He knew that any attempt to apologize right now would only push her even further away. Still, he longed to see T.J. But John Ross knew that the further away he stayed from the McSween family right now, the better off he would be. He wondered how Trevor had reacted once he'd found out about his wife's infidelity.

When the doorbell rang, John Ross didn't want to go answer it. Right now he wasn't in the mood for any visitors…and doubted he would be for a long time. But the person behind the door was persistent and finally John Ross opened the door just to silence the annoying ringing.

“Angela…what the hell are you doing here?” John Ross was furious at her for showing her face here, but soon his anger subsided when he noticed the devastated look on Angela's face. Her smeared mascara was a telltale sign that she'd been crying.

“It's Melissa…”

John Ross' heart skipped a beat. “What? What happened?”

“She took Harry's private plane…she was going to the Caribbean and someone out to get Harry, planted a bomb on the plane. They thought he was going to be taking it…T.J. was with her…”

“Oh my God…the bomb didn't go off…it didn't.”

“It did. They're dead. They're both dead.”

“No.”

“I wouldn't lie about something like this!” Angela finally screamed. “They're dead and it's all our fault!”

J.R. and Sue Ellen walked into the entry hall just in time to hear Angela's declaration. Who was dead? Neither knew quite what to say but they could tell that something was very wrong. “John Ross…what's wrong?” Sue Ellen asked, her voice full of concern and budding fear.

“My son…and Melissa.”

“Oh my God!” It was all too easy for Sue Ellen to turn to J.R. for comfort and as Angela told them exactly what had happened, she buried her head in his shoulder.

“Have they found their bodies?” J.R. asked. “Or are they just assuming they're dead?”

“Harry told me…he told me that they found them.” Angela dabbed at her eyes. “They're still investigating the whole thing, but there isn't much left to find out.”

“I've gotta get away from here.” John Ross walked past them. Sue Ellen's heart was breaking for her son and her lost grandson. She tried to follow him, but J.R. pulled her back.

“Let him go…he needs some time alone.”

“So what now?” Sly asked, kicking off her shoes.

Wade sighed, feeling defeated. Honestly, he had no idea what to do next. “I dunno, but I ain't givin' up this easy.”

“Maybe your hunch about McKay is wrong? That's all it is anyway…just a hunch. I mean, you don't even know the guy.”

“But I know about his history of causin' all sorts of trouble for the ranch.”

“And that's exactly what it is—history. Wade, I think you should drop this and just go to the sheriff…let him handle it. Tell him about the barrels we found at the Hammond ranch and about how they disappeared when we went back to take pictures.”

“No way…I don't wanna do that yet.”

Sly rolled her eyes. “Men! Always trying to do things for themselves…wouldn't ask for help if their life depended on it.”

Soon she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Daryl yelling to her over the din. Elayne tried to wave him off by motioning to the earplugs, but the testing halted for a few moments so the technicians could set up a different test. Reluctantly, Elayne removed the earplugs.

Daryl smirked. “What are you doing down here? Shouldn't you be sitting in your office waiting at Bobby Ewing's beck and call?”

Elayne turned to face him with a look of carefully controlled anger. “Shouldn't you be somewhere pretending to work? Or perhaps your favorite past time, slandering some innocent person, or attempting to ruin someone's life?”

Daryl opened his mouth to reply, but the sounds of the drill starting up drown him out. When that test was over, one of the techs walked over to talk to Elayne. “We're almost there. Just a few more tests in here and we'll be ready to test it out in the real ocean.”

“Really? You're that close?” The tone of Elayne's voice was not one of excitement, but one of concern. Upon seeing the strange look on the technician's face, she decided to clarify. “I mean, I wouldn't want to put it out into the field too soon and have it leak like the one created by the Clifford Group did.”

“Oh, don't worry Ms. Bennett, it will be running perfectly when we release it for actual use. I've got to get back to work now.” He quickly walked back over to the testing area.

Elayne turned back around to find Daryl still standing there. “You'd better hurry along and get back to work now.” Her voice was dripping with condescension.

Daryl stood his ground. “You can't tell me what to do.”

“Oh, no? Listen you little worm, your very presence annoys and sickens me. So don't push it!”

Daryl was tempted to reply, but there was something about the tone of her voice that stopped him. As he turned to go, Elayne's icy voice followed him. “And Daryl, don't fool yourself, I have more power than you know.”

Daryl continued out the door without saying anything. Maybe he had underestimated Elayne – she wasn't going to just give up and run away. He'd have to think of something else. One thing was for sure. No one talked to him like that and got away with it!

