Episode45

Part 1

**
Rachel walked up to Harvey's desk, "you wanted to see me?"

Harvey slammed the phone hard against the receiver, "I cannot believe this!"

Rachel took his hands from off the phone and waited for him to cool down, "what's wrong?"

Harvey looked up at Rachel, on the verge of tears, "Anna's lawyer told the judge that Jerry might not be my son. We can't do anything until there's been a paternity test done on him."

Rachel looked at him in disbelief, "you've got to be kidding me?"

Harvey pulled out some papers he had been looking at before the call, "the judge wants to place Jerry with Anna until paternity is proven, then and only then will the case be decided."

Rachel could feel his every muscle tightening as she ran her hand against his back, "oh, Harvey."

Harvey pounded his fist against the desk, "I knew I should've gotten that test earlier, I knew it."

Rachel wasn't sure what he had meant, "earlier? She's done this before?"

Harvey was reluctant to answer, ashamed he had been so gullible, "I didn't press her for a test, I took her word."

A million bad scenarios entered Rachel's mind, she knew that Harvey was thinking the same. "She doesn't have Jerry now, does she?"

Harvey stood up, ready to leave. "Jerry's at home with Mrs. Baker, I've got to get home so I'm there when the social worker is."

"Do you want me to go with? I could tell Nash..." Rachel didn't care whether she had work to do or not, Harvey needed someone there to be on his side.

Harvey kissed her lightly on the cheek, "I don't want this to get any worse, you know Anna is out to make a scene, but thank you."

**
"So, tell me again why you're so fond of hanging out here?" Kat laughed at Lisa's insistence at meeting her at the SIU for lunch. "You want to see Nash, don't you?"

"Oh, get over yourself." Lisa pointed to Nash, mulling over paperwork upstairs, "look at him, he's boring. We're beyond over and done."

"You say that now, soon-to-be Grandma." Kat moved away from Lisa, fearing she might be struck for her comment.

"Oh yes, this coming from you who remains bitter at the world after love gone wrong, followed by unrequited love for a certain current co-worker." Lisa giggled, "admit it, you still like him."

Kat wrinkled her nose, "Harvey? Ugh. When did I ever say that I liked him?"

Lisa looked at her as if she were crazy, "come on, you only tried to stop him from marrying Bonnie by throwing yourself at him."

Kat turned away from Lisa, trying to hide her guilt, "I did no such thing."

"Turn around and admit your guilt, Kat. Besides, your soup is getting cold and I just might have to eat it myself so it doesn't go to waste."

Kat turned around just as Lisa was moving her spoon towards the styrofoam container, "you will do no such thing. Even if I did ever have a thing for Harvey Leek, the moment has passed. Have you seen him lately?"

Lisa checked the surroundings, Harvey wasn't anywhere near by, "only when he's around here."

Kat leaned in closer to Lisa, not wanting to fuel the gossip mill further, "if you haven't noticed, he acts like a lovesick teenager...okay, as appealing and romantic as that might be, he is spoken for....regardless of the fact that the woman he's with is my partner, she's nearly seventeen years his junior and a little side note that she is so totally not what I figured to be his type... YES! I still find him to be attractive as should any normal woman with a functioning brain."

**
"Care to tell me what the hell is going on?" Harvey walked inside his house to find Anna standing there, with a iniformed officer to her right and the social worker to her left.

The social worker looked toward Harvey, "we're here to pick up your son, Mr. Leek. We've got permission from the judge to do so." The woman handed Harvey a piece of paper, "I think you'll find everything to be perfectly legal."

Harvey looekd around the room, Jerry was no where in sight, "where's my son?" he asked.

Anna spoke up, "he's upstairs getting his things with Mrs. Wilson."

Harvey knew he couldn't object, but felt he had to say something to delay them, "his things aren't all here. I should pick them up for him."

The social worker replied, "I am afraid we can't wait for you to do that, Mr. Leek. In the court's eyes, Anna is now the custodial parent until her son's paternity is proven."

Harvey lowered his head, completely distressed, "I don't have any say in this?"

Anna replied, "I'm his mother, Harvey, I have to do what's right by my son."

Harvey mumbled, "I don't think tearing him away from the only father he's ever known is the right thing."

The officer, a stout male who was slightly balding, sized Harvey up, "care to repeat that, Mr. Leek?"

Harvey waved him off, "settle down, I didn't do anything."

The officer replied with a sneer, "and I'm here just in case you change your mind."

**
Antwon sat down on the steps next to Cassidy, waited a moment, then asked, "so when are you due?"

Cassidy took a minute to think, there was so much going on in her life, "end of April, early May."

Antwon chuckled, "then I guess it's to early to ask if you're excited about the baby?"

Cassidy shrugged, not feeling overly enthusiastic, "I am... a little."

Antwon tried to think of ways to further the conversation, "have you decided what you are doing?" Antwon then corrected himself, "about the baby, I mean."

Cassidy proudly stated, "well, of course I am going to keep it."

Antwon posed his next question, knowing the tension her return had caused at the SIU. "What about work?"

Cassidy ran her hand over her not-yet bulging stomach and replied, "I guess I'll stay here as long as I can, then I'll decide."

Antwon concluded, "taking things one day at a time."

Cassidy looked at him indifferently, saying "I've got to. I've even thought about going back to France to live with my mother."

Antwon knew Nash wouldn't care for that arrangement, "I'm sure your Dad would miss you and the baby."

Cassidy rolled her eyes and sarcastically replied, "he's got other priorities right now."

**
"Hey, here's the information that you requested from the L.A.P.D." Rachel set the folder upon Harvey's desk, not wanting to distract him from his call. Before she could walk away, Harvey motioned her back with his free hand.

Harvey placed his hand over the phone, "thanks." He turned back to his desk, "can you hold on a minute?" Harvey turned back towards Rachel and asked, "are you going to be here for a while?"

Rachel smiled before replying, "I don't think that I've got much of a choice."

Harvey glanced at the printouts she placed before him, wondering if she had noticed anything about Ryan in the information. "I'd like to talk to you about the case later, if you've got time."

Rachel shook her head, "you know where to find me."

Harvey pointed towards the phone, "that's Louis, he's formulating our next plan of action."

Rachel considered her response, "does Anna's claim make a big difference?"

Harvey glanced at the picture of Jerry on his desk and looked back at Rachel, "not unless he's not my son." Harvey quickly checked the papers, there was nothing on Johnson's son, "Rache, I need another favor."

Harvey usually didn't give orders, but she certainly wasn't going to object. He was running the case. "Sure."

Harvey thought about the request he would make, "I need you to pull up whatever you can on Johnson's son, make some calls if you have to."

"Finish your call, I'll go get started. I'll get Kat on this as well." As Rachel walked back to her desk, an idea crossed her mind. She'd have to wait and ask Harvey later on. Rachel walked up the file cabinet, searching under the name Johnson.

**
"Nashman, what's with all the visits from the ex-wife these days?" Joe couldn't help but notice her frequent presence at the SIU, and the fact that Nash hadn't been out much lately.

Nash glared at Joe, "Bubba, don't you get any ideas."

Joe smiled from ear to ear, "is there something that I should know about, a little rekindling of the old flame."

Nash stopped dead in his tracks on the way to his parking space, "you just don't think, do you?"

"Come on, Nash, admit it --- you like having her back in San Francisco?" Joe was nearly certain of how Nash would reply, "you hated it while she was gone and you were miserable."

Nash opened the door and sat down, "I have not been miserable, Joe." Nash flashed a sarcastic, toothy grin, "does this look like the face of misery?"

Joe chuckled as entered the 'Cuda, "nah, it just looks like the face of someone in denial." Before he got into trouble, Joe decided to change the subject, "so what are we going to do about Johnson?"

Nash fired up the 'Cuda's engine, "pray to God that he doesn't get away. Martin is going to be on my back, and I don't want to give him the satisfaction of being right."

