"Alright," Josh yelled, "I need stage crew over here. That package can get dropped off at nine. Can someone call Nathan? Thanks."

"Josh," Uriah called, clearly out of breath, "have you seen Caroline anywhere?"

"Caroline hasn't worked here in two years," Josh laughed. "What's wrong, Uriah?"

"I got a phone call," Uriah stammered, "from Caroline, saying she was in some sort of trouble."

"Why'd she call you?" Josh frowned, his nose wrinkling.

"I'm her husband," Uriah laughed. "Why wouldn't she call me?"

Josh stared blankly in shock. He felt a twinge of pain in his heart. There was a time when he knew everything about his friends, big and small. They confided in him. Ever since his raise, it felt like no one knew him. And he didn't know them. "What kind of trouble?" He frowned, handing a clipboard to his assistant.

"I don't know," Uriah sighed. "Something about her dad."

Josh was suddenly paying close attention. "Her Father?"

"Yeah."

Josh felt his knees buckle. "Uriah, what did she say?! Exactly?!"

"That he's back."

—————

Mari loaded the groceries into the cart and gave a sigh. "That's not as easy as it used to be," she mumbled, trying to catch her breath. "I need to work out or something."

"Excuse me, Miss," a man's voice came from behind her.

Mari turned around, her blonde hair bouncing off her shoulders and framing her smile. A smile which soon dissipated into horror. "No," she stammered, stepping backward, "it can't be."

"Did you miss me, Miss Steele? A lot has happened since we last met."

"Get away from me," Mari said firmly, "or I'll scream."

"Scream?" Isaiah laughed darkly. "And risk the life of Isaac Taylor? No, I think you'll do as I say."

"I can't trust you. You almost killed my best friend," Mari spat, slowly backing up towards the car door. "What makes you think I'd listen to you?"

"You know who your dealing with," the man hissed.

"Yes, but apparently you don't," Mari smirked, getting into her car and driving away.

"So easy," the man smirked.

The same mistake twice.

Mari gave a heavy sigh as she approached the red light. She tried to apply the brake and her face filled with terror. "No, no, no, please, no," she whimpered, banging on the break. She laid on the horn as loud and hard as she could.

—————

"Pick up, Josh," Catherine muttered, pacing back and forth and holding the phone to her ear.

"Hey, Cath. Perfect," Josh sighed. "Listen, I think we might have a situation-"

"Get to the hospital quick. I'm here with Mari. She was in an accident," Catherine explained hurriedly.

What?!" Josh stammered, trying to maintain composure.

"Just hurry. I have to call Matt and let him know. I'll see you in a bit."

"What hospital?!"

"Paris Regional," Catherine said quickly. "Get here as fast as you can."

—————

Josh arrived at the hospital, pushing past anyone who stood in his way. "Where's my wife?!"

Catherine stood up immediately. "Josh, over here!" she called. "I can take you to her."

"What happened?" Josh exclaimed. "Is she okay?! Oh my god. What about the baby?! Is the baby okay?!"

"I don't know. Somebody cut her brake line. I have a feeling Isaiah Whitney is behind this. Anyway, all I know is that she's unconscious," Catherine sighed.

"I'm gonna kill somebody," Josh spat, punching the wall.

"Hey, hey, hey," Catherine said softly, "just calm down. They said she'll be alright."

"God," Josh moaned, tears pouring down his cheeks, "if she lost the baby- if I lose her, Cath, I won't make it. I won't."

Catherine wrapped her arms around him comfortingly. "It'll be okay. She'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Where is he?!" Josh spat, his eyes ablaze. "Do they know where he is?!"

"I called the police. The last thing I heard, they were on his tail," Catherine nodded. "Come on, I'll take you to Mari."

"No," Josh muttered, pulling his gloves on tighter, "I need to finish this once and for all."

"Josh, no. You need to be with Mari."

"I can't look at her right now," Josh said softly. "Cath, I can't. Not until I end this."

"Be careful," Catherine sighed. "Please."

"Believe me," Josh grumbled, "I will."

—————

"Catherine?"

"Honey, you're home," Carlos smiled teasingly.

"You're...not my wife," Matt stammered in confusion.

"Catherine's at the hospital. She asked me to take care of the twins," Carlos shrugged.

Matt's eyes widened in shock. "The hospital? What? Why?!"

"Mari was in a car accident. Apparently, someone cut her brake line. Catherine went over immediately and told me to take care of the kids until further notice."

"God," Matt said, running his hands through his hair. "Where's Isaac?"

"I'm not sure," Carlos sighed. "I heard Cath mutter something about calling him. I assume she already did."

