Sunday, 12 August 2001
0730 PDT
Napa Inn Bed & Breakfast
Napa, CA

Webb rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom to take his shower. He glanced at the clock on the dresser as he towel-dried his hair. "I wonder if Shelley is up? I should probably check on her." He opened his door and saw that her door was already open and her room empty. He closed his door and hurried to shave and get dressed.

Webb walked down the stairs and heard Shelley, Patty, Johanna, and José laughing. He could also hear Cooper and Ginger barking. 'What's going on in there?' he wondered as he rounded the corner to the dining room. They weren't there. 'In the kitchen? Shelley's in the kitchen with them?' Webb pushed through the door to the kitchen, and found Patty and José sitting on the floor with Cooper and Ginger running back and forth between them. Shelley and Johanna sat at the kitchen table, each with a mug of steaming liquid in their right hand.

Johanna saw Webb come through the door and was up in a flash. "Here's your coffee, Clayton," she said handing him a freshly poured mug.

"Thanks, Sweetheart," Webb said casually, pecking her on the cheek.

"Hey! That's my wife you're kissing," José complained.

"Kissing? You call that a kiss? Ha! No wonder Patty's the only kid you two ever had!" Webb laughed.

Johanna roared. "He's got you there, José, mí amo!"

José picked himself up off the floor and grabbed his wife. "A kiss? You want to see a kiss? I'll show you a real kiss!" And he covered Johanna's mouth with his, delving his tongue inside her mouth.

When he let her up for air, Patty started clapping. "Way to go, Papá!"

Webb jabbed, "That's no kiss! You want to see a real kiss? Watch the master at work!" Webb took Shelley's hands and pulled her up out of her chair. He gently pulled her to his chest and folded his arms around her, lowering his face to hers. He started the kiss slowly, gently. But gradually he pressed harder against her mouth, moving his tongue along the seam of her lips, opening them and thrusting his tongue inside. His hands moved so that one was at the back of her neck supporting her head and the other massaging her backside. His tongue played with hers, and then he ran it along the backs of her teeth, causing her to tremble slightly. When he ran it along the roof of her mouth, she moaned.

"Enough! Enough!" cried Johanna. "You win! That is definitely a kiss."

"So, Uncle Clayton, if you're such a good kisser as that, how come you've never gotten married?" Patty asked.

Webb finally released Shelley's mouth, but he still held her closely. "Can't answer that one, Sweet Pea. Must have never found the right woman," he said huskily. 'I found the right girl, but your father won her.  Now, after all these years, have I found the right woman?' He released his hold on Shelley, and she sat back in her chair. She was staring at him. "What's for breakfast?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"What would you like?" Johanna asked. "Omelets?"

"Had that yesterday. How about some of your famous Mexican toast?" he joked.

"Uncle Clayton, it's French toast, and you know it!" Patty corrected him, and they all laughed.

"José, take Clayton into the study and show him the books while I make breakfast. They need to leave soon after they eat," Johanna informed him.

"Ah, the books! Sí, come Clayton. I will show you how well we are doing!" José bragged.

As Webb and José left the kitchen, Shelley asked Johanna how she could help with breakfast. "Oh no, Shelley. You are our guest. Truth to rights, you should not even be here in the kitchen, but in the dining room or living room. It is most unusual for a guest to be in the kitchen."

"I'm sorry. I can leave if you'd prefer," Shelley said standing and gathering the dogs in her arms. She was afraid she had offended her host by invading her domain.

"No, no. I didn't mean to imply you weren't welcome in my kitchen, Shelley. Of course, you are! It's just that usually my guests don't care to be in the hot kitchen. But your being Clayton's guest, I rather forgot myself this morning and didn't urge you to be more comfortable in the other rooms."

"How do you know Clayton?" Shelley asked.

"We grew up together.  My parents worked for Mr. and Mrs. Webb," Johanna explained as she got the eggs, milk, and bacon from the refrigerator.

"Really? That's interesting. What did they do?"

"Papá was the gardener and chauffeur. Mamá was Mrs. Webb's personal maid. She also did a lot of the cooking. Mr. Webb was never satisfied with the cooks they hired. In between, Mamá cooked."

"And you all lived in the house with them?" Shelley probed.

"No, we had our own house on the estate...well, after I was born.  Papá was there first, you see," Johanna warmed to her subject as she took the skillet out of the cabinet and began making breakfast. Patty took the dogs from Shelley's arms and sat back on the floor. When her mother began this story, she always listened. It was so romantic!

"One day, he was driving Mrs. Webb and a very young Clayton into the city to go shopping, and he saw a frail young woman dressed in rags sitting on the side of the road. Papá wanted to stop, but with Mrs. Webb and Clayton in the car, he couldn't. Then Mrs. Webb saw her, too. She told Papá to stop. They got out and walked back to the young woman. She had no strength at all; she wanted to run away, but she fell as she tried to get up. Mrs. Webb had Papá carry her to the car and they took her home with them."

"The young woman finally regained her strength after two weeks of care by Mrs. Webb. When she was back on her feet, she decided it was time to leave. But she had no where to go. Mrs. Webb offered her the job as her personal maid. She accepted, and after about a year, Papá finally proposed to her. They were married there on the estate, and Mr. Webb sent them to Mexico on a honeymoon so they could both see their families. A year later, I was born. When I turned two, Mr. Webb built a house on the estate for us to live. He said every young family should have their own home."

Johanna almost had their breakfast ready now. "More tea, Shelley?" she asked, interrupting her story. Shelley smiled and shook her head.

"Mamá!  Tell the rest of the story!" Patty pleaded .

"Oh, yes, please do continue," requested Shelley.

"Well, Clayton was three when I was born. We grew up together; we played together when there were no other little boys for him to play with. We went swimming together in the lake behind the big house. I was never allowed to go in the swimming pool."

"That surprises me. I guess I'd have thought that the Webbs…" Shelley started.

"Oh no! Mr. and Mrs. Webb always wanted me to go in the pool. It was my father who would not permit it. He said it wasn't appropriate.  One day while we were swimming in the lake, Clayton decided we should play doctor," Johanna remembered.  "Of course, because he was older and wiser…he was a very grown up 12 by now, he got to be the doctor and I was the patient. And he had to do a complete examination of me," she laughed.

Shelley grinned. "Complete, eh?"

"Oh yes, and I do mean complete! His father had died the year before, you see, and Clayton was very interested in medicine because of it.  He thought he wanted to be a doctor.  He had me take off my bathing suit and lie down in the grass by the water. Then he 'examined' me. I was only 9, but I was already developing. Well, when he finished poking and probing, he decided he did not want to be a doctor!"  Johanna and Shelley laughed.  "Then I told him it was my turn. He said he didn't want to be examined by a female doctor, so I told him that I wasn't a doctor, only a nurse. And he agreed."

Shelley was laughing right along with Johanna, but Patty wasn't making a sound. If she did, her mother would remember she was there and stop talking. She never talked about Uncle Clayton and her relationship after they were very young children. She had heard all the stories from their early childhood, but nothing from their preteens and up.  This was all new to her.

"Clayton let me examine him…and then some! He had his first semblance of a blow job that day…only neither of us had any idea what we were doing," remembered Johanna. 

"Papá found us a little later, lying naked by the lake. We lied and said we'd just been skinny-dipping. Papá didn't want me to play with Clayton after that. I cried and Mamá argued with him, and he relented. But when Clayton went to high school, he felt he was too old for me. I cried for weeks!"  Johanna flipped the last of the French toast in the skillet, remembering.

"I finally started high school myself; though we went to different schools, of course. Clayton went to a very exclusive, private school.  I went to the public high school.  Clayton wanted to take me to his Junior Prom that year, but Papá put his foot down and said I couldn't go. Clayton wouldn't go without me, so instead we went to my first drive-in movie, and I lost my vir…" Johanna stopped as she heard the kitchen door opening.  The men walked in, just as Johanna noticed that Patty was still sitting there on the kitchen floor, listening raptly to every word. 'Patty! Oh my God!' "…my sweater; I lost my sweater. It flew out of the car as we were leaving the drive-in...going home...early…right after the movie," she stammered, suddenly very red in the face.

"That's not all you lost that night, Sweetheart," Webb said, knowing exactly which story she was telling.

"Clayton!" she admonished, nodding toward Patty.

"Oh, Johanna. Patty is 15! She knows what you lost that night," grinned Webb.

"Clayton, please," begged Johanna.

"Mamá, it's okay. I always wondered when you did it the first time…with who and how old you were. I'm glad to know it was with Uncle Clayton," Patty gushed as she got up from the floor and hugged her mother. "I love you so much, Mamá; nothing you could tell me would ever make me think bad of you or Papá or Uncle Clayton."

Johanna put her arms around her daughter. "You weren't supposed to hear that, Patty. But it was my own fault…"

"Is breakfast ready yet, Jo?  I'm starving," Webb said.

"We could smell the bacon in the other room.  I'm surprised the other guests aren't clamoring for their food by now, too," José said.  

"They told me last night that they'd all be sleeping very late today and wouldn't want breakfast," explained Johanna.

"Good, then there's more for us!" Patty piped in.

"Well, sit down...it's ready," Johanna ordered.

They finished breakfast, and the men went outside to walk through the vineyard.  The women, and Patty, of course, stayed inside to clean up the kitchen.  Patty loved to walk the vineyard with her father, but if she went today, she might miss a new story from her mother.

"So how did you happen to settle here in California?  Or is this where Clayton grew up?" Shelley asked, realizing she didn't have any idea where Clayton spent his childhood.

"No, we grew up in Virginia.  When Clayton left for college, I started getting into trouble at home.  Finally Mrs. Webb suggested to Mamá that I go to a girls' school in San Francisco.  She thought it would help 'refine' me.  Oh, I failed to mention that Papá died when Clayton was a senior in high school.  Well, they shipped me off, and when Clayton came home for Christmas that year and I was gone, was he ever angry!  So much so, that he took his mother's brand new Mercedes-Benz and drove all the way across the country to see me!"