Soon, her dreams shifted back to Emily and Digger.

The young Eleanor snickered at her own ingenuity as she thought about how surprised Digger would be when she showed up at his house with the huge birthday cake. She was sure he was convinced that everyone had forgotten his birthday.

Ellie pushed open the door, which thankfully, was unlocked. She stepped into the house with the cake in her arms and searched the kitchen and living room, but Digger wasn't there. Eventually she heard sounds coming from his bedroom. Ellie took the cake and pushed open the bedroom door.

She stood staring, but not believing the sight that was before her eyes. Digger and Emily were in bed together. The door clanged shut behind her and Willard sat up in bed and stared at Ellie, wide-eyed. “Eleanor, I can explain!”

“Like hell you can Willard! I leave you alone for one cotton-pickin' day and you go off and cheat on me!”

Emily sat up and pulled the bed sheets around her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the look on Ellie's face made her quickly close it.

“How could you do this to me Emily! I thought we were friends!” Ellie was furious.

Digger jumped out of bed and scrambled to throw on his crumpled pants while running toward Ellie. “I'm sorry…I don't know what I was thinkin'.”

“I'll say!” Ellie shouted. She picked up the heavily frosted cake and promptly smashed it into Digger's face and then she hurled the plate at Emily where it just missed her, smashing against the wall. Emily began to stand up, but Ellie stopped her. “No, don't go anywhere. You just stay right here. You two deserve each other.”

Ellie quickly pulled open the door and it slammed forcefully behind her just moments later.

“It's good to get out. The office can get stuffy sometimes.”

“Nice try. You live in that office. Now what is so important that it can't wait?” Sue Ellen was in no mood to mince words.

“We need to discuss the Alaskan deal. There're still some figures that we need to go over.”

“It's all been finalized. We signed it. We're in the clear---those wells will be able to produce for years.”

“Honey, if you think that's all there is to cutting a deal, maybe you should go back to running your lingerie business. We gotta talk about labor, supplies…”

“But do we need to talk about it now?” Sue Ellen interjected. She didn't want to be here, in this environment. She didn't want to be alone with him. At least at the office there was Sly and Phyllis.

“You got a better time?”

“How about during business hours, at the office, that is where we work.”

J.R. didn't understand why she was making everything so difficult. Couldn't she see he was trying to make something else happen, to get them to easily drift from talking about oil to talking about them? Why was she fighting things? “What's the matter, Isabel spike your coffee?”

Sue Ellen threw her napkin down on her plate. “See ya tomorrow.”

“Sue Ellen, wait.” J.R. quickly shot back. Their eyes locked. “I'm sorry.”

She was halfway out of her chair, but she sat back down. She didn't say anything to him. She just kept looking. She couldn't move.

“We need to talk. We can't go on like this, it's not good for Ewing Oil.”

“We're going to have to learn then, J.R.”

“Learn to do what? Pretend there's not something going on?”

“There's nothing going on!” Her protest was too fierce.

“That's a lie, honey, and you know it. Ever since Arkansas things haven't been right.”

“Exactly!” Sue Ellen shot back. “Because what happened there was wrong.”

“Dammit Sue Ellen it wasn't wrong! When are you gonna understand that. We both wanted it…” He hesitated. “I want it.”

She couldn't look at him. “We can't do this. I can't do this. Not again.”

“Why? You can't deny that you feel something. I know you.”

“You don't know me! You haven't known me for fifteen years!” She shot back.

“I'll always know you, Sue Ellen. We're connected. You can't deny it, just like I can't.”

“We share a son, of course we're connected.” Tears were in her eyes, but she was trying to remain rational. She had to stay in control.

“It's not about John Ross. It's about you and me. There's always been something there. There always will be.”

“There can't be!” She snapped back.

“Why not?”

“Because too much has happened. There's been too much hurt.”

“That doesn't mean that's gonna happen again.” He realized he spoke too soon.

“Didn't you say that to me when we got married for the second time? After we got together when Bobby was shot? How many times have I heard that?”

“I mean it this time.”

“And you meant it then. There isn't anything J.R., and there won't be.”

“There is something, and you want it and I want it. Why can't we just admit that it's there?”

“Because I am not going to be hurt by you. Not again.” She hesitated, but finally spoke. “You've hurt me too much.”

“I'm not going to hurt you again.”