"This isn't good," Matt moaned.

Carlos shook his head in agreement. "If you want to go to the hospital, I'll stay here."

"I need to find Josh."

"Be careful. If something happens to you, I'll never hear the end of it."

—————

Josh entered the dark warehouse slowly. "I thought I'd find you here!" he shouted.

"Well, well, well," Isaiah chuckled darkly. "How intuitive."

"This isn't a game, Isaiah," Josh said slowly. "You know who I am. Who I was before. You know who your dealing with."

"I think you know what I want," Isaiah stated coolly.

"To make my life miserable?! What does that get you?" Josh scoffed. "As for the other thing, I made a promise to Melody. I won't give it to you."

"I see Mel has a nice little hold on you," Isaiah smirked, "even from beyond the grave. Does Mari know that you're still in love with her dead sister?"

"Don't," Josh said sternly, his lip trembling with rage. "Just don't."

"How I would hate for something to happen to that little girl of yours," Isaiah continued. "Oops. I guess I let that slip. You didn't know that yet, did you? That it's a girl? Mari knows. I guess that's another thing she hid from you."

"Another thing?" Josh said slowly. "No," he thought angrily, "don't let him play you. Everything's a lie. Just get this over with."

"She was engaged once," Isaiah lied. "I'm sure she didn't tell you that either."

Josh reached into the quiver behind him, steadying his cross bow. "Come into the light."

"Well, aren't you just a modern day Robin Hood?" Isaiah chuckled, moving deeper into the shadows.

"You know my track record," Josh said sternly. "You know I never miss."

A red dot appeared on Josh's chest, dangerously close to his heart.

"I don't either," Isaiah laughed evilly.

"I came prepared this time," Josh said calmly. "I'm not afraid to lose. Not if it means taking you down with me. I trust Mari with everything. She'd be fine without me."

"Maybe Mariah would," Isaiah smirked, "but your daughter won't. Just think of that poor child growing up without a father."

"She's a Taylor," Josh spat. "She'd get by. Mari would help her."

"Just like you did?" Isaiah scoffed. "Are you so willing to inflict that sort of life on another human being?"

"If it means they're safe," Josh said, his eyes glaring dangerously.

"That's cute. You think she'd be safe," Isaiah chuckled. "Even if I'm dead, I still have enough allies to hunt her down. Face it, Taylor, she'd never make it out of the hospital."

"I have good friends. People who know how to hide," Josh said slowly, his hand beginning to twitch nervously.

Isaiah scoffed. "Please. Like I'm not already keeping a close eye on Matthew and Catherine. Oh, not to mention their two children. It'd be a shame to have to involve those poor, innocent children in all of this."

"Leave them out of this!" Josh's eyes were starting to narrow, his hands shaking terribly as he lost his nerve. "Keep it up, Taylor," he reprimanded himself internally. "Just a little while longer."

—————

Mari sat up with a gasp. Her eyes searching her surroundings frantically. "Where am I?!"

"Mari," Catherine said softly, "you're in the hospital. Everything's going to be fine. Your daughter is okay and you're expected to make a full recovery."

"Daughter?" Mari said slowly. "Daughter?"

Catherine nodded. "You're having a girl. Congratulations."

Mari's eyes brimmed with tears. "Wheres Josh?"

"He went to go take care of something. Don't worry about him," Catherine said softly. "You need to rest."

"My shoulder's killing me," Mari whimpered. "I want Isaac."

Catherine put a hand to her friend's cheek gently. "It's alright," she whispered. "Go to sleep. He'll be back soon."

"W-what happened?"

"Shh. I'll explain later. Just get some rest, okay?"

Jack leaned against the wall and gave a heavy sigh. "He won't answer his phone."

Catherine put a finger to her lips and quickly moved him out of the room. "What about Matt?"

"Gone after Josh," Jack sighed.

"Great," Catherine moaned. "That's all we need. I swear, if Isaiah so much as touches my husband, I'll murder the crook."

"Josh might take care of that for you," Jack said worriedly, glancing out the window.

—————

"Isaiah, I swear if that baby or my wife has so much as a scratch, I will end you."

"That's cute," Isaiah smirked.

Josh's phone buzzed. He slowly brought it to his ear while balancing the cross bow in the other hand. "Matt? How is she?"

"I don't know. I've been trying to find you. I'm outside the warehouse now. Is now a good time to come in?" Matt sighed.

"Stay out!" Josh shouted, slowly backing up. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Alright," Matt nodded.

"Call Mari. If she's fine, good. If not, I need to know, Matt."

