This has not been beta read. So if you find any errors, they're all mine. :-) All mine, I say! Mine! Mine! Mine! *maniacal giggles*
 

 
Rollie winced, not from the pain in his arm, but from the pain in his heart. He'd just walk in to speak to Angie and she'd flinched. It was almost imperceptible... to anyone except him. Nothing has changed, Angie had said, trying to reassure her partner. Rollie watched her sadly as she worked with a single minded intensity. Everything has changed, he thought sadly with a deep and silent sigh.

Angela Ramirez was focused - totally, tightly, to the exclusion of all else. Focused on one thing and one thing alone - to find Victor Loubar, the man who had set out to destroy Rollie Tyler's life, but destroyed Angie's in the process as well. When the police were unable to find Loubar's body in that cold lake at the park, Angie volunteered her services to Captain Vanduran and Mira to help them track down the elusive arms dealer/mercenary killer. Captain Vanduran, uncertain about the wisdom of this course of action, had a long talk with her before finally accepting her help. In truth, Angie was their best chance of tracing the man. He made very clear to her though that she would go nowhere near the criminal if they did find him.

Angie's acceptance was equally clear and very matter of fact. "All I want is for him to be off the streets and out of our lives. I don't care who does it. I don't care if it's imprisonment or death. All I care is that he'll be gone!" Now, Angie wasn't helping just the New York City Police Department though. The F.B.I. had been called in and she was working closely with Elena Serrano and Mira Sanchez to try and put an end to Loubar's career. All of her waking time was spent at the New York City F.B.I. headquarters.

Angie had hardly seen Rollie since that fateful night and it hurt. More than Rollie could stand, because the few times he'd seen her... She flinched, moved ever so minutely away from him and his touch. Her eyes were wary and uncertain. "Nothing has changed," she said. His soul whispered everything has changed and his heart was breaking with the realization.

During each visit, Rollie kept careful control of his expressions, hoping no one would notice the wound in his heart. Hoping that with time and distance, things could go back - not to the way they'd been before, that was asking too much, but to something close to it. At least close enough that Angie could accept him in the same room without drawing away from him. If Angie decided she needed something from the workshop, he brought it to her, setting it up in whatever corner they could find to squeeze it in. He'd moved almost a third of their computer equipment over to her new "lair" without a complaint. Quietly helpful, he didn't mention his arm if it hurt and later took the lectures from his doctor about over doing it silently, accepting them as his due.

The only one who noticed anything at all was Francis. He'd seen the sadness in Rollie's eyes build slowly, progressively deeper and more profound. But the others didn't really listen to him when he'd mention Rollie, too focused on catching and punishing Loubar. Unfortunately, the few times Francis tried to speak to the tall Aussie, Rollie pulled away, too deep in his guilt to hear his friend's words of comfort clearly. For with the sadness built the guilt. The feeling that everything that happened was his fault. His fault and his alone, because he brought Loubar into their lives. The knowledge that Victor Loubar had chosen him as a victim and target in the first place was buried by the growing sorrow, guilt and despair. With really bad timing, Frank's life got hectic. Between the doubled workload of handling cases without Mira and the girls catching the flu, Francis didn't have time to follow up with Rollie. He promised himself he would have a real heart to heart with the taller man... as soon as the girls were better. Maybe a little time and distance would help. And if it didn't work, he'd turn Sarah loose on the man, that should handle it! Francis had a lot of faith in his wife.

When Rollie wasn't transporting equipment or something else for Angie, he wandered the loft alone, lost and uncertain. He no longer slept upstairs, he couldn't go near his bed without feeling sick. It took every bit of courage he possessed to go near enough to gather up a change of clothes or take a shower. He did these everyday acts carefully, never looking fully at the unmade bed that seemed to loom over his bedroom and his life. He racked his brain, trying to find something - anything - he could do to make it up to Angie. Rollie knew he couldn't erase what had happened. He knew he couldn't make it better, but there had to be something he could do to... to apologize for the horror he'd brought into Angie's life. If he felt like this, what must Angie feel?!?

A week after the nightmare began, Rollie woke in a cold sweat, sprawled in the bean bag chair in the V.R. chamber with a sure knowledge of the one thing that might partially make up for his failure. He became focused on his own quest for information and buried the pain as he searched for answers to the questions in his mind. Where Angie surfed the internet, hacking her way through any security, making the computers hum and purr with their responses, Rollie turned to the people he'd met over the years. He called in favor after favor, and while he waited for his answers, he too checked the 'net, slowly, cautiously, well aware that what took him hours and days to find, Angie could acquire in minutes and hours.

Each day, Angie worked herself to the point of exhaustion. It was the only way she could sleep. Many times, she just catnapped on a cot near the computers. Elena and Mira made sure she ate and they checked up on her cat for her. They didn't think to check Rollie who reassured them he was doing just fine when they bothered to ask. Angie, finally satisfied with the equipment she was using, didn't think to call and speak with Rollie as three days passed without the partners seeing each other. Once we catch Loubar, Rollie and I can talk, the blonde thought, then we can make it all right. Rollie understands that I have to do this. Once he is caught, she thought, things will be normal again.

Four days after Rollie began his quest, he checked his email. There were so many, the special effects expert thought he'd been spammed. A glance down the pages of emails revealed that he knew all the names of the senders listed... except one. The first one. With a tired frown, he opened the email, watched idly as a mov file started and froze. No! Rollie Tyler trembled and a single hot tear rolled down his cheek as he watched in horror. As he watched himself hit Angie and her look of disbelief, fear and pain as she stared up at him from the floor. NO!

"Like my little production, Tyler?" Loubar's voice sounded smugly through the computer speakers. "It's not for you though. I sent it to most of your friends and acquaintances in the movie business. They've all seen Rollie Tyler hit his little helper!" An evil laugh sounded. "And you know what the most delicious part is? They think she sent it to them. They think poor Angie couldn't take your abuse anymore and spilled your dirty little secret. Good bye, Tyler." With another cruel laugh, Loubar's message vanished as if it had never existed.

Rollie stared in shocked silence at his monitor. "No," he whispered in a tiny voice, "please... no." With a heavy feeling of dread, the stunned man looked at the emails that still waited for him. His hand shook as he went to open the first one and instead opened one further down the list. It doesn't matter, he thought with a slightly hysterical edge, they're all about the same thing. And most of them were. The majority condemned what they thought he had done. People he thought were his friends believed the scene sent them and found him guilty. A few urged him to seek help with his "problem", others said they would never work with him again. Two, from women who'd never given him the time of day before, asked when he would be "available". The first of these sent him stumbling to the bathroom where he threw up what little food he'd eaten yesterday evening.

Shudders ran through his lanky frame as he returned to finish the last of them. By the time he was done, his head ached in time with his heart. Loubar had won. It wouldn't matter what Rollie said. It wouldn't matter what Angie said. Enough of them would continue to believe that he would never work again. Rollie raised his head and looked around the workshop. Everything Manny had worked for and dreamed was here and he had just destroyed it all. NO! Rollie squashed that thought desperately. Not all! Not yet! If he gave it to Angie, they would  hire her! At first, it would probably be due to pity, but eventually it would be for her talent. Angie was too good not to win jobs by her own abilities. She would just have to show them what she could do. He'd have to leave naturally. They wouldn't hire her, if he was hanging around. Tyler FX would become Ramirez FX once more and Manny's daughter would proudly carry on her father's life work. Yes. That was the way it would have to be. He would leave and Angie would take over the business and finally get the recognition she deserved.

Decision made, Rollie started thinking about what had to be done first. He'd have to call Mister Connolly. He'd been Manny's business and personal lawyer and Rollie had more or less inherited him with the workshop. He also needed to decide exactly where he would go and what he would do with the rest of his life, what was left of it at any rate, but that could wait. First, an appointment with the lawyer to start the paperwork to transfer the properties and accounts of Tyler FX fully over to Angela Ramirez. It would give him time to figure out the rest. Just as Rollie was dialing the lawyer, he heard a knock on the door. With a mutter, he hung up the phone and went to see who was there.
 
As soon as the door opened, Lucinda Scott hauled off and punched Rollie in the face as hard as she could. "How could you? Rollie Tyler! You are the lowest, most despicable form of life I've ever met!" She yelled. "I can't believe I fell for that 'nice guy' act! Did Leo know? Did he? Maybe you took turns... Or did you hide it from him too?" Furious, she threw another punch at the cringing Australian, unknowingly catching his injured arm. "I can't believe Angie accepted that from you! How long have you been doing it? Since she was a little girl? Well, big man, I'm going to go talk to Angie and if I find one hint that you ever did more than hit her, you're never going to touch another little girl again! I promise you that, Mister Tyler!"

"Luce?" Rollie whispered as she stormed away from the brewery. He was unable to believe that after all they had been through together, even Lucinda believed Loubar's lies. There was no way he could defend himself. No hope, if even a friend like Lucinda believed. He'd better get busy and make arrangements for the transfer. Of course, he still had to explain it all to Angie, but... Best to get started.

Rollie changed to a suit, ready to go to the lawyer's office. He checked the papers resting on his desk one last time, verifying he had everything for the transfer. The Aussie froze as a knock sounded on the door. He cringed, wondering who else had come to defend Angie from him. At least they defend Angie, Rollie thought bitterly, at least I know someone will try and look out for her. "Window one, Blue." He spoke in a subdued voice. The dejected man perked up with a tiny bit of excitement on seeing who was there. Maybe... maybe he could still make at least part of it up to Angie. He opened the door, "Reg! Did you find anything?" came the breathless words.

"Whoa! Slow down, mate. Yes, I did." Reggie looked over the younger man with a critical eye. He could see Rollie had been through the wringer lately. A bruise was forming on one side of his mouth and he had dark circles under his eyes. The brown eyes that had once sparkled with life and warmth and good humor, were now haunted and sad and... defeated. "Um, Rollie," the ex-intelligence and military man began cautiously, "I... uh, I got an email..." He winced mentally as Rollie turned away from him silently, the young Aussie's shoulders slumping even more. Damn, if whoever had done this wanted to destroy the special effects expert, they were succeeding all too well. For a moment, Reggie wondered if the video file attached to the email were real, but then dismissed the thought. Reggie had been in the intelligence business far too long not to trust his instincts. Those instincts told him Rollie Tyler would never do anything to hurt Angie Ramirez. Reggie liked the partners from the first time he met them as a movie consultant. He'd expected to be bored by the whole movie thing, but retirement had been getting to him. So he'd ended up doing the adviser bit and was surprised to find it was fun. Watching Rollie and Angie brainstorm and find a way to help their friend, Leo McCarthy, catch the hired assassin that was threatening them all had been a real treat. He remembered a few times when he could have used that imagination on his side. He reached out to turn Rollie back around. Feeling the bandages under his hand, he swiftly let go and moved around to face Rollie instead. "Rollie? I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" He spoke carefully and gently, not wanting the other man to bolt.