Sue Ellen snapped on the defensive. “I'm sure you said that to everyone. Said it to me a million times. I'm sure Cally heard the same thing, and I'm sure Iris did too. Speaking of which, where is Iris? Things a little bit chilly in bed? You're probably just looking to have it warmed up.”

“Iris is old news, honey, and if you think you're just a rebound you're underestimating yourself and me.”

“I've overestimated you in the past, J.R. It hasn't gotten me much.”

Their eyes met. J.R. wouldn't move his gaze. Finally, he reached over his hand. “I'm not going to hurt you.” He touched his hand to her arm.

Sue Ellen melted, but across the room, Iris Wentworth froze. She had thought J.R. would be here. She wanted to reason with him, try to make him see he was making a mistake by not being with her. But he was with his ex-wife, just as he always was. Sue Ellen. It was always Sue Ellen. Years ago in Europe, she was never far from his mind. The last few months, she was always around, always on his tongue, at dinner, in bed. Iris had to make J.R. see that there was no chance for him and Sue Ellen. She had to make him realize that she was the one he loved.

Karen nodded. “Still about twenty minutes left of visiting hours…plus, this is a special case.” She walked to the end of the hallway and pushed open the now-familiar door that led to Cole Fowler's hospital room.

The little boy turned around in bed, surprised to be getting visitors this late. “Hi Karen.”

Karen smiled. Cole had been bitter toward her for leaving him to go find Austin, but lately he'd opened up to her once again and things were very close to being back to normal—at least as normal as things could be in a hospital.

“Cole, this is my husband Christopher…I know I've told you about him before.”

“Yeah, hey Christopher.”

Christopher wasn't sure what to say. This boy seemed so much different than Austin…so much more fragile. “Hey there. Karen's told me a lot about you too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She talks about you all the time.” Christopher pulled a chair up next to the bed, anxiously trying to think of some way to strike up a conversation with a little boy he didn't even know. Finally, he thought of a topic that would be of interest to any kid his age. “So…excited about Christmas?”

Cole quickly shook his head. “Nope. What's to be excited about? This'll be the second year I'll be stuck in the hospital. They give nice gifts sometimes, but it's not much fun here.”

Christopher hadn't anticipated making his decision so quickly, but he knew right then that Karen was right. They had to give this boy a home. Christopher looked at Karen and winked and her face instantly lit up.

“Cole…do you think you'd like Christmas if you could spend it with a family…and a brother and sister in a big house with lots of presents and candy?”

“Yeah! That'd be cool!” Cole soon drifted back to his depressed state. “But I've been wishing that for a long time now. My wish has never come true before.”

“I think this year you'll get that wish…”

“Todd, you'll like her. She's real sweet. Give her a chance.” Bobby knew that if he'd told Todd earlier about trying to set him up with Elayne, Todd would never have agreed, so he had decided to spring it on him at the last moment.

“I'm sure that she's a regular Miss America, but I don't mix well with blind dates.”

“Have you ever given one a shot?”

“I'm too shy,” Todd quickly retorted.

“Oh come on. If you were so shy, then you wouldn't have barged into my office last year telling me you are April's son. Now give this a chance, you never know. You could find something really great.” Bobby's voice indicated finality on the matter.

Yeah, I had something great---Janice Todd thought to himself as he followed Bobby towards the table. He saw Pam there, sitting next to what was a remarkably attractive woman. OK, maybe there is a silver lining here Todd thought to himself.

“Hello Todd, it's good to see you,” Pam said with a warm smile. Sometimes he felt a little odd around Pam. Not because she was mean or anything—she was always very sweet---but part of him felt a sort of guilt, like he was a reminder to Pam of his mother, Bobby's “other” wife.

“Hey Pam, how're you doing? Or the three of you I should say?”

“We're fine. Hungry—all the time!” She laughed.

“Todd, this is Elayne. We work together at Wentworth.”

Elayne gave a shy smile. Todd extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.” They made eye contact. For the first time in months, Todd didn't think about Janice, or Lucy.

“Nice to meet you as well,” Elayne said back. Was there flirtation in her voice? Todd wondered. He berated himself for even caring. He had been down this road TOO much in the last year, and he only got burned. He could not put himself through that again.

“So, tell us what's new at April Oil,” Pam stated.

“Too much paperwork, too little oil,” Todd sarcastically remarked.

“Parallel to us. Too much paperwork, too little money,” Elayne quipped back.

“She's smart,” Todd commented to himself. Score one.

“That's gonna change,” Bobby piped in.

