The Kidnapping
by Ashley
Part 11
"What are you talking about Tess?" Sara questioned
"Like I said that was Jake, don't ask me why he wanted to talk to me, because I don't know." She lied "But he told me that he locked Ben and Meg up in some building down the street, on Sunset Beach Avenue. He gave me the address, and told me that he put a bomb in the building"
"What?" Maria screeched, as she headed towards Tess "What did he say? I don't understand! Why would he do that?" she went on hysterically
"Calm down Maria," Casey intervened "Now Tess, are you sure he's telling the truth? Why would he tell you all of this if he wanted them dead?" He asked not really convinced she was telling the truth, he didn't trust her and this was just too weird.
"I don't understand it either Casey," she tried to explain, she knew the
story sounded a little off, and didn't really make sense, but it was her one
shot. "I swear I'm telling the truth, I swear," she looked them all in the
eyes, trying to look convincing "Maybe he wanted to torture us, or maybe he
actually felt guilty for what he did. Who knows his reasoning for what he
did, but he did tell us, thank God. That building is going to blow up any
minute, and if we want to save them we need to get them now!"
Sara looked at her, she might not like Tess, or trust her, but for some
reason she believed her. The realization hit her, they really were in danger
"Oh My God! Casey, we have to call the police, we have to get help." she
began sobbing
"Okay, baby, don't worry I'll help them, we will." He grabbed the phone and
called the SPBD, asking for Ricardo. He could tell, just as well as Sara, now that Tess was telling the truth. He had to get them out, he would do whatever it took.
The abandoned Building
Ben jumped off from the chair, he had tried everything he could to get the
wooden plank off, but it was no use. He didn't know what he was going to
tell Meg, but there really wasn't a way out. He looked over at the timer,
only ten minutes remaining. He sighed heavily realizing what he was going to have to say.
"Meg, I don't know exactly what to say, but I don't think that this window is
going to.."
"Ben," Meg suddenly interrupted "I know were not going to get out." She
stated rather calmly "I could see that the window wasn't budging any, I
understand what your trying to tell me. That unless some miracle occurs, were not getting out."
"Meg, I "
"No, it's all right, I'm not going to go crazy again." She smiled as tears
did form in her eyes. "I was thinking about it just now, as I watched you up
there trying to get us out, and I realized that if we didn't get out, that,
that," she stammered "That somehow it would be OK, because I had you." she walked towards him and out his hands in hers
"You are the most incredible, wonderful, amazing man I've ever met. I love
you more than anything, and I have from the first moment I met you, as SB and as Ben. You are my entire purpose for living, and if I have you with me, I
know I'm all right. I'm not afraid anymore, because I know, that if I have to
die, that there is no other way I'd rather go than right here in your arms."
she let the tears flow down her cheeks freely, then quickly added "And I
will say one more time how sorry I am about all of this, but I just want you
to know that without you I would be nothing, and I will love you forever,
even after tonight, if it is our last. I'll love you forever."
Ben embraced Meg and crushed her against him, he didn't know what to say to her. All he knew was that he had never loved anyone else as much as he loved her this very moment. Nobody in the world mattered except the two of them, she made his life worth living. "Meg, I love you more than anyone or anything. You are my life, and I feel the exact same way. Because your right, if we do die, than at least we will have each other. And to tell you the truth, your the only thing I need in my life"
"Oh Ben, I love you so much!"
"I love you." He leaned down and took her face in his hands, he studied her
face, like he was memorizing it. He never wanted to stop looking into those
beautiful eyes, and he never wanted to lose sight of that amazing smile. He
smiled at her, then kissed her deeply. It was a passionate kiss that never
seemed to end, their lips lingered, and their mouths explore one another's.
It was a moment they would never forget.
He sat down and pulled her with him, never breaking their kiss. "I'll love
you forever" he whispered "Your my one, true love, and I'm not scared of
dying anymore either, you made my life the best it could ever be."
"I love you too, and I'll never stop." She kissed him again and he wrapped
his arms around her. The looked into one another's eyes and lost themselves, suddenly it didn't matter what happened as long as they were together, it didn't matter.
Part 12
Ricardo's squad car pulled into the long, dirt driveway that surrounded all
of the old building on Sunset Beach Avenue. He was followed by several other squad cars, and Casey's car.
As Ricardo and Spense got out of their car, Casey, Tim, Tess, Benjy, Maria, and Sara all piled out of Casey's. Sara leaned in and whispered to Casey "I still don't see why Tess couldn't have stayed home, and let Benjy sleep."
"Sara, please lets not do this now, lets just get them out of there."
"Yeah, your right, I'm sorry."
Ricardo looked up at the old building "It looks like no one's been here for
ages, I'm going to go up there and see if this guy was telling us the truth."
