by HollyJo
**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."
*******************************************************************************
"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.
********************************************************************************
"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.
*******************************************************************************
End of Chapter 43
HollyJo
**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**
Chapter 44
"Would you look at that man!" Hazel said, "Now what woman in this place would want to be picked up by a dirty old man like that?"
Libby, Bethany, Mel and Jane all laughed. Bethany had decided to give Libby a girls night out, since her wedding was only 2 days away. Libby had wholeheartedly taken her up on the offer, wanting to get away from the wedding madness that had descended upon Jax's home. She had suggested inviting Mel, to get her out of her apartment, which she hadn't left since coming home the previous week. It had taken some convincing but Mel had finally grudgingly agreed to the outing. When Hazel and Jane had heard of their plans, they had invited themselves along, promising not to mention anything to do with the wedding. The five ladies, plus Mel's police escort had headed to the Outback where Singles night was in full swing.
"I don't know Granny....maybe he's rich. If he pulls out a roll of $100 bills, then I bet we see several of these women running to his side," Libby said with a chuckle.
"Pooh!" Hazel said, "If that's the only reason a woman would be attracted to an old man like that, then they aren't worth their weight in salt."
Libby grinned at her grandmother who was still looking with interest at the man in question.
"Well he's no worse than what just walked in the door," Bethany said in disgust. "Is he a regular at all these single scenes?"
"Ahhhhh, Jeff must have just come in," Mel said with a snicker. "You know Beth, the way you complain about him, one would think you might like him. Something about...the woman doth protest too much."
"I do not!" Bethany responded heatedly to her sister's teasing. "The man is a boil on the butt of society."
"Ummmm, maybe....however, his butt is awful cute," Mel said outrageously.
"I wouldn't know. I've never looked," Beth said, "Besides no one has a better butt than Jax."
Libby laughed when Bethany blushed, remembering that Jax's mother was at the table with them.
"Don't be embarrassed on my account," Jane said, patting Bethany's hand. "After all, I've diapered that butt."
The other ladies at the table laughed.
"My! My! My!" came a male voice, "What splendor...what beauty graces this table."
The ladies smiled at the elderly man that Hazel had been talking about earlier.
"Ladies, my name is Archibald Franklin," he introduced himself with a bow, then turned to Libby, "Would you do me the honor of this dance?"
Libby smiled kindly at him, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Franklin, but I don't think my fiance would be able to trust me if I danced with you."
"Ahhh, what a shame, and what a lucky man, if I might say," Archibald said with another bow to her, then turned to Mel, "Will you do this old man a favor and dance this dance with me?"
Mel, unable to see, was unaware that he was speaking to her until Bethany elbowed her. "Ahhh, I'm sorry sir...I'm sure it would be a joyous thing, but I'm unable to dance at this particular time...maybe some other time?"
"I will be waiting with baited breath," Archibald said with yet another bow, then turned to Bethany, but before he could ask her, a shadow fell across the table.
"Sorry old man, but I've already claimed this dance," Jeff said as he pulled Bethany out of her chair and onto the dance floor.
Archibald, undeterred, turned to Jane, "Will you, my fair lady, give me the honor?"
Jane smiled prettily at him and flashed him her wedding ring, "I too would love to, but alas, my giant of a husband would make mincemeat of you if he should happen to wander in here and catch me enjoying myself on the dance floor with you."
"The loss is all mine," Archibald said, then bowed to all the ladies remaining at the table, "I'll leave you to your ladies evening then."
"Hey....what am I? Chopped liver?" Hazel's indignant voice stopped the man as he turned to leave. "Just because I don't wear a short skirt and I have a few gray hairs, doesn't mean I don't have a tingle in my toes."
Libby and Jane laughed as Hazel dragged the bemused man to the dance floor. Jane and Libby excused themselves and left Mel sitting at the table alone, enjoying the music and sipping her drink.
"What's a beautiful lady like you, sitting here all alone?" a voice whispered in her ear.
Mel shivered in distaste at hearing Sonny Corinthos voice. "If that's the line you use to try to pick up women, I can understand why you're always alone. Of course there is that pesky little fact that you're a slug."
