With a aching pain in the morning, Mike finally awoke,
His speech was slurred with every word he spoke.
He needed time to recover, the doctors did their best,
And advised Renée to leave the room, for he needed some rest.
Michelle grabbed her belongings and drove her home,
She wanted some time with the kids, Michelle wanted some air so she started to roam.

Sitting on a bench in the park worried about Mike,
She hears the familiar revolutions of an incoming bike.
She turned her head and to her surprise,
It was the bike rider with those gorgeous eyes.

"Hey, I thought I wasn't gonna see you again."
Michelle replied

"Don't worry, you won't. I just came here to tell you as much as I keep thinking about you, I can't see you anymore."
He replied

"What?! No I don't wanna end this, it hasn't even started!!"
Michelle exclaimed

"Michelle, when you told me your name and I saw your face at the store, I couldn't truly confirm but I could tell that I knew you before; and seeing Renée today just jogged my memory."
He uttered

"Wait? You know my sister?!"
She asked

He unclipped his helmet, the visor was off,
Her eyes gleemed as she uncontrollably coughed .

"Dr. Hendricks?!"
Michelle exclaimed

"I know what you're gonna say but please hear me out."
He asked

"You were just arrested, did you pursue me to get to Mike?
You were in love with my sister, is this some sinister plan of yours to get rid of Mike so you can get closer to Renée?"
She questioned

"How could I've been such a fool."
Michelle questioned

"You're not a fool okay, and I didn't try to kill Mr. Anderson. I've been framed, my CCTV at home showed that I was in the kitchen looking about my meal at the time of the attack; the police is on the way to the hospital now to speak with Michael.
I won't do anything like that."
Brandon reassured.

"I'm sorry."
Michelle replied

"It's okay."
He replied

"Then if that's the case, why don't you want to see me anymore?"
She asked

" For the past 2 years I've been trying to move forward with my life, you don't just unlove someone on command, it takes time; but seeing Renée today when she brought in Mr. Anderson, it jogged my memory of how much I cared for her and I know it must have been a shock for her as well.
That's when it all came back to me that that's how I knew you, I was the doctor who took care of you after the accident and it just feels wrong to pursue you as much as I want to."
He explained

"Why?! Listen I understand where you're coming from, I really do, you loved my sister, found out she was married and you had to learn to unlove her and now you're unintentionally in love with her sister; yeah I get it, but as you said we can't unlove someone on command.
For the first time in my life I finally feel the need to be loved, to start a family; I'm not letting us go that easily."
She replied

"I'm sorry, I can't"
He replied

She shook her head in acceptance, inside something broke,
He tried to explain why, but she couldn't assimilate anything he spoke,
He saw his presence was redundant, on his bike he went,
Leaving her with a bucket of ice cream, to savour the moment they spent.
With every kilometre he rode,
He felt regretful as he knew he wanted her to live in his abode.
But for some weird reason it didn't seem right,
To be with the sister of his former love, who's husband is fighting for his life.

"Ren?"
Michelle called

"Where have you been?"
Renée asked

"I went to get some air."
She replied

"Thomas called, apparently-"
Renée spoke as she was interrupted

"Dr. Hendricks was at his home at the time of the attack thereby dismissing him as a suspect?"
Michelle interjected

"How did you-"

"I spoke with Dr. Hendricks right after he was released."
Michelle replied

"Okayyyyyy"
Renée replied

"I'm really worried about Mike, what if the assailant returns to finish the job, or come here, hurt the kids?!"
Renée uttered

"Ren, Ren, Ren, breathe...
I'm sure Thomas won't allow that to happen to him best friend."
Michelle replied

"You were always he brave one."
Renée smiled

"#BigSis!!"
Michelle exclaimed

Renée smiled

"We're you crying?"
Asked Ren

"Pssshhh, nooo"
Michelle uttered

"Yup, you were definitely crying"
Renée replied

"Why would you think that?"
Michelle asked

"Your eyes are red, your body is cold and not to mention the pitiful ice cream in your hand; what's wrong?
Renée stated

"It's fine, let's focus on Mike, my nephews and above all your well being, I'll be fine I assure you, we'll talk about me after all this."
Michelle replied

"No!!"
Renae exclaimed

"What?"
Michelle replied

"You've always placed my issues before yours, even as kids you took the blame when I snuck out to meet Jasper; you told mom you were the one who lost my cellular I got for my sweet sixteen."
Renée smiled