Rollie shook his head no, not looking up. He didn't think he could take much more. Now Reggie wouldn't help and he'd never be able to finish, to give Angie the only thing he could think of that was worth even a portion of what she'd gone through because of him.

"Rollie." Reg pulled Rollie's other arm, making him sit down on the couch next to him. "Who made that video? Who's doing this to you?"

Rollie froze, he couldn't... Reg wanted to know... Reggie was asking... His thoughts tumbled in a tangled knot and he looked up, reluctantly, trying to see the other man's eyes, without showing his own. He inhaled sharply at the concerned look he received. Unable to stop himself, Rollie broke down and cried. All of the pain, the feelings of guilt and loss poured out under Reggie's watchful and concerned gaze. His tears finally trickled to a stop and he felt an awkward hand patting his back.

"Rollie?" Reggie asked, wanting to know, but also not wanting to press too hard.

"Loubar. His name's Loubar. He..." Rollie stumbled to a stop, uncertain about how much to say. Most of it should be up to Angie, he thought. After all, he hurt Angie the most.

"Victor Loubar?" Reggie asked, surprised. At the Aussie's nod, he winced. "Rollie, how in the world did you get mixed up with that slime bag?"

"He used my... my identity once. He was trying to get a... a smart grenade and he used my face to set it up." Rollie looked up, finally indignant. Part of him was finally realizing he hadn't invited Loubar into his life. Loubar had done it, all on his own. "I couldn't let him get away with that! He almost got me killed."

"You're extremely lucky, Rollie. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone else surviving Loubar."

"Yeah, well that was just the first time." Rollie took a deep breath. "I helped the F.B.I. try to catch him. We almost succeeded too! If he hadn't gone off that bridge..." The dark haired man shrugged. Loubar had escaped, he couldn't change it. "The next time..."

"Next time?" Reggie echoed, shocked. "Just how many times have you and Loubar crossed paths?" He was impressed. Rollie Tyler, a move special effects artist, had helped the F.B.I. almost catch Victor Loubar!?! The man no one knew what he really looked like, who stole lives on a whim and dished out death without a conscience. Almost caught by Rollie Tyler. Mentally, he gave a wolfish grin. How that must have pained Loubar!

"Three... three times." Rollie answered, subdued again. "The second time, we helped him get into the country. We didn't know it was him. Elena... Elena Serrano. She's a F.B.I. agent. She's the one I worked with the first time. She asked us to help her get another agent out of England and to New York."

"And of course, you helped."

"Of course! She's my friend. Except... it wasn't the agent, it was Loubar." Rollie wondered how much he should say. He supposed it was still sort of... secret. "We stopped him... from doing what he was doing, but Loubar escaped again."

Reggie whistled silently. Twice... Twice, Rollie had helped authorities almost capture Loubar. No wonder Loubar was out to destroy Tyler! "And the third time?"

Rollie looked away. He wasn't sure if he could tell and it wasn't really his to tell. That was up to Angie, not him. He shrugged, subdued. "He impersonated me again. He... he.... he hurt Angie. He tried to kill a man and we stopped him." Rollie finished, his voice bitter and broken. "He.... It looks like he escaped... again."

Reggie patted Rollie on the back again. Obviously, there was more to this than what Rollie was saying, than Rollie was willing to say. Maybe he could get it out of Angie, but right now, he had to do something to help his young friend. "So, having been thwarted by you three times, that email is a bit of Loubar's twisted revenge."

"Yeah," Rollie agreed, his tone lifeless. "Except it wasn't me, Angie's the one who... She's the one who figured it out. He would have succeeded if she hadn't." He continued in a torn whisper. "And she's the one who paid the most... Not me."

Reggie stared in horror as a thought occurred to him. Angie couldn't be... she couldn't be dead. Could she? If she was, it would explain the broken man in front of him. Except, he frowned, remembering the email. It had come from Angie or said it did. Surely, Loubar wouldn't have done that if... if she was dead. Or would he? "Rollie... Rollie? Is Angie okay?"

Rollie nodded and looked away. "Yeah. Basically. I guess. She... He hurt her. He used me to hurt her and... She's helping Elena and Mira to try and catch Loubar."

Okay, so Angie was alive, but something was wrong here. Very wrong. He tried to think of something to say that would keep Rollie talking while he thought about it. "Mira?"

"Palmira Sanchez." Rollie replied, still not looking at the man seated beside him. "She's with the New York City Police."

Now Reggie remembered the name. She'd been the investigating officer when Leo was murdered. So, Angie was fighting back. Why wasn't Rollie helping as well? Obviously, the Australian had no intention of telling. He'd have to check elsewhere for answers. The phone rang, but Rollie made no move to answer.

Reggie listened as the caller spoke when the answering machine kicked in. He winced and looked at the younger man's bloodless face as the man berated Rollie for hurting Angie. "I'm going to kick your ass, the next time I see you, Tyler!" The caller growled and slammed the phone down. Great, no wonder the Aussie was a wreck. If Rollie had gotten many calls like that, it would be killing him. To have these people even think he would ever do that to Angie! His heart must be breaking. Didn't they know Rollie? Didn't they realize Rollie Tyler would cut off both his hands before laying a finger on Angie Ramirez? Reggie knew he better distract the despondent special effects expert quickly. Fortunately, the information he had to pass on took care of the task nicely. A little bit of life came back into Rollie's eyes as he gathered the items he'd need for the job ahead. "Rollie. Are you sure you have everything? Maybe some one should go with you?"

"No, thanks Reg, but no. If this goes wrong, I don't want anyone else in trouble." The special effects expert managed to smile. If it was a sad smile, a shadow of his former smile, it was perfectly understandable. "Besides, this will work better with fewer people. Trust me. I know exactly how to handle it."

Reggie nodded, accepting the truth. The fewer people involved the better. "Okay. I will, if you will trust me in turn." He continued at Rollie's sharp glance. "Loubar's danced merry hell into your life. Let me see what I can do to straighten it up."

"Reg... I don't think..."

"No, Rollie. I know it's hard, but let me pass the word. I can't believe that people in this business would believe that about you. Or Angie for that matter. She would never stand by and accept that type of abuse from anyone. Angie's too strong for that."

"Even if you convince them, it won't change anything." The words were little more than a whisper, barely audible.

"I know. Just let me do it though. All right?" Reggie watched Rollie anxiously, hoping he would agree. Even if, no, when he cleared this up and people accepted Rollie again... Rollie probably would still quit the business. He'd be unable to accept that they believed that of him. Still, at least this way, Rollie could leave with his head held high and maybe more than a few people groveling at his feet, begging forgiveness.

"All... all right, Reg. I guess I can trust you." Rollie gave a bitter laugh. "At least you believed in me enough to ask."

"I know." Reggie began, before speaking more briskly. "Now, are you sure you have everything?"

Rollie checked the small bag he'd just finished packing, then nodded thoughtfully. "Yep. Got it. Look, Reg. Thank you! Thanks for the information and... thanks for the support, mate."

Reggie clapped a friendly hand on Rollie's shoulder and watched him leave. With a sigh, he looked around the old brewery. Hopefully, this little adventure would help the younger man feel better. Reg wondered what Rollie would do now that he was no longer accepted. At least, this gave the Aussie time to consider his actions and the consequences. He wasn't just reacting like a wounded animal. Now, Reggie rubbed his hands briskly together, to straighten this mess out. He went over and sat down at Rollie's PC. He winced at the long queue of emails. Most of them had been read, but new ones had come in since. He shook his head and started sorting names and addresses. It was high time these people started to think for a change! First the emails, then the phone calls... If he could figure out who had called. The emails were going to be a lot easier to handle. Then he'd find Angie and learn some more about the events that created this whole sorry mess.  He looked at the emails and shook his head, it looked like he had a lot of righteous indignation to dish out on behalf of his young friend.

Angie stretched and winced. Her scrapes and bruises hurt. She hadn't been out of this small area of the F.B.I. building in days and it was finally getting to her. Mira and Elena had been trying to talk her into taking a break, but she had steadfastly refused. Except now... There was little more she could do at the moment. Any one could watch the computers now, waiting for a sign of Loubar. She'd tagged every account and possible route for Mister Victor Loubar. She didn't have to stay here and do it. And... she missed Rollie. She missed his crazy jokes and ideas. She missed his smile and warmth. She wanted to talk to her best friend, to hear his voice, to watch him putter around with a new gadget... She wanted to get her hands dirty, putting together yet another weird project... with him. She missed Chiops too. She wanted to feel him on her lap, hear his purr and just stroke his soft fur. Yeah, it was time to take a break. She twisted her head around, working some of the kinks out of her neck.

Mira came in and looked around, trying to find Angie in the clutter. "Angie? How's it going?"

"Fine." Angie responded. "I was thinking about taking a break. All the monitors are in place, someone just has to keep an eye and ear out for the alerts."

"Good. I was getting ready to hit you over the head to get you out of here." Mira smiled in relief. Angie needed a break, she'd earned it. Her efforts had been nothing less than heroic. "I'll get Elena to assign someone as monitor, then let's go have dinner. Okay?"

"Sounds good to me." Angie smiled warmly. "We can collect Rollie on the way."

Mira's smile widened at the eager words. Maybe things would be all right between her friends after all, in spite of Loubar.  "Just give me five minutes." She'd been worried by the way Angie had ignored the man. Mira had tried a couple of times to get Angie to talk about everything, but was unsuccessful. It looked like the blonde was finally relaxing the guard Loubar's actions had forced her to erect.

"Okay. Hurry it up, will you? I'm hungry and I want to see Rollie and Chiops!"

Mira laughed. "I'm hurrying! I'm hurrying!" She quickly located the other woman who gladly activated the monitor rotation for Angie's equipment. She'd created it days ago, hoping for this moment. The three women chattered about inconsequential things as they left the building. Anything, but Loubar. Angie was almost bouncing in the back seat of the car. She had more energy, her eyes and face had regained the life she had almost... almost, but never quite lost. Mira pulled to a stop at the loft and Angie jumped out of the car, anxious to see Rollie. She opened the door, the other women following more slowly. "Rollie?" The blonde called, looking for her boss.

"Angie?" Reggie responded. "Rollie's not here."

"Reggie?" Angie was startled at seeing  the older man there. "What are you doing here?" Realizing how that sounded, she stammered an apology. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, Reggie." She laughed self consciously. "You surprised me."

"That's okay, Angie. I understand."

"Where's Rollie? Will he be back soon?" Angie asked, wondering over to the desk to join Reggie. Idly, she glanced down at the papers spread across it and paled. Why would Rollie have the deeds, accounts and ownership papers for Tyler FX out?