"Ouch! Even blind, you still know how to pierce a man's heart," Sonny said as he took Bethany's chair and sat next to Mel.
"Leave me alone, Corinthos," Mel said sternly.
"Now is that anyway to talk to a man that is just wanting to keep you company until your friends come back?"
"Let's get one thing straight, I may have lost my sight, but I did not lose my mind. And for your information, even blind, I could kill a shrimp like you in one blow," Mel said, her unseeing eyes looking straight into Sonny's. Sonny gave a small shudder, knowing she meant what she said.
"Is this man bothering you, Mel?" her police escort asked.
"Yes he is," Mel said.
The policeman grabbed Sonny's shoulders, but Sonny shrugged him off and stood, "Don't bother, I'm leaving. I know when I'm not wanted."
"Obviously not," Mel said, "Or you wouldn't be still alive."
Sonny gave her a dirty look and walked back to the bar.
"Are you okay, Mel?" the policeman asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Go back to what you were doing."
"Please tell me I didn't see who I thought I just saw talking to you," Libby said as she and Jane returned to the table.
"If you're talking about Corinthos, then yes, you saw him."
"What did he want?" Jane asked.
"I don't know, I didn't give him a chance to tell me. But I have no doubt
he's up to no good," Mel said calmly as she took another sip of her drink.
*******************************************************************************
"How does it feel to almost be a married man?" Jax said to Jerry, as he slapped
him on the back. "Two more days and the knot will be tied."
Jerry grinned at his brother and father. All three were in the living room having a drink and smoking cigars. John had produced the expensive Cuban cigars the minute his wife had left the house. The boys had laughed as they had watched him make sure Jane was out of the driveway before fishing behind some books on the bookshelf to pull out his stash of cigars. Jane had forbid him to ever smoke them again after his heart attack. And being the loving husband that he was, he obeyed her laws, until she was out of sight. He took a big puff of smoke and expertly blew a smoke ring, then leaned back in his chair in bliss. His sons laughed at him.
"Ahhhhh boys...there's nothing like a fine wine, a damn good cigar and a beautiful woman, that just happens to be your wife, curled up in bed waiting for you at night. This is the life."
Jax grinned at him, "Except that your beautiful wife just happens to be out living it up with at least 3 other women that can get into trouble faster than you can drink your fine wine."
John waved that statement off, "Your mother is getting old...she's not up to getting into mischief any more."
Jerry choked on his cigar smoke, "Excuse me? We are talking about our mom here. You remember, the one that was thrown in jail a few months ago for breaking and entering?"
"Your mother explained the whole thing to me....there was no breaking and entering....only peeking. And Lady Jane assured me she only went along with it to keep Libby and Brenda out of trouble."
"That's funny, because Brenda told me she only went along with it to keep Lady Jane and Libby out of trouble." Jax said, smiling at the memory of the steel bars wrapped around Brenda's neck.
"Even funnier still, Libby didn't tell me a blasted thing. She was mad as a hornet that night. But, I'm sure if she had been talking to me then, she would have said she was only there to keep Lady Jane and Brenda out of trouble." Jerry said, then cocked his eyebrows, "Gentlemen, I think we have been hoodwinked by our lady loves."
The three men looked at each other, then burst out laughing. Jerry grinned at Jax, "It's good to see you laugh again. Especially about Brenda."
Jax looked at his brother and nodded, "It feels good to laugh. Brenda and I had some good times."
"But it's time to move on?" John asked his son.
Jax looked thoughtful for a minute, "I never would have thought it possible, but yes, life goes on."
John and Jerry looked at each other and John winked at him, making Jerry smile. The three men sat back in their seats and took a puff of their cigars and sighed.
"The only thing that could make me happier at this moment is to have some grandchildren bouncing on my knee," John broke the silence. Jax laughed, Jerry groaned.
"Give me a break Pop," Jerry said, "I've got to get her down the aisle first, then we'll worry about getting you some grandkids."
"What are you talking about Boy?" John asked, "The woman has finally agreed to marry you, why would you have trouble getting her down the aisle?"