"What did his mother say?" Shelley asked.

"She was angry at first, but then she decided that Clayton was just being protective of his 'little sister', which is what she thought we were.  Brother and sister.  I don't think Mrs. Webb found out that Clayton and I were lovers until the day I got married.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Anyway, Clayton showed up at the school and we disappeared for the weekend.  He took me to Disneyland!  I'd always wanted to go there, and never had.  So, we went.  And we stayed in the cutest little motel.  When it was time for him to go back to school, he flew home and left his mother's car for me!  Can you just imagine?  I drove that car until it fell apart."

"When did you meet José?" Shelley asked.

"He was setting up the platforms and chairs and such for the graduation my second year at the girls' school; I was a junior then.  I saw him, and decided to flirt with him.  It surprised me when he asked me out for a date.  We saw a lot of each other the next year, and we decided to get married as soon as I graduated in the spring.  I never told anyone at home about José because I was afraid they would take me out of the school and I'd lose him.  Clayton knew something was up when I wouldn't sleep with him anymore, but he never pushed me to tell him."

"They all arrived, Mrs. Webb, Clayton, and Mamá, for my graduation in May.  And that's when I announced that José and I were engaged.  They were all happy for me!  I was shocked!  I thought they would hate him...hate me.  But they didn't.  I had made myself believe that they sent me away to school because they didn't love me anymore.  I was so wrong.  And the way they reacted to José was proof of it to me.  Clayton took him by the collar and pushed him against the wall and said, 'You'd better be good to her.  Because if you're not, if you hurt her in any way, I'll come after you.  I'll hunt you down like a mad dog.  And you'll wish you'd never been born!'  Then he released José, shook his hand, and said 'Congratulations!' " Johanna laughed.

Shelley and Patty laughed right along with her.  "Sounds just like Uncle Clayton!" Patty offered.

"I said I wanted to get married the next day, and Mrs. Webb said that wouldn't be possible.  I started to get angry and argue with her, until I realized what she was saying.  She said she couldn't possibly put a wedding together in one day.  I needed a wedding gown, a veil, gowns for my bridesmaids, tuxes for the men, a minister...I couldn't believe it!  She wanted to give me a real wedding!"

"We decided that since all of my friends and José's friends were in California, we would get married here instead of going back to Virginia.  Mrs. Webb and Mamá stayed in California to arrange everything, and Mrs. Webb paid for the entire wedding," Johanna said as she dried the last dish and set it in the cupboard.

"You said Mrs. Webb found out about you and Clayton on your wedding day.  How did that happen?" asked Shelley, much to Patty's delight.  Johanna leaned back against the kitchen counter, folding her arms across her chest.

"I had not asked anyone to give me away.  When Mrs. Webb found that out, she told me that it was certainly appropriate for Clayton to take that role as my 'brother'.  I told her I didn't think that would be a good idea, and she wanted to know why.  I couldn't very well tell her that I'd been screwing around with her son for years, so I agreed to ask Clayton.  He flew in from college the day before the wedding, and we went for a walk in the hotel's garden.  What we didn't know was that his mother was on the balcony above, watching us." 

"Clayton asked me if I was really happy with José or was I just getting married because he asked me.  I told him that I truly loved José.  Then I asked Clayton to give me away.  He said he couldn't do that, not until we could truly be brother and sister, again, the way we were before the lake when he was 12.  I asked him how we could ever possibly go back to that point, and he said simply, 'let me kiss you one more time'.  I knew that what he really wanted was to make love to me, but he was too much of a gentleman to ask that the night before my wedding.  I nodded, and we kissed...very passionately.  He released me, smiled his bright crooked smile, and said, 'I'll be happy to give you away, Sweetheart.  If José makes my little sister happy, then she shall have José.' "

"The next morning, I walked into the dining room and they didn't hear me.  I heard them talking about me.  About me and Clayton.  Mrs. Webb asked him if he had taken my virginity that Christmas when he drove out here.  He said, 'No, Mother, long before that.' "

Johanna turned to Shelley with tears in her eyes.  "I am so sorry.  I didn't mean to tell you all this.  What you must think of me now...  Worse! What you must think of Clayton!"

"Johanna," Shelley stood and walked over to her, encircling her in her arms.  "I don't think any less of you or of Clayton.  Yours is a very sweet and tender story.  How could I possibly think less of either of you for it?  But, you were so young."

Johanna looked her in the eyes and knew she meant it.  "Yes, we were.  Too young.  Far too young.  I have tried so hard to protect Patty, to prepare her.  We talk a lot; I explained everything to her.  I don't want her to become a woman before it is time.  I want her to wait until she marries," said Johanna as she put her arms around her daughter.

"Does Papá know this?" Patty whispered.  "About you and Uncle Clayton?"

"Yes, Dear.  Your Papá found out just before the wedding.  He overheard Mrs. Webb say something to Clayton about my having to be only a sister to him now...that he could never, again, take me to bed.  José got very angry and was ready to leave.  Clay caught him just as he was getting in his car.  I never knew what they said to each other, but José came back.  Clayton walked me down the aisle.  And when the Padre asked 'Who gives this woman?', Clayton said, 'I do; she is now and forever more, my sister.'  He looked straight at José as he said it.  Then he turned to me and said, 'And anything my sister wants that is in my power to give her, is hers.  She need only ask.' "

"Wow!" cried Patty.  "I've never heard all that before!  That's so romantic!" she gushed.

"And Patty, you'd better not repeat any of it to anyone!" chided her mother.

"Mamá, I would never do that!  But when did Uncle Clayton give you and Papá the vineyard?"

"For our wedding present.  José decided to test Clayton's word.  So he insisted that I ask Clayton for a vineyard for my wedding gift.  I did, and Clayton didn't even hesitate.  He began looking for the perfect vineyard, and when he found this one, he bought it.  It had a tiny little house on it, but I loved it and wouldn't let him tear it down to build a new one."

"Changed your mind, I guess, hmm?" Shelley asked as she glanced around the spacious kitchen.

"No, we had a fire," said Patty quietly.  "We lost everything.  It was my fault; I was only four, and I turned over a candle in my room and didn't tell anyone.  I thought if I threw the candle away, the fire would stop.  So I threw it out the window into the vineyard," she remembered sadly.

"Querida, we have never blamed you for the fire.  Please stop blaming yourself," Johanna said softly, putting her arms around her daughter.  "We had nothing after the fire.  No house, no grapes, no money.  And we had no insurance.  José had not permitted Clayton and I to stay in touch, so I hadn't seen or spoken to him in years.  Not since he signed the deed to the land over to me."  

"I had never crossed my husband before.  But I did that day.  I went to town, and I called Mrs. Webb.  I didn't know how to reach Clayton.  He happened to be at his mother's house.  When I told him what happened, he dropped everything and flew out here.  He put us up in a fine hotel, took us all shopping for new clothes, and arranged for the house debris to be cleared away."

"While they were doing that, he brought the plans for this house to us and explained his proposal.  We were never able to make the vineyard pay; it just became too difficult to compete with the larger growers.  Clayton knew that José did not want to work for another grower; he loved his vineyard.  So he proposed the B&B idea.  At first, José didn't like it.  But that night, we talked about it.  I was very excited; I thought it would be a lot of fun.  And there weren't many B&Bs in this area then.  We would be one of the first.  And most importantly, José would still have his vineyard.  Clayton had said he would provide the new plants.  So we agreed, and Clayton built us this house.  While it was being built, he had a trailer put on the lot so we didn't have to stay in a hotel.  When the house was finished, Mrs. Webb came to help me choose the furnishings."

"Is that when José finally accepted Clayton as a friend?" Shelley asked.  "Because they certainly look like good friends now."

"Oh, they are!  Once when José was very discouraged, while they were building the house and he was clearing the burned vines from the land, Clayton came to visit.  He got right out there alongside José in the field and helped him clear.  José was amazed.  He had never seen Clayton get dirty before; I guess he thought Clayton lived in a 3-piece suit!"  Both women laughed.

"I think Uncle Clayton looks wonderful in his suits!" argued Patty.

"Oh, he does, Dear.  But it would be rather difficult to clear a field in one, don't you think?" asked her mother.  "Ever since that day, José has depended on Clayton's advice for everything about our financial matters.  And we now have quite a healthy bank account and retirement fund."

"And college fund for me, don't forget!" Patty piped up.

"No, Dear.  Actually, Mrs. Webb will be paying for your college.  She had wanted to pay for mine, and when I chose to get married instead, she made me promise that I would let her pay for my children's college."

"That's quite a story, Johanna," sighed Shelley.  "Quite a story, indeed."

"Clayton is quite a man," Johanna replied.

"That he is," she agreed.

Sunday, 12 August 2001
1130 PDT
I-80 West
Emeryville, CA

The closer Webb and Shelley got to San Francisco, the harder it rained.  "Shelley, are you sure you want to go to Alcatraz today?" he asked.

"I think maybe we'll skip that, after all.  Let's just hit Ghirardelli Square and then go to the airport.  You think we might get on an earlier flight?" she asked.

"The plane will leave whenever we want it to.  It's a charter," said Webb.

"A charter!?  Why on earth...  Never mind.  Thank you, Clayton," she whispered.

"I have an ulterior motive, I must confess.  We're going to my mother's.  I want you two to meet each other."

"I'd be honored to meet your mother, Clayton," Shelley answered.

As they drove up to the hotel and Clayton told the valet to park the car, Shelley looked at him quizzically.  "I don't want to get all wet parking the car to go shopping!" he said.  "We'll take the limo and get out at the door!"  Shelley laughed as they walked through the lobby.

After they arranged for the maid to pack their belongings and puppy-sit for a couple of hours, Webb and Shelley headed for Ghirardelli Square.  After only an hour, Shelley was ready to leave.  "Sorry I'm so restless, Clayton.  I guess I should have suggested we just stay in Napa today.  I so enjoyed talking with Johanna.  She's such a dear woman."

