decides that it's best for her to leave, even if she was
worried about her nephews. There is nothing she can do for them here
but she can save herself. She puts her hand in her pocket and feels
the reassuring metal of her keys. And not just her keys. But a spare
key to Bobby's car. She walks to the silver Audi, wanting to go home
and curl up and forget that the last two days ever happened. Her mind
is suddenly left blissfully blank as she skids in the car park and
comes crashing to the ground. Her ankle twists painfully as her foot
falls out of her navy 5-inch heeled Prada shoes. Lindsay glares at
the ground to find the cause of her fall. A red skittle rolls slowly
away from her.

"Hmmm," she mutters "you evil little thing". She stands up stiffly,
bending her knee to take the weight off her ankle. She turns and sees
a flash of white hair in the distance. She feels a little dizzy and
wonders if she bumped her head during the fall. Squinting to get a
better look she sees a clown carrying a squirming boy and leading
another forcefully away. She shouts "let them go" and ignoring the
pain in her foot takes of after them.

Lights flash across her face. Boom. Her mind goes blank.

***

Bobby tired of doing nothing walks through the emergency room of the
hospital looking for the two blue eyed boys.

"Jeff?" he calls desperately "Ben?"

No answer.

He hears frenzied yells at the entrance to the hospital and turns his
head towards them. His eyes take in the brown hair, the pale blue
Versace linen suit. Lindsay!!! He realises. He finds his
voice, "Lindsay!! Oh my god!!! Lindsay!!!!" He runs over to where she
is being wheeled on the gurney. So much blood marring her beautiful
sweet face.

"You know her?" A doctor asks breathlessly.

"Yes…she's my...my…" he stutters wanting to say life but knowing no
one would understand. "My girlfriend. She's my girlfriend. What
happened to her?"

"She ran in front of an ambulance as it was coming to the emergency
room."

Bobby is horrified. "Why?" He asks "Why would she do that?"

"Sir you need to let us work" the doctor says pushing him away

"Is she going to be okay?"

"She has some serious injuries. Please wait outside." Bobby watches
helplessly as they wheel her into the trauma room.

END PART 7

Title: Sleletons in the Closet, part 8

Author: Me! Spudsy! ms_spudette@y...

A/N: hey peoples remember me? You better all be saying yes or I'll be
crushed!!!!!! Nah not really. Sorry for the loooooong break but I got
grounded. AARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! But I don't care coz it was
soooooooooooooo worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wanna know what I did? No! To
bad I'm telling ya LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I GOT A TATTOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My parents found out then I was grounded but I don't care I've got it
now and so :p It's great!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a rose coz I love them but
every girl gets a Rose so to be different mine has a whip wound
around the stem. Isn't that sooooooooooooo incredible. It's like the
best message. I'm beautiful and I'm in charge. Well I loooooove it
and I hope you love this story and let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: I'm soooooo not clever enough to make up characters
as
good as these!!!!!!!!!!

***********************

"She walked in front of an ambulance as it was coming
to the emergency room."
"Is she going to be okay?"
"Sir she has some serious injuries. Please wait outside." Bobby
watches helplessly as they wheel her into the trauma room.

----------------

Bobby suddenly can't see in front of him and reaches out for one of
the hard plastic waiting room chairs. How did things get so bad
between him and Lindsay? They had fought continually since Elisa had
come into the picture and nothing he had done had helped the
situation. She was going to die and her last memory of him would be
disappointment. Tears burn his beautiful blue eyes as he watches the
activity in the trauma room. This can't be happening. The doctor
reaches for the paddles and shocks Lindsay's heart and Bobby feels
his own jump at the same time. He feels as if his hearts been hit by
a truck and his life is the wreckage left behind. Suddenly it is too
much and he leaves the room with a choked sob, tears pouring down his
face. "Don't die, Lindsay. I love you so much. Don't die." His
anguished cries "Why God? Why?" are heard throughout the hospital.