Matt immediately hung up and called Catherine. "Hon, how's Mari doing?"

"She's okay. She's still in the ER, but she's fine. So is the baby. It's a girl, by the way."

"Wow," Matt said slowly. "That's- that's news."

"Yeah. Looks like Lotte's going to have a friend," Catherine chuckled. "Did you find Josh?"

"Sort of."

"Alright. I have to go be with Mari. See you soon, Babe."

"Love you."

"I love you too," Catherine smiled.

—————

"Drive," Josh said hurriedly, getting into the car.

"Alright," Matt nodded, backing up and speeding away. "So, he's in police custody?"

Josh nodded. "Thankfully. How's Mari?"

"Catherine says that she's good and so is your daughter."

"Daughter?" Josh stammered.

"It's a girl. Congratulations," Matt smiled.

"Wow," Josh stared, "that's big."

Matt nodded. "I'm really happy for you, man."

—————

Mari sat in the bed silently, her stressed fingers tangled up in her hair. "Come on," she whispered, clenching her eyes closed. "Come on, please. Come back to me, Isaac Taylor. I'll kill you if you dont."

"Oh, Mari," Josh exclaimed, entering the room and grasping her hand. "Honey, I'm sorry. I should have been there with you."

"Oh my god," Mari sputtered, grabbing him by the shoulders and hugging him tightly. "I thought I'd lost you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything ever."

"Shh. It's alright. You didn't do anything," Josh said softly. "I'm just glad you're okay. God, I could have lost you."

—————

"Thanks so much, Carlos," Catherine sighed.

"It's no problem," Carlos smiled. "Hey, where's Matt?"

"At the hospital with Josh and Mari," Catherine shrugged. "I needed to come home to my babies."

Carlos nodded.

The cousins talked for a little while before Carlos departed, leaving Catherine alone with her two children. She went to check on them, and found Logan to be still awake. "Hey, you," she whispered softly. "Go to sleep."

Logan cooed in defiance.

Catherine chuckled. "Alright," she smiled, lifting him into her arms. "We'll watch Phantom of the Opera." The mother put on the movie and laid down on the couch with Logan curled up on her chest.

—————

" ...and I was sitting here," Mari said through tears, "and I realized, Josh, that I want this. I want you and a family and Saturday night dinners after soccer practice and all that boring crap. Because it's our crap, and if I'd lost you I don't know what I would- I want this. And I want you."

"I love you, Mari," Josh smiled.

Mari laughed tearfully. "I love you too."

—————

Logan looked up at his mother and then back to the TV. His little nose crinkled up in disgusted confusion. But it didn't seem to matter much. His thumb provided enough amusement.

He wondered where the tall man had gone. Or the one with the second pair of eyes. They both made him smile, because they looked funny. But Mom, he supposed, would have to do.

"What's going on in that little head of yours?" Catherine chuckled.

Logan looked at her with wide, intent, eyes.

Catherine kissed the top of his head and held him close. "Go to sleep, little one."

Logan gave a small frown.

Catherine shook her head, a smile of bliss gracing her features. "I love you, kid," she said softly, kissing his little forehead and stroking his chubby, little cheek with the back of her finger.

Logan smiled up at her and cooed loudly.

"Shh," Catherine chuckled. "Go to sleep, baby."

—————

Matt knocked on Josh's apartment door loudly.

"Hey," Josh smiled.

"We need to talk," Matt said sternly. He grabbed Josh by the arm and dragged him outside.

"What's going on?" Josh asked with confusion.

"When were you going to tell me?!" Matt snapped.

"Tell you what?"

Matt glanced at the door and dragged Josh further down the hall. "That you were pulling this saving people crap again."

Josh's face fell pale. "I don't know what you're talking about, Matt."

"Yes, you do," Matt scoffed. "What are you thinking?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"No," Josh stammered.

Matt stared blankly. "I thought you gave this up after Mel died."

"Look," Josh said firmly, "I needed the money. The government pays well. It'll give her a college fund, at least. It started that way, and then I realized, Matt, that they need me. I can help people. I can be the person I wish I had when I was twelve."

"Josh, what use are you if you wind up dead? How can you risk your life like that? Do you want your daughter to grow up without you?"

Josh shifted uncomfortably. "No...but about three good parents went home to their kids these past months because of me. I have talent, Matt, a talent nobody else has. It took me forever to shut up and admit it, but I'm clever. I'm the cleverest person in this country, so I'd suggest shutting up and staying out of my business going forward."

"Fine, but I don't want to hear about it when you end up in a hospital bed or worse," Matt scoffed, walking away.