Joe complained, "why does he have to factor in with everything? Is his opinion necessary?"

Nash wasn't happy about Martin's involvement either, he replied, "I'll answer that tomarrow, I'm meeting with him a little later. He wants to see me."

**
Harvey kneeled down in front of Rachel's desk, propping his head upon his hand to be at eye-level, "I didn't mean to blow you off earlier, I really did want to talk to you."

Rachel looked up and gently brushed the curls from his forehead, "I understand."

Harvey still sensed a hint of urgency in her tone, "I need to get to the lab before they close, can I stop by later?"

The delay came as no surprise. "I've got visitation with Ryan tonight, if that makes a difference."

Harvey didn't want to make any promises he couldn't keep, "I'll see how late I have to stay at the lab and what's with Anna, then I'll come by."

Rachel looked at him inquisitively, there had to be some hope, "how long until you know something?"

Harvey wearily responded, "depending on lab work and other paternal possibilities, at least a week."

Rachel knew of Anna's former profession, but she didn't know how involved she had been with Harvey. "Who else might be the father?"

Harvey shrugged his shoulders, his guess was about as good as hers. "Louis didn't say."

Rachel forced herself to smile, "that's amazing, if this were on a talk show it would be revealed in a matter of hours."

Having little faith in the judicial system, Harvey replied, "I guess when it really matters it isn't as urgent. The informal meeting is tomarrow at eight, I guess we'll get to meet Anna's husband then."

Rachel knew it was time for her to be optimistic, one of them had to be, "you have to believe this is going to work out."

Harvey couldn't fight what she said, there was no point in refuting, "I want to, I really do."

**
"Nash, I figured you'd be in to see me before too long. What have you screwed up now?" Deputy Chief Martin looked at Nash with a condescending glare, "finally come by to ask for help?"

Nash fired back, "not hardly."

Martin eyed the file in Nash's hand, "what's this? A progress report?"

Nash tossed the file onto his desk and demanded, "where's the information about Mazza? Coincidentally, the file is gone from all data bases."

"Don't blame me for faulty filing in your department, Bridges. Believe me, there's a lot more missing from there than case reports." Noting Nash's mounting frustration, Martin continued, "so tell me, is Leek going to bring this guy in this time or will someone else end up dead on his behalf?"

"Bubba, don't even go there." Nash wasn't about to let Harvey take the blame, "Harvey fired only after being fired upon, he didn't aim to kill Johnson's son, he was aiming for Steve."

"Glorify it all you want, Bridges, but can you tell me why Harvey didn't arrest Johnson on the spot? Between him and Cortez, somebody could've brought him down." Martin didn't hesitate to go on, "instead, Johnson's kid ends up dead after a shoot out in China Town and the SFPD is still paying the shop owners damages five years later. Then, Johnson makes it back to town after serving a brief sentence in L.A. for larceny, and I give Leek a chance to right his wrongs. What happens?"

Nash interrupted, "we both know what happens, there's no use in beating a dead horse."

Frustrated, Martin said, "no. I'm going to tell you what happened. You decided that your little petty drug bust was more important for Harvey to work on, even though he had worked with Mazza before. Despite many attempts by Officer Mazza to get assistance from Inspector Leek on his former case, Mazza was alone. I assign his partner Officer McCabe to help him out, please tell me she is not going by Inspector Leek now, and within weeks, Johnson takes his aggression towards Leek out on Mazza. Mazza ends up dead."

Nash countered, "is that how you see it?"

Martin flashed a smug grin, "that's what happened and you know it. Had Leek been on that case, it would've had a different ending. Leek is a good investigator Nash, but this time he didn't follow throught."

Nash assured him, "I can guarantee, he's going to finish what he started with Johnson. He won't walk away."

"Well, that's all well and good because I'd hate to lose another officer because Inspector Leek didn't do his job."

**
"Are you Harvey Leek?" The nurse checked her clipboard to verify the information for testing.

"Today, yes." Harvey flashed her his I.D.

"Right this way, Mr. Leek." The nurse led Harvey down a long corridor to the very las room. She opened the door and motioned towards the empty chairs, "a doctor will be in shortly for a sample."

Harvey cringed, "can't hardly wait." He sat down after the nurse had left the room, for one reason or another, he felt abnormally uncomfortable. Maybe it was the situation. He searched the pile of aged magazines for something to read, picking up a tabloid from the past year, he commented, "this should be interesting."

A few moments later, Harvey heard a light knocking on the door. The doctor outside cheerfully asked, "may I come in?"

Harvey consulted the tabloid, "only if you can explain Elvis fathering this nun's child?"

A short, stout woman with orangish hair entered the room. "I wish I could. Roll up your sleeve, please." The doctor patiently waited for Harvey to do so, evidently the woman lacked bedside manner.

Harvey undid the buttons and pushed the cuff up past his elbow, watching as the doctor prepared the needle, "I guess I'm as ready as I'm going to be."

The doctor offered a half-smile, "make a fist, think happy thoughts." Harvey twinged as the doctor inserted the needle into his tightened arm.

**
Nash watched as Antwon carefully trailed Steve Johnson with his eyes. Nash walked over in Antwon's direction, not wanting to distract him just yet. He stepped up behind Antwon quietly, "keeping your eye on him?"

Antwon turned around, startled, "damn it, Nash, you scared me. You're lucky I didn't hit you."

Nash replied, "I guess I am." As he watched Johnson cross the street, he thought for a minute, what would I do if I was him. "Anything suspicious today?"

Antwon checked his watch and reported, "since I've been here, he's been out at that payphone on Water St. three times."

Nash surveyed the area, "when he comes out of there, I'm guessing he'll head to the bar over on Santa Clara... I want you to be five steps behind him. Anything he does, I want to know."

Nash confessed, "there's no telling what this guy is liable to do, that's why I want to get him before he gets us."

Antwon didn't know exactly what Nash had against Johnson, if it was any specific incident, "things that bad with him?"

"He killed a cop before and got off on insanity, it wouldn't bother him to do it again." Nash fumed, "it will be a cold day in hell before I let him kill one of my crew. He's not going to get away this time."

**
Rachel fidgeted nervously with the phone cord as she waited for someone to answer, knowing she was going to get reprimanded. "Marla, hi, this is Rachel McCabe... I know I was supposed to be there tonight... I tried to call earlier but the line was tied up...I can come by now... Marla, please, I am trying to make this work, I just have a very hectic schedule right now. Okay... alright... I'll do that... I'll be here..."

Kat waited a moment, apparently Rachel had been put on hold, "McCabe, did you want to grab a beer after work tonight?"

Rachel covered the bottom of the handset, "give me a minute, Kat." Kat looked over the pictures meticulously arranged on Rachel's desk. Rachel looked at the clock, it was almost nine-thirty, she was definitely pushing it with Marla. "Is he still up?...give me twenty minutes to wrap things up here, and I'll be by... I'll just stop by the pharmacy on my way there."

Kat rolled her eyes and pointed to the phone, "sounds problematic?"

Rachel nodded, "I'll be there as soon as I can." Rachel hung up the phone and began, "add that to the list of reasons why I am one of the world's worst parents."

Kat sat down on the corner of Rachel's desk, almost afraid to ask, "custodial dispute?"

Rachel got up from her desk to check the fax machine, it still hadn't come in. "Something like that, Marla doesn't consider anyone a decent parent unless they are available 24/7. I don't think she approves of my career choice."

Kat refuted, "it's her opinion, who cares?"

"It just worries me, that's all." Rachel silently mumbled curses at the fax machine, before asking, "has Harvey called up here tonight?"

"No, he left a few hours ago. He seemed to be in quite a hurry." Kat made her suggestion, "how about you leave and I wait for the fax?"

"In case I haven't told you lately, you're wonderful." Rachel quickly walked back to her desk and retrieved her things, "it's from the Oakland P.D., it was supposed to be here and hour ago. It's a file on Johnson's son."