"Uh, well now, Angie, I'm not sure when Rollie will be back." Reggie thought swiftly, Rollie wouldn't want Angie to know about what he was up to, so he had to be careful about what he said. "He had something to take care of."

"Where is he? Reggie! Where's Rollie?" Angie stared at the man, her eyes scared.

"He went to take care of a bit of business. He'll be back in just a few days. I promise you, Angie. Rollie will be back." He said the words carefully, gently. Very aware of the two strangers who'd followed Angie into the building. Must be Mira and Elena. You better not get yourself killed Rollie Tyler, Reggie thought, don't make me into a liar.

"Then why does he have these papers out? Reggie, what's going on?"

"What papers? Angie, luv, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"These papers." She pushed them around on the desk and waved one. "The deed to the loft. The ownership papers for Tyler FX. The accounts. What's all this for then?"

"Damn." Reggie whispered. looks like I got here just in time. Rollie apparently had been about to do something very foolish without thinking it through. "I don't know why he had those papers out, Angie. But..." He considered how much he should explain. "Rollie was upset when I got here. Very upset. Can't say I can blame him though."

Angie looked sharply at the ex-intelligence man. "What? Did he tell you about...?" She trailed off, unwilling to speak of the events that had lead to this... disaster.

"A little, not enough. Not really." Reggie looked over at the silent women who were observing them. "Tell you what, introduce me to your friends. We'll sit down and I'll tell you what I know. Then you can tell me what you know. Deal?"

"Oh," Distracted by her worry, Angie introduced the women absently. "This is Detective Mira Sanchez and F.B.I. Agent Elena Serrano." She followed Reggie to the nearby living area and sat nervously in Rollie's stripped chair.

"Detective. Agent." Reggie nodded to the two women. "I'm Reggie. I'm a friend of Rollie's and Angie's." He avoided giving his last name. His past was irrelevant to the present situation.

"Okay. Reggie." Mira nodded carefully back, eyes wary and worried.

"Sir," Elena's accent was thicker as she fretted for her friends.

"Enough!" Angie interrupted. "What's going on, Reg?"

"Well, I received an email last night." Reggie began carefully.

"An email?"

"Apparently from you, Angie." Reggie glanced over at Rollie's workstation. "Quite of few people received it, actually." The list still gave him a headache and not one had bothered to ask for the truth.

"From me?" Angie looked puzzled. "But I didn't send any emails. I haven't even checked my email for days."

"I know." He hated saying this, but Angie had to know. "There was a movie attachment." He gave a quick glance to the other two women, then watching Angie carefully, continued. "It showed Rollie hitting you." Even from here, he could see the bruises on her face. If he hadn't spoken to Rollie this morning, he could easily believe the email right now.

Angie paled, her skin turning milky white. "No," she moaned softly. "Please..." Her eyes pleaded with Reggie. "Please!"

Reggie nodded sad confirmation. "It went out to quite a few people, Angie and... they believed it."

"No! Rollie would never.... How could they think Rollie would...?!?" Angie's eyes filled with tears. Damn Loubar!!! Damn Loubar to the deepest pits of hell! Hadn't he already done enough? Did he have to do this too? A voice whispered in the back of her mind, Victor Loubar wants to destroy Rollie, he won't stop until he succeeds or he's dead. No... Angie rocked back and forth in shock. Tears rolled silently down her face. Poor Rollie. She should've been here. She could've helped. Instead... Seeing the last couple of weeks clearly, she realized Rollie must think she hated him too. Poor, poor Rollie. All alone! She never should have left him all alone. She'd run away from him, hid with her computers, licking her wounds and left him alone. All of this had hurt him too and she had pushed him away. She'd felt better, not a lot, but better after her tests results from the clinic came back clean. No pregnancy, no HIV, no STS found. She'd have to test for the HIV again, of course... But it was a relief to be negative and somehow she suspected it would stay negative. Loubar didn't strike her as the type to have risky sex. He wouldn't like the loss of control. His taking her without protection was a fluke, she was reasonably sure of that. She hadn't shared that with Rollie. She hadn't even told him she'd been tested. Why? Why had she hidden it from her best friend? Like she was ashamed... Or she didn't trust him? That was what Rollie would see - she didn't trust him anymore.

"They didn't think, Angie." Reggie came and squatted in front of her, gently brushing the tears from her face. "They just reacted." He gestured toward the PC. "Most of the responses were pretty... damning." He stood up and patted her shoulder. "I've working out the specifics of who presumed guilt since Rollie left. It's commendable of them to defend you." He added trying to remove some of the pain, then frowned. "But they shouldn't have assumed. They should have at least asked questions and tried to discover the truth, not jumped to conclusions. I was about to start work on a rather rude reply to them all."

Mira and Elena exchanged worried looks. This didn't sound good. They'd been ignoring Rollie too and now this! Damn Loubar! Elena's face hardened. It was time to get that son of a bitch and put him away once and for all. She wasn't going to allow him to walk all over people like this anymore. With Angie's help, she could do it too. Angie was amazing. Then she sighed deeply. Too little, too late. Closing the barn door after the horses had escaped. Rollie's life was in ruins all because Loubar had chosen him for an impersonation and she had asked him to help. The special effects expert had been like an answer to her prayers, an innovative man with enough talent to counter Loubar in his own deadly, twisted game. She'd used him and this was the thanks he got. His life wrecked, his partner's life wrecked and Loubar ran free, out in the world ready to destroy other lives. She prayed Rollie hadn't gone hunting him alone. She never should have involved a civilian with some one as dangerous as Loubar!

Reggie continued to speak, trying to reassure the beautiful, young woman. "Don't worry, Angie. Rollie will come back to you. Then you can both have a nice long chat and sort things out. Okay?"

"O... Okay." Angie reluctantly responded. "Did he... Please, Reggie! Tell me he didn't go after Loubar!"

Reggie shook his head. "No, Angie. Rollie didn't go after Loubar. I wouldn't have let him go if he meant to do that. Loubar's too dangerous for someone alone." He smiled gently. "Don't worry, Angie. Rollie was thinking quite clearly when he left. He won't do anything too terribly foolish and before you know it, he'll be back and then you can both have that nice long talk... alone." He glared briefly at the others, his expression clearly telling them they better give the friends their moments alone or else. Both women gave slight nods of acknowledgment. Satisfied, he turned back to Angie. "Now, tell me about Loubar. Rollie said this was your third encounter? Whatever happened really shook him up. He wouldn't tell me much. Will you, Angie?"

Angie froze. She just couldn't seem to think. How could she tell Reggie about what Loubar had done? It still hurt too much and she realized she needed to talk to Rollie - the real Rollie. She had to find out how he felt about her... to figure how she felt about him! Loubar had her so confused, she wasn't sure which way was up anymore. After she had accepted Rollie Tyler as part of her life, she developed the biggest crush on him. It was bigger than her other crushes on the boys she saw on the television or at the movies, because he was real. Very, very real. She'd watched him and everything he did, and looking back, she smiled as she remembered, she'd made him so nervous. Every time he turned around, there she was and he hadn't known what to do or how to act. Poor Rollie, trying so hard to please her father and there she was! It was funny - now. He'd started fumbling and tripping over things and... Finally, Manny had taken her aside and had a long talk with her, rescuing his young assistant from his even younger daughter's attention. Angie had gotten over the crush and started treating Rollie like a friend, much to his relief. The friendship grew and deepened with the years, until Angela Ramirez could not imagine life without Rollie Tyler in it. Of course, she hadn't imagined life without her father either, but that horrible day had come. Thanks to Rollie, she'd survived and gone on to make her father proud. She was certain of that because... she smiled to herself again, because Rollie said so. But since those early days, she'd never imagined life with Rollie like that... not until Loubar had... Damn him! He'd mixed things up again and she really needed to talk to Rollie! Except Rollie wasn't here. And Reggie was... She looked deeply into the concerned gray eyes, looking for something... Angie wasn't really sure what she was looking for, but she must of found it, because she found herself slowly, haltingly explaining the nightmare of her life... of Rollie's life... of their lives. About Loubar impersonating Rollie for three days, stealing that time from Rollie... She wasn't able to mention the... rape. It seemed so sordid now, that tumble in Rollie's bed with a man she thought was Rollie, but wasn't. Poor Rollie... Angie wondered if Rollie had changed the sheets, then laughed bitterly to herself. What difference did the sheets make? Another man had screwed his assistant, his partner, his little sister as him in his own bed! How that must hurt! Talking about those days, Angie started to remember things... little, tiny, almost unnoticeable things that should have warned her. She'd known Rollie wasn't acting like himself, so why had she...? There had been a... distance that shouldn't have been there.

Angie found herself shaking with Reggie's arms around her, holding her, comforting her, keeping her sane. No one was holding Rollie, comforting him. It seemed... accepting comfort for herself when Rollie had no comfort seemed particularly... wrong. Reggie already knew Loubar had hit her while she still thought he was Rollie. He'd seen it, because Loubar had broadcast it to the world. Thank God, he hadn't done the same with the footage of them... Oh please God, don't let Rollie ever see that! It would kill him to see it... which was all the more reason for Loubar to make sure he did see it! Oh God, what had she done? Angie sobbed, heartbroken, releasing the tears she'd bottled deep inside. What had she done?!?

Reggie found himself rocking the weeping woman gently back and forth. He pushed her hair back and tried to soothe her, comfort her. Damn it, Rollie, you should be here doing this, not me. Then he shook his head, ashamed, that wasn't fair to Rollie. The young man was hurting just as much and what's more... He was tied so tightly into the problem, so deeply into whatever it was... Angie hadn't said the core of it, just skirted around the sides, Reggie was sure of it. Rollie was probably unable to help, because Rollie, bless him, was apparently part of the problem. Angie had even, finally, admitted that she'd shot Rollie. Well, that explained the bandages he'd felt anyway. He tried to reassure her that Rollie understood and didn't blame her for anything. Rollie would know Angie thought he was Loubar and it wasn't her fault, it was Loubar's. This whole sorry mess was Loubar's fault. Reggie found himself wishing he was still in the business so he could put paid to Loubar's life. He sighed and patted Angie's back. If Rollie didn't come back in one piece, he was afraid Angie would break into a million pieces. All the King's horses and all the King's men...

The night was dark as the small cabin cruiser without running lights slipped close to shore, the engine muted and low. The tall man cut the motor off and let momentum ease the boat into the cove. He reached out and tied it to a tree so the tide wouldn't take it back out to sea. He strained to see in the dark and listened, to make sure no one had seen his arrival, that no one would investigate and discover his craft. He went below deck and lit a small lamp knowing no one would see it. He'd sealed the portholes with blackout curtains earlier that day. Carefully, he looked himself over in the small makeup mirror one last time, then turned to dress in the dark, expensive clothes laid out on the nearby bunk. Black slacks, black socks, black shoes, black sweater, black jacket. Black to fit his mood, counterpoint to his fair skin and short auburn hair. Black to make himself impossible to see on a dark night when he added the thin black gloves and mask that were in his coat pocket. He had two roles to play tonight, one visible, the other invisible. If this was to work, he'd have to play them well. People would see him and they had to see someone rich, self-indulgent, arrogant. A spoiled American playing with fire, breaking the law by being here and not caring, getting a kick out of violating his own country's sanctions. Satisfied, he ran a quick comb through his hair, then stepped back up on deck. He made the leap to shore easily, turned and started walking toward the town he knew was there, walking on foreign soil where he had no right to be.