"Yes, she is," Webb agreed.  "And I take it you know all about...well, everything?"

"Yes, she told me quite a lot.  And Patty!  I think Johanna forgot that Patty was in the kitchen most of the time," Shelley chuckled.  "Patty got an earful, too."

"She's a good kid."

"She's not a kid, Clayton.  She's 15."

"God, she's older than Johanna was when we first...  Oh man; I feel old!" 

Shelley just laughed.  "Let's go home, Clayton."

"There's not much to tell, Mrs. Webb," said Shelley.

"First of all, please, call me Porter."

"Thank you.  Porter."  Shelley smiled brightly at her hostess.  "I'm a widow.  My husband died in a motorcycle accident 8 years ago.  We never had any children.  So my dogs are my babies," she said as she cuddled Ginger in her arms.

"I can see that.  And I can see why.  They are precious."

"Thank you."

"What about your family, Dear?  Your parents?"

"My parents died 2 years ago.  Daddy first, then Mama a couple months later.  It was very hard for me to lose them.  We were very close," Shelley whispered.

"I'm so sorry," Porter said with genuine conviction.  "What about siblings?"

"I have a brother.  Douglas and his family live in Richmond.  He drives up to the Pentagon for work everyday.  I can't seem to convince them to move, though.  I live in McLean; lovely little town."

"So your brother's name is Douglas Dwyer?" she asked, knowing the answer was no.

"No, Dwyer is my late husband's name.  My maiden name...my brother's name...is Creighton."

"Creighton?  Douglas Creighton is your brother?" she said with faked amazement.

"Yes, do you know him?"

"Yes, Dear.  I have met your brother.  He came here to see Clayton once earlier this year."

"Clayton knows my brother?" Shelley asked incredulously.  'Could this be what he was trying to tell me before I practically jumped him on the plane?' she wondered.

"Actually, I heard about your sister-in-law before I ever met your brother," Porter continued.

"My sister-in-law?  Jennifer?  How in the world did you hear of her?"  Shelley was truly perplexed.  Yes, Jennifer was an out-going individual, but she certainly didn't move in Porter Webb's circles.

"They attended the Presidential Inauguration in January this year."

"Yes, their whole family went."

"They took a tour of the White House."

"How did you know that?  Yes, they did!"  Then it dawned on Shelley.  "Oh my God!  Did you hear about what Jennifer did on the tour?  Is that how you heard of her?"  Porter nodded, and both women burst into laughter.  "I couldn't believe it when she told me!  Jennifer is a real nut sometimes!"

"I'll say.  Talking to the plants and mirrors?  Problem was, of course, she talked to the very ones that did have microphones and cameras in them...and two-way mirrors!"

"Yes, but the things she said!  'Agent 86, this is Agent 99, checking in.  Everything is okay.'," Shelley laughed.  "And,  'Do not let the dogs out yet.  I am still spying.' Oh, there was another one...what was it, oh yea.  'Bond here.  Jane Bond.  007.'."

"And my favorite," said Porter.  " 'This is Natasha.  I have Boris in sight!'," Porter spoke in an exaggerated foreign accent.  And they laughed, again.  "Your sister-in-law had the Secret Service and the State Department hopping that day, let me tell you!"

"She's such a lunatic sometimes.  But she does have fun, I'll give her that.  But how did you hear about it?  How did Clayton?  Oh, that's right, he's with the State Department."

"Yes, and I used to be.  So when it sounded like a Russian threat, they called me.  They wanted to know if I knew of any agents named Natasha or Boris.  I laughed!  I said, 'Yes!  Natasha and Boris kept trying to kidnap Rocky, the flying squirrel!  But not to worry, that Bulwinkle, the moose, always bumbled in and thwarted it.'."  Both women laughed so hard, they were gasping for air when Frederick came in with tea.

"Anyway," Porter continued, "Clayton came home the weekend following the Inauguration and told me the whole story.  It seems the State Department found out that your brother works at the Pentagon, and because his wife directed her comments solely at the flowers and mirrors and such that truly were listening devices, they had to launch a full-scale investigation of your brother.  And Clayton was responsible for it."

"Oh my God!" Shelley gasped.  "Clayton?  Clayton is the poor fool who had to put up with my brother during all that?  Oh God, that's too funny!  Poor Clayton.  My brother can really be an idiot at times.  And that was one of his worst, from all he told me.  He told me all kinds of things that they were doing and asking.  I just told him that he should have expected it, after all...with a wife who goes around talking to plants in the White House!"

"Did you know that your brother can't stand the sight of Clayton?" Porter asked, a little more calmly.

"Well, I don't really care if Douglas doesn't like Clayton.  I only care if Clayton likes me.  And with a brother like I have...  I wonder if Clayton has figured out who my brother is.  I never told him my maiden name.  Oh, yes.  He did hear it...in San Francisco yesterday morning.  We went to see the house I used to live in and..."

"He knows, Dear," Porter interrupted.

"Then that is what he was trying to tell me," Shelley mumbled.

"Tell you when?"

"On the plane...coming home.  He was trying to tell me something and I wouldn't let him.  I guess you could say I rather overpowered him.  I'd wanted him for two days, and I just didn't want to wait anymore..." Shelley stopped as she looked at Porter and realized what she was confessing to Clayton's mother.  She blushed a bright red.

"That's all right, my dear.  Believe me.  I've found out other things about my son that surprised me more."

"Like Johanna?" Shelley suggested.

"You know about that?  He told you?" Porter couldn't believe it.

"No, Johanna did.  We had a long conversation this morning."

"I see.  Well, yes, his relationship with Johanna did surprise me.  Startle me.  Shock me, actually!  I had always believed they considered themselves siblings or at the most, best friends.  I certainly learned differently on her wedding day."

"Porter, is Johanna why Clayton has never married?" Shelley asked quietly.

"Yes, Dear.  I believe she is.  Clayton loved her dearly.  And I do believe he would have married her when he finished college.  But she didn't wait for him.  And Clayton wouldn't tell her how he really felt after he found out about José."

"And he's never loved anyone else?"

"Not as he did Johanna.  Oh, he's had girlfriends.  Plenty of them.  But few that he ever brought home...and none that he ever left alone with me!" she joked.

Shelley smiled.  "I guess he figured that you couldn't shock me anymore than I already was this morning!"

"Oh, but I could!" Porter laughed.  "I won't.  But I could."  Porter reached out to put her hand over Shelley's in Shelley's lap.  "Shelley, what do you feel for my son?  Anything?  Or is it too soon to know?"

"I think I'm very quickly falling in love with him, Porter," she answered honestly.  "Please tell me, is that a mistake?  Will he just break my heart?  Because if so, I can't stay.  I've only loved one man before in my life, and I lost him 8 years ago.  I don't want to go through that pain, again.  Not if my love isn't even returned."

"And if it is returned?  Could you love someone not knowing whether he will live to come home to you at night?"

"That's life, Porter.  My husband certainly didn't expect not to come home that night when he left for work at 8 a.m.  But he didn't come home."

"But some people have jobs that are just simply more dangerous than others."

"Those jobs have to be done, though.  Someone has to do them.  Should they not be loved just because their job is more dangerous than another?  I don't think so."

Porter smiled at Shelley.  'This one will do.  She will do nicely.  She isn't afraid of life.  She isn't afraid of death.  Oh, Clayton...please don't let her get away.'

"Porter.  What does Clayton do, really?" Shelley asked.  "He isn't the Assistant to the Undersecretary of State, is he?  He is a spy, isn't he?"

"Yes, Shelley.  That's exactly what I am, although we prefer the term 'Intelligence Operative'," Webb answered from the doorway.

"And it's very, very dangerous work, isn't it?" she asked him.

"Yes, Shelley.  Extremely dangerous work," Porter answered this time.

Shelley turned back to Porter.  "That's how your husband died, isn't it?  He was a spy, too.  And you.  You said you worked for the State Department, but you were really a spy, also."

"Neville was, yes.  But I wasn't.  I broke codes.  Mostly Russian, some German.   And you're right.  That is how he died.  In the line of duty.  Protecting our country.  Protecting us," Porter said as a tear formed in the corner of her eye and slipped down her cheek.

Shelley asked, "Does Johanna know all of this?"

They both shook their heads.  "No."

"Not many do know, do they?  My brother, for example.  He doesn't know.  He believes you're with the State Department, doesn't he?" she addressed Webb.

"No, Douglas doesn't know.  Not many do," answered Webb.

"Clayton, tell me something.  Why are you telling me?" Shelley asked.

"You remember you asked what the lavender roses meant?" 

"Yes.  You said they mean Enchantment."

"There's a second meaning, which is actually why I settled on those rather than the coral."

"The coral was Desire.  What second meaning?"

"Love at first sight," Webb answered softly, as his mother stood and left the room, closing the door gently behind her.

"You...do you mean that, Clayton?" Shelley whispered.

"Yes, I do.  I've only loved one other woman before...no, she was just a girl then.  But I love you.  I didn't think it was possible to fall so fast, so hard.  But I did.  I love you, Shelley," Webb said as he took her in his arms and kissed her.

When he released her lips, she spoke.  "Clayton, answer me honestly.  Will I hinder you in any way from doing your job?  Will I hamper your missions?  Will you be thinking of me when your mind should be on the task at hand?"

"Shelley..."

"Will you die because of me?" she whispered hoarsely.

"No, Shelley.  No.  I'm very good at what I do.  And I can separate my private life from my work.  I've always been good at that," Clay explained.  "If I die on an assignment, it will not be because my mind was on you.  I can promise you that."

Monday, 13 August 2001
2335 EDT
Oak Ridge Avenue
McLean, Virginia

Admiral Chegwidden had had a long and tiring day. He turned his vehicle onto Oak Ridge Avenue. He passed a blue BMW convertible as it turned onto Ingleside Avenue. "Webb?" AJ said aloud. 'Damn, it must be late. I'd have sworn that was Webb's car. But what the hell would he be doing in this neck of the woods and at this hour?'