**
Harvey sat down on the barstool next to Louis, "thanks for coming." Louis warmly extended his hand to Harvey, "sorry that I'm late, I had to run by Rachel's."

Louis smiled, "that's okay. I'm actually getting used to these strange hours you cops keep." Louis motioned to the bartender, "get this man a cold one, he looks like he needs it."

Harvey chuckled soflty, "more than you know." As the bartender slid the icy bottle down towards him, Harvey added, "I got the blood test done today."

Louis wasn't suprised he already got it done , "do you think Anna is serious about this paternity issue?"

Harvey didn't have the slightest idea, and said, "I don't know, with her profession, I guess anything is possible."

Louis had momentarily forgotten about her occupation and commented, "that is kind of risky, I mean, what she does."

Harvey recollected what she had previously told him, "she always said it had it's good and bad points."

Louis felt obligated as his lawyer to say something positive, "no matter how saint-like she may appear to be, I don't think the judge will lookk highly upon prostitution as her profession of choice. Though she claims she's not really into that anymore, it's all about the environment the kid will be raised in."

Harvey had to disagree to some extent, "Rache and I might be on the right side of the law, but look at the hours we put in."

With a condemning tone, Louis sneered, "that attitude will get you nowhere, Harvey."

Not wanting to argue, he refuted, "I'm just trying to be honest with myself. I love my job, but I love my son more than anything." Harvey tried to think of an example to prove his point, "like with Rachel, true that she's more willing to take a day or two off work than I am, but her job still means a lot to her. For the past five and a half years, her life has been about getting up and going to work. Now, the kids are becoming her priority but she has limited time for that due to her line of work." Trying to make some sense of what he said, Harvey concluded, "let's face it, we'd both be better candidates if we didn't work our butts off day in and day out."

Louis hinted, "true, but notice the judge hasn't found any flaws yet in chosing Rachel as the custodial parent for her son and I don't think he's going to. In a perfect world, you might be right, but the judge cares about what's best for the kid."

Harvey relented, "knock on wood. Right now, all I'm hoping for is happy median."

Louis laughed, no matter what Harvey said, he still had a good feeling about the situation, "you two have a lot to offer, even if you're both slaves to the time clock."

**
Rachel found Marla waiting for her as she headed down the stairs, "did he go down alright for you?"

"He seemed pretty tired, the cough medicine knocked him out." Rachel waited a moment before adding, "I would've been here earlier, had I known he was sick."

Marla pointed towards the living room, "do you have time to talk or do you need to get back?"

Rachel knew Harvey intended to stop by, but she didn't want to anger Marla, "I've got time to talk."

Marla looked at Rachel, guessing she had carelessly forgotten her visit that evening. "If you took responsibility for your child, you wouldn't have to wait for somebody else to tell you he was sick."

Caught off guard by Marla's blunt comment, Rachel stammered, "think what you may, but I was at work. The same place I've been since seven o'clock this morning." Rachel pulled her cell phone from her pocket and offered it to Marla, "call my boss, he'll be happy to give you my hours."

Marla walked towards the couch without saying another word, realizing she had done some serious damage with her last comment. She relented, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Noting that Rachel wasn't about to sit down next to her, she continued, "listen, I don't know what all is going on in your life, but I have to wonder where this little boy ranks on your list of priorities." Marla knew she had asked a loaded question, waiting a moment before she went on, "I haven't said anything to the judge, but I've spoken with Louis, I wanted to give you a chance to defend yourself."

Rachel could feel Marla's heavy eyes upon her, whatever she said could be taken the wrong way and she'd never see Ryan again. She began, "I know that there's no good excuse for my absence. I can blame it on my job, my marriage... but it's all on me. I had asked the judge for a transition period last week, I thought it would be best for Ryan and I. I hardly know anything about him, or kids in general, and he certainly doesn't know me."

Marla struggled to remember the details about Rachel, she had so many mothers in and out of her door. "Where did you say you worked again?"

Rachel didn't remember telling her a first time, she assumed Louis did. "I'm an investigator at the SIU, my husband and I both work there."

Marla laughed, "that certainly explains the long hours."

Relieved by the slight show of sympathy, Rachel returned, "I just don't have much experience scheduling my life around kids, I'm working on that."

Marla was curious, and carefully decided on her next question, "can I ask about your husband?"

Rachel felt as if she had nothing to hide and replied, "what about my husband?"

Marla thought back to Rachel's various visits, she had always been alone, "why doesn't he come with you, to see Ryan?"

Rachel was ready to defend him, "Harvey is a busy guy, he's trying to get custody of his son as well."

The mention of another child provoked Marla's next question, "don't you have a daughter as well?"

Rachel suddenly felt the need to explain herself, "she lives in Boston with her father." Rachel wasn't satisfied with what Marla had thought of Harvey, knowing that Harvey had done the same on her behalf with Anna, Rachel brought up the subject again. "One of the reasons I married Harvey was because I knew he'd be a wonderful father, and that's what he is. He might not have the time right now to sit and read stories, play in the park, or watch videos, but he does care. We're both extremely busy people, but our kids certainly do not lack love or attention when in our care."

**

                                                                          Part 2

**
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Rachel kissed Harvey as she passed him in the living room, he had just walked in.

Harvey returned the kiss, "I didn't want to miss a rare opportunity to speak with you outside of the SIU." He walked over towards the couch, this might be the only chance he'd have to tell her the truth. She had to find out sooner or later, "Rache?"

Rachel grinned, "that sounds suspicious, you and I both know you aren't keen on waking up early before work." Rachel sat down next to Harvey on the couch, "so what's really going on?"

"I stopped by last night." Harvey hesitated with what he felt he had to say, "I wanted to talk to you, about this case."

"I didn't get finish till after ten, I came home and went to bed." They could discuss the case at work, he had come to talk about something else.

"I called the SIU, Kat said you had left earlier," Harvey put Rachel on the spot.

"Actually I went to M..." Rachel stopped herself, now wasn't the time for her to bring up her discussion with Marla. Harvey had enough problems. "I went to Mandara's for carry-out, not in the mood to cook." Rachel lowered her head, afraid to ask, "this is about Anna?"

"I guess that explains why you didn't answer the door." Harvey could tell that Anna was finally getting to her, and hated to badger her with more. "I don't know what to do, there's just no pleasing her."

"And the paternity suit sure isn't helping." Rachel didn't have to ask, she could see how upset he was. "Why would she say something like that?"

Harvey shook his head, "I just can't believe she'd do this, not now."

Rachel wanted to reassure him, but she didn't know how. She asked quietly, "I wish there was something that I could do?"

Harvey smiled, "well, you haven't left me yet, so that's a start."

Caught off guard by his comment, Rachel replied, "I didn't know I was supposed to."

"Now I remember why I didn't seek legal action before, Anna's stooping to new lows and my problems become everyone else's." Harvey leaned back against the couch, removing his beret, "I'm beginning to wonder if I've opened up a can of worms."

"It's a little Machiavellian, but have you thought the end might justify the means?" She couldn't help but feel partially responsible, she urged him to fight. Rachel knew someone more important than Anna was on his mind, "how's Jerry with all this?"

Harvey shrugged, "it's hard to say. The poor little dude has to be as confused as ever. I'm sure Anna's new husband is making the situation even better for him."

Harvey needed reassurance it was Rachel saw it as her obligation to try and help, "he's not his father, Harvey, you are."

"That remains to be proven; but, hey, at least you know who your kids belong to." Harvey regretted the comment after making it, knowing that her children's fathers weren't in the picture. "I shouldn't have said that."

"Don't worry about it, Harvey." She knew they had to get going, their conversation had lasted longer than she expected. Rachel flashed a brilliant smile, "do you mind waiting a few minutes, so I can finish getting ready and we can go together?"

Harvey nodded his head and smiled. He reached into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone, Harvey quickly dialed the number. "Nash, it's me."