When the lights of the town came into sight, he put a proud arrogance into his walk and ever so slightly the hitch of some one who'd had one drink too many. He entered it with a smug smile on his face, barely condescending to acknowledge the people still out and about. Spotting a pretty woman, he made a grab for her, stealing a kiss, receiving a slap for it. He laughed and went on his way. People would remember him - stupid, arrogant American. He bought a bottle of rum, the good stuff from a bar and strolled through town, from time to time taking a swallow straight from the bottle. Or he appeared to drink it, he couldn't afford to be drunk, he just wanted to appear drunk. He paused in a dark alley and splashed a little bit on himself, rinsed his mouth with it. It wouldn't do if soldiers realized he wasn't what he pretended and part of that was drunk. He wanted them to smell the drink on his breath, on his clothes, to dismiss him as a stupid, drunk Yankee American.

The lanky man swaggered on, pausing again to lean against the outside wall surrounding a rich house, taking another swig from his bottle. Anyone would be proud to own such a house, it was large and impressive even in the dark. There were guards here, men patrolling the walls and the gates. Of course, a general lived here, proud and arrogant, full of himself and his importance. He threw parties here, entertaining the people who would further his career, give him more power, wealth and control.

A beautiful woman served as hostess, smiling with a gracious sadness. Perfect manners, perfect dress, a picture of charm and beauty. She'd been doing this for many years... too many. She knew too well the part she played in the general's life. Once, he'd forced his attentions on her, now he bedded the ambitious young women out to improve their futures. She gratefully ignored his indiscretions and charmed his allies and potential allies at his parties, well aware of her lot in life.

The man observed the guards' routine closely with slitted eyes, drinking from his bottle. Making sure of the timing, it had to be perfect. Satisfied, he ambled on, stumbling a bit more now. Just a drunk, arrogant American bastard... A rich one so leave him alone unless he caused too much trouble.

Anita Consuela De La Toya Ramirez prepared carefully for bed. Each day was so draining. Only one thing allowed her to keep going and she allowed herself that luxury only when she was sure no one would check on her anymore at night. After settling her nightgown around her still beautiful body, she moved silently to the door of her bedroom prison and listened closely, straining to hear the guards posted down the hall. Satisfied, she moved to her bed and reached into the secret place between the headboard and mattress. Carefully, she removed her treasure and stroked it, memorizing the lines and creases, as if she didn't already have it seared into her mind and heart. These few, precious moments she allowed herself each night were the only thing that allowed her to function in her current life. She stared with starved eyes at the small picture of a handsome, smiling man and the beautiful little girl that smiled brilliantly up at him. Her beloved and her child, her precious baby. She had given up her hope and future for their safety and future. Manny and she had known they had to get their darling, intelligent baby girl, their little angel, out of this madness. The only way they had found meant Anita Ramirez would stay behind with him, that pig of a general. Her consolation was the knowledge that somewhere in the world, her beloved husband and child were safe and happy. A single tear fell down her cheek and she smiled as she touched the hair of her daughter again. Her darling little angel...

Anita Ramirez started and stared with horror at the soft sound from her window. No! They couldn't find her treasure, but she realized with a sick heart there was no time left to hide it. The General had found a way to steal her last solace. She straightened her shoulders and stood proudly waiting for his man to come and take her heart away. She would not give them the satisfaction of her tears or pleas. The General liked seeing them too much. A man dressed in black from head to toe crept in with near silence, he gestured urgently for her to be silent. Why, Anita wondered, why did the soldier wear a mask? What was going on?

The man moved close, carefully, cautiously slow, not wanting to startle her more. He paused to listen, straining to hear any signs that might mean discovery and failure. He moved to the beautiful woman in front of him and placed his mouth next to her ear. "I'm here to help you get away."

Anita gasped, unable to believe, surprised by the American words. What new game had the General found to play with her? Hope was a torment she'd given up long ago.

"Change into something dark. Something you can move easily in. We don't have much time." The man hissed urgently, before moving to crouch at the door and listen.

The older woman moved hesitantly, unsure if she should believe, unsure if she should listen. If she believed and it was a lie, her prison would become unbearable from the crushing blow. But... if she didn't listen and act and it was true! Madre de Dios! What if it was true? What if this man, whoever he was, really was here to help her? But why? What possible reason would this stranger have to help her?!? She looked sharply at the black figure in front of her and then moved silently to his side. She had to know... "Why? Why are you doing this to me? Why, damn you?!?" She whispered the words, more aware of the guards down the hall than since she'd first come here.

The thin man gestured urgently, then whispered back, so quiet she barely heard his response. "I'm doing this for your daughter. Angela. Do you even remember her? She needs you and I'm giving you to her! Now change!"

Angela? Her angel, her beautiful little angel! This man knew her Angel. She moved in a daze, swiftly pulling out the navy knit pant suit. It was the best she could do, the most casual clothing in her wardrobe. The General preferred her in dresses. Unmindful of the strange man in her room, she stripped out of her night gown and dressed, quickly, silently. She searched the bottom of her closet and found the boat shoes that went with the suit. She slipped her treasure into her pocket and waited for this man to lead her from here, probably to her doom, but she no longer cared. Angela! Hope beat an unfamiliar cadence in her heart.

The man checked outside, then gestured her over. He placed a harness on her and attached a rope. Reaching into his pants pocket, he removed a dark mask and gloves. Swiftly, she pulled them on, hiding her skin. The man waited, listening, then with a gesture telling her to be still, lowered her out the window and to the ground. She knelt close to the wall, breathless, waiting for the stranger to come to her. A moment later, he repelled down the wall and was at her side. Quick, sure hands removed the harness and pulled her away. They slipped as quiet as mice into a dark alley on the other side of the street. There, he pulled off his mask and gloves, shoving them into the jacket he picked up. She followed his lead and handed hers to him. The man pulled a bottle out of the other pocket and splashed some of its contents on her. Her nose wrinkled with the smell of rum. He pulled on the jacket and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. Staggering and kissing her, he lead her through the other end of the ally and into the town.

They staggered down the street. She steadied his drunken swagger as best she could. Occasionally, he drank from the bottle and kissed her messily. It was horrid. It was... wonderfully perfect she realized. Anyone seeing them would not think they were trying to escape, to flee Cuba. It was amazing. She watched in admiration as the man drunkenly swaggered past the soldiers on the outskirts of town. Anita held her breath as one challenged them, demanding a name, papers. She felt the man stiffen slightly and heard the indignant, arrogant tone of voice as he responded, her face hidden against him, kissing his neck. "Victor Loubar." Papers were presented. She heard the crinkle as they were examined and passed back. No one spoke to her, no one paid attention to her. She was just the drunk American's toy.

Once out of sight of the guards and the town, the man laughed softly and tugged on her arm, running in the night. He slowed further down the road and helped her through the bushes and trees. They came out in a cove and she saw the dark boat waiting, impatiently tugging at its moorings. Victor Loubar, Anita wondered if that was really his name. Surely not? And yet, wouldn't it be easier to be who he really was? He said nothing more to her as he helped her aboard and guided her into the safety of the cabin. He left her there and she heard the motor start, felt them pull away, darting out to sea. Away from her old life and toward... Toward what? What lay ahead? 'I'm giving you to her.' He'd said that, he was giving her to Angela. Who was he? Why did he want to give her to Angela? 'I'm doing this for your daughter. She needs you and I'm giving you to her.' The quiet words echoed in her head. Who was he and why do this? Why take the risk? She wondered what her daughter was like, she would be grown now. Was she beautiful? Married? Anita inhaled sharply, excited. Was her baby a mother now, making her a grandmother? And Manny, her beloved, what would he think when he saw her? Had he gone on with his life? Found someone to replace her? She remembered with a pang, the man hadn't mentioned her husband, only her daughter. She wanted to go up and ask, to demand answers to her questions, but she remained still, silent. The danger was still too close and she'd learned obedience too well over the years. She wondered, why does my daughter need me now, after all these years?

Morning came and Anita Ramirez woke as the man came into the cabin and pulled off the blackout curtains. He rolled them into a ball. The tall man didn't look at her and didn't speak, it was as if he was alone on the boat. She followed him cautiously and watched in amazement as he transformed the boat. It had been a deep red, but now moment by moment, strip by strip, he removed the red and it became a pristine white. Somehow he had taped the red color on to the boat and was now removing it, leaving absolutely no indication of what he'd done behind. She touched one smooth side in awe. Who was this man and how did he do this thing? She shook her head as her stomach reminded her it was late and she was hungry. She went back below and checked the tiny galley for food. She found cheese and bread and decided to make toast. She worked carefully, uncertain about the tiny oven's ability. She poured orange juice into two glasses and went to call her rescuer to breakfast.

The lanky man came silently, never really looking at her. Anita didn't notice that he watched her out of the corner of his eyes as he ate the toast and drank his juice. She's beautiful like her daughter, he thought, and strong. He could see where Angela had gotten her beauty and spirit from this woman. Soon, Angela Ramirez would have other family to rely on and not just Rollie Tyler. He nodded to himself, satisfied. This was good. Finished, he stood and rinsed his glass and plate, said a quiet "thank you" and went back outside. This set the pattern for their trip to the United States.

Anita was nervous and uncertain about her welcome there. Many had fled to the American shores, only to be returned to Cuba. Why should she be allowed to stay? And if she was, would her husband and daughter still want her? Gathering her courage, she finally asked the man a question. "Excuse me. Can you tell me about my daughter, my sweet angel and my husband?" She held her breath, waiting for his answer.

The man stared into the distance with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Ramirez. Your husband is dead." He sighed deeply at her half sob. "It happened over five years ago. An... an accident."

Anita reached out to him, then pulled back when he withdrew from her. "And my daughter?"

"Your daughter is a beautiful woman like her mother." He smiled softly, the sadness growing deeper in his eyes. "She's intelligent, strong and very brave. You should be proud of her. You will be proud of her. You'll meet her again soon."

The next night, the cabin cruiser came into a port. It pulled up to a dock and the man helped her up. As other men approached, he turned and hopped back into the boat and it quickly pulled away. She watched, stunned, as her rescuer left her to these unknown people. "I don't even know your name." Anita whispered softly to the night. The men spoke politely and took her to a car. They asked questions and she answered them calmly and as fully as she could. When one man handed her the papers necessary for her to stay in the United States, she realized how fully the unknown man had planned this moment. These I.N.S. officials had been expecting her, waiting for her.

