**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**

Chapter 43

"SURPRISE!"

Mel smiled as she came through the door of her apartment, assisted by Bethany and Jax. "Sounds like a full house," she whispered to Bethany.

"I would guess half the police force is here, and a few other people....oh and the slum of society," Bethany whispered back.

"Oh, is Jeff here?" Mel laughed at her sister's description of her best friend.

"Hi Sweetie," Jeff said, giving Mel a kiss on the cheek. "I see my fanclub is here." he said with a frown in Bethany's direction.

Mel grinned at him and took his arm as he lead her to the circle of cops standing on the other side of the room.

"Do you think this party will be too much for her?" Jax asked Bethany, watching as Mel laughed at something Jeff said. "This is her first night out of the hospital."

She looked at him and saw him frowning in Jeff and Mel's direction. She smiled to herself at his expression, "Are you kidding? This is probably the best thing for her. She loves being the center of attention!"

"She should be sitting down, and that friend of her's is too dumb to realize it," Jax said, he frown turning to a scowl, "I'll be right back."

Bethany snickered as he left.

"Knock! Knock!" Libby said as she and Jerry entered the room. Bethany swung around and grinned at them.

"I see the party is in full swing," Jerry noted as he took in the full room.

"Yes it is," Bethany said she ushered them in and shut the door.

"Where's the lady of the evening?" Libby asked, looking around the room.

"She's in the middle of that huddle over there," Beth said pointing to a large group of men in police uniforms looking down at something.

"What are they looking at?" Jerry asked.

"Mel" Bethany said with a chuckle.

"I'm going to go say hi," Libby said, leaving Jerry standing with Bethany.

"I hear congratulations are in order," Bethany said to him.

"What?" He asked, swinging his eyes back to her, "Oh, you mean my engagement."

"Yes, I hear you made quite a formal proposal to Libby. Something about cherries and fire," she said grinning at him, "I didn't understand exactly what happened, Libby was laughing too hard to understand."

"Well, they always say you should make a proposal memorable." He said grinning at her.

"I don't think Libby will ever forget it."

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"Come on Mel, show us your scars," someone in the crowd demanded.

"My scars?" Mel asked, leaning back in her chair that Jax had insisted she sit in.

"Yeah," came another voice, "We heard they split you open like a watermelon. Ouch!" he cried as someone poked him in the ribs.

Mel raised her t-shirt up and showed her friends her stomach, "You mean this?"

A whistle rang out, "Would you look at that!" Taggert said, leaning over to get a better look.

"What does it look like?" Mel asked.

Jeff reached out and ran a finger down the long jagged scar, where even the stitch marks were still imprinted. Jax slapped his hand away and gave Mel's friends a frown as he lowered her shirt. Libby grinned when she saw Jax's reaction and turned to wink at Jerry.

"Well?" Mel demanded, "Can I ever wear a bikini again?"

"Let's just say, you'll have something to show at the next Policeman's Ball Show and Tell," Taggert's sarcastically answered, "You'll be the envy of every flatfoot there."

Mel grinned, "Well at least something good came out of all that pain!"

Jax looked helplessly at Bethany and motioned for her that it was time the party was over. Bethany cleared her throat and announced that the party was over. There were plenty of groans, but the room quickly cleared, loud good-byes were heard as Bethany herded everyone out except Jax, Jerry, Libby and Jeff.

"I'm perfectly fine Bethany, they could have....stuck...." Mel yawned loudly, "around a little longer."

"Uh Huh! And I suppose that wasn't a yawn you just gave either. Okay, it's time to get you in bed." her sister said in her very best doctor's voice.

"Don't be a mother hen, Beth. I've been in bed for 3 weeks, there is no way, that I'm going back to bed as soon as I get home."

"Well, I'm exhausted and since I have to sleep on the couch tonight, I'm getting you to bed."

"You are not going to sleep on the couch," Mel stated.

"Where do you suggest I sleep?"

"Why don't you try your own bed. Since Mom and Dad have gone home, you should have your bed back."

"I'm staying here with you for a few days."

"No you're not," Mel stated seriously, "I know you are trying to help, but I've got to start depending on myself again."

"Melanie, you just got out of the hospital...."

Mel interrupted her, "I know you mean well, but if you really want to help me....leave me alone."

"Well, I think that's our cue to leave," Jerry said, helping Libby off the couch.

Libby went and kissed Mel's cheek, "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

Mel smiled, "I'd like that."

Libby and Jerry made their leave and Jax looked pointedly at Jeff, who just grinned at him.

"Jeff, why don't you walk Beth to her car?" Mel suggested.

"But..." Beth began.

"No, no, don't beg....I don't mind walking you to your car," Jeff said outrageously.

"That wasn't what I was going to say." Beth said indignantly.

"Oh, well no thanks are necessary. Okay, let's go. I've gotta get my beauty sleep," Jeff said. He leaned down and whispered something in Mel's ear which made her laugh, then swept Bethany out of the room.

Jax and Mel sat quietly for a few moments, before Mel gingerly stood up, "Thanks for springing me from the hospital Jax."