**
"Jerry, go get dressed." Anna handed the boy his carefully ironed shirt, "be careful not to wrinkle it. As soon as Jerry had left the area, Anna approached Steve, "why aren't you ready yet?"

Steve got up from the couch, "ready for what?"

Anna jabbed him lightly in the arm, "I told you, we have a meeting today with the lawyers."

Steve sat back down, trying to get out of her wrath. "I'm not going."

Anna coldly replied, "Steve, you have to go. If you don't show up... they'll...."

Steve was quick to respond, "I said no and I meant it. I don't want to see Harvey Leek any more than I have to. The man makes my skin crawl."

Anna tried to reason, "if you come, we might be able to get this over with all the sooner."

There was no use in trying to argue, but Steve was going to stick to his plan. "There's things about Harvey that you just don't know, he's not one of the good guys, Anna."

Anna felt the need to defend Harvey, "listen, I know you two had an episode in the past, but he's not all that bad."

Steve couldn't come out and say it, so he hesistated a moment, "it wasn't an episode, someone I loved was on the receiving end of his bullet."

Anna waited before saying anything else, "that certainly changes things for you then."

Steve nodded in agreement, "leave Jerry here with me, it's time the boy got to know his father."

**
"Maybe this was a mistake." Harvey held Rachel's hand tightly in his own under the table, "I shouldn't have made you come."

"Harvey, I told you, I am in this for the long haul." Rachel looked up as she saw Anna entering the room with her lawyer, Mr. Simpson, and questioned, "I thought you said she was bringing her husband?"

Harvey shrugged, "that's what I thought."

Louis tapped lightly on Harvey's shoulder, "I guess he's a no-show after all."

Anna sat down in the chair across from Rachel, trying to avoid looking directly at her, "I'd like to get this over with so I can get home to my son."

Louis looked towards Anna, "you're the one who requested this meeting, Ms. Paxton, on behalf of you and your husband."

Anna glanced nervously towards her lawyer and replied, "he stayed at home with Jerry today, he thought it would be best."

Louis considered their options for a moment and offered his suggestion, "we could postpone the meeting if you'd like."

Anna coldly responded, "no. I want this over with as soon as possible, for the benefit of my son."

Louis perused the paperwork spread before him, he slid the folder across the table to Anna's lawyer, "these our are terms, we'd have to consider before we negotiate."

Anna's lawyer quickly looked, refuting, "there's no way my client is giving up her son to these people."

Louis motioned towards Harvey, "this man is Jerry's father."

Anna quickly replied, "that hasn't been proven yet."

Harvey waited a moment before posing his question, "just out of curiousity, is this husband of yours the man you're claiming is Jerry's father?"

Mr. Simpson spoke for a moment in hushed tones with Anna, "my client has decided it's best if we not discuss this with you."

Louis sighed heavily, "if you won't tell us now, you can say it front of the judge." Louis leaned in closer to Harvey and quietly whispered, "I think she's up to something."

Mr. Simpson looked at the papers again before sending them back across the table, "I don't think the judge will find fault in my client trying to prevent her child from being placed with a workaholic father and a step-mother who is anything but a stable factor in her own children's lives."

**
"Lisa, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?" Nash beamed as Lisa walked with him towards the SIU.

"Don't be flattered, it's strictly business." Lisa waited for Nash to open the door, he always was quite the gentleman.

"What's your business?" Nash left a file on somebody's desk as they passed by, "we can go upstairs for a little more privacy?"

Lisa pointed towards the stairs, "have you heard from Cassidy lately?"

Nash stopped for a moment on the landing, "I see her here everyday, but we don't talk like we used to."

Lisa asked, "so she's alienating you too?"

Nash conceded, "if that's what you want to call it." Nash pulled out the chair for her infront of his desk, "she's going through a lot of changes and hasn't had the easiest time."

Lisa sat down, but didn't intend to stay too much longer. "I'm worried about her Nash, I mean, this episode with Lucas, her thing with Harvey... maybe had I been here with her, things would be different."

Nash reached his hands across the table and rested them upon hers before he began, "Lisa, you can't do this to yourself. Cassidy just has problems that she needs to work out for herself. The only thing we can do for her is be there when she calls."

**
Inside the surveillance van with Kat, Antwon carefully inspected the monitor, "I still don't see anything."

Kat checked the screens before her, "me either. What exactly do we want to catch him doing?"

Antwon leaned back in his chair, "I guess Nash and the upper powers consider him to be a threat to society, but that can't bring him in again unless he's caught doing something he shouldn't be doing."

Kat nodded, "how did this guy get out anyways?"

Antwon looked in the file, spread out on the counter before him, "says here that someone paid his parole. Quite a hunk of change."

Kat was curious and questioned Antwon about what he knew, "I guess your partner has a history with Johnson?"

Antwon focused again on the monitors, "so I've been told. They keep going back and forth. Word is this guy killed McCabe's first partner."

"Oh yeah?" Kat didn't want to appear as if she already knew.

Antwon replied, "yeah, but I don't think she knows the whole story. I heard that Martin tried to get Harvey back on the case when Johnson showed up in town, but Nash had him working on something else. Martin assigned McCabe and her partner, Ryan Mazza to the case. Mazza got shot and Johnson was put away for not even two years, he was up for parole and somebody paid."

That part was what Kat didn't know. She distinctly remembered Rachel saying whoever that cop and his boss are, they could go to hell. Rachel definitely had no idea of what was going on. "That's why Rachel isn't doing much with the case?"

Antwon fidgeted with the controls for the view, "if the man killed my partner, I'd be a little biased too."

Kat found it odd that no one had chose to enlighten Rachel as to what had happened, she felt bad but didn't want to say anything herself. "Is Nash going to tell Rachel?"

"I have no idea." Antwon looked back to the monitor, as Steve left the building, "as long as this guy is being the model citizen, there's nothing we can do."

Kat watched as Steve walked towards an older model car, with another person sitting in the passenger seat and a small head rising just above the seat in the back. "Who's with him?"

Antwon smiled, "I don't know how, but apparently he accquired a wife and kid not long after he got out."

**
Rachel watched as Harvey gazed out the window, he had a lot on his mind. He hadn't been himself lately. She felt the need to remind him that she was there when he needed her. Rachel leaned against the coffee stand next to Harvey, "you look lost in thought."

Harvey turned towards her after filling his cup, "I wish that I was lost anywhere else, nothing to do with you being here, of course." In truth, it was moments like this with her that allowed him to get through the day. "I'm sorry about what Anna's lawyer said earlier."

"The truth hurts." Mixing Harvey's normal combination of cream and sugar into his favorite mug, Rachel questioned, "did Anna say anything else to you yesterday?"

"No, she came in with the social worker and a police escort." Harvey pictured the scene again in his mind, "as if I was the bad guy."

"Ouch." Rachel ran her hand gently across his cheek, and replied, "you don't have anything to worry about, Harvey, no judge in his right mind is going to take Jerry away from you."

Harvey took a small sip from the coffee and responded, "I really hope you're right." He had put it off long enough, they had to talk about something else and now seemed to be their best chance. "About this Johnson case, Rachel..."

The case was the last issue on Rachel's mind, "I know, Nash has you up front and you're pretty busy."

Harvey set the cup down, he had to think. There was no good way to tell her and no way to know how she'd react. "Uh..."

Rachel took his hands into her own and looked him dead in the eyes, "it's okay, Harvey, I understand."

Only that look could make him feel miserable, there was no way he could tell her now, but he had to. "Rachel, there's been something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

The most recent topics flooded her mind, nothing was that serious, he had to devote himself to his son for the time being. "Look, I know I keep bringing up our living situation, but don't worry about it."

"Our living situation?" Harvey smiled, relieved she thought of something more trivial than what he had in mind.