Tuesday, 14 August 2001
1930 EDT
Yosaku Japanese Restaurant
Washington, DC

Webb and Shelley enjoyed their dinner, sitting on the floor of their own private dining room. "Shelley," Webb started. "Have you ever considered getting married, again?"

Shelley was startled by Webb's question. "Not really, Clayton. I've only met one man I even remotely considered dating since my husband's death. That is, until I met you," she added softly.

"Did you date him? This 'one man'?" Webb asked with a jealous tinge to his voice.

Shelley chuckled. "No, he's never asked me out on a real date. I mean, he takes me out for dinner on my birthday every year. And we've eaten at each other's houses a few times. But not what I'd call a date. He's my next-door neighbor, or rather, he lives across the street. We don't really have anyone close enough on either side that you could call them 'next-door'. We sort of keep an eye on each other's places.  He feeds the bird for me when I'm away.  And he's kept the dogs for me quite a few times; he says he puts up with them, but I think he actually enjoys them. He's a very nice man. You'd like him, I'm sure. When we have snow, he digs my driveway out before he even begins on his. And he cleans out my gutters, too, whenever he does his own. One year, he didn't have time to clean them, so he hired it done. And before the guys left, he sent them over to my house to clean mine, too. He's a wonderful neighbor, Clayton. But he's never shown any interest in me other than as a neighbor."

Webb was satisfied. Her neighbor was an idiot. That was Webb's good fortune. "But you're not opposed to getting married, again, are you?" he asked.

"Opposed to it? No, Clayton, I'm not at all opposed to it. I would love to get married, again. I had a wonderful marriage."

"Shelley, I'm not sure I know how to ask this. I mean, I… I love you, Shel. I didn't know I could ever love anyone the way I love you. But, God! I've only known you for five days! How can it be real? How can we know if it's forever love?"

"Clayton. I know what I feel for you is 'forever love', as you call it. Because I know what that love feels like. I had it once before, with my husband. I still have it, in fact. My love for him will never die; I'll always love him. But I also love you with that same kind of love. It's a different love, but it's the same love," she tried to explain.

"Shelley, would you ever even consider marrying me? I mean, you have to remember what I do... it's dangerous.  Very much so.  And remember that your brother hates me. He wouldn't approve. He'd try to dissuade you from marrying me…from loving me…"

"Clayton, I don't need my brother's approval. If he doesn't want to walk me down the aisle to you, I'll ask my neighbor to do it. I'm sure he'd be delighted."

"You're saying yes?" Webb asked.

"I'm saying yes. That is, if you're asking," she joked.

"I'm asking."

"I'm accepting," she smiled.

"I love you, Shelley."

"And I love you, Clayton."

"When do you want to do it?"

"Whenever you'd like; the sooner, the better. I don't want a big wedding. I already had one, years ago. I'd like to get married at your mother's estate, if that would be okay. Of course, your mother is probably going to think we're out of our minds, getting married so soon after we met!"

"Mother will be delighted, I assure you," he said as he leaned over and kissed his fiancée. "Let's get out of here."

They left the restaurant and drove to Shelley's house in McLean. While Webb took the dogs outside, Shelley made tea for herself and coffee for him. She brought the mugs of steaming liquid into the living room and set them on the coffee table. Then she took her place next to Webb on the sofa. He immediately drew her in for an embrace. Cooper barked at him, and Ginger curled up in his lap.

"Get used to me, Cooper. I'm going to have my hands on your Mommy a lot from now on, ol' boy," Webb said to the barking dog. He turned to Shelley. "Where do you want to live? Here? Or at my place? Or should we buy something that's ours?"

"I love this place, Clayton. And didn't you say that pets aren't permitted at your apartment building? But, I'm not opposed to selling the house and buying something else. Whatever you'd like to do is fine."

They sat on the sofa holding each other for several minutes.  Shelley could tell that something was bothering Webb.  Finally, he broke the silence.  "Shelley, I want to discuss something with you. You know how dangerous my job is.  There's a very real possibility that I'll be killed on an assignment at some point.  I like to think I'm invulnerable, but I know that's not so.  Some people consider it morbid to discuss death, but I don't. I think it's important to talk about it with those you love.  Mother knows how I feel about things, but now I want to discuss it with you.  Is that okay?"

"Well, I'll admit, I never expected to get engaged and talk about death all within an hour, but yes, I agree, Clayton. I would want to know what you want should something horrible happen…to either of us. And I want you to know what I would want, too."

"Bad timing on my part.  Sorry about that.  We can discuss this another time.  It's okay.  There's plenty of time," he said as he lowered his lips to hers.

She stopped him by putting her hand to his mouth.  "We don't know that, Clayton.  It could happen tomorrow.  I never expected to lose my husband when I did.  We just never know.  We started talking about it tonight.  Let's finish it.  Now."

"All right.  You go first, Shel. If something were to happen to you, what would you want?"

"If I died, a closed casket, first and foremost. A very small memorial service, only for close family and very dear friends. No sermon; just Scripture. I don't want anyone to sing; I've had to do that for others, and it's just too difficult. It isn't fair to ask that of someone who just lost a loved one. And I would want you to move on...find another woman to love.  Marry again.  I would want you to be happy.  If I wasn't dead, but as good as? No life support. I wouldn't want to be kept alive on life support. Just let me die, so you can go on with your life. It isn't fair to you. It isn't fair to me."  She leaned over and kissed him tenderly.  "What about you, Clayton?"

"If I died, cremation. I'd want a very small service, too, if one at all. If Mother is still alive, it would be a given to have one. She'd be hurt, otherwise. But keep it small. I never thought about the singing before, but I agree with you. No singing. And I would want you to marry, again, too, Shelley."  He leaned over and kissed her.  "And in the hospital? No life support for me either. No machines. I want you to remember me alive. Really alive. Loving you," he whispered this last in her ear as he stood, picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the bedroom.

"Stay the night, Clayton," she asked after they'd made love.

"Shelley, I don't think I should…"

"Please, Clayton. Don't leave me now. Stay with me. I want to wake up in your arms tomorrow morning."

Webb settled back in the bed and wrapped his arms around Shelley. "Whatever you want, my love."

Wednesday, 15 August 2001
1530 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Clayton Webb was meeting with Admiral Chegwidden, trying to convince him to let Rabb and Mac help him with an assignment, when his cell phone rang.

"Excuse me, Admiral." The caller ID on his phone indicated that the call was coming from Washington, DC, but there was no name associated with it. "Webb!" he barked into his phone.

"Mr. Webb?  Clayton Webb?" a voice asked him.

"Yes, this is Clayton Webb."  Webb had a sick feeling in his stomach.  

"Mr. Webb, do you know a woman by the name of Mrs. Dwyer?  Mrs. Shelley Dwyer?"

'Oh God!'  "Yes, I know her.  What is it?  What's happened?" Webb asked with a catch in his voice.

"This is the nurse at the Emergency Room of George Washington University Medical Center.  Mr. Webb, I'm afraid she was in a serious car accident this morning.  Mrs. Dwyer is in emergency surgery.  Before she was put under the anesthesia, she requested we contact you. I found your card in her purse."

"Is she okay?  Is she going to live?" Webb asked. The Admiral stood and walked around his desk. He'd never seen Webb so shaken.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Webb.  I don't have that information.  All I know is that the accident was serious, and she's currently in emergency surgery."

"I'll be right there."  Webb hung up the phone.  "I have to go," he said as he turned to leave.

"Webb!" the Admiral called him.  "Is there anything I can do?" he asked as he put his hand on Webb's shoulder.  "Is it your mother?" he asked gently.

"Mother?  No.  Oh God.  I should call Mother." Webb dialed his mother's home.

"Webb residence," Frederick answered.

"Get my mother on the phone...now," Webb ordered.

"Right away, Sir."  

AJ went out to Tiner's desk and told him to find Rabb and MacKenzie immediately, then returned to his office.

Not a minute later, Porter answered, "Clayton?  What is it?"

"It's Shelley, Mother.  She was in a car accident this morning.  She's in emergency surgery now at GW Medical Center.  I'm leaving now."

"I'll meet you there, Clayton.  And Clayton?  She'll be all right.  You have to believe that."

"Yes, Mother.  I'm trying to believe that."

"I'll meet you there, Dear."

Webb pressed the Off button to hang up and turned to leave.  Mac and Harm were standing in the Admiral's doorway now.  "I'm going with you, Clay," said Mac.  

"We all are," said the Admiral.  "Rabb, you drive Webb's car.  No arguments, Webb.  You're in no condition to drive right now," he ordered as they ran down the staircase, not waiting for the elevator. 

Wednesday, 15 August 2001
1600 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

Webb and his entourage arrived at the Emergency Room right behind his mother.  Rabb dropped Webb off at the Emergency entrance.  "Shelley Dwyer.  Car accident.  She's in emergency surgery.  Where?" Webb demanded.

"Are you family?" the receptionist asked.

"Yes," he hissed.  "Where is she?"

"Surgery room 5.  The waiting room is just down the hall on your right."

The others came in and followed Webb down the corridor.  They hadn't been settled in the waiting room for 5 minutes when Webb got up and started pacing the floor. 

"Anyone want some coffee?" Mac asked.

"Tea.  Shel drinks tea.  She doesn't like coffee," Webb said absently.

None of them had ever seen Webb like this before.  Totally distraught.  Completely unable to focus on anything except Shelley.

"Coffee all around would be great, Mac.  I'll help you," said the Admiral. 

"I'll get it, Sir," Harm answered quickly as he stood to go with Mac. 

Webb kept pacing, ignoring the rest of them.  Harm and Mac headed for the vending machine.  AJ was stumped.  He didn't know Webb had a girlfriend.  This must be something new.  He hadn't even heard Mac or Rabb talking about it.  He wondered if they knew.  His mother knew, though.