Casey stepped forward "I want to help you guys."
"Thanks Casey, lets go."
"Be careful, sweetie." Sara kissed his cheek.
Ricardo approached the building and began to pound on the door and yell
"Hello? Is anyone there? Ben? Meg? Are you guys in there?"
"That sounds like Ricardo" Meg exclaimed as her and Ben jumped up
"Yes, it does, come on lets see," he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door, then shouted "Ricardo? Is that you? Were in here!"
"Ben? I can hear him." He said to the rest of them "Listen I've got a team
here, we will get you guys out, just hold on. Are both of you all right?"
"Yes, we are both fine, just please get us out of here."
"All right we will"
Sara sighed with relief when she heard they were both okay.
Ricardo and everyone else started to try and break the door down, but quickly they realized it was bolted shut pretty tight. After a minute or two he
realized this wasn't going to work. "Ben, listen this may take a bit longer
than we thought, just hang tight while we figure something out."
Ben glanced at the clock "Ricardo, we can't wait much longer there is only
two minutes remaining on the bomb. You have got to do something quick!"
Ricardo listened to Ben and realized he had to get them out now. "Okay, guys were going to have to shoot the door down, we've only got two minutes lets go!" all of the men nodded and took out their guns "Ben, Meg back away form the door, were going to shoot it down!"
Ben took Meg's hand and they stepped backwards a few steps, he stood in front of her to act as a shield in case anything should happen. "All right go
ahead!" he yelled
Ricardo and his team started to shoot their guns, Ricardo instructed them on when they should shoot and after a few moments he motioned them to stop. He looked over the door and realized that it wasn't working the way he hoped it would.
Sara saw the worried expression on Ricardo's face and began to panic. Her sister was going to die any minute, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. "Hurry! Do something!" she screamed
Ricardo began shooting at the door again this time faster and his shots were closer together. Ben and Meg waited anxiously inside and Meg held onto him tightly. She glanced at the clock one minute left. "Please God, please" she whispered. Ben heard her and rubbed her back as if to say 'Don't worry, we'll be fine'
Ricardo finally was able to shoot through part of the door, he immediately
ran to the door and began to pry it open. Ben and Meg started to try and push it open from the inside while Ricardo tried pulling it from the outside. They all struggled and tried to get the door open, as the clock winded down. Meg glanced at the clock and saw that there was only ten seconds remaining, "Hurry Ricardo please! "
Nine...Eight....Seven the clock continued to click away as Ben and Meg became more determined to open the door ...six...five...four...three
Just then the door finally sprung open. Ben and Meg ran out as the rest of
the team ran as well "Hurry! It's going to blow up now!!" Meg screamed as
everyone ran as far away from the building as possible. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, and the entire place went up in flames. Everyone ducked, and Ben covered Meg with himself. The place crumbled to the ground, as everyone reamined still on the are surrounding what once was the old building.
Part 13
Ricardo stood up and began to cough from all of the smoke, it was making the area pretty foggy, so he squinted to see. "Is everyone all right?" he called out
"I think so " Casey replied as he helped Sara up and they brushed themselves off "Where's Meg?" Sara immediately asked
"I'm right here" Meg replied as she stood up and hugged Ben tightly "Your all right aren't you?" She asked him
"I'm fine sweetie, what about you?"
"I'm okay" she he smiled weakly then walked over to her sister and gave her a big hug. "Oh God, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you guys hadn't shown up."
"Me either." Sara replied
"Hey, you okay?" Casey asked as he gave Meg a hug as well
"I'm fine," she kissed his cheek "I'm just so grateful you guys showed up, how did you know we were here?"
"Well, it's weird actually, you see Tess got this call from .."
"BEN!" Casey stopped speaking when he heard Maria screech and watched her rush to Ben
Meg looked over at them, and watched as Ben assured Maria he was fine. She knew it shouldn't upset her, but she felt a twinge of jealousy. Her minded wandered and she wondered if all that was said in the building would be forgotten because they were all right. "No" she told herself "Ben, loves me, and we will be together." she said in her head
'Oh Ben, I was so worried, I was going out of my mind. You must have been so scared that you were not going to be able to get out."
"It wasn't that bad Maria." He said as he recalled the words him and Meg exchanged in the building when they thought they were going to die.
"Oh my God Ben! Your arm, it's hurt, we have to get you to a doctor. "
"It's fine, really. It was a lot worse, I probably would have still been unconscious if Meg hadn't stopped the bleeding." He indicated the makeshift bandage, that Meg had made with a part of her shirt.
"You were unconscious?!?" Maria yelped, choosing to ignore his comment about Meg.
"Yes, but I'm fine, please don't worry, please. "
"Ben, Maria's right, you do need to get your arm checked out." Meg said
"Yeah, I guess I do, but I want you to come to. I want to make sure your okay."