"I'm Richard Irvin, Mrs. Ramirez. I'll take you to your daughter." They older man spoke quietly. "Do you want to rest first or...?"

Anita's heart filled with the possibility. "My daughter. I want to see my daughter. My Angela."

The man nodded and took her to an airport. A short time later, they were both on a plane... going somewhere. She wasn't even sure where. Anita Ramirez looked at her escort. "Who... who was that man, Mister Irvin? The one who...?"

Richard Irvin laughed softly. It was a pleasant laugh she thought. It'd been a long time since she'd heard a pleasant laugh from a man. "I'm sure I don't know, Mrs. Ramirez." He cocked his head and looked at her, remembering. "We received a phone call a few nights ago, telling us to expect you. The caller told us you were the mother of one, Angela Ramirez, currently residing in New York City." He smiled at her. "Your daughter has an impressive scholastic record and quite a reputation among certain circles. You should be proud of her." He nodded to himself and her, remembering the commendations from the New York City Police Department and The Federal Bureau of Investigations. "A very impressive young woman." He wondered if the man had been an agent, sent to retrieve Angie Ramirez's mother as a thank you for her help. He'd probably never find out, that sort didn't brag.

"I... I'm sure I will, Mister Irvin. I'm just... well, I guess I'm a bit nervous. This is all so sudden." Anita Ramirez looked out the plane's window, watching the lights pass below. She felt a large, warm hand pat hers, trying to comfort. Angela... The view was blurred by the tears in her eyes. Her Manuel was dead and her baby was a woman. Was there a place for her in this new world? A life? She breathed deeply. There had to be and if there wasn't... Well, she would make one. After all, wasn't she, Anita Consuela De La Toya Ramirez? She was strong and full of love for her family. She had survived The General, surely she would survive this happiness and sorrow.

Since that day Angie had returned to the loft and found Rollie had left, she returned each night. Her restless prowling found few answers in the old brewery. One of the few things, she learned was that Rollie had not touched his bed since that fateful night. It didn't take long to figure he'd been sleeping in the V.R. chamber instead. Each night when she returned, Reggie was there to greet her. He promised Angie he would remain until Rollie came home. Reggie never did get  his chance to tell off Rollie's persecutors. The next day, Angie had checked her email and found a long list of rather sheepish inquiries about the video file. Her angry responses were enough to cause the senders to send Rollie apologies for their thoughtlessness. It was easy to persuade the older man to help her get rid of the bed and find a replacement. He looked puzzled, but acquiesced to Angie's wishes. Four days after Angie returned to sleeping in the workshop, she was startled by a knock. Reggie wasn't there. He had gone out to share a few drinks and memories with a couple of "old" friends. Angie looked uncertainly at the door. "Window one, Blue."

The sight of Lucinda Scott was both a welcome and unwelcome one. She was glad to see her friend, but also had no desire to explain what had happened or where Rollie was. Especially since she didn't know where Rollie was. Reggie kept saying he was coming back. She'd just have to accept that for now. "Open door, Blue." Rollie's little robot barked and complied with the order. "Luce?" Angie began as her friend came inside, then froze. She'd never seen Lucinda like this before. "Luce?" The blonde licked her lips, remembering that dreadful email, they'd been getting stragglers ever since. "What's up?"

"Angie?!? What are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere for you. I even went by Mid-Town South, but Mira and Francis and the Captain weren't there and nobody would tell me anything and..."

"Lucinda," Angie spoke drily, "take a breath."

"I can't believe you came back after what... after what Tyler did to you!"

"Oh no," Angie groaned to herself. Even Lucinda? Great! Just great. At least Rollie isn't here to hear it. "Lucinda, Rollie didn't do anything to me!"

"How can you say that?!? He hit you! I saw it. It was awful." Lucinda walked over to touch the faded bruises on Angie's face, tears in her eyes.

"That's enough! I'm sick and tired of everybody blaming Rollie. Rollie. Did. Not. Hit. ME!" Angie spoke emphatically and clearly. "He would never do that! That was Loubar! Loubar! Not Rollie!!!"

"But..."

"No buts, Luce. Rollie would never, ever hit me! Period. End of discussion. It was a scuzz bag named Victor Loubar. He wanted everybody to think he was Rollie, that Rollie would do that! He wants..." Angie took a deep, shuddering breath. "He wants to ruin Rollie's life and everyone who believes that... that vid file is helping him succeed!"

Lucinda's eyes went wide in horrified realization as Angie's words sank in.

Angie was afraid the brunette was going to faint. Lucinda had looked awful before, but she look worse now. What? Suddenly a horrible thought occurred to her. "Lucinda? Did you talk to Rollie? About...?" Angie prayed that she was wrong, that it hadn't happened, that Lucinda hadn't... With a sinking heart, she realized that was just what had happened. Poor Rollie! Poor, poor Rollie... No wonder he'd been so upset when Reggie got here. Angie felt a fresh surge of gratitude to the older man. They'd known Reg for such a short time, but he'd turned into a staunch ally in all this mess and a very firm supporter of Rollie Tyler.

Lucinda nodded, unable to speak for a moment. As the two women looked at each other with stricken eyes, she found her voice and whispered. "I hit him! I... hit... him... Oh Angie! I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I never... I thought..." Tears spilled down her cheeks, unchecked. No... How could she have...? Why hadn't she asked or tried to find out...? Before... Rollie would never forgive her! Angie would never forgive her! Why hadn't she just thought it out?!? Why?!? She should have known better! She did know better! Why hadn't she just asked first? What had she done?

"Shh. Shh. Lucinda. You didn't know." Angie tried to comfort her friend, even as part of her wanted to choke her for being so... stupid! Rollie, you better come back to me like Reggie said... and soon!

"Poor Rollie! I can't believe I did that. Oh Angie! What have I done? He'll never forgive me!" Lucinda sobbed. "I don't think I'll ever forgive me. Where...?" She hiccuped. "Where is he? I have to apologize! I'm so sorry!"

Angie fidgeted. "I... I don't where Rollie is... He left... four days ago."

Lucinda whimpered. "After I hit him and accused him of... Oh Angie! I'm so sorry!"

The door opened and Reggie came in. He looked at the unhappy women. "What's this? Crying? I never could stand a woman crying! What's wrong, Angie?"

"Reggie, this is Lucinda. Lucinda Scott. This is Reggie." Angie introduced them to each other. "Um, Reggie... Lucinda hit Rollie... right before..."

"Right before he left." Reggie finished for her. He started to bristle, to defend the absent special effects expert, but looking at the repentant woman sitting with Angie, decided it wasn't necessary.

"Reggie, you said he'd come back. It's been four days. How much longer...? How much longer do I have to wait?" Angie asked, her eyes full of worry.

"There now, Angie. I told you, Rollie will be back. Just give him time."

Reggie bustled around, making tea to comfort the upset women. Angie tried to reassure Lucinda that Rollie wasn't gone for good. He was coming back and she could apologize then. Not an easy task for Angie Ramirez, since part of her was screaming that Rollie was gone and would never come back... would never want to come back.

Comforting Lucinda was exhausting, Angie thought. She was grateful the actor had finally left, but only after multiple promises from both Angie and Reggie that they would call the minute Rollie Tyler resurfaced. Angie sighed and looked around the loft. She went over to the sink to wash the dishes. When was Rollie coming home?

"Angie," Reggie spoke softly, "why don't you leave that and get some sleep? It's almost morning."

"No," Angie shook her head. "No. I'm okay, Reg. If you want to go to bed, fine, but I... I'm not ready yet."

"Well,.." Reggie began, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. They looked at each other, surprised and suspicious.

Who would be here this late? At... Angie glanced over at the clock... Almost 03:30 AM!?! "Window, Blue." She would check, even though it would be hard to see anything at this time of the night. We need to do something about that, Angie thought to herself. When Rollie gets back, she added, aiming for optimism. She blinked at the sight outside the old brewery. A large dark car was parked there. A man and a woman stood at the door. She couldn't make out who they were, just knew the man wasn't Rollie. Angie looked a question at Reggie who nodded assent. "Open, Blue." then more loudly, "Come in!"

The man escorted the woman inside. Angie blinked as she got a good look. The woman looked... familiar. Very familiar... "Mama?" she whispered, stunned.

"Angela?" The beautiful older woman whispered, "My baby? My beautiful Angel!" Anita Ramirez opened her arms to her precious daughter, the child she never expected to see again in this life. "Angela!!!" She wept as Angie fell into her mother's arms and pulled her close. The two women weeped with joy at seeing each other again after so very long.

"I... I thought you were dead! Daddy thought you were dead!" Angie cried, remembering those horrible days after a friend of her father's had arrived, fresh from Cuba. He had escaped with nothing more than the clothes on his back and news... News that Anita Ramirez was dead of a fever. Her father had been so hurt and full of sorrow, his only comfort was his daughter, his beautiful Angel. "Romano told us..."

"Shh... I'm so sorry. No, daughter, I'm alive and I'm here now." Anita crooned.

Angie sniffed, "But Daddy isn't... He..."

"He died." Her mother answered sadly. "I know. My... my rescuer told me. It was an... an accident?"

Angie pulled back and snorted, "Accident. Yeah, right. More like reckless endangerment." Her eyes flashed with remembered fury. "Rescuer? Who...?"

Anita Ramirez shrugged. "I don't know. He didn't introduce himself. He... He told some soldiers... Victor Loubar?"

Angie rocked back as if struck. "Loubar? No! What game is he playing now?!?"

"Angela, my daughter. I... I don't understand... Who is this Loubar? What has he done to hurt you so much?" The older woman asked anxiously, puzzled by her daughter's venomous response. This Loubar must be a very bad man...

Reggie cleared his throat, reminding the two women that others were here, seeing their reunion. "I can explain it, Angie. It wasn't Loubar. It was... Rollie."

"Rollie?" Angie whirled to stare at the older man, "What do you mean, Rollie? How? Why?"

"Rollie asked me to supply him with papers identifying him as Loubar. He said that Loubar was the only person he could think of that he'd like to get into that much trouble."

"You knew? You knew! And you didn't tell me!" Angie looked like she was ready to haul off and knock Reggie on his ass. Her eyes were spitting fury.

"I knew what Rollie wanted to do. He didn't want you to know until... Until we knew for certain. He didn't want to raise false hope, Angie." Reggie shrugged. "We didn't use Rollie's picture or Loubar's. Rollie made up a face. It seemed like a good idea. After all, everybody knows no one knows what Loubar really looks like."

"Rollie knows." Angie declared.

"What?" Reggie was shocked all over again. Rollie knew... Oh my.

