Lindsey had arranged a time that he could go round to Carol Ann's, driving there he finally reach her house...that he paid for...

"Hey Jack!" Lindsey lifted his six month old son from the floor. "How have you been?!"

"He's been a good boy" Carol said, Jack clutching his fathers neck, having missed him. "I missed you too, little man! Maybe you can sleep over at my place soon, huh?" Lindsey kissed his cheek. He never imagined himself as a father until Carol Ann got pregnant and he entertained the idea...she just wasn't the right woman. Lindsey helped her financially and took her to doctors appointments but that was it....until he had Jack he didn't know what true love was.

"Sure he can, as long as you aren't to busy for him..." she said sarcastically, she was very bitter that Lindsey didn't have any loving feelings towards her, she'd purposely gotten pregnant in order to keep him, but that hadn't worked. "I'm never too busy for him, you won't let me see him-you know what, I didn't come here to argue. I came here for Jack." Lindsey removed himself from the situation.

"Yeah. Yeah. Whatever Lindsey" she said waltzing out the room in a huff. "Your Mommy is something, isn't she?" Lindsey chuckled to Jack, "But then again she did give me you!"

Jack giggled loudly at his father, kicking his legs on his belly, after a few minutes Carol Ann returned

"Take him today if you want, it's still early"

"Yeah, that'd be great," Lindsey smiled brightly, "Hear that? You get to rock with Dad the rest of the day!"

Carol Ann rolled her eyes, getting a little bag ready for Jack and handing it over to Lindsey, reminding him of the times Jack needed to be fed, as if he didn't already know. "I got everything Carol, we'll be just fine, won't we!"

Sticking Jack on his hip he walked down the drive way to his car, buckling his son into the car seat that was permanently there

"Fancy going for some lunch baby?" He spoke aloud. Jack squealed and kicked his little feet as fast as he was able, "I'll take that as a yes!" Lindsey reached back and tickled his foot. The little boy giggled hard, trying to get his foot away, Lindsey smiled at him in the mirror and started the drive to his destination.

"This place is good trust me, kid," Lindsey said as he walked into the diner with Jack. Stevie looked up from cleaning one of the tables, with a look of utter shock that Lindsey had a baby on his side. "Hey Stevie," Lindsey waved, sitting in his usual booth. "Hey!" She said impressed he'd remembered her name

"Who's this little guy then?" She asked coming to the table and crouching down. "This is my son, Jack," Lindsey gloated

"Well aren't you a little heartbreaker!" She tickled his belly, Jack grabbing her fingers to hold. "His mother let me have him for the day," Lindsey explained. "Oh, are you not together?"

"No, that ship has sailed," Lindsey smiled, "Can I get a kids chair for him?"

"Of course!" She smiled and went to grab a high chair for Jack

Lindsey glanced over and saw her husband talking to her. He saw him repeatedly point toward Lindsey and Stevie didn't even bother explain. Walking back to the table she placed the chair down, Jack smiling and reaching out his arm to her, clenching and unclenching his fist, but Stevie completely ignored him. "She's busy, bud." Lindsey placed Jack into his high chair. Jack stuck his lip and and frowned, tipping his head back in his seat to continuing looking at Stevie.

"Here Jack, let's look at the menu." Stevie looked at Lindsey's face and knew straight away that she had upset him. "How about some mashed potatoes, huh? And maybe a smoothie?" Lindsey tickled Jacks neck.

"Lindsey, I'm sorry..." Stevie said almost deathly quiet, making sure she wasn't heard. "It's okay," he nodded, "We are ready to order."

Stevie silently took the order, she thought she'd made a new friend but she'd screwed that up already. "Thank you," Lindsey said as she went to walk away. She carried on walking, placing the check on the rails, bumping into Ricky in the kitchen. "Let Cindy get that table now. I don't want you near him." He grabbed her arm roughly

"Okay, I'm sorry...I'll tell her..." she cowered, trying not to cause a scene. "I don't want to see you talk to him again, understand?"