***********

Lindsay slowly returns to consciousness. She feels as if she's buried
in a thick consuming fog. She tries to think but all that comes to
mind are colours. Red white and blue and pain so much pain. She
doesn't feel the pain now though she just feels numb, so numb. Her
mouth feels like a small animal has taken up residence in it and her
eyes refuse to open. They feel glued shut. She tries to move but
can't. One arm seems to be tied to her body while the other is buried
under a heavy dead weight. It takes five goes before she can manage
to make her mouth issue the groan she feels from deep inside.
Immediately she feels the weight lifted from her hand.

"Lindsay?" She hears the sweetest sound in the world. Bobby's
beautiful voice. She turns her face to the voice and again tries to
pry her eyes open. They slowly blink open and then close again.

"Bobby" she says softly, comforted in knowing where ever she is she
must be safe because Bobby is there too. She imagines his beautiful
face and smiling feels herself drifting off again. But her hand being
raised to his lips reawakens her. Again she tries to open her eyes.
It's a shame to keep them closed when she could be gazing at him. She
could gaze at him all day if only she could open her eyes.

Her lids slowly open and she sees his eyes are red from crying. He
stares down at her. "Lindsay" he says, his voice breaking with
emotion. Her fingers seek out the tears on his cheeks. This isn't
right. Bobby shouldn't be crying. Why is Bobby crying? She looks
beyond him and sees stark coloured walls not the warm comforting
paneling of home. None of this makes sense. She hasn't been so
confused since Bobby tried to teach her how to play bridge. She wants
to close her eyes again and wake up when it all goes back to normal.
Back to when the only thing she has to worry about upon waking is
what to wear for the day. Her eyes close and she feels Bobby grip her
hand between both of his and press his lips to it again. His lips are
moist just as his cheeks had been. Is it raining inside? This is too
much. She fights the fog in her mind and the desire to sleep and
asks "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital Lindsay" he says gently

"I am?" She says surprised "Am I sick?" she asks wondering if she ate
something she shouldn't have. But she doesn't feel sick, just so
grey, everything feels grey and sleepy she feels sleepy. She doesn't
hear most of Bobby's answer as she feels herself losing consciousness
again. She fights it. She wants to know the answer. She needs to know
what's going on. She's afraid it makes no sense.

The devastation on his face brings it all back to her. Bobby. Bobby's
babies. Someone took Bobby's beautiful blue eyed babies. "We'll find
them" she says and closes her eyes now because she doesn't want to
see him anymore. Then she sees it again. A flash of red white and
blue. There is something she knows. Something important. It's there
she just can't find it. Audi, Prada,(it was prada wasn't it .....
well whatever her shoes were) evil skittles. She opens her eyes and
looks at Bobby and it hits her "Clown!" She says with venom in her
voice.

Bobby looks at her hurt by her accusation. "Lindsay" he begins to say
hoping to appease her anger but she cuts him off.

"The boys I saw them. There was a clown! He took them!"

Bobby looks at her and brushing the hair off her face tenderly
says "Lindsay just rest you need your sleep."

His condescending voice irritates her, "Dammit Bobby listen to me. I
was outside and after you went back in I was walking to the car when
I saw them. He was carrying Ben and dragging Jeff and I started to
run after them and ... I don't know what happened that's all I
remember"

"You're on powerful drugs Lindsay just rest don't think yet
you're
not ready for it," Bobby comforts her. "But on the good side they
have great jello here green your favorite."

"Bobby you food obsessed moron I wasn't imaging it! You need to tell
the police. A clown took the children!" Bobby's eyes open wide and
his lower jaw hits the floor with a crash, he's not sure what
scares
him most Lindsay's hostility of that she could be right. He's
always
been a little afraid of clowns "You saw a clown?!"

"Focus Bobby! I know what happened to the children." Lindsay says
loudly.

A piercing wail is heard from outside and Elisa runs screaming into
the room "My boys! What have you done with my boys!?" Her hands are
around Lindsay's shoulders and she's shaking her.

"Cl ... cl ... c" Lindsay says before passing out.