"So does Elena... And me. I know! The F.B.I. published a sketch of him." Angie grinned wickedly. "Looks like you've been out of the loop too long, Reg."

Reggie chuckled at that and shook his head. "Sounds like you're right. Who would have thought...?"

Anita hesitantly touched her daughter's shoulder. "Rollie? And this Loubar, who is he?" she asked, bewildered.

Angie looked at her mother and the other man, the stranger observing them with silent curiosity. "Who are you? I'm Angie Ramirez. This is my friend, Reggie."

"Richard Irvin, I.N.S." The man introduced himself. He shook hands with the younger Ramirez and Reggie. "I prepared the papers to allow your mother to stay, Ms. Ramirez." He hesitated, fully expecting to be dismissed. "I have to admit, I'm curious. Who is Rollie and this Loubar?"

Angie laughed a bit bitterly. "Victor Loubar is a low down, slimy son of a..."

"Angela!" Anita spoke sharply, halting her daughter's words.

Angie froze, then smiled at her mother. Well, that would take some getting use to. "Victor Loubar is an arms dealer and a mercenary. He's a brutal killer without any socially redeeming values that I can find!" She declared it triumphantly, pleased that she'd said it without cursing. "He's... he's twisted and sneaky. He pulls these really elaborate plans off. He always disguises himself as someone else, after observing them and killing them. Loubar steals his victim's life in more ways than one. Take my advice. You don't want to meet this man!"

Irvin nodded agreement. Loubar sounded like a very nasty piece of work.

Angie warmed suddenly. "Rollie is... Rollie is my partner, my boss. My best friend! He's... he's wonderful and generous and crazy and..." She trailed off, uncertain how to describe the Australian and do him justice. She looked at her mother. "He... he's my family. He's all I've had since... since Dad died." She finished softly.

Reggie realized the women needed to talk and they needed to be alone to do it. They had a lot of ground to cover. "Well, good night, Angie. I'll see you..." He chuckled softly. "I was fixing to say tomorrow. I'll see you this afternoon. Okay?"

Angie answered gratefully. "Okay, Reggie. Thanks! For everything."

"You're welcome," Reggie responded as he tugged the I.N.S. agent out of the building.

Angie and Anita Ramirez didn't get any sleep that day. They talked for a very long time. Well, Angie thought ironically to herself, she talked a very long time. Her mother's story had been relatively short and to the point. It covered her time in Cuba vividly and succinctly. The knowledge of her mother, trapped for all those years with that man, that General was painful. It made Angie angry to think they had thought her dead when they could have done something sooner to rescue her. She wanted to find her father's old "friend" and demand an explanation. To demand how much General Juan Cortez had paid for him to lie. Anita had finally calmed her daughter enough to ask her own questions about Manny's life and his death. And her daughter's life and why this Rollie thought Angie needed her now? She wondered why he had decided to look for her if she was supposedly dead.

Angie looked around the loft and spoke softly of her father's life, of his work. She told her mother of how they first met the young Australian who would become such an important piece of their life. It wasn't until now that Angie realized just how empty her father's life and her life had been until that point. Rollie had filled a hole that her mother's death had left. He'd been loved like a son and a brother. And he'd taken the role of mother, Angie thought with amazement, without a single complaint. She told of her first period and how Rollie had gone to the pharmacy and returned with the necessary feminine napkins and tampons. How he taught her to do make-up so it wasn't overdone or flashy. How he'd made birthday cakes and arranged parties for his mentor's daughter. How Rollie had shared a way for Angie to honor her mother on Mothers Day. The tears and anger, the joys and laughs that they had shared.

Her mother smiled softly and a bit sadly. This man had taken her place in her daughter's life and raised her to be a wonderful young woman. She had much more to be grateful to Rollie Tyler than just her rescue, but oh! How she wished she could have been here! And how she wished to thank this mysterious and wonderful man. "Rollie Tyler sounds like a very special man."

Angie smiled, the confusion melting away. "He is." She looked around and found the touches that were pure Rollie without a hint of her father. "He... I love him. He's my brother. He's my best friend." She bit her lip. "I miss him." She looked at the hand she held. That held her hand. Then Angie looked into her mother's face with tears sliding down her cheeks. "I... miss him." Slowly, she told her mother about Loubar, holding nothing back. Telling everything about the rape, the shooting, the pain and confusion.... Everything.

Anita was weeping too by the time Angie finished her tale. Oh, her poor daughter! To be used so. The pain and confusion. She felt compassion for the absent man and prayed he would return soon. As she held her daughter in her arms, offering comfort and support, she remembered his words. 'She needs you.' Well, Angela might need her mother, but she also needed her partner, her best friend, her brother. Please come home soon, she thought. Angela... Angie needs you near too! If Loubar was to appear to her now, Anita Ramirez would cheerfully kill him, slowly and painfully, for hurting her daughter and... her son? Had she somehow inherited a son from Manny? Remembering Angie's words, she decided that's exactly what had happened. Looked like her family was a bit different then she'd expected. That was all right, she looked forward to really meeting Rollie Tyler!

Angie's days became filled with showing her mother around New York City and introducing her to her friends. Mother and daughter went shopping together, buying necessities and new clothes for Anita and a few new items for Angie as well. Angie had worried a bit about overdoing the spending, but some friends pitched in and helped with the costs. They called it a sort of 'Welcome to America' for Anita Ramirez. They'd been reluctant to accept at first, but finally conceded under the pressure of the well-wishers.

After careful consideration, Anita moved into Angie's apartment, while Angie remained at the workshop, trying to wait patiently for Rollie to return. Angie still had nightmares at night, but for some reason she didn't have trouble separating Loubar from Rollie. Now, she told the two apart without a problem. The blonde doubted it would be as simple in real life, but... It helped. Thinking about it and after a brief mention to her mother, they discussed the dreams. Finally, they decided that somehow Angie's description of Rollie and their life together had clarified her confused memories and allowed her to see more clearly. It was a good enough explanation for the younger woman. Now, if only Rollie would come home!

Angie received a package from Sara, their director friend, and was surprised to find a new program for Rollie's virtual reality chamber. Usually they made the programs themselves with footage supplied by friends in the movie business. The card inside was signed by a lot of people, most of them saying they were sorry for doubting Rollie and hurting Angie in the process. She realized the program was a peace offering, more or less. At first, she thought about throwing it away or returning it to Sara. However, curiosity got the better of her and she decided to play it first. Angie was stunned by the quality. It was beautiful and obviously custom designed with Rollie particularly in mind! She couldn't send it back without her partner's input first. Angie hoped it would be soon...

Angie breathed deeply, not wanting to worry the others. They'd dropped her mom off at Angie's old apartment and brought Angie here - home to the loft. She knew Reggie and the Gattis were worried about her. Well, she was worried about Rollie! It'd been over three weeks since she'd last seen him and over two weeks since her mother's arrival in the United States. Why hadn't he come home? Reggie told her Rollie probably wanted to give her time alone with her mother, so they could get re-acquainted. He also thought that Rollie had some deep thinking of his own to do. Rollie would come home when he was ready in his own time. Angie tried to be patient. She really did, but it was so hard waiting. She just hoped she didn't scare Rollie when he finally came home by jumping all over him! That would certainly be a fine welcome home. She didn't want to yell at him or anything, but she was afraid she would. Rollie could've at least called or... something! Anything!!!

"Angie, are you sure you don't need anything?" Francis asked.

For the thousandth time, Angie thought to herself. Just proves he cares so much about me... and Rollie. Frank was a good friend for both of them. "No, Francis. I'm fine. Do you want something to drink? A cup of coffee or something before you go home?" She walked into the dark workshop and kicked something. Whatever it was slid across the floor and thudded against the base of the steps. The special effects expert wondered what it was, because she hadn't left anything lying around. "Lights, Blue!"

The little robot dog barked an acknowledgment and turned on the lights. Angie blinked in the brightness and looked over to the steps... Where she saw a boot... A boot? Then it dawned on her. It was one of Rollie's hiking boots! Looking around eagerly for other signs of her partner, she saw a small bag she recognized and a slightly larger one she didn't, huddled together just inside the door. Rollie was home! He'd finally come home! "Rollie's home!" she gasped to the others.

"What?" Frank and Sarah chorused.

"Rollie's home!!!" Angie told them, her voice full of joy as she ran up the stairs looking for the Australian special effects expert. Seconds later, she came down disappointed. "He's not upstairs."

"Well then, where would he be?" Reggie asked, ever practical.

Angie thought about it for a moment. Considering the discarded luggage and boot... she wondered where exactly the other one was... Rollie was tired. So he should be in bed, but he wasn't. Then Angie remembered Rollie hadn't slept in his bed since that night! He had no way of knowing that she and Reggie had replaced it with a new one. He'd been sleeping in the V.R. chamber. With a whoop, Angie spun around and darted back up the steps. She skidded to a halt at the purple doors to the bright yellow chamber and tried to collect herself. She didn't want to scare him and if he was asleep, she certainly didn't want to wake him up. Angie forced herself to breathe deeply. Somewhat calmer, she opened the door and peeked inside. It was dark, none of their programs had been activated, making it hard to see. Peering closely at the bean bag chair, she finally recognized the awkward sprawl that was Rollie Tyler.

Carefully, she turned the lights up and moved closer so she could get a clear look at his face. Rollie looked... utterly worn. There were deep dark circles under his eyes, lines of exhaustion etched  his face. Slowly, she checked the rest of him out. Bandages were taped around the palms of his hands. And she finally found out what had happened with his boot. The left one was firmly fitted to it's owner, his right ankle wore a bright red ski-boot style brace. Now what had he done? Angie wondered, worried and exasperated. Couldn't Rollie do anything without getting hurt?!? His shivering finally registered on her and she gently touched his skin. He felt... cold. With a deep sigh, Angie left to get a blanket to cover her boss. Seeing the anxious faces looking up at her, she went downstairs. "Rollie's asleep." She told the others quietly. "He looks completely exhausted and a bit... the worse for wear." Angie looked upstairs with a small frown of worry. "He's cold. I better get a blanket..."

"Okay, Angie. If you needed anything, call." Sarah spoke. "We'll leave you alone for now."

Francis looked ready to protest, then thought better of it. "Yeah. And I'll come by tomorrow evening after I get off shift. Take care of him, Angie... and yourself."

"I will." Angie promised, escorting them out the door.

Reggie gave Angie a hug and whispered in her ear. "I told you Rollie would come back. Now, don't be too rough on him, sounds like he's had a hard time while he was gone."

Angie smiled at that. "I'll try... But he could have called me or something."

Reggie patted her shoulder, "I'll tell Lucinda, he's home. Don't worry, I'll make certain she understands to stay away until you say so." He joined the Gattis in Frank's unmarked police car. They'd drop him off at his hotel.