Rachel reached for his coffee and took a sip, "we can talk about it later, once things settle down with Anna and you've got the case under control. The only reason that I suggested it now is..."

Harvey chuckled, not intentionally trying to interrupt, "you always do that."

Rachel looked at him innocently, as she pushed the coffee cup across the counter in his direction, "what?"

Harvey pointed to the cup and put on a more serious face, "you take my coffee when you think that I'm not paying attention!"

Rachel flashed a guilty grin, "so what if I do?"

"You have a poor, caffeine deprived man to contend with." Harvey looked to see if anyone else was coming, and pulled her in for a lengthy kiss.

"If that's the case, I'll take your coffee all the time." Rachel heard someone on the stairs and refrained from kissing him again, but didn't hesitate to take the cup from his hands.

Harvey chose to ignore their company and stepped in closer, "so, finish your sentence. What's your reasoning for bringing up our unique living situation?"

Rachel made her suggestion, "I was thinking that maybe if, you know, we presented a family-like situation we might have the upperhand."

**
Mr. Simpson, Anna's lawyer, eyed her from across the desk. "I hate to say it, Anna, but those two seem like totally respectable individuals."

Anna squirmed uncomfortably on the wooden chair, "well, they're not."

Mr. Simpson confessed, "the more I see of them, the less promising your case looks. Unless it turns out that Harvey Leek is not Jerry's biological father, no judge will take him away from two good-hearted cops."

Anna acted as if she were gagging, "is that what you think they are? You don't know them like I do. For awhile, Harvey was wonderful and everything I had ever hoped for. Until recently, he led me to think that we'd be getting back together and make a good family life for our son."

Mr. Simpson couldn't follow her story, it seemed to have changed yet again, "I thought you had been with Mr. Johnson for quite a while by this point?"

Anna had to think about whatever she might have told him, "well, not exactly. I slept with him a while back, like around when I got pregnant, and I kind of kept in contact with him since then, even when they locked him up in the pen."

Mr. Simpson reviewed her other stories in his head, "so this is a real possibility that Steve Johnson is the father, not just some desperate scheme to get revenge on Harvey Leek?"

Anna scowled at him, "it's not a scheme, Harvey lied to me and I don't appreciate the way I've been treated. It just so happened that when I actually thought about it, I realized that Harvey might not be Jerry's father after all. I didn't plan this."

Mr. Simpson mumbled under his breath, "I somehow doubt that."

Anna heard him, "what was that?"

Mr. Simpson tried to stay positive, but it was difficult, "all I am saying is that, it just seems convenient that the moment Harvey Leek and his new wife try to obtain custody of Jerry, you decide he might not be the father after all. Unless either one of them has an atrocious past, I'd fathom to guess they have the upperhand."

Anna thought for a minute, there had to be something more she could do. "What happens, well, let's say I found something, or I saw something..."

She gained his interest, "like what?"

"Or maybe that something happened, awhile ago... I could speak of my own encounters with Rachel and why I don't think she should be around my son, or any children for that matter. The woman's a homewrecker, she ruined my chance for a a family with Harvey and Jerry. She's got enough money to buy her what she wants..." The thought alone triggered Anna's mind. Satisfied with the plan she had in her head, Anna smiled.

**
"What do we got, kids?" Harvey smiled as he entered the surveillance van, feeling he could be far more useful keeping an eye on Johnson himself.

"Nothing major. He took off with his wife and kid earlier, he's just coming back by himself now. He took the bus." Kat pointed to the screen where Johnson was walking away from the bus stop. "What took you so long, you were supposed to be my relief an hour ago?"

Harvey grinned, "I was a little distracted."

Kat acted as if she were gagging, "Ugh. I don't even want to know. You and your lunch time rendezvous. Ugh. To be so sick in love."

Antwon couldn't help but laugh, "you know, the woman does have a point."

Harvey rolled his eyes, "you're both just jealous that you haven't found someone."

Kat pulled out her notepad, opening it to a completely blank page, "look, see, right here. Finding someone is on the top of my list of priorities."

Harvey chuckled, "how did you survive the morning in such a small space with her, 'Twon? I was sure I'd come in and find one of you dead."

Kat looked up from the mess of chords and wires she was searching through, "I love you too, Harvey."

Harvey looked down at Kat, "it's the blue wire, sweetheart, that will hook up the audio to the monitors as well."

Kat connected the wire and got up, "he's all yours, Antwon, you'll miss me once I'm gone."

Harvey waited as she opened the door, "not nearly as much as I'll miss you, Kat."

Kat shot Harvey an evil glare, "I don't know about you, Leek, but I think I'll be having a talk with your wife back at the SIU."

**
Anna walked through the hospital doors, directly to the reception area. She approached the nurse, "hello, I was wondering if I could speak to someone about the testing I had done yesterday afternoon."

The nurse glanced at Anna, "what kind of testing?"

Anna smiled, trying to gain the woman's confidence, "blood testing, actually, it was a paternity test for my son."

The nurse was concerned, "did something go wrong? Has your son been ill?"

Anna wanted to reassure her, "no, nothing like that. I just had some questions, any help would be greatly appreciated."

Having nothing else to do for the moment, the nurse offered her services, "I might be able to answer your questions."

"Really..." Anna thought about it, this woman's answers might be as good as anyone else's, "that would be great."

The nurse got up from her desk, "would you like a cup of coffee? I'm about due?"

Anna could already tell this woman would be easy to win over, "sure, I'd love one."

The woman walked over to the coffee pot stationed in the waiting area, "what would you like to know? The paternity testing we offer here at Oakland General is state of the art... really high-tech if you ask me."

**
Kat slowly poured her coffee, wondering what she should do about Rachel. She didn't want to be the one to tell her that Harvey had a role of sorts in Ryan's death. It was bad enough she already knew what she did. Kat felt a hand upon her shoulder, startling her. "HEY!"

Rachel backed up a little, "sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"You're lucky you're not wearing this." Kat set her coffee down, "what's up?"

Rachel grabbed herself a cup and poured, leaving Kat to wonder what Rachel might have on her mind. "I've got a question for you."

Kat nervously bit her nails, "personal or professional?"

Rachel looked at her and smiled, "for now, professional but with somewhat personal ties."

Kat sighed heavily, "you complicate my life like no other, McCabe. Let me have it."

Rachel tried to think of a way to eloquently phrase her request, "okay. When a prositute is brought in, would they have a record of her, umm, let's say, patrons?"

Kat laughed, repeating "patrons? McCabe, are you trying to make prostitution sound like a legitamate business endeavor?" Once Kat saw she was serious, she replied, "are you asking if we'd take the information from her black book?"

Rachel headed towards the stairs, "names and numbers, yes."

Kat had a better idea of what was going on, "follow me."

Kat led Rachel downstairs and towards the file cabinets, selecting the file of a certain Ricky Jones. "Here, this is how it works." Kat pointed to a list attached with other pertinent information, "whether they want to or not, we usually make them give us some names. If we're lucky, they leave more than that. Sometimes, we've gotten everything. Names, numbers, dates, even the amount they paid."

Rachel carefully screened the file, her idea might work after all. "Do you think that with the information, on the clients, was available, it could be used to establish the paternity of a prositute's child?"

"Quite possibly, if the prositute's information on her clients was honest and accurate." Kat pointed back to the file, "I had something similar in Sacramento, this Ricky Jones is quite a character. She's had countless abortions, she's got six kids, all by different men, the only problem is all the men we have on the lists are frequent customers. One of her kids got sick, we had to track down the father, had she kept honest records - the kids wouldn't be suffering waiting for a transplant match today. Needless to say, she lost custody of all them. "

"Interesting." Rachel wanted to look immediately, but she knew she should wait. She didn't want to cross the line.

"Now she's marking her territory here, I saw her on Fifth the other day. Looked like she had an infant with another coming. It's a vicious cycle with these woman if you ask me." Kat shut the file and returned it to the drawer, "don't mind my tangent, hope I answered your question."