"Mrs. Webb..." he began.

"Porter," she said flatly.

AJ started over.  "Porter, I wasn't even aware that Clay had a girlfriend these days.  Not that I would normally be privy to that from him, but I would hear about it...from MacKenzie or Rabb.  I'm not even sure that they knew about her.  Who is she?  How long has Clay..."

"They just met last Friday, Admiral.  It was love at first sight.  Clayton came to her rescue, like a knight in shining armor, she told me.  He loves Shelley as he's never loved anyone before.  And I believe she loves Clayton in the same way."

Mac and Harm returned with the coffee.  She held one out to Webb.  "No, Shelley drinks tea.  2 sugars.  No cream," he said.

"I'll get that next, Clay.  This is for you.  It's coffee.  Black, the way you like it," Mac said gently.

Webb looked Mac in the eyes and seemed to suddenly realize it was her. "I can't lose her, Mac.  I can't.  I just found her.  She's everything I've ever wanted...I can't lose her...I can't..." Webb broke down and cried. 

Mac set the coffee cups down and pulled Webb to her, hugging him tightly. "Come and sit down, Clay.  Come and sit with me," she urged.  Webb followed.

A tall man and a woman, followed by two teenagers, came into the room and sat down.  The older teenager looked at the others sitting in the room. He was sure he recognized the bald man sitting in the corner, but he couldn't quite place him. The Admiral looked at him, also thinking he should recognize the boy, but not being sure who he was.

The woman took her husband's hand in hers and patted it.  "She'll make it, Douglas.  She will.  She has to."

Webb's head jerked up in surprise.  He knew that voice.  His eyes met the glare of Douglas Creighton.  "Creighton; Ma'am," Webb acknowledged them.

"Webb! What the hell..." Creighton said coldly.

"Douglas, be polite," his wife chided.  "Mr. Webb is obviously upset.  Someone he loves must be in here, too.  Be civil."  

"Sorry.  My sister was in a car accident this morning.  She's in surgery.  I'm a little on edge," Creighton explained.

Webb stood and walked over to him.  "I know.  I'm sorry."

"You know?  How do you know?" Creighton asked.

"Oh my God!  It's you!" Jennifer said.  "You're the new man in her life!  You're the one she met at the airport!"  Creighton stood and looked menacingly at Webb.  Jennifer quickly got between them.  "Douglas, please!  Mr. Webb did what he had to; it was his job, and you know it!  Listen to me...Douglas!!  Listen to me!  Shelley loves him.  She loves him!  Now sit down and calm yourself."  She pushed her husband back to his chair and he fell into it.

The Admiral, Rabb, and Mac sat in stunned silence.  Mrs. Webb stood and went to her son.  "Clayton?  Come and sit down, Dear."  She took his arm and sat him next to her.

After several minutes of silence, a young voice asked, "Are you Aunt Shel's boyfriend?"

Webb looked up to see a young girl of about 13 standing before him.  "You're Laura," he said.  When she nodded, he answered her question.  "Yes, Laura.  I'm Aunt Shel's boyfriend."

"She's going to be okay, you know.  She has to be.  She promised to take me horseback riding this summer and we haven't been yet.  Aunt Shel never breaks a promise.  So I know she'll be okay," she smiled at him.  Webb smiled back, or at least, he tried to. 

"Laura?  My name is Mrs. Webb.  I'm his mother," she said nodding her head toward Webb.  "Your Aunt Shelley told me about you and your brother.  And she told me about that promise she made to take you riding, too.  She was going to bring you over to my house and let you ride there.  I have quite a few horses, and they always appreciate someone's coming to ride them."

"Cool," Laura answered.  "Could I bring a friend with me?"

"Of course, Dear.  That would be lovely."

"How'd you meet her, Webb?" Creighton's rough voice intruded into the simple conversation.

"At the airport."

"You plan it?" he accused.

"No, Creighton.  I didn't even know she was your sister until the next day."

"After you'd already screwed her, you mean."

"No," Webb choked out, shaking his head.  "No."

"Why don't I believe you?" Creighton said coldly.

"Because you're a fool," said Porter Webb.

"Mother, please."

"I'm sorry, Clayton.  But I will speak.  I know what happened.  Shelley told me.  She told me about the entire weekend.  How you thrilled her, spoiled her, pampered her.  But refused to take her to bed.  The first night because you didn't want her to think you expected payment for all that you'd done for her that day.  The second night because you were in a friend's home with an impressionable teenage daughter.  And she also told me how she practically attacked you on the charter plane coming home.  In her words, 'He was trying to tell me something and I wouldn't let him.  I guess you could say I overpowered him.'." 

She turned her attention to Creighton.  "Mr. Creighton, you may not like my son, but your sister is in love with him.  I suggest you learn to deal with it.  When she gets out of this hospital, I can assure you, there will be a wedding."

At that moment, a doctor walked in dressed in surgical garb.  "Excuse me, is anyone here for Shelley Dwyer?"

Creighton and Webb both stood and said, "Yes!" 

No one but the teenage boy noticed Admiral Chegwidden's face blanche.  Now he knew.  'Dwyer?  Shelley Dwyer?!?' thought AJ.  'Damn!  It was Webb that I saw the other night!'

"How is she, Doctor?" Creighton asked.

"Critical. It was touch and go for a while, but we were able to stop the internal bleeding. It's her head injury that I'm the most concerned about. It's very possible that there will be some amount of damage to her brain. The concussion she sustained was severe. I'm also not sure yet about the extent of damage to her female organs. But her heart is strong; lungs functioning normally.  She's headed for Recovery now; from there, I'm putting her in ICU. That means only immediate family as visitors.  I'll need you to provide the nurse with a list of family members.  I need to go clean up; the nurse will be here to take you up to the ICU waiting area in a while."

The doctor left and Creighton looked at Webb triumphantly.  "Immediate family only, Webb.  That does not include you." Jennifer Creighton gasped.

Webb glared at Creighton, but didn't say a word. He turned and left the room. Porter got up to follow her son, but Mac stopped her. "Let me go, Mrs. Webb," she requested.

"Don't let him do anything foolish, Mac. Please," she begged.

"I won't," and Mac ran down the hall to catch Webb.

"Douglas!" Jennifer cried.  "I can't believe you think so little of your own sister that you would deprive her the company of the man she loves!  She could still die, Douglas!  Die!!  Oh God!  I'm ashamed of you.  Ashamed!!" she yelled as she ran out of the room.

Creighton looked like he'd been kicked in the stomach.  "Jennifer!" he called after his wife. But she didn't stop. She ran into the ladies room, and Laura followed her.

No one noticed when the Admiral left the room. He took out his cell phone and dialed. When Harriett Sims answered, AJ asked a favor. "Harriett, how do you feel about dogs? Little dogs?"

"Dogs, Sir? I love dogs, Admiral."

"Would you be able to keep a couple of them for a while? Just while their owner is in the hospital?"

"A couple? You mean two, Sir? Do you have any idea how long? The only reason I'm asking is because we're supposed to be going to my parent's house week after next, Sir...for Labor Day weekend," Harriett explained.

"I'm sure it won't be that long, Harriett. Probably only a week. And if it becomes a problem, I can always find someone else to keep them...or just keep them myself, again. There are two of them. They belong to one of my neighbors, and she was just in a serious car accident this morning. Get my house key from Tiner. Shelley's house key is in my kitchen, hanging on the inside of the pantry door on a hook. The dogs are tiny little things...4 and 5 pounds. Toy Poodles. Cooper and Ginger." AJ gave Harriett instructions about feeding them, walking them, how they slept in their kennels, and such; he thanked her and hung up. Again, no one noticed when AJ returned to the room.

Wednesday, 15 August 2001
1700 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

When Mac caught up with Webb, he wouldn't speak to her, he wouldn't stop walking. He was obviously headed for the door. "Clay, please. Come back with me. You have to stay...you have to be here for Shelley when she wakes up."

"What's the point? Creighton won't let me see her," argued Webb. "But I could, you know. I could fix it so he can't see her!"

"You would never do that, Clay," Mac said.

"No. I could never hurt Shelley like that." Webb stopped walking. He turned and gazed out the window. "She loves her brother. I could never hurt her... I should never have... When I found out who she was, I should have..." Web couldn't finish this thoughts. If he said them, he knew he would lose her. That he would have to give her up. And he couldn't do that. He started walking toward the exit, again. "I have to get out of here. I have to..."

"Clay, no! Please. You have to stay. Shelley needs you!" Mac pleaded.

"Yes, Mac, she does. And I will see her. No matter what Creighton says. Where's my car?"

"I'll drive. Where are we going?" she asked as she led him to her convertible.

"My apartment." Clay ordered. "I will see Shelley. Creighton will not get in my way." Webb pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed his office. Before Alice even had a chance to speak, Webb issued his orders. "Alice, it's me. I need a marriage certificate...fake, but legal and filed. Bride's name is Shelley Elizabeth Dwyer. I'm the groom. Witnesses are Rabb and MacKenzie. Date it Monday. I want you to personally deliver it to GW Medical Center ICU ward within the hour."

"Very good, Sir. Anything else?" Alice asked crisply.

"Call my boss and tell him I'm out of the office for at least the rest of the week."

"Will do. Mr. Webb?" she asked cautiously.

"What?"

"Is everything okay, Sir? You sound a little...off, somehow," Alice commented.

"No, Alice. Everything is not okay. Just get the marriage certificate to the hospital as fast as you can."

"Yes, Sir," and they hung up.  

Silence filled the space between them.  Finally, Mac spoke.  "It was a beautiful wedding, Clay. Out on your mother's lawn in the gazebo on Monday evening. So, we didn't start exactly on time; what did it matter? And the dinner...oh, it was delicious...prime rib," Mac was saying.

He turned and looked at her. "Thanks, Mac." She reached out and patted his leg.

