"It’s a girl!" Trent turned at the sound of the tired voice. His best friend and business partner, Carlos Sandoval stood in the doorway of the waiting room. He quickly went to him and shook his hand.

"That’s great, Carlos. How is Sarah?" He motioned to Carlos to take seat.

"She’s great. Wow. I can’t believe she made it through this. How do women do this, Trent?" The Cuban shook his dark curls. "I’m still in shock."

Trent smiled. "How big?"

"Eight pounds and 2 oz." He gazed off, looking very much like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. "Wow," he muttered quietly. "Can you believe I am someone’s father? I am some girl’s father! What if she meets men like me?"

Trent couldn’t help but laugh. "Don’t worry, Carlos. You’ve already got the gun."

Carols smiled. "That’s right. They won’t mess with me!" He laughed, before suddenly remembering something. "Sarah wants to see you. She wants to talk to you."

After making sure his friend was okay, Trent made his way to the hospital room, occupied by Sarah. When he found her, she was cradling the baby in her arms, smiling dreamily.

"Hi, T," she smiled.

"Hi, Gorgeous. Motherhood becomes you." Gently, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"She’s beautiful, isn’t she?"

Trent looked down at the small baby, noting she already had her father’s dark curls. "Yes, she is," he agreed.

"T," Sarah said, "would you mind if I called her Samantha?"

He had known this was coming, yet it still took him a little off guard. Samantha had been his wife, Sarah’s sister who had been murdered. "No," he said quietly, stroking the baby’s fine hair. "I wouldn’t mind. I think Sam would be thrilled."

"I know she would. Thanks, Trent."

He looked at her, kissing the baby and Sarah each on the forehead. "Get some rest, Kiddo. If she is anything like our Sam, she is going to be a handful."

"Take him home, Trent. He needs some sleep. And so do you."

"I’m okay. I’ll take him home but then I have to go get Jess. Her flight comes in at 8." He looked at his watch. He had 2 hours, before he had to be at the airport. Plenty of time to get the things done he had to. "She is going to be mad you didn’t wait for her," he said, winking playfully.

**

He had dropped off Carlos and had found himself here, standing in front of the headstone. He didn’t come here as often as he had in the beginning but it seemed to him he had been coming more lately, since Sarah’s pregnancy. Looking at the stone, he sighed. It had been almost 3 years and yet there were days when he still missed her with all his heart. "Hi Sam," he spoke quietly. "Sarah had her baby and named her after you. I know how happy you would have been for her and Carlos." Despite trying to feel good for his friend and his wife, a deep melancholy surrounded Trent. Sighing, he sat down against the headstone, the cold feeling good against his back.

**

"So how was the conference?" Jess had settled into the Corvette, next to the man who was her boyfriend.

"It was really good," she responded. "I actually met Dr. Reynolds. Remember I told you about him? He does a lot of work with victims and has a few very interesting research proposals. We talked and I might just get a chance to work with him in the future. He invited me to a symposium in about 3 weeks. I hope Sarah has the baby by then."

"Jess," Trent said with a smile. "That won’t be a problem."

"SHE DIDN"T!!"

"Yeah, a couple of hours ago. A baby girl, eight pounds, 2 ounces." He hesitated only slightly. "She called her Samantha."

"Of course," Jess said. Inside, she had hoped that Sarah would change her mind and name the baby something else. The last thing Jess wanted was the constant reminder of Trent’s dead wife. Outwards she smiled. "I kinda figured. Is everyone doing well?"

Trent laughed. "Other than Carlos realizing that he has a daughter and that he is going to have to deal with guys like himself, everyone is doing fine."

They rode in silence for awhile when Jess made a realization. "You’ve been up all night, haven’t you?"

"Yeah," Trent told her.

"Well, you can sleep when we get home."

"Actually, Jess," Trent said, looking over at her. "I told my mom I would help her with some stuff at the house now that Tommy is away at school. I’m just going to drop you off and then head over there." It was little white lie. Trent really just wanted to be alone for awhile. He knew it wasn’t fair, but he didn’t want to hurt Jess’ feelings after she had been away for 3 days.

"She’d understand, Trent if you came home and got some sleep first."

"I know, but this way it gets done." They had pulled up in front of their house. "I’ll be home soon," Trent whispered as he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.

"You better be," she said, getting out of the car. "It’s been a long three days."

**

"You okay, baby?" His mother’s voice brought him back to reality. "You hardly touched your breakfast."