"I won't...I promise..." he finally let her go and she rubbed where his hand had been. Stevie asked Cindy to serve Lindsey as she mad rounds to her other tables. Stevie still served tables around them and at different points could feel both Lindsey's and another little set of eyes on her. Cindy served Lindsey and Jack their food, "Sorry for the switch."

"It's alright, is she alright?" He asked a little concerned.

"Yes, she's fine!"

"She spoke to her husband and wasn't the same after that"

"Ricky isn't the best guy...."

"What does that mean?" He said giving Jack a spoonful of mash potato. "Very very abusive."

"What...?!" Lindsey said shocked.

"Shh...please, I'll lose my job."

"Sorry! Emotional or physical?"

"He hits her?" He was now well and truly bothered. "All the time...but only where you can't see it..."

"Asshole..." Lindsey muttered, and Cindy suddenly left the table quickly, so she wouldn't get into trouble. Lindsey quietly fed his son, extremely concerned about Stevie's well being. His heart broke for her as she was stuck in this situation. He decided he wanted to see exactly what was going on, so he decided he would wait until almost close and then take Jack to the toilet.

Lindsey watched Stevie's every move, "In going to take some clothes to the laundromat," she told Rick right before closing time. "No, you stay here until close Stevie" he said sternly, Lindsey holding the bathroom door open lightly, the rest of the diner was empty. "It's just a few more minutes, Rick...it won't hurt...."

"Stevie, which one of us is the boss here!" He got a little closer to her. "Sorry..." Stevie put her head down and rushed toward the bathrooms. She was just about to walk into the ladies when Lindsey grabbed her arm and pulled her into the men's. Stevie let out a small yelp but saw it was him, "What are you doing?!"

"Stevie I know what he does to you" he said trying to keep Jack calm. "I don't know what you're talking about..." she tried to walk away

"I know he hits you..."

"He-he doesn't..."

"Cindy told me, honey you cant let him do that..." he touched her arm. Stevie winced, "He just wants what's best for me."

"Knocking you around isn't what's best for you"

"I need to be reminded sometimes..."

"Reminded about what?"

"To behave."

"Are you serious? You need to be kissed to remind you you're loved, not hit!"

"I am loved...I think."

"This isn't being loved..." he said sadly

"It's all I've known...I've never had a real family or relationship or anything...Rick was just the first person to be kind to me..."

"How bad is it...?" Lindsey asked carefully. "Not bad," Stevie shook her head. Lindsey knew she was more than likely lying to him

"Alright, just be carful, you are too nice for that..." he touched her cheek but quickly removed his hand when he realised what he'd done. "I, uh, I have to go," she quickly rushed out

Jack actually did need changing now, so Lindsey changed his diaper, grabbed his bag and opened the bathroom door. He saw Rick slap Stevie, jerking her around as punishment for going into the men's room...he thought that she and Lindsey had done something. "Hey!" Lindsey couldn't help himself, he couldn't just walk away from that. "My apologies Mr. Buckingham but I don't want you in my diner again."

"We didn't do anything! Leave her alone!" Lindsey spoke strongly but his insides were shaking. "I don't appreciate how close you to seem to be getting, I find it very disrespectful. Now please leave."

"Close?! She's my fucking waitress!"

"Excuse me! I asked you to leave!"

"Alright...but please don't hurt her anymore..." Lindsey begged.

"My wife is fine!"

Lindsey picked up the rest of his stuff and left the diner, standing to the side and looking through the window. Stevie had disappeared and so had Ricky....

Lindsey was terrified that he was hurting her badly, he should never have pulled her into the bathrooms, it was his fault if she was being abused right now. He saw Stevie appear with a clothes basket, rushing out of the diner and down the street. Quickly following her, his game was given away by Jack gurgling loudly. Stevie turned and saw him, "Please stop!" She begged. "Stevie, I'm so sorry, I got you into trouble!"

"Then please leave! Ricky will know!" Stevie cried.

"I'll pay for you to get away for a few days!" Lindsey rushed to say. "No! You've done enough!" She turned away and walked down the street. Lindsey didn't know what else he was supposed to do, Stevie didn't seem like she wanted to get out of the relationship. Or maybe she was scared to....