"Oh, believe me, Clay, it was Harm's and my pleasure to be witnesses at your wedding on Monday." She beamed at him. "And we'll be even happier to be witnesses at your real wedding when Shelley is back on her feet," she whispered.  "I can't wait to meet this wonder woman of yours."

Ten minutes later, Mac pulled up in front of Webb's apartment. "Leave it running! I'll be right out!" he said as he flew out the door before she'd even fully stopped.

Webb ran to his bedroom and grabbed an old blue, square box off of his dresser. He was back in the car within seconds. "Back to the hospital," he ordered.

Mac pulled out and sped back the way she came. "What do you have there, Clay?" she asked quietly. She knew it was a jeweler's box...in fact, she knew it was a Tiffany's box. But it was an old one.  And it was certainly too large for an engagement ring. It was even too large for a woman's wedding set. Webb opened it for Mac to see. "Clay! Oh my God, they are exquisite!" Mac said as she looked at the matched wedding set in awe. She never would have expected Clayton Webb to want to wear a wedding band. But he obviously intended to; here was the proof of it. 

"They were my parents' rings.  Mother gave them to me years ago; I've kept them in the vault at the bank all these years.  I got them out just this morning."

"Clay, have you and Shelley already discussed marriage?" she asked gently. Webb nodded. "Does she know what you do, Clay?" Mac asked. He nodded. "Everything?" she asked. He nodded, again. "But I'll wager her brother doesn't?" This time, Webb shook his head. "He thinks you're State Department, right?" she pursued. He nodded, again.

"Clay, you do realize that once you go in there as her husband, that you will be responsible for any decisions regarding her care? And that those could end up being life and death decisions?" Mac asked quietly.

Webb turned and looked at her. "I know that, Mac. And I know what Shelley wants. Her brother doesn't."

"You also know that if she doesn't make it, her brother is very likely to sue," Mac said.

"I don't care, Mac. I don't care about anything except Shelley."

"I just want to be sure you understand the ramifications of what you're about to do, Clay. Whatever happens, I'm behind you 100 percent. And so is Harm. And so is the Admiral. We'll do anything and everything we can for you, Clay," Mac said as she pulled into the hospital parking lot.

Harm was standing by the window of the waiting room when he saw Mac's car pull in. "They're back," he said. The Admiral and Porter joined Harm at the window, as did Creighton.

"Thank you, Mac," Webb said. Mac reached across and hugged him. And he held on to her and cried. "I love her so much, Mac. I never believed a love like this was possible. I can't lose her. I just can't lose her."

Mac patted his back and pulled away from him. She brought her hands around and cupped his face. His eyes were closed. "You won't lose her, Clay," she breathed.

Webb opened his eyes and saw Shelley in Mac's face. He lowered his face to her and kissed her gently, taking Mac completely by surprise. "Clay?" she whispered as he lifted his lips from hers.

Creighton saw the kiss, as did the others at the window.  "I'll kill the bastard! He says he loves my sister and he's making out with her while Shelley lies here, maybe dying?!?" he yelled.

"I love you, Shel," Webb whispered to Mac as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Shall we go inside now?" suggested Mac. Now she understood. Webb was seeing her as Shelley, not Mac.

"Inside?" asked Webb, uncomprehending. Then he came to himself and realized what he'd done. "Mac! Oh, God, I'm sorry. I..."

"It's okay, Clay. Let's go inside now." Mac said.

When Mac and Webb walked into the waiting room, Creighton was immediately on his feet, again, and in front of Webb. "You bastard!"

"Sit down and shut up, Creighton!" bellowed the Admiral, shocking everyone. AJ had been uncharacteristically quiet the entire afternoon. But Creighton obeyed. AJ walked over to Webb and laid his large hand on Webb's shoulder. "You going to be okay, Son?" Webb nodded. "Mac, a minute, please?" AJ asked as he walked to the other side of the room. Mac followed.

The room wasn't large enough that their conversation wasn't heard by all. "Mac, he wasn't kissing you. He was kissing Shelley. You know that, don't you?"

Mac's head jerked up. "You saw us?" Mac looked around the room. "That's why Creighton... Oh God. Yes, Sir. He was seeing Shelley, not me. But how did you know that, Sir?"

"You two look a bit alike. You're both tall; you both have dark hair, an olive complexion, and a fabulous smile. You're both even addicted to chocolate," AJ mused. "With all that's happened here today, it's not unexpected for him to mistake you for Shelley at least once."

Shelley's nephew stood up and walked over to them. "You do look a little like Aunt Shel. You even walk like she does. But your voice is different," he said. "I'm Pete," he added.

"Nice to meet you, Pete," said Mac. "This is Admiral Chegwidden."

Pete turned to look at the Admiral. "You never told me you're an Admiral, AJ."

"Never seemed important, Pete," AJ replied.

"Does Aunt Shel know?  She never said anything either."

"She knows," AJ nodded.

"Aunt Shel is going to be awfully concerned about..."

"Already taken care of, Pete," AJ interrupted the boy, putting his hand on Pete's shoulder. "One of my officers is on her way to get them and take them home with her."

"They have to sleep together when Aunt Shel's not around. Ginger gets really scared otherwise," Pete offered.

"I know, Pete. Harriett will take good care of them. I promise. And if they aren't happy with Harriett, I'll bring them home with me. They know me. Ginger doesn't like me that well, but she settles down when Cooper gets all the attention," he smiled.  

"She's a pill," Pete agreed, and AJ nodded.

The rest of the room was silent. Everyone was staring at the Admiral as his cell phone rang. "Chegwidden!" he barked into it.

"Admiral, this is Harriett. I'm at your house, Sir, and I found the keys on your pantry door. But Sir, there are lots of keys hanging on the hook. How do I know which one is hers? None of them have names."

"Shel's key is on the ring with a scallop shell," he answered.

"Let me see..." Harriett said as she flipped through all the keys hanging on the door. "Sir, it's not here. There's no key ring with a shell on it."

"It should be there, Harriett... Damn! No, it isn't on the pantry door. It's on my nightstand in the bedroom. I used it last weekend and forgot to put it back in the kitchen," AJ explained.

"Got it, Sir! I'll go get the dogs now, Admiral," Harriett said.

"Thanks, again, Harriett. Oh, and Harriett? I forgot to mention their treats. They only get one each after they eat their dinner. And one each when you leave the house...not when you return. You're the treat when you return. Got it?"

"Yes, Sir."

"And remember, Ginger doesn't just go when you let her outside. You have to tell her to 'go potty' or she'll just play out there, and then come back inside and pee on the floor."

Harriett laughed. "I'll remember, Sir. Thanks for the warning."

They hung up, and AJ looked around the room at the people staring at him.  "What?" he barked.

"You?  You are her neighbor?" Webb asked incredulously.  "You're the one who shovels her driveway?  Cleans her gutters?  Feeds the bird?  Takes her out for dinner on her birthday?"

"Damn!  I forgot about Frankie!" said AJ as he dialed Harriett's cell phone.  She answered quickly.  "Harriett.  While you're at her house, feed the bird, will you?  He's in the sun room.  Just dump whatever food is in the dish, and put about a tablespoon of seed in his cup.  Change the water, too.  The white cup is his drinking water.  The other one is his bathtub.  And see if there is any fruit or vegetables in the fridge.  If so, give him a tiny piece of one of those.  Or part of a boiled egg, if there is one."

"Of course, Admiral," Harriett agreed, trying not to laugh.  'The Admiral feeds a bird, too?'

"Thanks, again, Harriett," he said as he hung up.  He turned back to look at Webb.  "Yes, Webb.  Shelley's been my neighbor for 7 years."

"AJ?  You're AJ?" Creighton asked.  "It's good to finally meet you after all these years.  I'm Douglas Creighton, Shelley's brother, but I guess you know that."

AJ just nodded at him.  If he spoke to him now, he'd regret it later.  All he had in his mind right now was contempt for the man.  

"Excuse me.  Who's family for Shelley Dwyer?" a nurse said walking into the room.

"I am!" both Webb and Creighton said at the same time, again.  Creighton looked at Webb, and said, "What the hell do you mean you're family?  You're no one to her!"

"Quite the contrary, Creighton.  Shelley is my wife."

"What?  Shelley's married?" cried Jennifer as she entered the waiting room with Laura behind her.  Jennifer's face was red and her eyes were swollen from crying.  "Shelley's married?" she repeated.

"NO!" Creighton yelled.  "She's not married.  He's just saying that so he can get in to see her!"

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Creighton.  Harm and I were the witnesses," said Mac, as she looked intently at Harm.  "The wedding was beautiful.  It was held outside in the garden at Mrs. Webb's estate.  The only regret Shelley had was that she hadn't invited you.  But she knew you wouldn't approve, so she chose not to tell you."

"I don't believe you," Creighton spat.  "I don't believe any of you!"

"Maybe you'll believe this, then," said Webb's secretary, Alice.  She arrived just as Mac began detailing the wedding and knew she should play along.  Alice handed Creighton the wedding certificate.  "Mr. Webb called me not quite an hour ago and asked that I bring a copy of this down here.  I didn't know why.  I think I do now," she said looking at Webb.  "Mr. Webb, I'm so sorry.  Is there anything I can do, Sir?"

"You've already done it, Alice.  Thank you," Webb replied.

The nurse tried again.  "Okay.  So you are Mrs. Dwyer's husband?" she asked looking at Webb.

"That's correct."

"Then I need a list from you of all family members whom you will permit to see your wife while she's in ICU.  In the meantime, she's now settled in the unit, and you can see her now.  But only for 5 minutes at the time, each hour, on the hour," she explained.

"I'll get you a list.  I'd like to see her now," Webb said.

Wednesday, 15 August 2001
1910 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

When Webb returned to the waiting room, everyone was still there, even Alice.  "Alice, you don't have to stay," Webb said to his secretary.

"I wanted to be sure you were all right, Sir.  Isn't there something I can do?  Something I can get you?"

"No, Alice.  There's nothing.  But thank you."  Webb turned to Creighton.  "Douglas, I love Shelley.  And I will not see her hurt.  I will not allow you to hurt her.  Do you understand me?"