"All right I'll come, but I am fine, don't worry."
"Your still getting checked out." He insisted "Lets go" the three of them informed Tess, Casey, Sara and Tim where they were going. Sara and Casey wanted to go along, but Tess and Tim decided to take Benjy home. They went their separate ways.
Once back home Tess put Benjy back to bed and then headed downstairs. She sat on the sofa next to Tim and sighed. "It's been a long day." He commented
"Your right about that, I could just kill Jake for what he did, he makes me so mad sometimes." Tess replied not even realizing what she was saying.
"What did you say?" Tim asked confused
"Um, I uh, I meant that.." She stood up and began biting her nails nervously "I mean his name was Jake right? The kidnapper, that was his name,a he just made me so mad "She tried to cover up
"Tess, the way you said that, it sounded as if.."
"As if what?" she snapped
"As if you know this guy, and you knew what he was up to."
"Your crazy!" she screamed at him
"I don't think so"he said calmly
"Oh Tim, please, don't be stupid. And besides I don't have to tell you anything!"
"No maybe not me, but you do have to tell Ben, I mean he is your employer and all. I'll just wait until he comes home, and have him ask you what you meant." He got up from the sofa and started heading for the other room, but Tess stopped him.
"All right, all right I'll tell you what's going one, but you have to swear that you'll keep quiet." Tim nods "Okay, lets go up to my room." she pulled him up the stairs.
Part 14
"Tyus, Hi" Ben said as they entered South Bay General
"Ben, Meg, I just heard about everything that;s happened. Is everything al
right? I mean are you both okay?"
"Well we hope so" Ben smiled
"Tyus, Ben has been shot in his arm. The wound is pretty deep, I tried to
stop the bleeding the best I could, but the wound is still pretty bad."
Tyus looked over Ben's arm, noting the makeshift bandage. "Well, why don't you come with me to an examining room."
Ben nodded "All right, but I'd like Meg to be examined as well."
"Ben, I told you I'm fine. Just a few cuts and bruises nothing serious."
"Meg, don't argue this with me, I want you to get examined, I won't take no
for an answer." He persisted
"All right, if it will make you happy." she smiled at him
"Okay, I'll have Nancy," Tyus motioned towards a nurse "take you to another
room, where someone will check you over."
"Okay, thanks Tyus."
"Sure."
Maria sat down in a chair in the waiting room after they left. Sara and Casey remained standing. "Casey," he whispered "why don't we go home."
"What about Ben and Meg?"
"Well, they are in good hands here, I just have this funny feeling. I really
think we should go back to Ben and Meg's, please" she looked up at him
sincerely
"Okay, sweetie, if you really want to. I'll tell Maria."
"Maria, Sara and I are going to head back to the house, please tell Ben and Meg we'll be there waiting."
"Sure Casey," she smiled as they headed out.
"Finally!" she mumbled to herself "Now maybe with that nosy sister of Meg's gone, I can have more time with Ben. If I could just get Meg to leave him alone."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back at Ben and Meg's Sara walked into the house with Casey asking her "I still don't understand why we couldn't have stayed there with Maria."
"Don't worry Ben and Meg are fine, besides I thought we should let Tim and
Tess no that everything is going to be fine," she lied still feeling strange
about something.
"Where are they anyway?" Casey interrupted her thoughts
"I don't know lets check upstairs," they climbed the stairs and once they
reached Tess's door, which was slightly ajar, Sara motioned him to stop.
"Wait, a second, listen," she put her ear up to the door, and surprisingly
Casey did too. They heard Tim's voice
"So you are telling me that you planned the whole thing? Benjy's kidnapping
was all some great idea of yours to break up Ben and Meg? And that way you could get the million dollars Maria promised you?"
"Yes, Tim, I set it all up! I knew that Ben would probably break it off with
Meg, or she'd leave once they found out it was all her fault."
"I'm not so sure about that."
"They will break up, I'm sure of it! Then we can get Maria and Ben back
together, and I'll just show her the promissory not, and she'll have to give
me the money. And Ben will never have to know the truth about Benjy."
"You mean that he's Maria and Derek's child?"
"Exactly, you and I can leave will all of the money." Tess said, even though
she had no intention of sharing the money with Tim.
"Tess, I still don't see how Jake fits into all of this."
"He was just a tool, I used him for the kidnapping. And I had no intention of
him trying to kill Meg and Ben, he just thought that that's what I wanted.
But obviously it wasn't, if I don't have Ben, I don't get that million
dollars. I never knew Jake was in love with me, I mean we were friends back in Seattle, but to me it was strictly business "
"I see, well there's one more thing I don't get."
"What's that?"
"Why would Maria want to trick Ben into believing Benjy was his, I mean I
don't know her that well, but she doesn't seem like the type to do that."
