"Hey, guys, BJ and Cait not get back yet?" Tyler asked as she walked through the front doors.

Mike nodded, "we have some news and you aren't going to like it."

"What's that?" Tyler raised her eyebrows.

Mike gestured that they should go into her office. He waited until Tyler took her seat before he told her what had happened to BJ and Cait after the doctor appointment.

"What?" Tyler jumped up. "Where are they know?"

"We went and got a rental while BJ waited for the police. We let them take the car to your house. BJ thought it was a good idea for Cait to stay with you two since she is so close to delivering the baby." Leo replied. "They just left a few minutes ago."

Tyler rested her hands on the desk, "they were going right home?"

"Yes," Leo smiled.

Tyler unclipped her cell phone and dialed BJ's number. They all looked over at BJ's coat that was hung up on the coat rack.

"Great," Tyler shut her phone off. "I'm going to head home."

"Okay, we'll get our stuff ready and meet you at your jeep." Mike and Leo quickly left Tyler's office.

Tyler grabbed BJ's coat and headed out of her office and locked the door. She stepped out of the front door and looked around. Nobody was is in sight and no cars were coming from either direction. She took a deep breath and started towards her jeep.

As she stepped down off the steps the sidewalk started to sway back and forth.

"Fuck an earthquake," Tyler staggered off the sidewalk to the road next to her jeep. Car alarms started going off everywhere and horns could be heard blaring in the distance.

Tyler looked up hoping that the building would get away with little structural damage. She looked towards the front doors and watched Leo and Mike stumble and fall on the ground.

"Where is everybody else?" Tyler yelled as she held onto her jeeps bumper.

Mike helped Leo up as he tried to keep his own footing. "They aren't here remember. They all went to the museum for the afternoon."

"Okay, I forgot that was today," Tyler replied.

The ground finally stopped moving and Tyler sat her stuff on top of the jeeps hood. "You two okay?"

"Yes," Leo brushed his pants with his hands. "That was a big one."

"I'd say, it had to be over a five," Mike looked at his hands and blew on the small scratches he now had.

"Let's check things out here and then head over to the house. Hopefully BJ and Cait won't have any trouble getting there." Tyler said as she quickly headed back to her jeep and grabbed the stuff off it and headed back inside to see what kind of damage awaited them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ohh, God it hurts," Cait screamed.

BJ brushed her hand s through Cait's hair, "I know, I know."

"You don't happen to have some really good drugs in your back pocket do you?" Cait replied as the contraction subsided a little.

"I may be a movie star but I'm not that kind of movie star." BJ stated with a grin. "I wish I had more light so I could see what was happening."

"You can go and check. It's not like I'll be too far away." Cait patted BJ's leg that was under her head.

"Okay, I'll just lay your head here and see exactly how big this storage space is." BJ carefully placed Cait's head on the ground.

Cait laid there and listened as BJ roamed around on her hands and knees looking for whatever they could use. Another contraction hit her body, but this time a warm substance gushed out and soaked her already wet jeans. "BJ, something is wrong."

"Hold on I think I found an old tool box." BJ flipped open the top and searched blindly. Her fingers wrapped around a circular object. "I think I found a flash light."

"Hurry up the pain is getting worse," Cait growled through her clenched teeth.

BJ pushed in the rubber button and a soft golden light appeared, "thank you God."

"BJ!" Cait's knuckles turned white as she grabbed at her shirt. "Take my jeans off, the baby is coming."

BJ quickly moved back over to Cait. She sat the flash light on the ground and started to unbutton Cait's jeans. "Can you lift your butt up off the ground?"

Cait groaned, but lifted, "something doesn't feel right. I'm getting light headed."

BJ knew that now was not the time to loose it, but as she pulled Cait's jeans off the young woman's body she noticed a pool of blood had formed under her. "Cait, I think we have got a problem. You seem to be loosing a lot of blood."

Cait nodded, "I know. I'm getting really tired." Another contraction ripped through her body causing more blood to spurt out.

"You need to start pushing and hopefully after the baby is born we can get it to stop." BJ guessed as she had no clue what was happening.

"Can you feel the head or even see it?" Cait asked as she took several deep breaths.