Creighton glared at him.  "Yea, I understand.  You're not going to allow me to see my own sister, are you?"

"I'm not going to keep you out, Creighton.  Even though that's exactly what you'd have done to me.  She loves you.  And it would hurt her if I kept you out.  But let me tell you this.  If you say anything to her about our marriage, if you complain, if you condemn, if you so much as twist your mouth the wrong way, you'll never see her again.  You got that?" Webb was standing right in his face as he finished.  "I will not allow you to hurt her.  Ever!"

Webb turned to Jennifer and, in a much more civil tone, said, "Jennifer, if you wouldn't mind writing up the list of approved family members for the nurse?  You would know them better than I, and I don't want to leave anyone off.  I would ask that you include my mother on the list.  She and Shelley are already very close."

"Of course, I'll write the list, Mr. Webb," answered Jennifer.

"Clayton...please."

"Clayton," she smiled.  "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you."  He turned to walk away, and then he stopped.  "Jennifer," he said turning back to face her.  "Would you happen to know Shelley's ring size?" he asked.

"She wears the same as I do...a six."

"Thank you."  Webb walked back to Mac and she handed him the box.  "Thanks for keeping track of these for me Mac."  She just smiled.  He turned back to his secretary.  "Alice?  I do have a job for you.  Take these over to Tiffany's and have them sized.  Size 6.  And the one for me should be a size 12."  Webb handed her the box.  "Bring them back when they're ready."

"Of course, Mr. Webb."  She took the box and looked at it.  "May I, Sir?"  He nodded.  Alice opened the box and gasped.  "Oh my God!  These are magnificent!  Has she seen them?"

"No, I had them in the vault at the bank.  I only got them out this morning," Webb explained. 

Jennifer and Laura crowded in to look in the box.  "Oh, Clayton!  Shelley will love these.  They're just beautiful."

"They were my parents' rings," Webb said as he walked over to his mother and put his arm around her.

"And I'm glad they're finally going to be worn, again," Porter said.  Then she whispered for Webb's hearing only, "I just wish I'd been invited to the wedding!"

Webb just smiled.

Saturday, 18 August 2001
0405 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

Webb sat in Shelley's ICU room, holding her hand.  She still hadn't woken up after her surgery.  She wasn't on life support; she was breathing on her own, had been the entire time.  The doctor said she hadn't woken up because her brain was healing itself.  Webb prayed he knew what he was talking about.  But he should.  Webb had the best neurosurgeon in the world looking after Shelley.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Webb.  Time's up.  You'll have to leave now," the nurse said quietly.

Webb laid Shelley's hand down on the bed and started to let go, but he felt something.  She was squeezing his hand.  Very lightly, so that he almost missed it.  But he felt it.  He was certain of it.  "Nurse!  Get the doctor!  Now!!  She squeezed my hand!"

"Mr. Webb, it was just a reflex.  It happens with..." the nurse began.

"No!  It wasn't a reflex.  She doesn't want me to let go.  She knows it's me!" he insisted.  "I'm here, Shelley.  I'm right here.  I love you, Darling.  Shelley, can you hear me?"

He felt her squeeze his hand, again.  "Shelley? Squeeze twice this time if you can hear me.  If you can understand me."  She squeezed twice.  "Oh God!  Shelley!"  Webb turned to the nurse, "She did it!  Get the doctor, now!"

Saturday, 18 August 2001
1145 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

"How long is this going to take?" Webb complained as he paced the waiting room floor.  Shelley had woken up completely by the time the doctor arrived at 4:30 that morning.  But the doctor made Webb leave, and no one had been allowed back in to see her since.  

"As long as it takes, Clayton.  Sit down, please," his mother said.  She and the Creightons had arrived at the hospital at 7:00, after Webb called them to say Shelley was awake.

"Clayton, they're just being careful.  They want to be sure about everything before they tell us what's going to happen next," Jennifer tried to settle Webb's nerves.

The doctor entered, saying, "You're quite correct, Mrs. Creighton.  And I thank you all for your patience.  Mr. Webb, if you'll have a seat, please?"

Webb sat down next to his mother.  She took his right hand in both of hers and held it tightly.

"Mr. Webb, are you quite sure you want me to discuss this in front of everyone here?  We can go to a private office.  I would suggest that," the doctor asked.

"I'm sure.  They have as much right to hear what you have to say as I do," Webb replied.  'More, actually.'

"Very well.  Your wife has, indeed, regained consciousness.  She has full use of her limbs, though, of course, she's very weak.  Her female organs appear to be in tact; whether she will be able to carry a child, however, remains to be seen.  The injury to her head was...and is...our major concern.  A blood clot has formed in her brain at the impact site.  It is inoperable.  We're treating it with medication, hoping to reduce it and eventually dissolve it.  But we can't be sure the medication will work.  It's just as possible that it will continue to grow."

"And if it keeps growing?" Jennifer asked, already knowing the answer.

"It will kill her," the doctor confirmed.  "If the meds work, and it gets smaller, before it dissolves, it could break loose.  If it does that, it will most likely travel to her heart, which would also be fatal."

"So you're telling us that she's going to die, no matter what?" Creighton asked.

"No, not at all.  I'd have to say her chances right now are 50:50.  She's a fighter.  And she has a very strong constitution and, apparently, an extremely high tolerance for pain."

"She does.  Always has had," Creighton said.  "Even as a child.  She could stand pain when no one else could.  She never even needed pain pills when she had her tonsils out.  Damn!  Mom had to give me dozens of those things!" he remembered.

"That's definitely in her favor.  If I don't have to give her pain medication along with the blood thinners, we won't have the chance of counter-reactions."

"What aren't you telling us, Doctor?" asked Porter.  She could always tell when a doctor was holding something back.  And this doctor was definitely holding something back.

"She's blind," he said simply.

Silence.  No one said a word.  No one even blinked for almost a minute.  Finally, Porter asked, "Temporarily?"

"I don't know that yet," the doctor answered.  "We may not know for some time.  It could be hours, days, even months.  But the longer the blindness continues, the less likely it is that her sight will return."

Friday, 24 August 2001
0830 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

Shelley sat on the edge of her bed waiting for Clay to arrive.  She was so glad to be going home today.  Well, not exactly home.  But to Clay's home...where he grew up...Porter's home, actually.  Porter had invited everyone over for a "welcome home" party that evening.  And AJ promised to bring Cooper, Ginger, and Frankie with him when he came for the party.

"Good morning, Sunshine!" Webb said as he opened the door to her hospital room.

"Clayton!  You're here!  I'm so glad.  Get me out of here!  I want to go home," she begged.  

"Okay, okay.  We're going," Webb laughed.  The nurse walked in with a wheelchair and helped Shelley get situated.  Webb put the one last flower arrangement in Shelley's lap and she grabbed hold of the vase; he'd given all the others away the night before.  He picked up her valise and the two stuffed animals that Laura had brought her during the week.

"You have the stuffed animals?" Shelley asked looking directly at him, but not seeing a thing.

"Yes, Shelley.  I have them in my arms.  And when we get home, you'll be in my arms," Clay said huskily.

Friday, 24 August 2001
1730 EDT
Porter Webb's Estate
Great Falls, Virginia

Shelley woke up feeling very disoriented.  She reached out for Webb, but he wasn't there in the bed with her.  Her hand settled on one of the stuffed animals from Laura.  She looked at it and smiled.  The little platypus was just adorable.  And she hadn't realized before that he was all white with a yellow bill.  "Oh!" she cried.  "I can see!  I can really see!  Oh God!" 

Porter came up the stairs to check on Shelley, when she heard her cry out, "Oh God!"

Porter opened the door and ran to her side.  "Shelley, dear, what is it?  Are you all right?"

"Porter, I can see," she whispered.

"You can see?" Porter asked.  She held up three fingers in front of Shelley.  "How many?"

"Three.  You're holding up three fingers on your left hand.  Oh, Porter!  I can see!" Shelley cried.

"Mother, is everything all right?" Webb called up the stairs.

"Yes, Clayton!  Everything is just fine!" Shelley called to him.  "I'm coming downstairs now.  I'll be just a minute!"  She whispered to Porter, "Don't tell him, Porter.  I want to surprise him."

"I'll come help you," Webb offered.

"Porter is helping me just fine, Clayton.  Would you make me a cup of tea, please?"

"Of course," he called back to her just as the doorbell rang.  "Frederick, brew Shelley a cup of tea...2 sugars, no cream.  I'll get the door."

"Very good, Sir," Frederick replied.

Webb opened the door to find the Creightons, Mac, and Harm standing there.  As they walked inside, he saw the Admiral drive up in his SUV and the Roberts minivan right behind him.  Harriett carried little AJ, the Admiral carried the bird cage in one hand and a squirming Ginger in the other, and Bud carried the empty kennel and a very contented Cooper.

Once inside, the Admiral and Bud set the dogs down on the floor; they immediately began sniffing the air.  Their Mommy was here, and they knew it.  Now they just had to find her!  The strongest scent was up the stairs, so they darted up them just as Shelley and Porter got to the head of the staircase.  The dogs were barking and Shelley squealed with delight.  "Cooper!  Ginger!  Oh, my babies!!"  She knelt down and cuddled with them, scooping them both into her arms.  "Oh, Mommy missed you sooo much!  Were you good little babies for Auntie Harriett?" She showered the dogs with kisses and they returned the favor only too happily.  

Porter walked ahead of Shelley down the stairs and stood so she could see her son's face.  Then Shelley started down, still carrying the dogs.  "Shelley!  Put the dogs down so you can use the rail," Webb called to her.  "Here, let me help you, Darling," he said as he started up the stairs.  

"Clayton!  Stay where you are," his mother ordered.  "Let Shelley do this her way."

"Mother, she might fall," Webb argued.

"I won't fall, Clayton.  But if it will make you happy, I'll put the dogs down.  Call them, please," Shelley requested.