Tess sighed, realizing she was going to have to tell him the whole story,
start to finish, little did she or Tim know that Sara and Casey would hear
the whole story as well.
Part 15
"All right Tim, I happened like this. You see at first Maria was going to
tell Ben that Benjy was Derek and her child. But when we found out there was a Meg, she knew that she'd have to lie in order to get Ben back. If only she could remember all of this, it would be a lot easier on my part."
"Yeah, but don't worry I'll help you out, and no one will ever know that we
were involved."
"To late" Casey surprised them and walked into the room with Sara
"Sara, Casey," Tess stated nervously "Um...when did you guys get here? I mean where are Ben and Meg, and Maria?"
"It doesn't matter Tess, all that matters is what you two are up to." Sara
replied angrily
"You have no clue what your talking about." Tess pretended to sound innocent
"Oh please Tess, I was right about you and Maria all along. No one believed me, but I was right. You and Maria were working together to break up Ben and Meg. You even stooped as low as to have an innocent child kidnapped!" Sara yelled, her temper flaring.
"You both are crazy, you don't know what the hell your talking about."
"Spare me Tess" Casey spoke up
"Casey is right, just save it Tess. We know what you did now! We should
really call Ben, Casey"
"No, sweetie, lets just wait until they get back from the hospital." Sara
looked at him unsure
"Don't worry Sara, these two aren't going anywhere!" he said sternly, and
looked at Tess and Tim, who had found themselves backed up in the corner.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At the hospital Ben paced nervously in the waiting room. He had a sling
securely tightened around his arm. Tyus had told him he was very lucky. If
hadn't been for Meg stopping the blood as soon as she could, he could have been unconscious for hours, loosing that much blood would have really hurt him.
He had emerged from the examining room a few minutes ago. Maria had plunged herself on him, and nearly knocked him over. He gave her a hug sincerely, but was surprised not to see Meg out there with her. He had suspected that she would be in and out of the examining room, when he didn't see her he immediately became worried. He paced the floor back and forth, as Maria watched she became overcome with jealousy.
"Look at him" she thought "worrying like crazy over her, when I'm his wife.
He shouldn't care about Meg, he should only care for me. " At that moment
she'd do anything to have him back, she'd up anything, pay any amount of
money, do anything anyone asked of her to have Ben in her arms again. Maria was overwhelmed with these feelings, she got a sense of Déjà vu. Like she had felt this before, somewhere else, only stronger. These feelings were something she had definitely encountered before she came back to Sunset Beach, she just wasn't sure where or when exactly. Her thoughts were interrupted by Ben's voice
"Meg!" Meg came out of the room with Nancy behind her. She had a few bandages on her from some cuts, but nothing major.
"Meg, are you all right? I mean everything is fine right?'
"Yes, Ben, I'm fine." Meg smiled at his worried ways
"She's absolutely fine, Mr. Evans" Nancy stated, smiled then headed back to the room.
"I was getting worried, it was taking so long."
"Well, it took her awhile to fine a doctor that could check over me, " she
noticed his concerned look "Ben, I swear I'm fine. But what about you?" she
ooked at his arm in the sling "It's nothing serious is it? Your okay right?
The bullet didn't do to much damage di it?" she rambled on, it was her turn
to worry.
"I'm fine, I swear. Thanks to you that it. Tyus told me if it hadn't been for
you stopping the blood so early on I could have stayed unconscious for quite some time."
"Oh Ben," Meg embrace him, as she thought about what could have happened to him.
"Hey, I didn't have anything to worry about, you were there," he smiled and
held her close.
Maria almost gagged, this was disgusting to watch. Meg looked over Ben's
shoulder and saw Maria's look of disdain, and her glare on Meg. She removed herself from Ben's grasp. "I think we should probably head home, it's getting late."
"Yeah, your right. Maria," he turned towards her "are you ready?"
"Yes, I am" she smiled sweetly. The three of them exited the hospital unaware of the news they would receive when they got home, and how it would change everything.
Part 16
Once they arrived home Maria rushed right inside. she couldn't take seeing
them together for one more second. The way they gave one another reassuring glances across the car made her sick.
Ben held Meg's hand as they approached the house. He proceeded to the door, but Meg held back. She knew that as soon as she walked back inside all of those feelings would come flooding back. All of her insecurities and fears would resurface, and she just wasn't sure if she was ready to face them. Ben stopped and looked at her, he almost knew her exact thoughts just by staring into her eyes.
"Meg, it's going to be fine, I promise we will work it all out. I'm not going
to loose you, not now or ever, so please don't worry"
"All right" she said as he embraced her, and she didn't feel as nervous
anymore. "Let's just face this," he smiled as they walked in.