"This is Elizabeth Winters, we're talking about. You do remember her, right Pop?" Jerry said in disbelief. "Libby is the most aggravating, stubborn, pig-headed woman on the face of the earth. I'm not taking anything for granted...even after I get that wedding ring on her finger."
"Pig-headed women make the best kind of wife," John said, "She'll always stand by you, even if you're in the wrong....she'll always fight beside you when you're in a battle....and she'll always be willing to stick it out through the bad times...when other wives would file for divorce. I should know, I married a pig-headed woman...it hasn't always been easy...but it's sure been a hell of a ride."
Before Jerry could respond, the telephone rang and Jax reached behind him to pick up the phone, "What do you make a bet that the 5 ladies are in jail...needing bail money?" he said with a grin to John and Jerry, then spoke into the phone, "Jax here"
"Jax? It's Mac...."
"What do you want Mac?"
"Smithy just got loose," Mac said shortly.
"How the hell did that happen?" Jax yelled into the phone, alerting John and Jerry that something was wrong.
"He was being transported to the prison, to await trial...it was a setup, had an accomplice block the road....the cop transporting him was shot....he's in surgery."
"Mel!" Jax said into the phone.
"Mel has a guard with her Jax. Evidently she went out with some friends....we're trying to contact the policeman with her, and I've already got several more officers on their way to her place. I just thought you should know so you could watch your back too."
Jax thanked him, hung up the phone and headed to the door.
"What the hell is going on Jax?" Jerry said, following him closely.
"Smithy escaped...I'm going to find Mel," Jax said over his shoulder.
"I'm going with you!" John and Jerry said at the same time. Jax turned to
them and shook his head, "Dad you stay here, just in case we miss them...make
sure Mom, Libby and Hazel are okay." John nodded his agreement and watched
his two sons run out of the house.
******************************************************************************
"Home again, home again," Mel said wistfully as she unlocked her door.
"Let me go in first and check things out," Officer Pringle said, gently pushing her out of the way. He opened the door and reached in to turn on the light. A hand grabbed his and twisted his arm behind his back, and slammed him into the wall. The hair on the back of Mel's neck stood up as she heard the struggle just inside the door and she turned to run, but a body was in her way.
"Going some where?" Smithy's cold voice asked.
********************************************************************************
End of Chapter 44
**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**
Chapter 45
"Stop the car!" Bethany yelled at the driver of the limousine that the 5 women had used for their night out. They had just let Mel and her bodyguard off and had waited until they were safely in. Bethany's scream startled everyone, including the driver who slammed on his brakes.
"What's wrong?" Libby asked.
"Something's wrong," Bethany said, looking up at her sister's apartment windows. "Did you see her lights flicker on then right back off?"
"I wasn't paying attention, dear," Jane said, scooting over in her seat to look out the window. All 4 women crowded in together, pressing their faces to the window to stare up at Mel's apartment.
"Would Mel even turn the lights on?" Libby asked. "It's not as if she needs them."
"I don't know," Bethany said, biting her lip. "But wouldn't Officer Pringle want to check the apartment? I mean...wouldn't he have to turn the lights on?"
Libby looked at Bethany for a moment, then turned to Hazel and Jane. Hazel slightly nodded at her.
"You're right Beth....something might be wrong. Let's sneak up and see if we can see anything." Libby suggested.
All four ladies climbed out of the car and headed for the front door of the apartment building.
"Wait!" Libby said, stopping them. The other ladies watched as Libby went back to the car and spoke with the driver. After a moment, the trunk popped open and the driver and Libby headed for the back of the car. The two dug into the trunk and finally Libby stood up, gripping a tire iron in her hand. The driver then straightened, holding the iron rod from the tire jack in his hand. Libby spoke quietly to the driver and he nodded and went back to the front of the car and pulled out his cellular phone. He waved the phone at Libby and headed towards the back of the apartment building, with the tire jack rod still in his hand, dialing the telephone with the other. Libby walked back to the rest of the ladies who were all looking at her questioningly.
Libby held up the tire iron, "Just in case we need a weapon."
"Smart girl....no wonder my boy wants to marry you," Jane said with an approving smile.