“Yeah, we're almost through the paperwork,” Elayne quipped. Todd genuinely laughed.

Dinner seemed to fly after that. Elayne flirted, or at least Todd thought she was. Todd, for his part, did a lot of flirting too. They were still on his mind---Janice and Lucy---but as the night progressed, he let them get farther and farther out of his thoughts. He did like Elayne—she was nice, she was beautiful, but she had a cynical streak to her—he could see that. Still, he held himself back. Was he being too obvious? He didn't want to make a fool out of himself, seeming cheezy and all that.

As they were getting up from the table, Pam made a very obvious—and obviously fake—yawning gesture. “I'm exhausted,” she said with much grandeur.

“We'll have to get you home right away,” Bobby piped in, almost with a twinkle of deviousness in his eyes.

Elayne seemed momentarily upset, but she jumped in. “Get some rest,” she directed her comment towards Pam. “I'll just take a cab.” Her eyes quickly met Todd's.

“What the hell,” he thought. “No, don't do that. I can give you a ride.”

“Are you sure? It's really no problem.”

“I'm cheaper than cabs.”

Elayne smiled. Five minutes later, after saying goodbye to Bobby and Pam, they were in Todd's car.

“Nice,” Elayne said as they got on the freeway. “Must have cost you a pretty penny.”

“Yeah, well it's benefit of running an oil company.”

“Having problems getting oil?”

“No,” Todd said, lighting a cigarette. Quitting wasn't easy. Trying to be suave wasn't either. “We've got enough, actually we have a surplus. Still, we could always use more.”

“Do any business dealings with Ewing Oil?”

“Are you on drugs? I'd rather have bamboo shoved up my fingernails than deal with J.R. Ewing.”

“No love lost, huh.”

“After what I've been through with that psycho, no. Miss Ellie obviously drank contaminated water while carrying him.”

Elayne laughed. “You'll have to tell me the saga sometime.” Was that a tone of flirtation in her voice? Dammit! He hated wondering.

“Trust me, it'd take all night.”

“I've got time.” Elayne was quick to respond.

Todd felt himself getting a little bit more confident. “You live alone?”

“You mean do I have a boyfriend?”

“No, I mean do you live alone---God, give me some credit, I'm not that forward.”

Elayne laughed. She didn't seem to take it seriously. He liked that. Score another one. “I do. It's not that big, but I've got a TV, a bed and a toilet. I can't complain.”

“The essentials. Throw in a phone for delivery, and I'm a happy camper.”

They reached Elayne's building. Todd pulled over to the side. Elayne turned to Todd. “That sounds appealing. I can't cook. The woman at the Chinese restaurant down the road doesn't even listen to my order anymore, I use them so much.”

“Apparently they're good.”

“The best. It's all I settle for.” She opened the car door. “It was lovely to meet you. Give me a call sometime, Mr. Foster.” She gave a sly smile and shut the car door. He watched her walk into her building.

There was something about her that intrigued him. She lacked Janice's sarcasm, or Lucy's spunk, but there was still something there that he had him wanting more. He hadn't really met anyone quite like her. She was mysterious, yet real. Plus, she was hot and she made him laugh. He supposed he could get her number from Bobby, but part of him was embarrassed. He wasn't sure he was ready yet for a relationship---what if she didn't like him? What if he made a fool of himself? It wasn't like he really had a reason to see her….

Then he noticed her purse lying on the floor. Bingo.

“I'd love one.” They walked to the bar together and Bobby fixed her drink. "Here you go… one club soda.”

Pam frowned. “Not much of a night cap, but I'll take it anyway.”

He poured himself a brandy and the sat down on the couch together. Pam took a sip of her drink. “I had a really nice time tonight.” Bobby slipped his arm around her shoulders.

“I think we all had a better time than we were expecting.”

“Well, I definitely think Todd and Elayne had a good time.”

“Really? I never would have guessed that they would hit it off.”

“Bobby! Don't you try and play cute and innocent. It was obvious that you set them up.”

Bobby frowned, “I am cute.”

Pam looked into his eyes with a slight smile on her face. “And so modest too!”

“Speaking of being cute,” Bobby reached over and took the, now empty, glass from her hand, setting it on the table, “…Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”

Pam leaned her head back and pretended to think hard. “Ummm… no, not tonight.” She waited for him to continue, but Bobby just finished off his drink and sat it on the table, too.

“Bobby?”

“Hmm? Oh, I was just checking to see if I had told you.” Bobby grinned as Pamela frowned. After pausing a moment for dramatic effect, he turned her head so he could look directly into her eyes and continued. “What I was really going to say, is the you're the most beautiful woman I've ever known.”