"I got grounded for a month"
Michelle replied

"You were the best!!"
Renée smiled

"Still is."
Michelle replied

"I'm just saying that after all that, I've never truly been there for you other than the accident, and it hurts me everyday that I used to come there to check in on you, ensuring you were okay, trying my best to get you to undergo surgery; but knowing that it took an accident to allow me to focus on you and your well being for once, I'm truly sorry.
So no, I won't put you off this time, Mike will be fine and we're gonna be okay, so tell me......why were you crying?"
Renée stated

"Thank you sis, really meant a lot.
So you remember I was telling you I went to get groceries with Charlotte?"
Michelle asked

"Yeah."
She replied

"Great friend by the way, she soo fun and happy and fun-"
Michelle replied

"Michelle, you're doing that thing again."
Renée stated

"Oh my bad, as I was saying, so I met this guy, he was wearing a biker's helmet and God did he smell good!!
He enquired about the Ice cream section and unfortunately they didn't have any, so I found myself, with the push of Charlotte of course, outside with him telling him about some great Ice cream spots and one thing let to another and I ummm....I sort of kissed him."
Michelle stated
with her hands over her eyes

"You did what?!"
Renée exclaimed

"Now you sound like Charlotte."
Michelle replied

"You kissed a random stranger?
A biker boy for that matter."
Renée questioned

"I know, I know, but he wasn't random and he most definitely is not a stranger; well at the time he was, but he's not anymore."
Michelle stated

"Who's this guy?
You seem really interested in him, you're not usually interested in relationships."
Renée replied

"I know right, well I guess it was full time I started living you know."
She stated

"Soooooo, the biker boy?"
Renée stated

"He kinda left before I learnt his name but I met him again tonight where I learnt who he actually was.... It's Brandon."
Michelle stated

"Brandon? As in Brandon Hendricks?"
Renée asked

"Trust me I was just as surprised.
You don't have to say anything, we're no longer a thing, he ended it before anything could start. Apparently us being a thing was just not right in his mind, something about dating me knowing he was in love with you, which I totally understand but you know, sigh."
Michelle stated

"That's why he look so shocked when he saw me a the hospital."
Renée thought to herself

"I know it seems wrong but come on we're both grown, you have saved your marriage and moved on from that phase so it shouldn't be a problem if he's dating me right?
Might be a bit awkward but understandable."
Michelle stated

"I know why he doesn't wanna pursue you, it's not that he doesn't love you, trust me I know Brandon and he's a great guy. When he loves, he loves hard and I know that he really wanna be with you but I think he's uncertain about well, me."
Renée replied

"You? What did you do?"
Michelle replied

"He was the one who broke of things with me when he learnt Mike was my husband and I was still married."
Renée stated

"Wow, that's a bold move."
Michelle replied

"Right, as I said great dude but I never made mends with him afterwards, we never saw or spoke to each other ever again, I just moved on with my life and totally ignored his very existence, which sounds really harsh saying it out loud."
Renée outlined

"Damn!!"
Michelle replied

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I believe he doesn't wanna pursue you because he thinks I'll be upset or resentful of you guys decision, but it's okay I'm with Mike now, better than ever and that's how it's gonna remain.
So go live, your life and don't allow my past to limit your future."
Renée stated

"I love you sis."
Michelle replied

They hugged, they smiled, tears ran down their face,
The kids came down and they all fell asleep with the warmth of the fireplace.

~The Following Morning ~

"Thomas?!"
Mike uttered

"Mike!! You're awake!! How are you man?"
Thomas exclaimed

"You've been here all night?"
Mike asked

"But entirely, can you tell me what happened?"
Thomas asked

"Ugghh, I went over by Crazy Jim to get some Ice cream shortly after leaving Mayor Bakersfield office, but he was dead when I got there."
Mike aches in pain

"The rookie said he say Crazy Jim truck leaving the hospital on our way to Lakeshore this morning, you think someone killed him and used his delivery services to gain access to the hospital?"
Thomas asked

"It sounds like motive. After leaving work, I found an access card for the hospital in the locker room.
I headed home and when I reached the porch, someone came up behind me and started strangling me shouting 'how could you!!'
I rang the doorbell and I passed out afterwards."
Mike explained

"I'll get to the bottom of this !!
I assure you, did you see a face, any scars or tattoo?"
Thomas asked

"No, it was dark and they had a voice modulator so yeah -"
Mike stated as he was interrupted

"Mr. Anderson, you're awake, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the room"
The Nurse replied

Thomas left the room, Renée was notified,
Dr. Hendricks was back at work, his whereabouts verified.
Thomas recieved a message, his eyes grew with terror,
He rushed to see if it was true, as there must be an error.