Maria was looking around the house "Everyone must be upstairs" she said to Ben and Meg, the three of them headed up the stairs.
Sara rushed out of Tess's room when she heard them coming "Ben, Meg! Your finally here! Something had happened, something big." she rambled on, then stopped when she saw Ben's arm "Ben, are you okay?" she asked
"Yes, Sara I'm fine, but what happened?"
Sara remembered what she had been saying then immediately began speaking again "Tess, and Tim they were talking, and Casey and I we heard them, and we walked in and heard them, and they finally admitted it, and, and..."
"Sara, Sara slow down, now start over. What happened with Tess and Tim?" Ben stopped her and tried to calm her down a bit. Just then Tess came running out of her room with Casey right behind her.
"Ben, grab her!" he yelled. Ben stood in front of Tess blocking her from the
staircase, and held a firm grip on her arm. "All right, now would someone
kindly tell me what is going on?"
"I'd like to know the same thing." Maria said
"Listen, you all need to know the truth."
"What truth Casey?" Meg questioned
"The truth about 'little miss Mary Poppins'." Sara stated
"Sara and I came home form the hospital just in time to hear Tess explaining to Tim how she set up the kidnapping." Casey looked at Ben
"What?!?" he shouted
"Ben just listen to me." Casey continued "It seems that Tess has had her own agenda since she came to Sunset Beach."
"What is going on? I don't understand." Maria spoke up
"Maria let me finish. Like I was saying it seems that Tess here has been
trying to break you and Meg up Ben. She set up the kidnapping so Meg would be blamed, she knew that Jake guy."
"Yes, she made sure Meg was watching Benjy when it happened, so you would kick her out Ben." Sara finished for Casey
Ben and Meg stared at them in shock. Casey took hold of Tess's arm because Ben wouldn't be able to stop her in his state. They all remained quiet for a few minutes, no one said anything until Tess shouted "You can't prove I did anything!"
"Actually Tess, I might just be able to." Sara smiled
"Oh really? How?"
"Well, if you all will excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back" she
quickly made her way into Tess's bedroom. She grabbed the promissory note Tess had been showing Tim, the returned to the hall. "With this Tess."
"Hey give me that" She demanded
"Not before I let Ben read it."
"Don't do that Sara." Tim spoke up
"Or what Tim? What will you do?" Tim stood there silently "That's what I
thought." Sara unfolded the note and handed it to Ben "Basically it stated
that Maria will give Tess one million dollars to break you and Meg up. It's
signed by them both."
Ben read the note, and read it again. He was silent until he finally looked
over at Maria "How could you? I don't understand." That was all he managed to say he was so shocked. Meg looked over Ben's shoulder at the note "So Sara was right all along? You were trying to break up Ben and I. I can't believe this."
Maria moved towards Ben "Ben, I don't understand either, I don't remember
this I swear, I..I.."
Ben held his hand up "Save it Maria, I don't want to hear it. I thought I
knew you, I mean I was married to you for three years, and I never knew you
had this side to you, never."
"But Ben,"
"No buts Maria!"
Tess suddenly broke into the conversation "Listen Ben there's something else you need to know, as long as you don't want anything to do with Maria. I mine as well tell you, Benjy isn't yours."
"What?!?" Ben yelled
"He's not your son Ben."
"Tess what are you talking about? We had a paternity test done, of coarse
Benjy is Ben's son."
"Oh please Maria, don't tell me you still don't remember what really
happened."
"Tess, I have no clue what is going on, I really don't."
"Why don't you tell us all Tess." Casey said
"Fine, I'll start from the beginning." Tess gave in "Five years ago when Ben
found Maria with Derek, she said she wasn't having an affair, but she lied.
Her and Derek had been having an affair for a while. When you fell off the
boat Maria, and I found you, you admitted it all. You confided in me because I saved you. Then you told me you were going to go back, to Ben, and pretend that you knew nothing about Derek, that you had thought he was Ben. Then you found out something that changed everything."
"I was pregnant"
"That's right Maria, you were going to have a baby, and you knew that it
could only be Derek's child. You and Ben had tried to have a baby for so
long, and nothing happened, so you stopped trying for a long while. And
according to what your doctor told us, the only person that could have gotten you pregnant was Derek. So you panicked, you couldn't go back now, Ben would figure it out, so you had the baby in Seattle. We raised him together, we were a family. Then three years later you decided you wanted Ben back, you told me you'd make sure he never found out about Derek. But before you went back you wanted to find out what Ben had done with his life. That's where I started telling Tim, we hired an investigator to look up on Ben. He told us he was getting remarried, to Meg. That's when you gave up hope, I just wanted to give Benjy a proper family, like he deserved, so I did a stupid thing. I agreed to help you get him back, and we came up with the million dollars, and the note. So you set out to find you Ben, we decided I would come a little later with Benjy, after things settled down a little. But that's when the crash happened, and well you know the rest. Since I've been her I've wanted to break you guys up to get my money, and then leave. I just used Jake to help me." she stared at everyone and took a deep breath. That was the whole story, beginning to end. The stared at her in disbelief, and waited for someone to say something, anything, but the truth was none of them even knew where to start.