"Your son only wants to marry me because no other woman will have him," Libby said, walking to the front door of the building.
"Well now, that's just not true," Jane said.
"Can we discuss your son some other time, Jane?" Bethany interrupted.
Jane gave her a dirty look and sighed. Libby held a finger up to her lips
to silence them, then opened the door, tire iron firmly gripped in her
hand.
********************************************************************************
"What? No kiss hello for your old friend?" Smithy said snidely to Mel, who
was standing in shock. "No hug...no..." Smithy stopped talking as Mel tried
to turn and make a run for it. He grabbed her arm and flung her against the
wall, her head hitting hard against the wall. A neighbor peeked her head
out of her door and Smithy raised a gun and pointed it at her...the door
quickly slammed shut. Mel grabbed her head in pain, a white light flashed
before her eyes. She blinked furiously. Before she had recovered from the
blow, Smithy grabbed her arm and half dragged her to the back stairwell.
Mel lost her shoe and stumbled, Smithy righted her and continued dragging
her. Mel quickly kicked off her other shoe, hopping as he pulled her with
him. He opened the door and flung her into the stairwell, once again knocking
her up against the wall. Mel slunk to the floor.
"What's the matter? Can't the big bad girl cop handle someone getting a little rough with her?" Smithy said snidely, leaning over her, pushing his gun to her throat. Mel looked up at him and blinked several times. "What's the matter tough girl?"
"What do you want?" Mel asked, her eyes still blinking.
"What do I want?" He spit the words at her and pressed the gun closer into her neck, "I want my life back...that's what I want."
"And you think doing this is going to get you your life back?" Mel asked, a line of sweat rolled down her temple.
Smithy jerked her to her feet, "Hell no! Do you think I've lost my mind?" He yelled pressing her into the wall, face a fraction of an inch to her's. "There's no going back now...I know that. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to knock a few other people down, while I go."
"Why...." Mel licked her dry lips, "why do you need to do that?"
Smithy grinned at her, leaned closer into her body and whispered into her ear, "You're very sexy when you're scared. Did you know that?" He stuck out his tongue and ran it around her ear lobe. Mel shivered in disgust. "Did you like that?" He whispered, pushing his lower body into her's, "Does this turn you on?" He licked her jawline down to her chin, then looked at her for a moment then swooped his mouth on to her's and forced his tongue into her mouth. He released one of her hands to grab her breast. Mel bit down on his tongue and grabbed his groin and twisted. Smithy screamed and raised his hand that held his gun, bringing it down to strike her. Mel moved swiftly and blocked his swing, knocking the gun out of his hand and threw an elbow into his face. Smithy fell back, one hand on his groin, the other held to his bleeding nose. Mel grabbed for the gun laying by the wall. She fell back against the wall, gun in hand, pointing it at Smithy. The cold steel of a gun barrel pressed against her temple.
"Put it down," the cold voice said.
Mel swallowed hard and began to slowly lower the gun in her hand. All of a sudden, the gun held to her temple, slid down her body, hitting the floor. A second later a man fell to her feet. Before she could understand what had happened, she heard a growl as Smithy came at her, Mel raised the gun, still in her hand, and fired. Smithy stopped in his tracks and looked at her stunned, then looked down at his chest. Blood was oozing out of the hole in his shirt. He looked at it, then back at Mel, confused, then fell to the floor. Mel heard a noise on the stairs below her and quickly turned to it, gun pointed. A gentle hand covered her's and a calm voice whispered, "He's with us Mel," Libby said quietly. Mel's hand shook and she refused to lower her gun. Another soft hand touched her other arm, "It's okay Mel...it's over. Put the gun down," Bethany said calmly to her.
Mel looked at her sister and blinked, then slowly lowered her hand. Libby quickly took the gun from her and pointed it at the man gaining consciousness at their feet. Bethany tenderly placed Mel against the wall and went to Smithy who was slumped against the bottom of the stairs leading up. She felt for a pulse and checked his pupils. She turned to Libby and shook her head. She turned back to her sister who still had a wild look in her eye. Bethany watched as her sister's eyes filled with tears and she sank to the floor, weeping. Bethany ran to her, trying to take her in her arms, but Mel pulled away from her, still sobbing and shaking.