"Ma'am if you'll just calm-" A policeman pulls the screaming Elisa
off Lindsay as Bobby watches on eyes wide in horror. Seeing what
she's done she says "Oops" then collapses on the floor
"She took my
boys she took my boys. Calm down?! that cow stole my precious boys
and you want me to CALM DOWN!?" Her voice resembles a banshee.

"Ma'am we're doing everything we can. She can't have taken them
far
no one noticed her leave when she wakes we'll question her."

He turns to Bobby "Do you know anything sir?"

"She said cl ..clown" Bobby stutters.

"That's a coincidence there have been sightings of a man in a
clown
outfit with two young boys and we were going to make enquiries-"

"Going to make enquiries!? Why don't you DO something!?" she turns to
Bobby her savior and bursts into tears, "They won't do anything,
Bobby. My poor babies. I just want to hold them in my arms."

Bobby rushes forwards and heroically takes Cordelia into his strong
arms and holds her tightly, murmuring comforting words until she is
no longer crying. Lindsay waking sees them sobbing in each others
arms and groaning rolls over and faces the wall: she can't bear to
watch their tearful reunion. If only the ambulance had hit her
harder, she thinks, because life without Bobby isn't worth living.

The policeman moves over and questions her and when discovering she
saw the boys with a clown rushes out of the room to spread the word.
Lindsay presses the button for the nurse hoping against hope it's
time for another hit of painkillers.

***********

Lucy watches the TV despondently. Everybody had left the room to
search for the boys and she was left all alone. She desperately wants
to talk to someone about the enormous events that had changed her
life in the last few hours, but she hadn't seen a soul since Cordelia
had screamed that the boys were missing. Even the nurses seemed to be
avoiding her room. Maybe I should sleep, she thinks despondently, I
do feel sleepy. And when I wake up, everything will be better. Her
eyes feel heavy and her heart seems to be pounding awfully hard and
loud. The room begins to haze over. Sleep, she thinks. They'll find
the boys. I just need to sleep. And without further thought her eyes
close and she falls into a deep sleep. Her ears do not hear the
screaming alarms or the anxious cries of the nurses as they rush into
the room. She sleeps the sleep of the nearly dead.

***********

Ellenor tiredly drove her battered car home. The police had told them
that they were just getting in the way and to leave the search to
them. Bobby had doggedly continued helping out, getting in the way in
his typical pigheaded style, but he had sent everybody else home.
Sometimes there is a benefit to Bobby's belief he's more
important
than everyone else. She couldn't believe what had happened in one
night. Lucy in a car accident, Lindsay hit by an ambulance,
Cordelia's children kidnapped, it sounded like something out of a
soap opera, and a bad one at that. Not to mention the revelation that
Cordelia was Elisa and was Lindsay's sister and Lucy isn't really
Lucy but is Cordelia's daughter. Of all the people to be surprise
relations there was a sort of poetic justice that it was Lucy and
Lindsay. It's not so much that she doesn't like them but its
damn
amusing that this happened to them. It made her mind bend just
thinking about it, so she gave up, hoping that sleep and subsequently
coffee would make it easier to grasp the next day.

Speaking of coffee, she realised that she had run out that morning.
She approaches a supermarket and pulls into the parking lot. As she
enters she sees a familiar face.

"Mr Hatcher!" she calls.

He spins around looking like a deer caught in headlights. They clash
with his blue and white striped shirt and red suspenders. She walks
forwards, a smile forming, "You must be relieved that Lucy is ok?"

"Uh.yes.yes.of course." He stammers, looking around as though for an
escape.

"Well I'm sure the whole Cordelia thing will sort itself out
eventually. She's still your daughter."

His face hardens, "Yes well we'll see about that."

Ellenor is surprised by the vehemence in his voice, "But she loves
you!"

"My daughters dead," he spits. The clerk hands him his change and a
bag full of groceries.

Ellenor notices a bag of skittles and an awful lot of chocolate and
candy. "Sweet tooth?" she asks, gesturing at the bag.

"Er ...yes. Have to feed my addiction," he replies edgily, sidling
towards the door. "I'd better get back to the hospital," he tells her.