Part 17
Everyone remained silent until Maria ran to Ben and looked him straight in
the eyes "Ben I swear I don't remember, I don't."
Tess looked at Maria "Maria, I don't think it's that you can't remember, It's
that you don't want to. Look at that note, really look at it." Sara handed
the note over, and Maria looked at it long and hard. She stared at her name
Maria Torres Evans signed on the dotted line. Her mind wandered as she stared down at the letter, her mind was blurry, but she could she herself. She was signing the note. "All right Tess this better work, I need my Ben back, my English" she remembered saying those words, and hearing Tess say "Don't worry Maria, he will be yours."
She could see herself getting into her car, and driving home to Ben. And the crash, that awful crash where she hit her head so hard, and the world went black.
All of the memories came flooding back, and the worst one of all...
She was in bed with a man, the love of her life, well almost. "I love you
Maria now and forever." he said
"I love you too Derek." they kissed for a long while
Maria froze 'No, no, no I didn't love him," she thought "yes I did but oh God
it's true it's all true," her eyes filled with tears as the horrible
realization hit her, she let the note fall to the ground. "Oh Ben," she
finally spoke "Tess is right, it all happened. I remember now, I remember
everything. But I don't love Derek now, I swear, I understand he's a monster,
and Ben I love you, only you English. We were having problems, and we
couldn't conceive, and all of the stress it just built up. And he was there,
and I just, I.."
"Maria just stop!" Ben yelled "I'd rather not hear about your feelings for my
brother."
"But Ben.."
"No buts Maria, it's over, and I don't want to hear it. Were through! I
can't even look at you anymore, and the truth is I don't want to. You disgust
me, and I want a divorce in the Dominican Republic as soon as possible!"
"Ben, please just let me explain you'll see that," just then the doorbell rang
"I'll get it." Ben announced and hastily made his way downstairs, he needed
some air. He opened the door to see Spence "Spence, Hi, what can I do for you?"
"Listen Ben we caught Jake Knard, the man who got you into this whole mess."
"I wish it were that simple" Ben muttered
"What?"
"Oh it's nothing, listen where did you find him?"
"He was speeding down Sunset Blvd, in a stolen car I might add. We stopped him, and saw a briefcase with the initials BE engraved on it. We knew he was our guys. He seemed pretty upset, and he confessed to it all, but he also told us someone else was involved."
"Yes, Tess Marin, she admitted it all to us." Tess and the others came down in time to hear Ben say this. Spence walked over and pulled out his handcuffs "You have no proof, I didn't do it!" she screamed
"Tess please we all heard you." Casey said
"Casey's right and I can prove it." Sara announced happily
"Oh and how?"
"With this." She pulled a small recorder out of her coat pocket "I knew when
I bought it in Washington. I never leave home without it, and all I had to do
was flip this little switch when Tess began explaining the promissory note."
Sara smiled proudly as she handed the recorder to Spence and Tess scowled. Casey chuckled and gave Sara a kiss on the cheek "Listen Sherlock I think it's time to get you home."
"Thank-you, both of you for everything." Ben stepped in as Spence left with
Tess in handcuffs.
"It's no problem Ben. Listen why don't we take Tim with us."
"That's quite all right 'Mr. and Mrs. Hero of the day' I know where the door
is."
"Yeah from having it slammed in your face so many times." Sara grinned "I'm on a roll tonight." They both hugged Meg, and Casey shook Ben's hand then they left. Leaving Ben, Maria and Meg alone, with no way to avoid the obvious question; 'What now?'
Chapter 18
Ben looked around the house, then glared at Maria. "Listen it's been a really long night, and I just want to get some sleep. So just stay here for tonight, for Benjy's sake, we'll explain it to him tomorrow morning when you leave."
"Please just let me explain Ben, I love you so much."
"No, Maria, you don't know what love is, you don't know the meaning."
"You would feel differently if she wasn't here." She pointed at Meg, who had
been quiet since Tess told her story. "If your precious Meg weren't around
you'd still love me, she ruined it all!"
Ben felt his anger grow stronger and stronger "No! Your wrong, I'd still
despise you! But thank God she is here because I would be lost without her."
"What to fall back on?" Maria retorted
"Oh please Maria! I've loved Meg my whole life, even before I knew her or
you. She is who I belong with, not you. I didn't even know true love until I
met here, I believe that you were just an obstacle I had to overcome in order
to be with Meg. I love her more than I've ever loved anyone, and I always
will!"