"I’m fine, Mom." He made a stab at the eggs on his plate.

"Trent," she said gently, sitting down beside him. "It is okay to feel a little sad. I know you miss her. We all do."

"It’s just that I should be happy for them, Mom. Instead, all I can think about it what should have been. Sam would have been so happy for Carlos and Sarah. She would have loved to be an aunt. And my feeling like this isn’t fair to Jess."

"Oh, Trent." She moved behind him, putting her arms around her oldest son. She knew there was little she could do to ease his pain, but she also knew from experience it would get better. "It isn’t easy. I miss your father every day. It’s okay to have your ‘down’ days. I’m sure Jess knows that."

"I know, Mom. I think I just need a little time alone. Do you mind if I crash in my old room?"

Kate smiled. "Of course not. You know you can always come home."

**

Butch McMann placed the bottle of beer in front of the blond man sitting at his bar. "You okay, Trent?" he asked.

Taking the beer, Trent smiled. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired."

"Is Jess coming?"

"Yeah, she had to stop by the university so she said she would meet me here."

Butch eyed Trent carefully. "Is everything okay between you two?"

Trent looked up at him, surprised. "Yeah, why?"

"You two just seem to be traveling separately these days. Just wondering."

"Everything’s fine," Trent reiterated. As he sat and drank his beer, he wondered. Was everything okay? He did avoid her this morning. Maybe he should just talk to her.

His thoughts were interrupted by Jess herself. "Hi Handsome," she said, as she kissed him.

"Hi," he smiled back.

"Where is the guest of honour?" she asked as she pulled a barstool up next to Trent.

"He went to see Sarah and then he is coming here. Want a beer?"

"Sure." Trent motioned to the young man helping Butch behind the bar, holding up his own beer and 2 fingers. When he brought the beers, Jess looked at him, surprised.

"Rob? What are you doing here?" Standing before her was one of her students.

"Hi, Dr. Mac. Mr. McMann here was nice enough to give me a job."

"I thought you worked at the psychiatric hospital."

"I do, but it I am taking a semester off school to try and make some money. I need to pay for my next years’ tuition, so I took another job."

"Good for you." Jess realized her bad manners. "I’m sorry, Rob. This is my boyfriend Trent Malloy. Trent, this in Rob. He was in my victim class last semester."

"Yeah, it was a great class," he beamed, shaking Trent’s hand. "I remember seeing you around, Mr. Malloy."

"Trent, please."

"Okay, Trent." They were interrupted by the sound of the door and each turned to see a weary looking Carlos shuffling over to them. Introductions were made as Carlos sat down.

"Beer, please." Soon, Carlos was peppered with questions about his new daughter and his wife. As the party grew, Trent called everyone to attention.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose a toast. To our friend Carlos who will now actually have an excuse for being late to work and to his lovely wife Sarah and his even lovelier daughter, Samantha. May they all be surrounded by love and happiness!" As the glasses were raised, cheers erupted throughout the bar.

**

THREE WEEKS LATER

Jess turned the key in the lock, sighing heavily. It had been a difficult session with Carlos as he still struggled to remember some of the events of his past. She dropped her purse by the door and headed into the kitchen, calling Trent’s name. She found him sitting in the kitchen at the table. Uneasiness surrounded her.

"You okay, Trent?" she asked.

"Where have you been?" The tone was cold.

"I had a session with Carlos and then we went to Uppercuts. I thought you would be there." She went to the fridge, trying to ignore the tension she felt radiating from him. This was a carry over from the argument they had started that morning.

"No. I thought you said you were coming straight home."

"No," she said, turning. "You said I was to come straight home." Now her back was up. Over the last couple of weeks Trent had seemed to be picking fights with her with little or no provocation. She could tell another was coming and she began to brace herself.

"You don’t want to spend time with me?"

She sighed. "I never said that. But I have a responsibility to my patients, Carlos included."

A dark laugh came from Trent. "Right. A responsibility. So what’s his name?"

Jess finally cracked. "What would you do if I told you his name? Would you care? For the past few weeks I’ve been competing with a ghost! She’s dead, Trent. Let her go." As soon as the words left her mouth, Jess realized her mistake. She saw the rage building in Trent’s eyes and had only a split second before it would erupt. She slammed the fridge and ran for the bedroom.