"MELANIE!!!!" Jax's voice boomed through the halls.
"She's in here Jax," Libby yelled over her shoulder, keeping her eye and the gun on the 2nd man.
Jax ran to the door of the stairwell, Jerry on his heels. They both took in the sight before them. The dead body, the other man looking warily at Libby who was pointing a gun at him. And Mel, who had pushed herself into the corner of the floor, Bethany trying to soothe her. Jax's heart skipped a beat and he stepped to Mel. Bethany held up a hand to him to ward him off. Jax nodded and squatted in front of Mel.
"Melanie?" he spoke quietly and reached out a hand to gently wipe away her tears. Mel turned her face to his and what Jax saw in her eyes broke his heart. The two looked at each other, ignoring the arrival of police officers. Jax finally reached out and ran his hand down her face again. Mel threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He moaned and wrapped his arms around her back just as tightly. He sat on the floor and pulled her on his lap, afraid to let her go.
Bethany looked at the two, then looked at Libby and Jerry who were grinning like idiots. Bethany looked confused as her eyes kept going from one couple to another. Then finally a light bulb went on in her brain and she rolled her eyes and grinned.
Mac wanted to question Mel, but Jerry pushed him out of the stairwell as another officer led the 2nd man away in handcuffs. Libby held out her hand to Bethany and helped her to her feet. The two ladies looked again at the couple that were ignoring what was going on and they smiled at each other and left them.
Jax held Mel closely. He ran his hand through her long hair, pushing it away from her face, stained with tears and sweat, then whispered in her ear, "You can see."
Mel nodded and laughed into his neck. She pulled her head back a fraction and looked at him, her eyes bright, "I don't know if it was the blow to my head, or being confronted by him....but there was a bright flash of light....some blurriness...then vision." She grinned at him, "Of course, I didn't let him know I could see."
"Oh of course not...." Jax grinned at her. The two sat there, entwined in each other's arms, grinning at each other as if nothing had happened. Then slowly Jax lowered his mouth to her's and gently kissed her. He lifted his head and looked at her. He put his hand in her hair, then pulled her mouth back to his. This time his lips devoured her's. His tongue dipped into her mouth and tasted the sweetness there. He groaned as he pulled her as close as he could, not wanting to ever let go of her mouth.
A throat clearing interrupted them, "Sorry to interrupt this make out scene, but Commissioner Scorpio is biting at the bit to get some information. Plus we need to finish some work in here. " Taggert said.
Mel and Jax pulled apart, each looking stunned. She jumped off his lap and stood up, unable to comprehend that she had been kissing the most gorgeous man ever created with a dead body only a few feet away. Not exactly moonlight and candles, she thought as she looked at Smithy's body. Jax stood and put his arm around her and lead her out of the stairwell and back to her apartment.
"Mel, we need to get some information," Mac said as soon as she and Jax entered her apartment.
"How's Pringle? Is he okay?" She asked.
Mac nodded, "Yeah, he's on his way to General Hospital...but it only looks like a concussion...he was cussing as he left. He's going to be just fine. Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Mel shook her head, "No, but I could use a shower..." she shivered, "I can smell him...." she covered her mouth as she ran to her bathroom.
Everyone in the room looked shocked.
"Oh my God!" Bethany yelled into the silence, "She can see!"
"Yeah," Jax said as he headed after Mel. He found her in the bathroom, throwing
up. He wet a wash rag and handed it to her when she was finished and had
flushed the toilet. She leaned back against the coolness of the bathtub and
wiped her face. He kneeled down beside her, "You okay?"
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"Is she okay?" Bethany asked as Jax stepped back into the living room.
He nodded, "Yeah, I think it's just all catching up with her."
Bethany nodded, "Yeah, she's great in a crisis, but when it's over, she's usually visiting porcelain city, as she calls it."
Jax smiled faintly. "She's going to take a shower, then she'll be right out," he said to Mac, who nodded and turned back to questioning the 4 other ladies.