"Henry are you sure?!!"
Thomas asked

"I'm positive bro, she's out!!
And that's not the scariest part, other than she now being a prime suspect, she's not who we thought she was.

I'm meeting up with the rookie at the station, see you there
Harry replied

"I'm on my way!"
Thomas replied

The call ended, Thomas arrived,
Without even a simple greeting, straight to the matter they dived.

"How did she get released?"
Thomas asked

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you"
Harry replied

"What?"
Thomas asked

"Good behavior."
Harry replied

"What?!
You gotta be kidding me!!"
Thomas replied

"Apparently she was released 2 weeks ago, no one has seen or heard from her since."
Henry stated

"You believe she's behind all of this?"
Thomas asked

"It surely seems like motive, but murder?
And why would she wanna attack Mike, I thought they had a thing once?"
Henry asked

"Once.
I think she might be pissed that Mike dumped her and went on with his life."
Thomas replied

"But here's the thing, her real name is not Catherine; she goes by Alena Briscoff, that's all I found on her, everything is encrypted about her.
She seems to have some toes the Russians and in the midst of it all, Nikolai Bakersfield seems to be the center of it all."
Henry outlined

"Wait, what?!!
Russians?
And what Mayor Bakersfield had to do with all of this?"
Thomas enquired

"I have no idea, but all I know we need to pay him a visit."
Henry stated

"Head on over, I'll meet you there, I'm gonna update Mike."
Thomas replied

"Hey guys!"
Bradley shouted

"Where have you been?"
Thomas asked

"I was looking into the Crazy Jim case, any leads?"
Bradley asked

"Maybe if we're lucky, we're gonna pay the Mayor a visit.
Thomas is heading to the Chief so you can tag along with him."
Henry stated

"Bakersfield?
I'll tag along with you.
We can meet up with Thomas afterwards."
Bradley stated

"Okay fine, but I'll do the talking."
Henry replied

"See you then."
Thomas replied

Arriving at the hospital, Mike was already discharged,
Henry and Bradley, in the Mayor's office they barged.

"What are you doing here" was the last word he said,
As Bradley shot a bullet into his head.
He attacked Harry, firing 5 bullets in a row,
He was about to kill him before he was sniped through the window.

Henry radioed for help and took cover,
The sniper disappeared once the helicopter started to hover.
In a matter of 9 minutes, police was all over the scene,
Thomas brought Mike, along with the forensics team.

"I don't know what came over him.
The mayor recognized him and he shot him in the head, if it wasn't for the sniper, whoever he was, I'd be dead."
Henry replied

"Chief, we found something."
Forensics stated

"These are files of transactions between the mayor and Mr. Bradshaw, but his face doesn't match the name, does the name 'Carlos Garcia Jr' ring a bell?"
Thomas asked

"No, should it?"
Mike asked

"Well yeah, apparently that's the real name of Bradley here. He was hired by the Mayor to terminate Alena, but it seems Carlos found out that Alena was responsible for human trafficking where his sister 'Emily Garcia' was sold and took matters into his own hands."
Thomas replied

"Things get personal, he kills his Employer and would have gone after Alena on his own."
Mike uttered

"Right, but thanks to our Sniper, that's taken care of."
Thomas replied

"I still can't believe Catherine is Alena; you think she's the sniper?"
Mike asked

"Maybe, it makes sense.
But I gotta say, her moves are well coordinated, if she wanna get back at you and eliminate her mess in the same instance, how does framing a Doctor ties into this?
I mean she could have used a rope or some, why go the extra mile?"
Thomas asked

"Because it's not about me.
I think she's the one who sent me Donuts and Coffee, sent Renée flowers and broke into our house.
Dr. Hendricks was interested in Renée during my phase so I think she's trying to get to Renée not just me."
Mike started

"Which raises the question, with all the cops, surrounding this perimeter, and all three of us here, what do you think Alena's plan is right now?"
Henry asked

"Renée!!!"
Thomas and Mike shouted

The jump in their car and raced to his home,
Every call went to voicemail as they tried calling her phone,
Upon arrival, they couldn't find Joey and Joel,
And unconscious on the ground, was Renée and Michelle.