Angie got a couple of warm blankets from the chest in Rollie's bedroom, then hesitantly pulled out a third and got a pillow as well. She returned to the V.R. chamber and watched Rollie sleep for a few seconds. Angie carefully tucked two of the blankets around and over Rollie's lanky frame. She lay down on the floor nearby, wrapped in the other blanket, resting her head on the pillow. She watched him breathe softly and quietly, then her eyes slid shut. 'Rollie's home!' was her last thought before she fell soundly to sleep.

The blonde special effects expert woke early the next morning. For one dazed moment, she was confused about why she was sleeping on the floor of the V.R. chamber, when memory returned. Rollie was home! She twisted around to check on her partner and found him still sleeping soundly. Oddly enough, it looked like the Aussie hadn't even twitched all night. Most unusual for a man who seldom slept the night through, never mind being still while doing it. She decided he must really be exhausted as she untangled herself from the blanket and stood with a graceful stretch. She padded closer and brushed Rollie's hair back from his eyes. That was when she found the fading bruise above his right temple. Angie shivered and gently touched Rollie's hand, feeling the roughness of the tape there. What had happened to him? When he'd left home, he'd been deeply hurt by friends and acquaintances thinking he could and would harm her. He'd rescued her mother - unscathed! And then Rollie just disappeared. For over two weeks, it had been as if Rollie Tyler did not exist. That was not a world Angie wanted to visit ever again! She shoved the thought away, very aware of the sleeping man's presence. He was finally home, it was enough. They would find a way for Rollie to handle the hurt and, Angie hoped with all her heart, to continue to work in the field they both loved and enjoyed - together.

Angie went upstairs for a quick shower. Finished, she popped back into the V.R. chamber, checking Rollie again, reassuring herself he hadn't disappeared. As she went to consider breakfast, Angie decided she was being foolish. Rollie wouldn't disappear again, at least not until he finished the task he started before he left... transferring the property and assets of Tyler FX to her. But he couldn't do that without seeing her now, because she had hidden the deeds, ownership papers  and account information. The blonde opened Rollie's refrigerator and looked at the contents. She wrinkled her nose as she decided none of it was appetizing. Thinking about it, Angie decided she wanted to get cinnamon rolls. Fresh and hot with plenty of icing. Rollie loved the gooey treats, but seldom indulged in them. They would be an appropriate welcome home for her boss. And milk! Milk and cinnamon rolls.

Angie smiled as she grabbed her wallet and headed for the grocers and the bakery. Running her errands didn't take long and she was back at the loft in less than twenty minutes. She poured herself a glass of milk and put two of the hot rolls on a plate. Angie started back upstairs to the V.R. chamber, then paused. She was suppose to meet her mom at Macys this morning. She better call and cancel. It took just a moment to make the call and as soon as her mother found out Rollie was home, she understood. Her mother just asked that they get together later, perhaps tomorrow after Rollie was rested. Angie agreed, then headed for the V.R. chamber.

Angie sat on the floor, eating her rolls, drinking milk and watching Rollie sleep. She was just licking the last of the icing from her fingers, when she saw the Australian start to stir. The blonde immediately jumped up and activated the new program. She sat back down and waited, eager for her boss to wake up, eager to see Rollie's reaction to their new program. A few moments later, Rollie's eyes blinked open and he froze in astonishment. His eyes went wide as he watched the scenery surrounding him with constant motion. Angie grinned when one hand reached out to touch a sea turtle swimming by. The V.R. of the Great Barrier Reef was beautiful. Peaceful and soothing and ever changing. It wouldn't matter how frequently they ran it, there would always be something new to discover. A fish hiding in the coral, a crab scuttling across the bottom, always something new to find. Suddenly all of the fish disappeared, scared of something. Angie and Rollie held their breath as a Great White swam by prowling for food. Once it was gone, the other creatures came back out, life returning to normal. Rollie grinned, charmed, as a small squid squirted by.

"Like it?" Angie kept her voice quiet and low, but Rollie still jumped, startled by the sound.

"Yeah," came the response. "Where did you get it?" Rollie asked curiously, as he turned to watch a colorful sunfish swim past.

"Um," Angie squirmed ever so slightly and Rollie turned to look at her. Angie found herself staring into their warm depths and she finally noticed the sadness that filled them. "Sara and some of the others sent it as an... an apology. They're sorry they jumped to conclusions, Rol."

Rollie laughed bitterly. "So all's forgiven and I'm suppose to forget! Forget that everybody thought I would..." He trailed off and compassion filled his eyes. "I'm sorry, Angie. I don't have any room to complain. You've had it worse."

"I wonder," Angie whispered as she reached to touch one of Rollie's bandaged hands. "What happened, Rollie? Where were you? I was... I was worried. Reggie kept saying you'd be back, but it was so long! And..." Angie looked  up at the man who was trying very hard to avoid looking at his beautiful partner. "Why didn't you call?" She said the words softly, trying to keep it from sounding... accusing. Angie stood up and went to stand beside her Aussie partner. A gentle hand reached out to cup Rollie's chin, turning him to face her. "I was worried about you."

Rollie looked down at his hands, ashamed. "I know. I'm sorry. I... I meant to call or email you, but..." He took a deep breath and looked up into Angie's concerned blue eyes. He searched them, seeking... revulsion, fear, but found only love and concern... for him. Angie no longer looked at him and saw only Loubar. "I only meant to be gone a week. Just a week!" He looked at the colorful sea life surrounding them. "I went to Australia... to home. I thought I'd visit Mum's grave. It's... it's been so long. Not since..." Angie reached out and hugged the man close, trying to help with her warmth and love. "I wanted to give you and your mum a chance to... to get acquainted again." He smiled shyly up at her, anxious. "Did you... did she...?"

Angie kissed his right cheek, "Thank you, Rollie. Thank you for finding her for me. We... we've been talking. It's good to have... to have more family. I missed her so much! But now," Angie gave him a smile full of love, "now I have her again, thanks to you. Thank you!"

Rollie relaxed a bit, relieved. "I'm glad. I... I... I wanted to make up for... for..."

"Rollie, stop that! You have nothing to make up for. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Yes... Yes, I did. I... It's my fault Loubar..."

"No! That was Victor Loubar's fault. He did it! He is responsible. Not you!!! Never you, Rollie."

"But if I hadn't helped Elena try to... and..." Rollie continued, stricken and sad, "he wouldn't have... hurt you. He wouldn't have raped you!" Tears ran down Rollie's face as he cried his guilt and anguish. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He kept say the words over and over, unable to stop.

Angie pulled Rollie closer and held him, gently rocking him. "Shhh... shhh... It's not your fault. Please Rollie! It's not your fault. It's all right. Shh... shh..." Angie was never sure how long she held her weeping partner, trying to ease his guilt and pain. For a second, fresh hate flared in her heart for Victor Loubar. She stoked Rollie's hair as the hate disappeared under her love for her best friend, her partner, her big brother. So much pain. They had both suffered so much pain! Trying to cope with it separately was wrong. This was something they should face together. They were stronger together. Why had she shut Rollie out? Angie resolved that they would deal with the whole mess, together! She fell silent, just stroking Rollie's hair and rocking him gently, offering the comfort of her presence.

Rollie, exhausted, finally stopped. He hiccuped and looked up at the woman holding him. "I'm sorry," he said in a tiny voice.

"It's not your fault, Rollie!" Angie declared, giving him a little shake to emphasis her words, finally realizing she had been crying too. "You didn't do anything wrong and... and I'm sorry too."

Rollie blinked in surprise. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, you didn't do anything."

"I shot you," Angie pointed out, then hurried on, overriding Rollie's protests, "but that's not what I mean. I know I didn't mean to shoot you. It was an... an accident. I'm... I'm sorry I shut you out Rollie. We should've been facing this... what happened... together. I'm sorry I didn't see that before. Forgive me?"

Rollie hugged her back, "Nothing to forgive, sweetie. I... It's not your fault. You weren't exactly firing on all cylinders. Neither was I... It's okay, I understand. You needed time to... to accept and..."

"Yeah." Angie hugged him tightly, then let go when he winced. "Rollie? What... what's wrong?" She eyed him consideringly. "Just how did you get hurt and how bad? What happened, Rol?"

Rollie looked sheepishly at her and stood up. He moved stiffly, like a broken and unused toy. "I... uh... While I was home... I fell off the mountain."

"Fell off the mountain?" Angie mouthed the words, then stared at him. "You mean you fell off the same mountain as when...?"

"The same one I fell off when I was a boy and climbed it... climbed it to say good-bye to Mum." Rollie nodded. "Yeah. That mountain. Kata Tjuta"

"Oh." Angie responded, non-plussed. She considered her partner as she followed him up stairs. "Rollie? Why were you on that mountain?"

Rollie looked embarrassed.

Angie decided to give him a moment to think while she got him a couple of cinnamon rolls and a glass of milk. She was relieved the pastries were still warm. "Here," she nudged him with her hip, shoving him toward the kitchen table. "Eat."

Rollie looked surprised at the treat and smiled shyly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Angie watched him finish a roll, before asking again. "Why were you on that mountain?"

"Um," Rollie licked icing from his fingers. "Well... uh... There were these kids and..." He looked down at his plate. "They got stuck half way down. I... I had to..."

"You helped rescue them." Angie nodded, satisfied. Of course, Rollie helped. It was an essential part of his nature to help someone - anyone - in trouble.

"Well. Yeah. Um... They were fourteen and thought they knew what they were doing. They got stuck. I... I was on the last kid when some rocks fell and..." Rollie shrugged. "I got banged up and some rope burns. It wasn't too bad, but I... uh..."

Remembering the bruise she'd found that morning, Angie finished. "You were concussed and they kept you for observation."

"Yeah," Rollie sighed. "They wouldn't let me make any overseas phone calls and... I'm sorry, Ange. I really did mean to call you."

"Are the kids all right?" Angie asked as she went to get Rollie more milk.

"Uh? Oh yeah. Yeah, they're fine. Just were scared mostly."

"Even the one...?"

"Yeah, I managed to keep her from getting hit." Rollie nibbled on the other roll, grateful Angie wasn't yelling at him. It'd been sort of stupid. He didn't have the proper gear and... Well, he'd been lucky. They all had.

Angie snorted as she put the milk down beside Rollie. "Figures. You still look... tired."

"Yeah, well, being stuck on a plane for that long with these bruises.... Yeah, I am tired!"

Angie was surprised at the admission. She considered Rollie thoughtfully. Bruised, recovering from a concussion, his ankle and whatever was wrong with it. Long legs. Oh yeah, she bet Rollie was beat after that long of a flight! Then sleeping in the V.R. chamber, instead of his bed. Sleeping (or more likely not sleeping) the same way before he left. It was time to put Rollie to bed... In a real bed. "Well, finish up. I think you need to go to bed."