"It was my pleasure," Jax said, wanting to help her, but knowing she would rebuff him. "Are you sure you wouldn't like me to stay on the couch....just for tonight...until you get to know your way around?"

"It's my apartment, I already know how to get around," Mel said, "But thanks for the offer."

Jax shrugged, "Okay....well, I guess I'll go too. Call me if you need anything."

"Okay," Mel said.

Jax looked at her for a moment, then quietly left the apartment, shutting the door after him.

Mel sighed as she heard the soft click of the door closing. She suddenly felt very overwhelmed and frightened at being in her own apartment....all alone...and unable to see. For a moment she let the veil of self-pity wash over her, then she shook herself and straightened her shoulders and slowly made her way to the door, in order to lock it. After banging her knee on the end table and some how catching the lamp before it hit the floor, she made it to the door. She leaned her forehead against it as she felt for the dead bolt. A sudden knock startled her.

"Who...who's there?"

"Detective Langley? This is Officer Robert Pringle. I just wanted you to know that I'm out here if you need anything. But Officer Sam Willis will be here at 7AM to relieve me. Don't answer the door to anyone if you don't recognize their voice...even if they say they are with the police force. You know Officer Willis don't you?"

"Yes"

"Okay, then don't open the door to anyone else besides the two of us...unless you are sure you recognize the voice," Pringle restated through the door. "Okay?"

"Okay"

"And if you need anything, you let me know. And don't use the chain on the door. I have a key to the deadbolt if I need to get in. Okay?"

"Okay"

"Alright. I'll be right here if you need anything."

"Okay," Mel said as she slid the deadbolt in place and turned to make her way to her bedroom.

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"You're awfully quiet tonight," Libby said to Jax. She, Jax and Jerry had decided to go for a quick nightcap at Luke's before heading home.

Jax shrugged Libby's concern aside and took a sip of his drink. Libby looked at Jerry who raised his eyebrows at her.

"She's going to be okay, Jax," Jerry said, patting his brother on the back. "This is probably the best thing for her. Being by herself. And with the officer outside her door, she'll be protected too."

"I can't believe it!" Libby growled, her eyes on the front door.

Jerry quickly looked over his shoulder and saw what had Libby gritting her teeth. Miranda had just walked in on Sonny's arm, looking as if she owned the place. Jerry quickly looked at Libby.

"Now Libby...don't do anything stupid."

"I can't believe that woman has the audacity to show her face in town!"

"She did help save Mel and lead to the arrest of the other cop," Jax said.

"I don't believe it for a moment. And the two of you can believe all the press about her that you want....I know there was more to it than just being a good samaritan."

"Why are you always trying to make her out to be such a bad person?" Jax asked.

"Why are you always so stupid to fall for her tricks?" Libby shot back at him. "I can't believe this. That woman would have killed my grandmother and you act as if she should be given the medal of honor."

"I don't like what she did to your grandmother...and I don't like a lot of other things she's done, but the fact is, she did help out on the case."

"She did it for one reason and one reason only....to get back in your good graces again....and it looks like it worked." Libby spit out.

"I don't care why she did it. I'm just glad she did." Jax said sternly at Libby.

Libby abruptly stood up, Jerry caught her wrist, "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry....I'm not going to scar her pretty little face....I'm just going to the Ladies Room. And when I get back, I'm leaving." Libby said jerking her hand away from him, grabbing her purse and heading to the back of the bar, passing the reason for her irritation as she went. Jerry groaned as he saw Miranda make her way to the bathroom herself.

"How much money do you have on you?" Jerry asked Jax.

Jax looked at him puzzled, "Why?"

"Because I think we are going to need bail money before the night is over," Jerry said, keeping his eye on the back of the club.

"Well if it isn't Goldilocks and his brother," Sonny's snide voice sounded behind Jax.

Jax continued sipping his drink, ignoring the mobster.

"Go away midget," Jerry's equally snide voice growled.

"What's the matter, does big brother have to come to Candyboy's rescue?" Sonny snarled.

Jerry smiled coldly at Sonny, "No, I'm rescuing you....get lost before you have more than you can handle."

"Ohhhhhh, I'm shaking in my boots," Sonny shot back.

Before Jerry could respond, a loud scream came from the ladies room. All three men turned in time to see Libby walk serenely out of the bathroom, followed by an outraged Miranda, her head sopping wet. Jerry raised his eyebrows at Libby who looked back innocently at him.

"Look what that....that.....heathen did to me!" screamed Miranda.

Jax and Jerry laughed at the sight.

"What exactly did she do to you?" Sonny asked in a slow drawl.

"She stuck my head in the toilet!" Miranda screeched.

Jax and Jerry burst out laughing again, Libby continued to look at them innocently.

"I was only helping her to get her back in the sewer where she belongs," Libby stated matter-of-factly.

Miranda screamed again and leaped for Libby's back. Jerry and Jax jumped up, but Libby had already swiftly turned and landed her right fist in Miranda's left eye, knocking Miranda on the floor. Jerry ran to Libby and herded her out the door before the stars dancing in Miranda's eyes disappeared. Jax quickly threw down some money on the table and left, stepping over Miranda, who was still sprawled out on the floor.

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End of Chapter 43

HollyJo