Their eyes locked as they melted into a passionate kiss. After a few moments, Bobby pulled back, without breaking their embrace. He looked into her eyes and said softly, “Come on…” Pam nodded her agreement. They stood and he took her hand and led her upstairs.

Doug shifted in his seat, trying to avoid J.R.'s piercing stare. He knew exactly why he was here. “Haven't come up with anything yet,” Doug muttered.

“You disappoint me Doug. I figured you'd have managed to dig up something else by now, being that you let the original dirt on Rex disappear.”

“J.R., I promise, I kept a close eye on those folders! It had to have been that cleaning lady…she was always suspicious looking.”

“Dammit…do you realize how close we were to nailing Wentworth? All you had to do was deliver the folders over here and I would have arranged for the police to find out everything.”

Outside in the lobby, Iris was able to walk in without being stopped, as Sly was still on lunch break. She came to a stop outside J.R.'s door with her hand in mid-knock, but at the last moment, she drew it back. Did she really want to go in there and beg J.R. for another chance at a relationship? She had her pride, but dammit, she loved J.R.! Iris knew that if he gave her one more chance, she could prove that…she could make him forget Sue Ellen.

Finally, Iris bit her tongue and pushed open the door. Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open when Doug Avant turned around. His reaction was no less surprised and he stammered, looking from J.R. to Iris.

“Iris, what are you doing here?” J.R. asked, irritated that she'd walked in on them without knocking.

“I came to talk to you J.R…. you know what about.”

The realization of what happened hit Doug like a ton of bricks dropped from a skyscraper. J.R. knew Iris…that's why she'd seemed so familiar! Doug had see them together before! She was the one who had stolen the files on Rex…

“Now's not the time Iris.”

Iris looked at Doug and then back at J.R. “Now's as good as any time. I'm not leaving until you hear me out.”

J.R. finally nodded, giving in. “Wait outside…we'll be done in a minute.”

“Make it quick.” Iris left the office and almost as soon as she was out of earshot, Doug spilled everything.

“J.R…she was the one. She stole the folders.”

“What? How the hell do you know that Doug?”

Doug hesitated.

“Well?”

“I met her in a bar…didn't know who she was. I took her over to my apartment and she spent the night. Later that next morning was when I found out the files were gone…the cleaning lady had also come by that morning…”

J.R. scratched his chin. Was it possible that Iris was back with Rex now? Had she stolen the files to protect him? J.R. stood up and walked out into the lobby where he grabbed Iris by the shoulder. “What did you do with the folder on Wentworth…”

Iris hesitated and the pause was long enough to confirm J.R.'s suspicions.

“Then it was you…”

“J.R…”

“Tell me the truth.”

“It was for your own good! If you turn Rex in he'll kill you J.R…you'll be in danger and so will your family! I couldn't let you come forward with that information on him…it was for your own good.”

“Honey, J.R. Ewing wasn't born yesterday. You know you don't stand a snowball's chance in hell with me so you're trying to shack back up with Wentworth. He put you up to this, didn't he?”

“No J.R.! I swear I only did it for you. Rex threatened me…he threatened to hurt you and John Ross…”

“Iris, you sicken me. Get the hell out of this office before I have you kicked out. Go back to Rex Wentworth…you two make a perfect couple.”

“I want to be with you J.R.! Don't you remember what we had together in Europe? You told me you loved me…”

“That was five years ago. Whatever it was that we had is over. Now get out.”

“J.R…”

“GO!”

Iris turned around and left the office, breaking down into tears once she reached the elevator.

Kaitlin walked out of the kitchen to check on her 'guest'. As she entered the living room, she couldn't help but giggle at the sight before her. Rex was kneeling at the fireplace trying again and again to light a fire. He turned when he heard her giggles. He was obviously frustrated with his task. “You know, I was thinking that we don't really need a fire.”

Kaitlin smiled in amusement that this man, so powerful and successful out in the world couldn't light a fire. “Here, let me help.” Kaitlin knelt next to him and began to rearrange the kindling. As she worked, Rex stared at her, mesmerized by her soft, shining, silken hair that had fallen forward over her shoulder.

She stuck a match and in a moment there was a spark, followed by a small flame. Kaitlin sat back on her heels. “There, see? There's nothing to it.” She glanced at Rex and saw that he was staring at her. Their eyes locked and Kaitlin found herself momentarily lost in his piercing gaze.