**
Antwon rubbed his eyes, trying hard to stay awake. Having pulled an all-nighter in the surveillance van, he was more than ready for someone else to take over. "Harvey, you mind if I take a quick cat-nap?"

Harvey took the last sip from his latte, "bailing out on me already? What kind of bum partner are you?"

Antwon leaned back in his chair, "man, show a brother some love. I've been here all day. I don't have a woman who brings double lattes to me to keep me awake and aware."

Harvey chuckled, "that's right, and she's all mine." He saw Antwon nodding off momentarily, "just keep an eye out while I make a quick bathroom run, and then you can take your nap."

Antwon watched as he exited the van, "if I even find out that you prolonged this trip by making a call to Rachel, you're a dead man." By the time Antwon finished his threat, Harvey was gone. "Man, can't get a moments rest."

Antwon carefully watched the screens, not surprised there hadn't been any recent movement. He turned away momentarily to adjust the volume, when he glanced back, a new figure appeared before him.

Antwon waited as the woman sat patiently in the car, apparently waiting for Johnson. Antwon recognized her face, he definitely knew her from somewhere. He watched as Johnson approached the car, she cranked down the window and greeted him with a kiss. He handed her something, but Antwon couldn't tell what it was. Just then, another car pulled up ahead of the car where the blonde woman was with Johnson.

Antwon heard Harvey banging on the door, interrupting the scene. Antwon shot up and unlocked the door, "Harvey, get in here, you gotta see this." Harvey scurried back to his chair, immediately focusing on the screen. Antwon pointed to the blonde, "how do I know her?" He waited for Harvey to appraise the situation,
"I heard a little mumbling, something about Jerry?"

"What?" Harvey shook his head, it couldn't be. "Dammit."

"What? Who is she?"

Harvey got up from his chair, ready to storm out of the van, "that's Anna, that's Jerry's mother."

Antwon suddenly understood, "oh. She's with Johnson?"

Harvey didn't know how to interpret the scene, "I certainly hope not."

Antwon looked back at the screen, "Johnson just left in the other car. She's still there."

Harvey eyed the screen and then the door, "I've gotta know what's going on."

**

Part 3

**
Harvey quickly pulled Anna aside as she walked back towards her car, "what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Anna ripped her arm from his grip, "get your hands off me."

Harvey questioned her immediately, "Anna, do you know who he is? What that man has done?"

Anna stepped back, alarmed by Harvey's forward behavior, "what are you talking about?"

Harvey responded, "you're married to a monster, he's a murderer."

Anna shook her head, "you have no idea what you're talking about. Steve loves me and his son."

"No." Terrible thoughts ran through Harvey's mind, "he's not who he says he is. You don't know this jerk like I do."

"Even if you have some sick past with him, I don't care." Anna walked away from Harvey towards her car, unwilling to listen. "He's changed, Harvey, and what you say won't matter."

"Anna, please, just listen to me for a minute." Harvey walked quickly to catch up with her, trying to grasp her arm.

"Get away from me, Harvey." Anna quickly unlocked her door and got in, Harvey couldn't be right about Steve. "He's told me about you, and you're not who you say you are either."

Harvey leaned against the door, completely defenseless, "what did he say?"

"You killed his son, Harvey, how could you?" Anna tried to control her emotions, what she felt for Harvey in the past didn't matter now.

"That's not what happened." Harvey could tell Anna was angry, but he had to make her understand, "if you don't believe me, look at these." Harvey slid a folder through the crack in the window, "these explain everything."

"I can't believe you, Harvey Leek." Anna pushed the folder aside and started her engine, as Harvey stepped aside from the car, she quickly drove off.

**
"You look just about as angry as I feel." Kat smirked as she walked by Rachel's desk, "Nash harassing you about overtime again?"

Rachel got up and walked quickly to catch up with Kat, "I wish. Anna's waged another war on Harvey."

Kat smiled and shook her head, "I'm not even sure I want to know what the Unhappy Hooker has done now." Kat suddenly connected Rachel's question to the situation, "wait a minute. This is why you asked about hookers and their clients, right?"

Rachel wasn't sure if Harvey had told her the latest yet or not. "I'm sure you saw plenty of incidents like ours when you were a social worker."

Kat couldn't help but laugh when she thought of the situation Rachel and Harvey were in with Anna. "I must say, I don't think I did. It's not every day that a cop sleeps with a hooker, or prostitute if we are being politically correct, elopes with another cop a few years later, and then files for custody of the son he had with the prostitute. Sounds to me as if there'd be no contest for the more stable home."

Rachel tried to restrain her emotions and her personal feelings towards Anna,"that's just it, there wasn't until she decided to get married and then she saved the best for last..."

Kat knew what had changed before Rachel even said it, "let me guess, suddenly Harvey isn't Jerry's father?"

Rachel replied, "Jerry's almost five and she decides this now. And yes, this is why I had asked about the hookers and their clients." Rachel decided she had done enough venting, Kat needed her time. "So what's with you?"

Kat sighed heavily, "my boys want to live with me now."

Rachel thought for a moment, something didn't seem right, "that's not a good thing?"

Kat replied sarcastically, "that's not a good thing for me or them."

Rachel hesitated for a second, "can I ask why?"

Kat smiled, "if you dare." Kat sat down on the end of Rachel's desk, she was getting herself into a lengthy explanation. "Jason's pre-med and I just helped him get his license as if he were sixteen. His father has let his tickets rack-up. Josh is almost eleven. In short, I haven't been around much for them."

Rachel leaned back in her chair, she didn't expect what Kat had said, "by choice or by chance?"

Kat knew she couldn't avoid the question, " a little of both. Just a little over ten years ago, my daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Not only did my boys lose their sister but their mother as well. I quit social work after eighteen years and became a cop, I was back with avengeance."

Rachel didn't know how to respond, "I'm sorry, Kat, I didn't know."

Kat softly replied, "not a lot of people do. David, my beloved ex-husband, kept the boys and I moved to Sacramento to fight my own personal war. Jason remembers how I used to be, and for poor Josh, I've just been an absentee mother that he sees monthly." Kat smiled for a second, "I guess it's time for me to get back amongst the living, huh?"

Rachel laughed, "experience has shown that you can't run away forever."

Without thinking, Kat replied, "you left your parents, not the other way around."

Rachel didn't remember mentioning any conflict with her parents, and wondered how Kat would've known. She tried to ignore what Kat had said, "either way, it's a no-win situation."

Kat didn't know how to recover from her comment, she hoped Rachel didn't notice. "You got that straight. I have no idea what to do with those boys. Jessica, my daughter, I always understood, but not the boys."

Rachel thought Kat might be a lucky guesser. She didn't speak of her parents, so Kat assumed there were problems. That had to be it. Rachel looked at Kat curiously, "there seems to be a pretty big age gap between the boys?"

"That wasn't intentional, believe me. I thought I was done after Jason. I mean, Jess was graduating the next year and Jason was almost in high school himself. David and I were on the verge of a divorce, due to his affair with the secretary, that was until I found out I was pregnant. We were together, and I lose that term loosely, until after Jessica died." Kat looked down at her watch, realizing how much time she had taken up baring her soul. She didn't have it in her to continue. "Anyways, enough of my sob story. We've got to get back to work if either one of us wants to get out of here tonight." Just as Kat began to walk away, she thought of something, "Rache?"

Rachel looked up towards Kat, "yeah?"

Kat knew what she had to do, "it would be too risky for you to look through the files yourself, I'll see what I can find out."

**
Joe slowly walked up to Nash's desk, "anything new on Johnson yet?"

Nash looked away from the computer screen, "nothing that we can bring him in for. He's being perfectly law-abiding. However..."

Joe wrinkled his nose, "however... that doesn't sound too good, Nashman."

Nash got up from his chair, "I need you to go do surveillance with 'Twon, we can't let Johnson out of our sight."

