PART 13 "Brian!" Cassie pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek. He smiled and stepped into the small room, closing the door behind him. "What's going on Cass?" he asked, taking her in. She hadn't changed much in the last six years, her blonde hair was a bit shorter but still slightly wavy and her eyes were the same bright green they always were. She frowned, "A couple months ago I got a call saying our divorce never happened that we're still married." "Was it Lou?" B asked, sitting down next to her. She shook her head, "I don't know who it was. Then the next day I had someone deliver me some envelopes and I went over the paperwork, Bri I was in law for a while...I think we're still married." The man smiled as he walked down the hotel corridor, patting his tote bag with the camera. That Mr. Littrell will be oh so helpful in the plan, he thought as he stepped inside the elevator. Howie had his eyes closed as he sat in first class waiting for the flight to be over with. In his mind he kept replaying the fight with Ty over and over again and he couldn't get the hurt look on her face out of his mind. But damnit he was hurt too he reasoned, she'd kept something a secret for so long, something they had both wanted and she hadn't even hinted at it. He opened his eyes and saw the flight attendant coming towards him and ordered a drink, maybe AJ was right, it was good to be numb sometimes. AJ listened to the phone ring as he drummed his fingers on his desk, after another couple minutes he set the phone down and crossed Brian's name off the list. So far he hadn't been able to get a hold of Kevin, Howie and now B. He looked at the phone for a minute before picking it up and dialing Nick's cell. "Carter." Nick answered, sitting in the waiting room of David's office. He was waiting around to answer a couple more questions for him before he left. "Hey Frack its J, now don't hang up." Nick sighed, "What do you want J, I don't want to listen to another one of your tirades..." "This has nothing to do with a tirade. You know where the other fellas are?" Nick watched as the door to David's office opened and his secretary walked out, grabbed a few things from her desk and went back in, shutting the door quickly behind her. "Bri went to Kentucky...as for the other two I have no clue." AJ glanced at the calendar on his desk, suddenly he remembered his conversation with D. "I think D went down to Puerto Rico to talk to Paul...just leaves Kevin unaccounted for. He wouldn't go off and do something stupid would he?" "J this is Kevin we're talking about." "Kevin who has been known to do things spontaneously the last little while. I'll call him back later, maybe he just forgot to put the machine on. You okay Carter?" "Why wouldn't I be?" "Because of what's going on Nick. Look why don't you come over for dinner tonight? Jenn would probably love the company, I think she's tired of just seeing me round here." "I don't know J." "Look nothing fancy I'll throw some burgers on the barbecue. And if you're still holding a grudge about yesterday I'm sorry." "Fine, I'll show. I'll give ya a call before I leave here okay?" "Sounds good. See ya soon Fracky." AJ clicked the phone off and leaned back in his chair, a smile spreading across his face. Jenn had spent half the afternoon at Ty's listening to her talk about Howie's behavior that morning. "And he just left...he thinks I don't want this baby Jenn, that I don't want him." "Ty he's just in a weird state right now, they all are...and plus he did find the test on his own so he was worried why you didn't tell him." "Because he doesn't talk anymore." she shook her head, "Not to me, not to the guys...it's like living with a stranger." Paul stood waiting for Howie, he scanned the crowd and finally saw him, walking slowly towards him, eyes hidden behind sunglasses. "Howie!" Paul called, walking straight for him. Howie raised his head hearing someone call his name. "Paul, how you doing? Thanks for meeting me." he greeted as Paul caught up to him. "I'm fine, worried about you. I thought you had a later flight." Howie shrugged, adjusting his carryon the only piece of luggage he had brought with him. "Things were and still are a little rough at home so I jumped at the chance to leave." "What's wrong?" Paul asked, leading him down the terminal out to where the car was waiting. "Lotta lies going on with everyone, people you thought would never keep secrets are hiding things from you." He said, watching all the people pass by, he didn't notice the sudden change in Paul's face as he said the words. "Where's Rok?" Lis asked, setting down the pizza on the kitchen table. Shan poured herself another glass of wine, "Nashville...then Lexington for a couple days." "That's not too bad. Couple days..." "I guess, I wanted to meet him up in Lexington but he told me to stay here. Wouldn't have time for anything." The ringing of the doorbell interrupted them and Lis excused herself to answer it. Shan heard the sound of voices then Alec and Lis appeared in the dining room. "We've got one more for dinner." Lis said, heading towards the kitchen for another plate. Alec smiled weakly and took a seat, "Hope you don't mind me interrupting." "Interrupting what?" Shan asked pouring Alec a drink, "We're just having pizza and I'm trying to keep an eye on Lis." "She okay?" Alec asked, taking a slice of pizza from the box. "Acts like it. Doubt she is though." Right then Lis walked in with another bottle of wine and a couple plates. "Back." she smiled and sat down, "So where's Kev tonight?" Alec frowned, pulling the toppings off her pizza. "He went up to do some writing with Brian." Shan glanced at Alec, "Bri never mentioned anything." "Figures. I think he's just wanting to get away and avoid me." Silence filled the room for a couple minutes as they sat there each lost in their thoughts. Finally Lis broke it, "You heard anything about Nick?" she asked quietly. Alec shook her head, "No. Kev didn't say anything 'cept he was at the meeting." Lis nodded, "Its okay...I don't think I care anymore anyways." Shan sighed, "Lissy you know you still do."