“That was impressive, Kaitlin, but then, I could have told you that you were good at starting fires.” He leaned forward and kissed her. Just then the buzzer on the stove when off.

Kaitlin broke the embrace and stood up. “I'm sorry, I have to get that…”

“Hey Momma. I brought dinner…I know it's not your good home-cookin', but Bea down at the diner makes great grilled burgers.”

Helen smiled and took the grease-stained brown bag from Wade. “It'll be fine…just as long as you're here. You are staying, aren't you?”

“Well, there's three burgers in that bag…”

Ecstatic, Helen took the bag into the kitchen and began to pour three glasses of iced tea. As she opened the trash can to throw away, she saw the smashed loaf of bread from the day before and grew angry when she thought about how J.R. Ewing had treated her.

“Wade,” she said after taking a sip out of one glass. “I know I've said this before, but I hope that this time you'll listen to me. I want you to stop working for those 'almighty' Ewings.”

“Momma…why?”

“Because…I just don't want you around them.”

Wade sighed. Lately, every conversation with his mother had led down this path. “I have to work.”

“So work somewhere else.”

“I love Southfork and I like workin' there. The Ewings are good to me.”

“Sure they're good to you until they decide they don't need you anymore.”

A cold gush of night air blew into the living room and they both turned around to see Amelia. “If I'm interrupting anything, I'll go back outside…”

Helen smiled. This conversation about the Ewings could wait. Right now all that mattered was that she had two of her children here and dinner was waiting.

“Rex, there is one thing I've been wondering about.”

Rex took a sip of his hot chocolate. “Hmm?”

“I was wondering why you haven't asked me about my Westar stock?”

He choked on the hot chocolate and set the mug on the table before he got burned. “What? What do you mean?”

Kaitlin explained, “the last offer I had to sell the stock was very attractive, but I turned it down. I was suspicious that it was from a certain party that I hate… so I had my attorney check out the corporation… and he traced it right to you.” Rex was watching her closely for a reaction. So far she didn't look angry, just curious. “So why haven't you asked me about the stock?”

Rex sat for a moment pondering his answer. He silently cursed his own attorney for not doing a better job setting up the dummy corporation… but then again, before they met, Rex wouldn't have expected that Kaitlin Ryan to be so clever and resourceful. He didn't mean for her to find out this way. Now he had to decide what to tell her… should he lie to her? He didn't want to do that, not to Kaitlin, not now. But how would she take the truth?

Rex took her hand in his and began slowly, “Kaitlin… you're right. I was behind that offer and in the beginning that is the reason I wanted to meet you.” He opted for the truth, for once in his life. A slight frown crossed Kaitlin's face and she removed her hand from his. Rex saw the hurt in her eyes and he was ashamed of himself… he never wanted to hurt her. He had to make her understand.

“But on our first date, there was something about you – I don't know exactly what… I just know that when I was with you, business didn't seem to matter. All I could think about was you, your wit, your passion and cleverness. I'd do anything just to see you smile.” Kaitlin looked up, she was listening.

Rex was encouraged, “Look, this is all new to me. I didn't think I could ever feel this way about anyone. But you've got to believe me.” Rex had said all he could; now it was Kaitlin's turn.

Kaitlin looked into his eyes and thought she saw the truth shining there. She finally said softly, “I feel the same way.” This time, she kissed him.

After the kiss, Kaitlin sat back with a look of confusion on her face. “This is all happening so fast. I mean, we really hardly know each other.”

“I know all I need to know.” He gazed deeply into her eyes. “I know I love you.” They kissed and this time, Kaitlin didn't pull away.

Suddenly, a voice rang out. “Hey you!” The lights flashed on and their brightness hurt the person's eyes. The seemingly disembodied voice rang out once again. “What are you doin' down here?”

Daryl's eyes slowly adjusted to the light and he saw a janitor approaching him. "I said what are you doin' here?”

Daryl's mouth was dry with anxiety. “I was… um… I thought I heard a noise and I was checking to be sure that everything is in order down here.”

The janitor eyed him suspiciously. “I know who you are. I clean your office up on the sixth floor. So what I'm awonderin' is how you coulda heard anything way down here from way up there?”

Daryl's anxiety suddenly turned to indignation. How dare this lowly janitor talk to him this way! “I'm an executive here. And I have the right to be anywhere I want. You can't question me like a common criminal! I don't owe you any explanations.”

The janitor stood rooted to the spot, while Daryl stalked off down the hallway.