Maria stared at him in horror "How could you say that? God Ben, how? I'm
going to bed, and don't worry I'll be gone tomorrow, for good!" she ran up
the stairs in a huff.
Meg looked at Ben with tears in her eyes, but didn't say a word. Ben looked
her deeply in her eyes and walked towards her. He embraced her tightly then whispered "Are you all right? You haven't spoken since Tess told us
everything, and I just hope that this doesn't change things. I mean you still
want to be with me right? Even after all we've learned, but if you think
about it, this explains so many things and now you know the kidnapping wasn't your fault, and.."
"Ben, Ben sweetie, I love you more than ever and there is no way your going to loose me. It's just that when I think about everything it kills me because I know how much pain you must be in, and I can't help you, I can't do one thing to make it better."
"Oh Meg, you make everything okay just by being here. If I have you then I'll
be fine," he bended down and kissed her gently "I love you."
"I love you too Ben. Lets go to bed, it's been a long day."
"That it has," they disengaged from one another and headed upstairs and into bed. Ben wrapped his arms tightly around Meg thankful to have her there to help him through all of this, she was everything to him. "Goodnight my love."
"Goodnight."
Chapter 19
The sun shone brightly through the wedding lighting up Meg's face. She slowly fluttered her eyes open, and sleepily sat up. She looked down at Ben, who was still sleeping. He'd been through so much, she decided she should let him sleep awhile longer. He hadn't got much sleep last night, all through out the night she could feel him tossing and turning.
She got up, showered, and dressed then went downstairs. Benjy was already up watching cartoons. "Morning Benjy." Benjy turned his head slightly, then glued his eyes back to the set, not even acknowledging her. "All right then" Meg whispered under her breath as she headed into the kitchen to make some breakfast.
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Benjy turned off the TV, he knew he should be nice to Meg, he also knew that she wasn't mean, Tess was the only reason he hadn't accepted her. Tess promised that his parents would get back together and they could be a big happy family if Meg would just leave. He wondered where his parents were, they usually got up early, along with Tess. Tess wasn't in her bedroom this morning, and he wasn't sure why. "Oh well" he said aloud and went upstairs.
In the bedroom Ben woke up slowly and reached for Meg, when he didn't feel her anywhere near him he sat up. "Well, where did you go?" he asked himself. Just then Benjy ran into the room excitedly.
"Daddy, Daddy! Your finally up!" he jumped onto the bed into Ben's arms
"Hey buddy, how are you feeling?" his heart twanged when he realized Benjy wasn't his.
"I'm good, that man didn't scare me at all."
"Well, I'm glad. Listen Benjy you and I need to have a talk about something."
"About what Daddy?"
"About your mommy..."
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***
Maria walked downstairs holding two large luggage's and one small handbag. Meg walked in from the kitchen as she set her things down.
"Well Meg, I guess your finally happy to see me leaving!" she said
sarcastically
"Maria, you brought this all on yourself."
"Meg, you know nothing about this, nothing!"
"Oh I know enough, and I know that you were trying to break Ben and I up the whole time. You hired an investigator to check up on Ben!"
"I wanted my husband back, my husband that you stole."
"I never tried to steal him Maria, I have never, not once tried to take your
place in his heart, I have my own place. I knew that you'd always have a
place in his heart, and I accepted that. I accepted and loved Ben for all of
him, which includes his past. I never stole him, he came to me!"
"Oh you think you are so special Meg! You think the whole world revolves
around you, and more importantly you think Ben's whole world revolves around you! But there's something you should know Meg, it doesn't! You two will never be in love the way we were, never!"
Meg felt herself grow angrier by the minute "Maria, you are right, Ben's
world doesn't revolve around me, but I never thought it did. His world
revolves around all the people he loves, and at this moment it revolves
around how he's going to tell that little boy the truth!"
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***
"So mommy's leaving, but I'm staying, and Tess isn't coming back?" Benjy
asked with tears in his eyes
"I'm afraid so Benjy. You will still see your mommy, but for now we think
it's best you live here."
"With you daddy?"
"Yes, with Me and Meg."
"No daddy! I don't want to live with Meg!"
"Benjy please listen to me, I know this is hard. I understand you don't want
your mommy and I apart, but we are, and that's not Meg's fault. Now she means a lot to me, I love her very much, and she's not going to leave, not now or ever. She wants to be your friend though, she likes you very much, so please give her a chance."
Benjy looked into his daddy's eyes, and knew he was telling the truth. He did love Meg, and he wasn't going to be with his mommy, not ever. "Daddy, I want to get to know Meg, I will be her friend if it will make you happy."
"Benjy it would make me very happy, thank-you," he hugged him tightly "Lets go get some breakfast."