"Okay," she smiles. "Good night Mr. Hatcher."

"Goodnight." He practically runs out the door. She watches him,
confused as her gets into a running Ford car. It is only as he drives
off with a screech of tires that she notices the two brown heads and
staring blue eyes in the back seat.

Ellenor stands and watches the tail lights with disbelief before
jumping into action and running as fast as her legs will carry her to
car. She jumps in and screeches after him, not noticing the clerk
from the store running out yelling hoarsely, "Hey! You didn't pay for
your coffee!" Ellenor leans over the steering wheel intent on
reaching the car in front. She rummages in her bag and pulls out her
cell phone, dialing 911.

"I've found the two kidnapped boys!" she screams into the phone at
the operator.

"Ma'am, if you'll just-"

"Dammit just listen to me you dim witted cheerleader! Elisa.
Cordelia. the Dole or whatever their name is boys that were kidnapped
from the hospital. I've found them! There in a red Ford I'm
following
them in my purple one."

The operator gets nasty, "You listen to me! It is dangerous to drive
while talking on the phone. Pull over! "Ellenor hangs up on her. She
dials Bobby's cell phone, still intently following the car, ignoring
the red traffic lights and the screeching tires of other cars that
swerve to avoid her.

"Bobby Donnell." He answers.

"Bobby! I've found them! It was Lucy's dad!"

"I knew Lindsay had to be wrong she thought it was a clown, silly
girl."

"Understandable mistake did you get a look at Lucy's dad Bobby?"

"I always knew that guy looked a bit freaky. Now I know why!" he
frantically waves over a policeman. "Where are you!?" he asks Ellenor.

"In my car! I'm heading west down Charlene Street." She hears sirens
start up behind her and says into the phone, "Wow! That was fast!"

"What?" Bobby asks with increasing confusion.

She hears a megaphone behind her, "Stop the car! Pull over
immediately!" She looks in her rear vision mirror and realizes that
they are talking to her. "I'll pay for the coffee later you bastard!"
She shrieks; stepping harder on the accelerator and watching the
needle creep up to 80 mph. "Come on! Come on!" she pleads
with her
car. She wishes now she had enough money to buy that cool motorbike
she had seen in "Bikie" magazine. At least she'd be able
to chase
criminals more effectively! Plus she owned a great purple jacket that
would match the bike perfectly.

"Keep following them. The police are on their way." Bobby announced.

"The police are already here! Trying to pull me over can you get your
guys to call them off? Tell them that Hatcher is driving a red Ford,
registration BOZO."

"Bozo?" Bobby asks, "As in the clown?" The revelation hitting him
like a ton of bricks Lindsay got it right! She didn't imagine it!

"Yes. Tell them to hurry! I'm running out of gas." She hangs up.

Within minutes the police car had passed her and was following the
Ford closely. Ellenor pulls over with exhaustion. Lucky I chose to
defend criminals rather than be one, she decides with a wry grin, I
don't have the stamina for this. She looks over and sees she's in
front of Dominoes Pizza. `Ooh life's just so damn good'
she thinks.

***********

The police had jumped into action and Bobby in the hallway hears them
speaking nervously of the car chase. Elisa is sitting on the chair
opposite Lindsay's room, biting her fingernails, eyes red from
crying, lines across her forehead showing her worry. Bobby's spite
towards her has ended and now he just wants to clear the air.

"We have to talk," he announces.

She nods in response.

"Why did you come back here?"

"To be closer to family."

"Family? What family? Those boys don't even know who their father
is," his voice is cold.

"Well it's about time they did," a calm voice announces from behind
them.

Bobby would know Lindsay's voice anywhere. She had come out of the
room just in time to hear his last comment and it made her sick to
think that he was going to ignore his responsibilities again. "They
have been without a father figure for too long. If you don't take
responsibility for them, Bobby, then you aren't the man I want to
spend the rest of my gucci wearing life with."

Both Cordelia and Bobby turn to look at her with surprise.

END PART 8