Joe knew something wasn't right, "I thought he was behaving?"

Nash headed quickly down the stairs, "Bubba, you don't know the half of it."

Joe followed Nash, "that bad?"

"Remember how Harvey said Anna got married in Vegas?" Nash looked to see if anyone else was within earshot.

Joe shrugged, "yeah, so did he. "

"Anna is married to Steve Johnson." Nash saw another officer coming and quickly pulled Joe aside, "now Anna is claiming Jerry might not be Harvey's child."

**
Kat looked over her desk to see if Cassidy was nearby, just as she looked up, she found Cassidy standing before her. "What file did you want?"

Kat searched her desk for the sheet of paper, "the name is Anna Paxton."

Cassidy looked at the files in her arms, she hadn't gotten the right one. "I'll be back."

As soon as Cassidy left, Kat's phone rang. "Kat Bauer...David, I'm at work. I cannot talk to you about this right now... Don't make this worse than it is, okay?... I told you, as soon as I get some free time we can sit down and talk this out... No, I cannot come and get Josh...Why are you doing this?...Hold on a minute..."

Cassidy placed the file onto Kat's desk, "anything else?"

Kat picked the file up and quickly checked the name, "thanks, Cassidy." After Cassidy walked away, Kat started rummagining through the file, "David, I told you, listen, I've got to go." Kat hung up the phone and pulled Anna's client list from the file. She quickly scanned the names. One name stuck out immediately. Steve Johnson. Kat's fingers scrambled on the keypad as she dialed Rachel's number.

The ringing of Rachel's cell phone interrupted the silence of the car. She could hear it, but she knew the phone was in her bag, which was in the back seat. "Jerry, can you hand me my phone? It's in the bag."

Jerry looked up and smiled, "okie dokie." Jerry rumaged through his things to find Rachel's bag on the floor. "It's ringing."

Rachel focused on the road while Jerry looked through her bag, "did you find it, sweetie?"

Jerry removed, "I found my Superman." Jerry proudly displayed the action figure for Rachel to see, and then returned to the bag, retrieving the ringing phone this time. "Here, Rachie."

Kat nervously tapped her fingers on her desk, waiting for Rachel to answer, "come on, McCabe. Pick up the phone. The little ringing piece of electronic equipment in your bag..."

"McCabe." Rachel pulled the car into park outside of her house, Harvey could probably stand to wait a few more minutes before she brought Jerry by.

"It's about time. Anyways, if you're driving, pull over. You're not going to like this." Kat looked at the list again, just to be sure that she was right.

Rachel looked back to check on Jerry, happily playing with his action figure. "I'm parked."

"I pulled Anna's file, turns out that Steve Johnson was a client of hers."

Rachel didn't know what to do, "you're kidding?"

"You think he's a possibility?" Kat suddenly imagined the devastation Harvey would feel, "how old is Jerry?"

"Let me talk to Harvey, I'll call you back when we get to his house." Rachel hung up her phone and turned back to face Jerry, "let's go inside and get your blanket, okay?"

**
Harvey quickly got up as soon as he heard Rachel's key in the door, nervous something may have happened. As soon as Rachel opened the door, Jerry ran inside. "Daddy!"

Harvey wrapped Jerry tightly in his arms, and looked up at Rachel, "what took you so long?"

Rachel set her purse down on the table, thinking she'd probably stay awhile, she had to tell him about Anna. Harvey was certainly shakey about something, "he wanted to stop at my house and get his blanket that he left there Tuesday night. Why?"

Harvey kept his arms tightly wrapped around Jerry and kissed his forehead, "you had me worried."

Rachel bent down to Harvey's level and whispered, "is something wrong?"

Harvey stood up and looked back at Jerry, "why don't you go put your stuff upstairs?"

Rachel handed him his back-pack and his blanket, "I'll come up in a few minutes, Jerry." Jerry gave Rachel a quick hug before running upstairs, Rachel turned towards Harvey, "what happened?" Maybe he knew something she didn't.

"I needed you to pick up Jerry, before they got to him." Harvey began to pace around the room, "I found out who Anna's husband is."

Rachel wasn't expecting this revelation, "who?"

"Johnson, she's married to Steve Johnson."

Things were already worse than she imagined, "the Steve Johnson?"

Harvey continued to pace, "yes, the Steve Johnson." Harvey walked towards a chair across the room, debating whether or not he should sit down. "I cannot believe this."

"It makes sense."

"What does?" Harvey looked at her curiously, she must know something.

Rachel could hear her phone ringing again, she knew it would be Kat. "Listen, don't be mad. I had Kat pull Anna's file, and it turns out that Steve was in Anna's book, close to the time she would've gotten pregnant with..."

"Oh God..."

**
Steve sprang up from the couch as soon as Anna entered the door, "where the hell have you been all day?"

Anna set her things down, suddenly terrified to be alone with him, "I've been out, running some errands."

Steve waited impatiently for her to focus her attention on him, "that idiot Leek has got the cops trailing me, us, every move."

Anna looked at him, maybe Harvey had been right, and questioned, "why would he do that?"

"Why? Why? Why?" Steve picked up a vase and hurled it across the room, "because I am a criminal, Anna, that's why."

Anna kept her back towards him, tearfully replying, "I thought you went to prison for robbing the banks."

Steve grabbed her arm, "if you knew anything about anything, you'd know that the only reason I went along with this stupid scheme of yours was to get back at Harvey Leek and to get my son. I did ten years for the robberies, but that was before Harvey Leek got in my way."

Anna felt completely betrayed, "what?"

"The only reason I ever slept with you was because I knew you were his, I wanted to make his life the living hell that he had made mine. I went to prison for killing a cop, Anna, not for theft."

Anna shook her head, "I don't understand, how did you get parole?"

Steve laughed, "those idiots are just as naive as you are, they helped me along. Nothing that a little good-behavior and an excellent lawyer can't repair. All I had to do was claim self defense and temporary insanity, still grieving over the death of my son."

"Your son?" Anna knew he had mentioned him before, but struggled to remember the details.

"Yeah, the son that your saint of a man Harvey Leek killed. He wasn't even twenty years old and that idiot killed him in cold blood, aiming for me." Steve waited for Anna to take it all in, "so I decided to come back, later on. Harvey was too busy being officer of the year to take my case. I decided to make a little disturbance in town, that's where I met Rachel McCabe and her partner Ryan Mazza. They were quick, but not quick enough. Ryan was on my back, I had a clear shot and fired. The poor sap collapsed in his partner's arms. I was apprehended but I made my defense, I got out in far less than two years. The only reason Leek wants to see me dead is so he doesn't have a mark on his flawless record."

Anna didn't want to hear anymore, "so I was just a part of this plan? your master plan for revenge on Harvey?"

Steve smiled, "that's all. That was the easy part. What did you think would happen? Your life isn't like the movie Pretty Woman, Anna. No wonderful man is going to come in and sweep you off your feet, wanting to make a decent woman out of a prostitute. As soon as we get the paternity tests, I'll have my piece with Harvey, get my son and be on my way."

Anna ripped herself away from his grip, "over my dead body."

Steve gave an evil laugh, "that's always a possibility. I've done it before, I can do it again."

**
Kat walked in past the empty bar stools searching for Lisa, she found her patiently waiting with a glass of wine already in front of her. "Sorry for the hold up, I've got issues."

Lisa smiled and pulled out the stool next to her, "I've known that for years."

Kat sat down and breathed a sigh of relief, "someone should've warned me about children being so problematic."

Lisa chuckled as Kat waved down to the bartender, "yours or somebody else's?"

Not wanting to incriminate herself, Kat questioned, "hypothetically speaking, if child B, who hasn't liked his mother since birth convinced child C, the father's favorite, that living with their mother might be a good idea, would you be suspicious?"

"Oh, Kat." Lisa grinned as Kat studied her beer, "why do I get the feeling that this isn't hypothetical at all?"