"Okay, I think Meg's cooking it," he jumped out of the bed, and ran
downstairs with Ben not far behind him.
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***
Downstairs the argument continued between Meg and Maria. "Maria you slept with Derek, I just don't see how you could do that and say you still love
Ben."
"Oh you really don't see it Meg? I think you do."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh Meg, don't think I haven't heard about you and Derek."
"What?"
"Meg, you know you shouldn't really be telling anyone not to sleep with Ben's brother, since you did it yourself, isn't that right?"
Meg could feel all of those awful memories come back to her, the awful
feeling she had buried with in her about that disgusting incident. She
remembered how wrong it felt, and how ashamed she felt afterwards. Her eyes welled up with tears, and just as she was about to defend herself, they both heard Ben's booming voice.
"What the hell do you think your doing Maria?
Chapter 20
"Ben..I..I.." Maria stammered
"No just stop! It isn't enough that you have been lying to us this whole time, but now this?" he looked towards Benjy "Benjy why don't you go to the kitchen and get breakfast?" Benjy smiled and ran into the kitchen
"Ben, it's okay I'm fine."
"No Meg, it isn't okay," he walked towards Maria "You have no clue about what happened between Meg and Derek, do you hear me? No clue!"
"Oh Ben, do you even really know? I mean how do you know she's not lying?"
"First of all Meg wouldn't lie to me, unlike you, and secondly I do know exactly what happened, I saw it myself, and Meg was not having fun. She didn't find my twisted brother as appealing as you did. She cried the entire time, and she hated it!" Tears fell from Meg's face as Ben continued "And after it was over she was honest with me. Which is more than I can say for you! So don't you dare, ever say anything like that to her again! Now I really think it's time for you to go, I will call you about a time when you can see Benjy."
"Oh No he's coming with me Ben!"
If you think for one-second I'm allowing him to go with you, your crazy! Right now I don't want him living with you. Maybe in a few months when things have settled down, and we've discussed things further, but not now. Like I said I'll call you"
Maria now began to cry "I can't lose him too Ben."
"Maria your not loosing him, I just think you need to think about everything going on and get your life in order. Get a house, a job, then we'll discuss him living with you."
Maria nodded, realizing she did need to figure things out, all of her memories that came back we a lot to deal with, especially now that she knew what she did. She picked up her bags and headed for the door. "Tell him I love him, and Ben, I'm really sorry." She opened the door and took one last look at the house, and left.
Meg began to wipe away her tears, but what stopped by Ben. "Hey, let me do that." He began stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"Meg, I'm so sorry she brought that up, I had no idea she would, I didn't even know she knew about it."
"Of course you didn't sweetie, I don't blame you. It was just that when she was talking about it I remember being with Derek, and I just lost it I guess. I'm sorry I shouldn't have gotten so upset."
"Hey, I understand. What happened between my brother and you was awful, it was the worst thing ever. I mean what he put you through Meg, I just wanted to kill him."
"Well, it's all over now, he's gone and all of the lies are over."
"Yes, and he may be gone, but you will have to live with that forever, and I can't make it go away. For her to bring it up, I mean what was she thinking? I'm so sorry Meg."
Meg felt her tears come back again "Ben, I don't care what Maria thinks anymore, she is out of our lives, and is no longer a threat to me. I love you, and I think it's time we just all moved forward without lives."
"I like the way you think" he replied as he pulled her in for a kiss. "Guess what though? I actually have some good news!"
"Oh really, what?"
"I talked to Benjy this morning, about everything."
"And.."
"And he is a little confused, but he has agreed to something."
"What would that be?"
"He's agreed to be your friend Meg, he really likes you, he does and he wants things to work out for you two."
Meg stared up at Ben and a huge smile spread across her face "Are you serious Ben?"
"Yes, I am."
"Oh my gosh Ben! This is so wonderful!" she kissed him again as Benjy came running into the room. He saw them kissing and waited patiently. Once they realized he was there they disengaged from each other.
"Benjy, Hi!" Meg said "Listen I wanted to talk to you."
"Wait Meg me first. I just wanted to say I'm really sorry I was so mean to you. I really like you a lot, and I was just wondering if you could forgive me?"
"Oh Benjy!" Meg knelt down and hugged him "Of coarse I forgive you, and I really want to be your friend too." Benjy gave her a kiss on the cheek as Ben stood by beaming with happiness.
"I'm going to go clean my room now." he said as he ran up the stairs
"Oh Ben!" Meg jumped into his arms
"Meg, things are finally going to be okay, finally."
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Up in his room Benjy picked up his toys and thought about everything. He knew he'd miss his Mom living with him very much, but he also knew that everyone was happy, his daddy was the happiest. He knew that Meg made him feel that happy, and he decided that from now on he was going to accept her, and his daddy being together.
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