BJ grabbed the flash light, "I can see the very top of it."

"What color hair?" Cait asked softly.

"It's very dark." BJ looked up at Cait's ashen face. "On the next contraction push with all you've got."

Cait nodded and grabbed her legs behind her knees. "Damn it, it hurts so fucking bad."

"I know it does, but more of the head is out. Just keep it up and it will all be over with." BJ positioned herself closer not paying any attention to the blood and stuff soaking her own jeans.

"Here comes another one," Cait screamed as the contraction hit her again.

BJ gently pulled on the baby's head. "Head is all the way out. Now I think the shoulders are the hardest part, and after that the rest should just slide on out."

Cait lay on the hard concrete she could tell that she was loosing more blood than was normal during birth. "BJ, I want you to promise me something."

"What's that?" BJ asked as she tried her best to clean out the babies mouth and noise.

"I want you and Tyler to raise my baby," Cait closed her eyes and cried. "I don't think I will make it and I need to know that you will take care of him or her."

"Don't talk like that. You are going to be fine." BJ replied even though she knew Cait was right.

Cait's body tensed up, "bullshit."

BJ looked down and watched as the small human laid in her hands.

"What is does BJ stand for?" Cait asked softly.

BJ took off her jean shirt leaving her in only a sports bra. "Briana Jade, why?"

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Cait asked ignoring BJ question.

BJ carefully turned the baby over so she could look, "you have a very beautiful son."

"I want hem to be named, Tyler Jade." Cait mumbled. "I would like to see my son."

BJ scooted up so Cait could take a look at her son. She placed the flashlight on the floor so she could use both hands to hold up the now crying baby. "Here he is."

Cait turned her head and opened her eyes. She smiled as she ran her fingers across his face and to his small hand that stuck out of BJ shirt. "He's pretty pissed off."

"Yes, he is." BJ felt the tears fall down her face as she watched Cait look at her son for the first and last time.

"Make sure you tell him about me and tell him that I love him." Cait's eyes slowly drifted shut and her hand fell to the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tyler looked around her office and shook her head. "What a mess. Screw it, I'll do it tomorrow." She closed her door and went in search of Mike and Leo.

"Hey, guys, were are you?" Tyler yelled as she went up the stairs.

"Here," Mike grunted as he pushed the refrigerator back against the wall.

Leo was across the room picking up the dishes that weren't broken. "We will have to order more dishes and cups. Over half of them are broken beyond repair." He said as he held up a plate that was broken on three different spots.

"Well do that tomorrow. I checked all the offices downstairs and they are in shambles. How about we get what we can done here and then come back tomorrow and tackle them?" Tyler asked as she walked over to a closet and grabbed the broom and dustpan.

"Sounds good," Mike agreed as he picked up what food could be saved off the floor.

******************************

"Cait? Come on Cait. You can't give up now." BJ ran her free hand through Cait's hair. "Your baby needs you."

Cait's body laid there not responding to BJ voice or her caresses and her babies crying.

"What am I going to do?" BJ looked around the small closet. "I need to get out of here." BJ leaned down and carefully kissed Cait's forehead. "I promise that your son will know you. Tyler and I will make sure he has everything you never had." Tears fell over the still face. "Remember you are special and we loved you."

BJ kissed Cait one last time before she made sure the baby was completely covered up. She slowly opened the door and blinked at the brightness. She glanced around to make sure Royal wasn't around.

"Okay, kiddo, looks like the coast is clear. Let's get our of here and get your Mommy out of here." BJ carefully stood up with a groan. "I wonder how long we've been in there?"

The baby boy cried out and squirmed.

"I know sweetheart." BJ kissed his dark head. "I'll get you out of here."

BJ walked around making sure that no one was around. She spotted the door that led to the outside and took a deep breath and quickened her step.

The door creaked open and BJ used her hand to block out the sun, "well be safe in a few minutes. Tyler should be at the center making sure that everything is okay there." She whispered to the baby that was still crying loudly.

******************************

"Let's get out of here." Mike sighed. "We have everything done that we can get done right now."

"Sounds good love," Leo kissed Mike on the cheek.