"And then what happened?" he asked Libby.
"Well, we heard the man called Smithy yelling at Mel in the stairwell, then it got quiet. We were about to go to her when we saw the other man come out of her apartment and walk that way. We ducked back behind the front staircase wall so he wouldn't see us, then followed him. When we heard a scream from the back stairwell, we saw the 2nd man put his gun to Mel's head. I took the tire iron and knocked him out. Then Smithy sort of growled and charged towards Mel, she fired the gun and he went down. By that time we heard the police sirens. Hazel and Jane had already found Officer Pringle and were taking care of him. We tried to calm Mel down and keep an eye on the other guy."
"Did it ever occur to you ladies to wait for the police to get here?" Mac asked.
"That's a very good question Mac," Jerry said, glaring at Libby and his mother.
Libby crossed her eyes at him, "If we had waited for the police, Mel would probably have a bullet in her head."
"You don't know that," Jerry said, his voice raising.
"I'm not going to argue with you about this...so back off," Libby shouted at him. "You would have done the same thing if you were in my shoes."
"You and your Rambo Wannabe inclinations are getting way out of control," Jerry shouted back at her.
"Now children, this isn't the time or pl......" Jane stopped talking as Jerry and Libby both swung around and glared at her. She held up her hands in defeat and sat down on the couch.
"Why can't you be a normal woman and call the police and wait for them to handle the situation?" Jerry asked Libby as he turned back to her.
"Because that's not who I am, and if that's who you want to marry, you better start looking elsewhere." Libby snarled at him. She poked him in the chest, "And I'll have you know that not all women are sniveling little cowards waiting for the big man to come to her rescue." She continued to read him the riot act, poking him in the chest as she did so. The argument escalated between the two. The police officers milling about, stopped and watched in fascination at the beautiful woman arguing with the angry man. And the woman was winning. By the end of the argument, it had turned into a male vs. female argument.
"If women would stay in their place the world would be a much better place," Jerry finally yelled at Libby. Her mouth fell open in shock and one of the police officers could be heard saying "Uh oh! He's in trouble now!"
Jerry immediately tried to apologize for the sexist remark, but Libby pushed him in a chair, "Listen you overgrown jerk....the world would be a much better place if sexist idiots like you weren't walking around free." She jerked her engagement ring off her finger and threw it on his lap, "If you think I would marry a creep like you, think again." She yelled as she turned to leave the room. She stopped long enough to inform Hazel and Jane, "The wedding is off."
"Now Elizabeth, be reasonable..." Hazel began, but Libby waved her off and left the room.
"Well you certainly blew that one, big brother," Jax said patting a stunned Jerry on the shoulder.
"How long do you think she'll have me on my knees before she forgives me this time?" Jerry asked.
"I'd say you'll be walking on your knees over broken glass and hot coals until your first child graduates from college," Jax said in sympathy, "That is if you can even convince her to still marry you."
"Thanks a lot!" Jerry said sarcastically.
"You're welcome," Jax said.
"What's going on?" Mel asked from her bedroom door.
"Mel? Are you okay?" Bethany asked as she jumped up from her seat and went to her sister and gave her a hug.
Mel smiled at her, "Yes, I'm as good as new."
"Ummmm, Detective Langley, I think maybe we should get you to the station and get all the reports filed...do you feel up to it?" Mac asked.
"Can't this wait until tomorrow Mac?" Jax asked.
"That's okay Jax....I'd prefer to get it out of the way," Mel said. "Let's
go Commissioner."
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Across town at Miranda's apartment, Sonny and Miranda watched the newsflash.
The picture showed Detective Melanie Langley coming out of her apartment
building, surrounded by fellow police officers. Sonny's jaw tightened as
he saw Jax walking beside the female detective, his arm protectively around
her. Miranda's eyes grew cold as she watched Jax tenderly help the female
cop into the police car.
"Would you look at that." Sonny said on a snarl, "Brenda's only been dead a few months and Candy boy has already found him a new love."
"Something has to be done about that," Miranda said.
Sonny looked at her, "Any ideas?"
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End of Chapter 45