"You're right, it's not hypothetical, it's rotten." Kat took a large gulp from her beer, "I think it has a lot to do with David."

"Ah, David, the notorious ex-husband who can do no right." Lisa turned towards Kat, "now what has come up?"

"It's just terrible." Lisa could tell Kat was in visible distress. "I love my boys, don't get me wrong, but David convinced Josh and Jason that it would be a brilliant idea for them to live with me. What am I going to do with an eleven-year old and a twenty-three year old living under my roof?"

Lisa smiled, "say good-bye to any chance of romance in the near future."

"Thanks, Grandma-to-be." Kat waited for the bartender to come with a refill, "for one, there is no potential romance waiting in the wings; for two, aren't you and Nash going to have a little one running around again yourselves?"

"Ah yes, but we don't live together and the baby isn't ours, we can give the grandchild back at the end of the day." Lisa turned towards the door, surprised to see Nash entering.

Nash walked towards where they were sitting, "care if I join you?"

Kat rolled her eyes and frowned, "it's men like him that get innocent women like us into trouble."

Nash looked towards Lisa, "what's her problem? did I say something I shouldn't have?"

Lisa patted him on the shoulder, "no, it's just because you're a man."

**
"You've become a wonderful distraction." Harvey leaned back against the counter and kissed Rachel, "dinner was great, thank you."

"I'm just doing my job." Rachel returned the kiss, "don't thank me, thank Jerry for convincing me to stay."

Harvey retrieved the dishtowel from the table and started to dry the dishes, "I would've asked you myself, but he beat me to it." Harvey waited a minute, before adding, "I'm surprised Anna hasn't been by yet."

Rachel didn't want her there, but she knew she'd show up sooner or later. "Me too, but at least Jerry is safe here, with you."

Just as Harvey pulled Rachel against him for a passionate kiss, Jerry ran into the kitchen, "can I have a movie?"

Harvey held onto her a few moments longer, his son had impeccable timing. Rachel moved from Harvey's embrace, "let's go find you a movie."

Anna banged on the door, "Harvey! Harvey! Harvey, please let me in!" As Rachel entered the living room, she saw Anna waiting outside on the porch.

Rachel looked back at Harvey, "I guess we spoke too soon." Harvey stepped ahead of them and opened the door, Anna threw himself into his arms.

Anna was crying uncontrallably, "you were right, he did it. He did it, Harve."

Trying to calm her down, Harvey offered words of assurance, "it's okay, Anna, it's going to be okay."

Anna's sobs continued, "I think he's got Jerry, I went by the babysitter's house and he was gone. I looked everywhere for him."

Harvey quickly turned around, Jerry was no where in sight. He looked back towards Rachel, "where is he?"

"I guess he went up stairs, I'll give you two a few minutes alone." Rachel ran quickly up the stairs, hoping that's where Jerry had scampered off to.

Ignoring Rachel's presence, Anna pressed herself against Harvey even tighter, "hold me and tell me it's going to be okay."

Harvey struggled to create some space between them, "he's not going to hurt you and Jerry, that's for damn sure."

Anna looked in Harvey's eyes, ready to plead, "please let us stay with you, you have to protect us."

**
"Joe, you know what I've been thinking?" Inger sat down upon Joe's lap and ran her fingers through his hair.

Joe smiled and replied, "yes, my love?"

He apparently was in a good mood, just as Inger had hoped for. "Joe, I just realized the other day how old your JJ and our little Lucia are getting, and I was thinking that..."

The ideas just didn't connect right away, Joe responded, "what were you thinking? We'll soon have the house all to ourselves, time for romantic getaways and weekends in bed..."

As Joe moved in to kiss her, she pulled away. Inger got up, "no, Joe, not that at all."

Joe looked at her, a little confused. The idea hit. "Are you thinking about what I think you're thinking about?"

Inger sat back down next to him on the couch, "there's still time for us to have another baby."

Joe wasn't sure what to say, he wasn't so sure he agreed. "Do you really want to start all over again? I mean, we are at the stage now where we hear from JJ when he needs money and we can pawn Lucia off with Rachel and Harvey every now and then..."

Inger ran his hand against his satiny robe, "don't you remember how wonderful it was, Joe?"

Joe hesitated with his response, "some parts were better than others."

Inger lightly kissed his lips, "I don't, Joe, I was talking to Lisa today about Cassidy and it all sounds so wonderful."

Joe grinned, "I kind of like that, I'd be a dad again and Nash would be a grandpa." The more Joe thought about it, the more uncertain he was. "Are you sure about this? I mean, we thought about this a few years ago...and Lucia just turned six... and..."

Inger playfully poked at Joe, "come on, don't be such an old man."

**
Anna eyed Rachel carefully from across the room, "I think it would be best if you leave."

Rachel looked at her, stunned by the remark, "excuse me?"

Anna checked to make sure Harvey wasn't coming down the stairs, "I think it would be best if you didn't come around here anymore, Jerry needs to know he's safe and secure with his parents."

Rachel restrained herself from saying what she really felt, but needed to respond, "is that what you call it?"

Anna wasn't going to let her sabotage her plans, "listen, if it wasn't for you, none of this would've happened. It's not like you care about Jerry anyways."

Rachel shook her head in disbelief, trying to ignore her urges to get up and hit Anna. "Once again, you have no idea what you're talking about."

Harvey walked down the stairs slowly, fully able to hear the muffled sounds of an argument brewing in the living room. He knew it wasn't going to be good. He watched as Anna got up from the couch and approached Rachel, "why aren't you at home taking care of your own kids?"

Harvey entered the room and quickly commented in Rachel's defense, "that was uncalled for, Anna."

Anna was desperate, she had to say something. Rachel's open purse caught her eye. She could see the checkbook peeking out over the top. She watched and grimaced as Harvey sat down next to Rachel, "your wife was trying to buy me off."

Harvey looked at Rachel and then back at Anna, "what?"

Anna pointed to Rachel's open purse on the coffee table, "look in her purse, her check book is there. She asked me if a hundred and fifty thousand was enough to get me away."

Harvey didn't know how to respond, he certainly had his doubts. "Anna, please, now is not the time for your antics." Trying to be fair, he turned towards Rachel, "what happened?"

"Anna asked me to go." A few moments of awkward silence lingered in the air. Unable to take anymore, Rachel got up and reached for her purse, "I'm leaving."

Harvey angrily looked at Anna, wondering what had really gone on, "I'll be back."

Harvey followed Rachel onto the the porch, waiting as she searched for her keys. Rachel bitterly mumbled, "I shouldn't have stayed."

Harvey turned his back towards the door, "care to tell me what happened?"

Rachel handed him her checkbook, "here, look and see if there's anything missing or any checks written to Anna Paxton."

Harvey handed it back to her without checking, "I wasn't doubting you, Rachel, I just would like to know what happened while I was putting Jerry to bed."

Rachel slowly started to walk away from him, "listen, I don't know what you may have said to her, or when you said it, but I'm pretty sure she thinks you're getting back together."

"She's married and so am I," Harvey moved quickly to catch up with her, "that's insane."

Rachel unlocked the door and waited a moment before opening it, "is it? I'm trying to be realisitic, Harvey, you can't get on with your life until your relationship ends with her."

Harvey leaned against her car, "she's his mother, Rachel, there's nothing I can do about that."

"That's my point." Rachel stood outside of her car, knowing Harvey wouldn't like her reply, "I don't think that's the only thing she sees herself as. If you're married to me or not, she still has a pull on you that I just don't have."

Harvey looked at her, questioning, "so what is this?"

Rachel gently ran her hand against his face, "I've got to go pick-up Ryan, but call me later."

Harvey pulled her towards him for a lengthy kiss, knowing he couldn't ask her to stay. "This is temporary, I swear."

Disgusted by the scene outside, Anna closed the curtains. "He's mine, McCabe."

**