Rollie looked uncertainly at Angie as he finished the last of his roll. He really didn't want to... But how could he...? Damn. And he was tired still. He felt sluggish and stiff and worn... It'd been a long time since he'd been this beat.

"Rollie, come on." Angie tugged him to his feet, not giving him time to object or pull away. She pulled him into his bedroom and pushed him onto his bed. His new bed, she thought with satisfaction. She squatted down to remove his boot. "What's wrong with your ankle?"

Rollie pulled his shirt over his head, uncertain. Maybe he could sneak back down after Angie left. "Uh. Cracked one of the bones. It'll be fine, but I'm suppose to get it checked... Tomorrow. I think..." He tried to sort out the time lost and gained and figure out the real time he'd lived, not the theoretical time. He gave up, his brain was too fuddled. He'd figure it out... later.

"Okay." Angie patted a knee. "Get out of those pants and get comfortable. You need more sleep, boss." She turned her back to him to give Rollie some privacy, then asked as casually as she could. "Like your new bed?"

Rollie started at the words. New bed? What?!? He looked closely at the bed he'd avoided looking at. Avoiding looking at a bed you're in was not an easy feat. He blinked and looked again. It was a new bed! This one didn't look the least bit like his old bed. He touched the smooth, curved wood of the headboard and smiled. It was a "sleigh" bed, an old design that was becoming popular again. The head and foot board gave it the appearance of being a sleigh. It was beautiful! Rollie swung his long legs under the covers and sighed deeply, suddenly happy to be in bed. "Yeah." He answered. "It's... it's beautiful, Angie!"

"Then you like it?" Angie persisted, unsure how Rollie would take her arbitrarily replacing the old one.

"Yes." Rollie reached one long arm out and tugged on Angie's wrist. "It's a lovely bed, Angie. Thank you," he shyly told her.

Angie beamed, pleased. "You're welcome!" She fluffed his pillow and he slid down with a yawn. He was tired. "Now go to sleep, Rollie. Sweet dreams." She kissed his temple and tucked him into his new bed. She hoped it gave him good dreams. Something in too short supply in Rollie Tyler's life.

Rollie's eyelids fluttered shut. He sighed and snuggled deeper into the comfort of the warm bed. "Thank you."

Angie slipped quietly out, turning off the lights on her way. She headed for the clean room. Angie wanted to call and check with Elena on the status of their hunt for Loubar. The agent would be pleased to find Rollie was back home, safe and relatively sound. The call wasn't as quick as she would have liked, but it was slightly rewarding. Thanks to Angie's programs, the F.B.I., Interpol and Scotland Yard knew that Loubar was somewhere in the vicinity of London, but was expected to leave soon for Tel Aviv. Angie thanked Elena and hung up, relieved that Loubar wasn't in the United States. Hopefully, the authorities would keep Loubar jumping so he wouldn't have time to wreck more havoc in their life. She spent most of the day puttering quietly in the clean room or in the workshop. Interspersed with periodic trips to check on Rollie, to make sure he was sleeping quietly, to make sure he hadn't disappeared.

Late that afternoon, Rollie Tyler woke up. He blinked his eyes open and stared at the ceiling... Ceiling? Oh, it was his bedroom. He froze as memory returned, then relaxed as he remembered his new bed. Angie had gotten him a new bed... Guess that means she doesn't hate me, he thought. His body shook with the strong sense of relief. He remembered the emails and phone calls and shook more with fresh pain. How could he continue working with people who would think that of him? Rollie hoped Angie could accept his decision to give her the company and... retire? Well, sort of retire. He thought he might design and maybe... occasionally... as long as no one found out... work on effects for her. He'd move to Australia. Deep in the  Outback where no one could find him, not his so-called friends and most especially not Loubar. They'd put up a satellite set-up so he could keep in touch with her... If she allows it, he thought wistfully. He hoped he wasn't being a coward. Angie didn't take kindly to cowards. He pushed the covers back and dragged his battered body from bed.

Angie smiled as she heard the sound of the shower. Rollie was up. She went to see about making something to eat. Maybe spaghetti, it was easy and they hadn't had it for a while now. She searched the cabinets in the kitchen for the noodles, dug out the boiler and found the other ingredients. Not finding tomato sauce, she went downstairs to get some from the FX supplies. It would probably amaze their friends to find out how much Rollie relied on the supplies downstairs for food. Well, what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them and they didn't need to know they were eating special effects supplies when they visited. Rollie always remembered to restock their FX supplies and usually forgot his own kitchen. She hummed as she chopped some peppers and onions for the sauce. Good thing, she didn't forget. It was fairly well stocked for a change. While the peppers and onions were sizzling in the skillet and the water was warming up to cook the pasta, Angie dug into the refrigerator for the Italian sausage she'd spotted in it the other day. Angie continued with the cooking, switching the vegetables to cook more in the tomato sauce and the sausages to the frying pan. She checked the water and put in the spaghetti noodles.

"Hmmm. Something smells good." Rollie said as he entered the kitchen area.

"Glad you think so. Feeling better?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I am. Thanks." Rollie fidgeted as he sat down at the table, watching Angie cook.
 
Angie noticed his nervousness, but decided to keep quiet. Whatever it was, he would speak of it when he was ready. Finishing up with the cooking, she served them both large helpings and added the bread she picked up that morning. Well, she decided to remain quiet until she realized that it was spoiling his appetite. "Rollie. I didn't make this for you to play with," she spoke drily as she watched him push his food around his plate. He hadn't taken one bite. "What's wrong?" Angie asked gently.

Rollie looked at her with the saddest eyes she'd ever seen. He looked at his plate and pushed it away. "I... I can't stay here anymore, Angie. Not after... after everybody thought..." He looked at her with eyes that pleaded for understanding. "I can't," he whispered.

"Rollie, are you running away?"

Rollie flinched and looked away. "I guess I am."

Angie stood and moved to Rollie's side. She turned him to face her. "Rollie. I... I understand, but couldn't you try? If it's... If it's still too much after that, we'll both go."

Rollie blinked, surprised by the fierce declaration. "I... I don't know. I guess... I guess I can try. Angie..." He wondered how to tell her he loved her, but he didn't... love her. She was his little sister, the light of his life and the heart of his world. But he couldn't... He didn't... He just could not bring himself to be her lover!

Angie stroked Rollie's soft brown curls and ached for him. He was so tormented. How could she hurt him more by telling him...? She didn't want him for a lover. Rollie Tyler was her partner, her best friend and her brother. He never was and never would be her lover. Angela Ramirez remembered her words to him. 'You know what people do for love.' She had to tell him! If she didn't do it now, it would be worse... later. "Rollie? Rollie, I... I love you..." Angie stared at his hair, not wanting to see the pain in his eyes. "You're my big brother, the one I can always count on. The one who's always there for me. I... What I did with Loubar... when he was... you... It was wrong. I know that now. You're my brother!" She saw him freeze and shivered. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to hurt you more... If you want to go... I... I understand." She turned to leave, certain he must hate her, hate the very sight of her.

"Angie." The soft Oz accented voice speaking her name with so much love made her stop. She turned, afraid of the pain and sadness in his eyes and saw... relief and a deep, abiding love shining in their depths. "I'm glad little sister... because... because I can  never be your lover. You're too... too special and important to me for that." Angie fell into his open arms with a soft, joyous cry and they wept together, tears of relief and happiness and healing.

After holding each other for several moments, Angie pulled back and grinned cheekily at her boss. "So. Does this mean we can keep the new V.R. program?"

"Oh you! What? You think I can be bought?" Rollie pretended to pout, but could not keep it up for very long. "Let's check it out again!" He continued, enthusiastic about their new entertainment. The pain was still there, but Rollie was willing to try. They'd start with Lucinda and work through the list. One person at a time and take things as they came. As long as Angie Ramirez helped him, Rollie Tyler was positive he could handle anything.

Two nights later, Reggie insisted on taking Angie, Anita and Rollie out to dinner. During the preceding days, Rollie had answered Anita's grilling, shyly at first, then with humor and warmth. The older woman was swiftly charmed by the tall, lanky man who was so important in her daughter's life. Seizing the opportunity, she proposed a toast to the gathering of friends. "To Manuel, who I miss and love so very much. To my daughter, Angela, a beautiful and independent woman." She paused as everyone cheered and raised their glasses to hers. Her eyes twinkled as she added. "And to Rollie, my new son."

Rollie blushed deep red, then stood to make his own toast. "To my little sister, Angie, who keeps me in line. And to Anita, my new mum, who'll probably conspire with my sister. I don't stand a chance." They laughed and drank to his toast.

"Yeah, well I've got some news." Reggie announced after they'd settled back down. "I talked to Elena and Mira earlier today. Loubar appears to have gotten himself into a sticky situation." Reggie grinned wickedly. "Seems he went to deal with a Cuban general named Juan Cortez, who screamed when he was introduced and shot him. The general said something about Loubar not stealing any more women from him. He is now languishing in a charming little Cuban prison." The older man laughed at his friends' stunned looks. "Well done, Rollie. I don't think we'll have to worry about that particular weasel for quite a while."

Angie looked sharply at Reggie. "They're sure it's Loubar?"

"Positive, Angie. The Cubans willingly supplied a photograph of Victor Loubar without any of his masks and a DNA sample. It's Loubar all right."

Angie grinned wickedly at her partner. "Good work, boss!"

Rollie sat there blinking. "I can't believe it bloody worked! It was just wishful thinking that I'd get Loubar in trouble."

Everyone laughed. While they were waiting for desert, the ladies excused themselves to 'powder their noses'. Reggie and Rollie talked a bit about the welcome news concerning Loubar. Rollie looked seriously at Reggie, "You know, Reg. You better wait a bit, before making a play on Angie's mum."

"Rollie! I'm hurt that you'd think that about me!" Reggie looked at the younger man a bit surprised. He'd thought he'd hidden his interest quite nicely.

"Come off it, mate. We both know you're interested. Somehow, I don't think this dinner was for my benefit or Angie's!" Rollie grinned as Reggie blushed slightly. "Seriously Reggie. Take it slow, Anita only just found out she's a widow."

"That's all right, Rollie." Reggie smiled at something only he could see. "I can afford to wait. She's a beautiful woman. I can see where Angie got her looks. She's not a hot house flower either. Oh yes indeed, mate. I can wait."

Neither man noticed Angie Ramirez who'd come up behind them a moment before. For a second, she was furious at Reggie for wanting her mother, seeing it as a betrayal of her father's love. Then she relaxed and smiled. Her father would want his wife to be happy. Reggie was a good man. He might be a match for her mom. She stepped back and then approached the table with more noise. Angie grinned mentally as the men jumped slightly. Rollie popped up and pulled out her chair. She sat down gracefully and smiled. Reggie might even be good enough. Maybe!