Chelsea leaned on the bathroom basin; the door remained locked, and she needed a minute. A minute ... looking up at her pale face in the mirror, she shook her head; it would have been a minute ... one minute too late, and Cassey would have been dead. Who knows what those two would have gotten away with? She inhaled before breathing out slowly past her dry lips.

Splashing water on her face, she paused as a knock was heard on the wooden panel between herself and the rest of the world.

"Chels, are you okay?" Bevis asked, "You disappeared rather quickly."

"Be there in a minute," Chelsea said, drying her hands and face and opening the door, "I'm... okay."

Bevis met her gaze shaking her head, "No, you're not," she whispered, "what is it?"

"My friend ... was nearly murdered by two .... agents who were on the Calederone payroll," Chelsea murmured, "you were right, Bev."

"Chels," Bevis gasped, "I'm so sorry, is ... your friend okay?"

Chelsea nodded, "Her partner got to her in time, and they are catching the two rogues and saving a life."

Nodding, Bevis slowly moved forward, wrapping her arms around Chelsea, "I'm glad they got to her in time."

Chelsea returned the hug soaking in the support, love and hope brimming from her friend; her nose twitched, "What is that smell?"

"Food," Bevis said, stepping back, "its food ... you know ... a meal ... are you hungry?"

Chelsea nodded, smiling, "Famished."

"Then let's go," Bevis murmured, "you have a stomach to fill and a brain to rest."

Bevis sat at the long table dividing the room. On one side, she could see the kitchen; if she looked the other way toward the other side of the room, she saw the sitting area. Angie's presence being a new addition to the group added surprising freedom to the conversation. Caroline and Josiah were late to the meal. They seemed secretive about whatever they had been doing. Neither was surprised to find Angie as part of the party greeting them. Chelsea kept looking at her phone while Jake and Jason kept the conversation light and flowing. Candy added a little here and there but kept glancing between Jake and Chelsea and then Jason and herself; Bevis couldn't help wondering what it was that Candy was putting together or devising ... she wasn't sure what the woman was up to; Bevis did hope that it wasn't anything to do with pushing Jake and Chelsea or Jason and herself together. The connection between all of them was already strained and yet close. Releasing a pent-up breath, Bevis listened to everything being said quietly, taking in the group's actions, reactions and flowing dynamics until Angie looked at her, staring openly. Bevis tried to ignore her, but the group became uncomfortable, and finally, everyone remained silent.

"Something on your mind Angie?" Caroline asked, watching her friend.

"Yeah, it's part of the conversation we had earlier," she spoke softly, "how do you not know your parents are alive?"

Bevis frowned, cleared her throat and tried to remain calm over a subject she was still sensitive about many years later.

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"That's the second time you've said my parents are alive," she shook her head, "I attended a memorial for them," she sighed, "if they are alive, do you know where they are?"

Angie shook her head, "No... I'm not buying it," she said, "you had to know."

"Know what?" Bevis asked, leaning forward and waiting.

"Their affection for you was so deep," Angie said, "there was no way they would have left you without letting you know they lived."

"Are you saying there is some reason they didn't tell me?" Bevis asked, swallowing hard on the rising emotion.

"No, I'm saying that you have to know they're alive and are lying about it," Angie said, "I want to know why?"

"Angie," Caroline gasped, concern creasing her brow as she glanced in Bevis' direction.

Bevis rose, leaning on the table as tears gathered. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice even and calmer than she felt.

"Just so you understand what I'm about to tell you, hear what I'm saying ... the last time I saw either of my parents was the night of the accident, and their bodies were wheeled through the emergency room doors on gurneys," silence met her words as she struggled to control her emotions, "no one told me they were alive or dead, no one spoke to me or updated me at all. If they are alive, they never thought I needed to know ... and by the way ... I don't lie," she sniffed and looked at Candy, "thank you for a lovely meal ..." glancing at the table as a whole, she swallowed hard again and whispered, "... please excuse me."

Moving up the stairs quickly, Bevis made it to her room and closed the door before anyone saw the torrent of pent-up emotion she had kept to herself for so many years. Throwing herself on the bed, she buried her face in a pillow and gave way with gusty sobs.

Standing outside the door with his ear to the panel and a hand raised, ready to knock, Jason listened. Never had he heard such heartsore emotions. What kind of parents did she have that left her alone and exposed the way Bevis had been? Something about all of this didn't sit well with him. Something in their chain of information was missing .... his heart squeezed as Bevis continued to cry.

"I have to find out what in heaven's name is really happening here," sighing, he moved away from the door, shaking his head as Chelsea appeared at the end of the passage, "she is indulging in a good hearty expression of emotion."

Chelsea blinked at his words before grinning, "Ah, she is crying her eyes out."

"Exactly," Jason nodded, "Chels, something is missing from what we know."

"What do you mean?" Chelsea asked.

"Angie is certain Bevis should know that her parents are alive," Jason said, sighing as Chelsea nodded and continued his sentence.

"Why would they leave her without that knowledge if they loved her so much?" Chelsea asked.

"That is the question that will not leave my mind alone," Jason said, "I mean to find out, want to help?"

Chelsea nodded as she walked with Jason, "Do you think ... should we ask Jake if he wants to join in the hunt?

"Only if you can handle him fawning all over you while we do it," Jason said, "I'm surprised you haven't punched him yet."

"Oh, I have other ways of making him doubt himself," Chelsea said, "Jake needs to earn what he wants ... I'm not making it easy for him."

"Good, he needs to have a strong woman in his life," Jason said, "just don't push it too far. I know my brother," Jason sighed, "he will try and try and then realise his attentions are no longer wanted or were never wanted and then he will cut ties," chuckling Jason looked at Chelsea, stopping on the top step, "that's how the two of you ended up on that rafting trip."

Nodding, Chelsea inhaled, "Yeah ... that trip was an eye opener," Chelsea said, "but I'm glad we did go," she glanced back at the way they had come, "Bevis was able to have some closure."

"Yeah, and she opened up a can of worms," Jason said, shaking his head.

"It is a superpower she has," Chelsea shook her head as well, "she never seems to realise the number of good qualities held in her hand ... and heart," frowning with a mixture of concern, "I wish she could see what I do ... what everyone else does."

"We'll just have to show her what we see," Jason said, looking down the staircase as Jake arrived at the bottom, "come on, let's get Jake involved."

Nodding, Chelsea sighed and followed Jason to the level below.