"Cooper, Ginger, come!" he called, and the dogs flew down the stairs to him.  He picked them up and handed Cooper to his mother.  "Okay, Shel."

Shelley started down the steps, again.  Very sure of herself and not holding the railing.  Webb's heart was in his throat.  'God, please don't let her fall!' he prayed.

Porter moved before Shelley got to the bottom of the stairs.  When Shelley reached the foyer, she walked right up to Webb, put her hands on his face, and kissed him.  "I love you, Clayton," she said.  "And I love you, my sweet little girl!" she cooed as she took Ginger from his arms.  Then she walked straight over to Porter and took Cooper from her, saying, "And Mommy loves you, too, my precious little boy!"  She turned around and smiled brightly at everyone.  "Thank you for coming.  It is so wonderful to see you all."

The front door had swung back open; Webb hadn't closed it tightly after everyone came in.  Shelley headed over to it and bumped it closed with her hip.  "Mustn't lose all this wonderful air conditioning," she said lightly.  

"Shelley.  How did you know the door was open?  And exactly where it was to hit it with your hips?  And how did you know which dog I was holding?  And Mother?  She had moved and not said a word, but you walked directly to her," Webb couldn't understand.  Shelley was beaming.  He looked from Shelley to his mother askance.  His mother was smiling, too.  Just as radiantly as Shelley.  

Webb walked over to her.  He held up his right hand and showed her four fingers.  He said, "How many?"

"How many what, Clayton?" Shelley asked.  Webb's face fell.  He was wrong.  She couldn't see.  "How many hands?  One.  How many fingers?  Four," she said.

"Shelley!  You can see!  You can!!" he cried.  Shelley nodded.

"Yes, Darling.  I could see when I woke up just a few minutes ago.  Isn't it wonderful!?!"

Webb picked her up and swung her around the room, completely forgetting about the blood clot in her brain.

Saturday, 25 August 2001
0230 EDT
Porter Webb's Estate
Great Falls, Virginia

"Clayton?" Shelley whispered through her tears.  "Clayton, wake up, please.  Clayton...please!"

"Hmm?" Webb finally heard her.  "Wha...What?  Shelley, what is it?  Why are you crying?  Oh God, are you in pain?  Shelley?"

"It hurts, Clayton.  My head hurts so badly," she was holding her head and rocking it back and forth.  "Clayton, I love you.  I love you so much."  She knew this was it; she was going to die tonight.  

"Shh, it's okay, Shel.  I'm calling the doctor now," Webb whispered as he grabbed the phone and dialed.  "Doctor, it's Clayton Webb.  Shelley is in serious pain; it's her head.  She's holding it and rocking back and forth, crying."

"Has she done anything strenuous?" the doctor asked, getting up out of bed and pulling his clothes on quickly.

"No, she slept all day and then we had a party tonight, but we didn't let her do much.  She just sat through most of...  Oh my God!  It's my fault!  I swung her around.  Doctor, her sight came back about 5:30 this afternoon.  We were so excited, I swung her around in my arms for a minute.  That's what caused this, isn't it?  Oh God..." Webb was beside himself.  

"Now, Mr. Webb, we don't know that.  I'm dressed now, and I'm on my way to your house.  Keep her warm and still.  Don't give her anything for the pain."  The doctor could hear Shelley's cries of pain now.  "Not even if she begs.  Understand?"

"Yes, Doctor."  They hung up.  

Porter was in the room now kneeling beside the bed.  "Shelley, dear, it's going to be okay.  Okay, Honey," she cooed as she gathered the younger woman in her arms.

"Mother, this is my fault.  I swung her around this afternoon when I found out she could see.  This is my fault," Webb lamented.

"Clayton, it's no one's fault."  Just then, Shelley slumped in Porter's arms.  "Clayton!  Help me!"

Between the two of them, they got Shelley back in the bed and under the blanket.  She was burning up with fever now, and all they could do was wait for the doctor to arrive.  30 minutes later, he did arrive.  Frederick showed him upstairs immediately.

Saturday, 25 August 2001
1045 EDT
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

"I've never seen anything like it, Mr. Webb," the doctor said.  "When a blood clot dislodges and begins to move, it seldom continues to dissolve.  Not until it lodges somewhere else in the body."

"But that's not what it's doing in Shelley?" Webb asked.

"No.  Your wife is a very lucky woman.  The blood clot appears to be gone.  I mean, totally gone."

"How can that be?" asked Porter.

"Apparently, it dislodged from her brain when you swung her around yesterday afternoon.  It started moving, but it was still way too large.  Evidently when the pain was so bad is when it was stuck trying to pass through a smaller part of the vein that wouldn't give, finally making her pass out.  Between the pressure of the other blood flowing in the veins and the blood thinning medication she's been on all this time, it kept pounding at the clot until it was small enough to pass.  By the time it would have reached her heart, it was completely dissolved.  As I said, I've never seen the likes of it before!" the doctor explained.

"It's gone?  The clot is completely gone?  There's no more threat to her?" Webb asked.

"Not of a blood clot, anyway," answered the doctor.  "But now that it's gone, we have to strengthen her blood, again.  Build it back up...thicken it, in other words."

"And you do that, how?" Porter asked.

"Medication...and lots of rest."

Saturday, 8 September 2001
1700 EDT
Porter Webb's Estate
Great Falls, Virginia

Shelley walked out of the house on AJ's arm.  They went down the steps and across the lawn to the gazebo.  When they reached Webb, AJ kissed her on the cheek, and placed her hand in Webb's.  Then AJ took a step back, and stood next to Porter Webb.  Mac was on Shelley's left and Harm was on Webb's right.  The preacher stood before them.

Before the preacher began, Webb turned to Shelley and asked, "Are you sure about this?  Are you absolutely certain you don't want to tell your brother?"

"I'm sure, Clayton.  I don't want him raising a stink, and I know he will.  It's none of his concern.  As far as they need to know for the foreseeable future, we were married on August 13.  Maybe one day we'll tell them the truth, but not now."

Webb nodded to the preacher.

After the brief ceremony was over and Webb kissed his bride, they all headed inside for dinner.  When Frederick served the main dish, Mac laughed, "Prime rib!"

"But, of course!" answered Webb.  "You already told everyone how delicious it was!"

Saturday, 8 September 2001
2330 EDT
Porter Webb's Estate
Great Falls, Virginia

"Clayton, the doctor said I'm fine now," Shelley argued.  "Please?"

"Shelley, I just don't want to take any unnecessary risks.  Let's just wait another week or two," Webb tried to placate his bride.

Shelley climbed out of bed, donned her bathrobe, and headed downstairs.  She was surprised to find Porter still up and sitting in the kitchen.  "What are you doing down here, Shelley?  You and Clayton should be in bed by now," Porter said.

"Why did he marry me, Porter?"

"What?" Porter asked incredulously.  'Oh my God!  What has Clayton done now to make her question his love?'

"Why did he marry me?  He doesn't need me.  He doesn't want me.  Now, I'm beginning to think he doesn't really love me," Shelley said as tears sprang to her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.

"Oh, Shelley, of course he loves you," Porter said.

"Then why?  Why, Porter?  Why won't he make love to me?  Why won't he even touch me?"

"Shelley, dear..."

"It's our wedding night!  And he wants me to wear flannel pajamas!  It's only September, Porter.  Flannel is too hot for September.  And who wears flannel on their wedding night?!  He doesn't even want to see my body anymore.  Let alone touch me.  I just don't understand.  Why did he marry me?  Tell me.  Please, Porter!"

"He married you because he loves you, Shelley.  He won't make love to you because he loves you...  He's afraid that he might hurt you, physically, after all you've been through.  And he won't touch you because he loves you.  Again, he's afraid to hurt you.  If he begins touching you, it will be very difficult to stop...he loves you so much.  And as for the flannel, Clayton has never liked flannel pajamas.  He obviously wants you in those so he won't 'attack' you during the night.  If he wakes up with you and you're dressed in a slinky little negligee, he'll have to fight himself to stay off of you."

"Do you believe all that, Porter?  Or are you just saying it because he's your son?"

"Yes, Shelley, I do believe all that.  And yes, I am saying it because he's my son.  I've seen him love once before, Shelley.  But he never loved Johanna as he loves you.  The young man, Clayton, would never have sacrificed his wedding night nuptials.  The mature man, Clayton, would never sacrifice the safety and well-being of his bride for those nuptials."

"And there's nothing I can do to change his mind?  The doctor said it would be fine.  I wouldn't risk it either, Porter."

"My suggestion, Dear, would be to play doctor.  Clayton knows how.  He and Johanna played it once in the field out by the lake.  He doesn't know it, but I watched them from a window on the third floor.  When I saw them playing in the water, I got the binoculars out; I wanted to see them up close.  I was so proud of both of them."  She laughed.  "Then they surprised me.  Shocked me, actually.  I certainly got an eye full that day!"

"Porter!  You know about that?" Shelley exclaimed.

"Yes, I do.  Anyway, that's my suggestion.  Play doctor.  And you be the doctor first."

"Okay, I'll try it," Shelley said as she stood and headed for the stairs.  "Wish me luck!"

"If you're a good enough 'doctor', you won't need any luck, my dear!"

Shelley walked back in the bedroom, only to find her groom already asleep.  That wasn't going to stop her, though.  She decided she couldn't very well play this game in flannel pajamas, so she took them off and donned her sexiest negligee.  Then she pulled the covers back that were over Webb.  'No fair!  He's only in his underwear!  And I had to wear flannel?  You're going to pay for that one, Mr. Webb!' she mused to herself.

Webb wasn't really asleep.  He was faking it, hoping that Shelley would just roll over and go to sleep.  Somehow, he knew she wouldn't give up that easily.  He was right.  After 15 minutes, Webb could stand it no more.

"Shelley," he growled.  "Lie back, Baby.  It's my turn to be the doctor."

Shelley smiled.  'It worked!'

The End.