Behind her, she heard him flip over the table to get to her, chasing her down the hallway. "JESSIE!" he yelled as she made to the bedroom first. He stopped the door with his hand but screamed in pain and withdrew it as she bit him. As she locked the door she heard his fists pounding and him screaming her name from the other side.

"JESSIE! OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR OR I WILL BREAK IT DOWN!! JESSIE!!!!!!!

Trying to calm herself despite the yelling, Jessie reached for the phone and punched in a number. It was answered in two rings.

"CARLOS! Help me! He is trying to break the door down! Please!!" As the pounding continued, she screamed, dropping the phone. Slowly, she sank to the floor, hugging her knees and crying.

"JESSIE!!!!! OPEN THE DOOR!!! WHO IS HE, JESSIE? TELL ME OR I WILL BREAK IT DOWN!!!" The yelling and pounding seemed to continue forever.

"No," Jessie sobbed. "There isn’t anyone, Trent." She said it so quietly she knew he hadn’t heard. She was terrified. She had never seen him like this. She was truly afraid for her life. Then suddenly, the pounding and yelling stopped. Jessie looked up, wondering. Hesitantly, she got up, taking a step towards the door. She had only gone one step when a savage kick threw the door open. She screamed as Trent started into the room towards her, cornering her, his eyes blazing.

He smiled. "You should know that no door could stop me, Jess." His tone was so cold shivers ran down Jessie’s back.

"Please, Trent," she whispered, trying to move backwards and finding only the wall.

"TRENT! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Carlos suddenly appeared behind Trent, grabbing him by the arm and wheeling him around. This motion gave Trent momentum, as he drove the heel of his hand into Carlos’ nose. Carlos crumpled on the floor, stunned, blood flowing freely from his nose. Jessie screamed.

"Maybe it was you," Trent said, moving towards Carlos, menacingly. As Carlos struggled to get up, Trent pushed him down again. "Eh, Carlos? Was it you?" Finally, Trent reached down and drug Carlos upright by his shirt, before shoving him out the bedroom door.

"What the hell are you talking about, manno?" Carlos said, stumbling then finally regaining his footing. He, too, was afraid after seeing the look in Trent’s eyes. He had only seen it once before and that had almost led to murder. Never taking his eyes off Trent, Carlos called to Jessie. "Jessie. Walker."

"You, Carlos. All those sessions. Was that was what you were you doing or was it something else? Were you fucking her?" Again, he pushed Carlos.

"Jesus, Trent. What the hell is wrong with you? I wouldn’t touch Jess. You know that."

"Do I? You probably would have gone after Sam if she was alive."

"WHAT?!" From outside, a faint sound of sirens was growing.

"Trent, stop this," Jessie called from behind him. "There is no one else. I love you."

Again the dark laugh. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Look, manno," Carlos tried to put his hand on Trent’s arm. Trent grabbed it and bent it back at the wrist. With his other hand, Carlos landed a punch to Trent’s jaw, knocking him back.

Trent smiled, rubbing his jaw. "That was a big mistake." With the agility of a cat, Trent was on Carlos. Both men fought, each landing blows but Trent’s martial arts training gave him the definite advantage. Jessie screamed for them to stop but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"POLICE!!! FREEZE!!!!" The officers burst in with their weapons drawn but were ignored by both men. Trent had the upper hand over Carlos and was feeding him punches. Jessie was the one who responded.

"PLEASE DON"T SHOOT HIM!" Jessie was sobbing, knowing that if something wasn’t done soon, Trent would kill his best friend. Desperately, she tried to grab Trent’s arm. He dropped Carlos, giving Jessie a shove hard enough to slam her against a wall. He was about to return to Carlos when a figure appeared in front of him.

"That’s enough, Trent," Walker said calmly.

Trent smiled. "Says who?"

"Don’t do this, Trent." The voice was even.

"You going to stop me, Walker?"

"If I have to." As both men circled, Jessie ran to Carlos to help him up, moving him away. Finally, Trent lunged at Walker.

The two men fought while the others looked on in horror. Each landed vicious blows but when it was all over, Trent was pinned and cursing. Slapping the cuffs on him, Walker yelled for Trent to calm down. When the response was "Go to hell, Walker," Walker drove Trent’s head into the ground, sending him into unconsciousness.

"Get him over to the psychiatric hospital," Walker ordered. "And get him sedated before he wakes up." Turning to Jessie and Carlos, he demanded, "What the hell happened?"

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