Mike smiled at Leo, "Let's go get Tyler." He grabbed Leo by the hand and pulled him the direction Tyler was last seen.

They found Tyler outside looking at the foundation and buildings structure.

"How's it look?" Leo yelled.

Tyler turned her head and waved them over, "I think we might need to get this fixed." She pointed to a large crack that started from the ground and up the side about ten feet.

"You're right," Mike ran his hands up and down the crack. "I'll call a contractor tomorrow. Not sure how long it will take though."

"No problem, you guys ready to get going?" Tyler asked as she walked towards the front of the building.

"Yes," Mike and Leo replied together.

Tyler stopped and turned, "I take it you two are as tired as I am?"

Both men nodded their heads.

"Okay, lets go lock up and go," Tyler began walking. "Did we get everyone settled in a motel?"

"Yes, they will stay there tonight and tomorrow night," Leo squeezed Mike's hand. It was his lovely idea for the group to go to a motel and he would take care of all the expenses. "You so rock love."

"Thanks," Mike kissed Leo on the lips. "Let's go get our things."

******************************

BJ looked over at the car that was sitting on it's top. The two front doors were open and she could see beer cans and garbage all around the interior of the car. "What a bunch of pigs."

BJ nestled baby Tyler Jade closer to her chest and began walking towards the road. She jumped when she heard an engine sputter to life. She looked off to the far side of the warehouse and saw the black van. "Shit," BJ yelled as she quickly turned and began to run.

******************************

"Come on slow pokes," Tyler yelled up as she held open the front door.

Leo and Mike stopped in their tracks and looked at each other then at Tyler then back at each other. Leo winked at Mike and they turned to look at Tyler again, "Yes ma'am." They clicked their heels together and saluted her.

"Knock it off you two boobs," Tyler laughed as they stood there. "I want to get home to my wife."

"She isn't your wife until she does the wedding march," Leo stated as he resumed walking.

"Bullshit," Tyler roll her eyes.

Leo stopped in front of her, "don't you want to make an honest woman out of her?"

"She already is an honest woman. You just want an excuse to get all dressed up." Tyler grabbed Leo by the elbow to get him walking faster. "I want to get home today boys."

"We're moving," Mike slapped Tyler on the back.

Mike locked the front door as Leo and Tyler jumped into the jeep. As soon as he shut the door Tyler hit the gas and was driving down the road.

Leo snorted, "you better slow down."

Tyler laughed and slowed down, "yes, mother."

"You are such a good daughter," Leo patted Tyler on the top of the head when something caught his eye as they stopped at a stop sign. "Look over there." He sat up and pointed towards the drivers side door window.

Tyler and Mike both looked. They saw a group of men standing in a circle watching someone.

What caught Tyler's eyes was the long black hair of the woman. "Fuck me, I think that's BJ."

"What?" Leo and Mike yelled.

Tyler turned the wheel and punched the gas. As she got closer she could see BJ's scared face and Royal laughing. "I think it's time that man gets what coming to him." She slammed on the breaks and threw the jeep into park. She opened her door and ran up behind two guys who didn't see her. "Excuse me," She tapped them on the shoulder.

Mike and Leo were right behind her, but each went in different directions ready for whatever the gang members had in store for them.

When the two guys turned to see who would have the guts to interrupt what they were doing Tyler reached out and grabbed their crotches. "get away from her." She heard a small pop from one of the men and watched him hit the ground passed out from the pain. She turned her head and stared at the other man who had his eyes closed from the pain. "Get out of here before I kill you."

Mike grabbed the man in front of him by the arm and slammed his fist into his face before he knew what hit him. "Asshole."

Leo did basically the same except he kneed his opponent and then punched him, "learn to pick on someone your own size."

Tyler turned to Royal, "This time you won't get me by surprise." She stepped up between BJ and the big man. "BJ go over by the jeep."

"I ain't letting that bitch out of my sight." Royal reached for BJ as she moved towards the jeep.

Tyler grabbed a hold of the mans wrist and twisted him over her shoulders. "You will not call her that."

******************************

Leo and Mike helped BJ to the jeep. Mike opened the door and gestured for BJ to sit. "You okay, where is Cait?"

BJ looked down to her arms and let the tears come, "she didn't make it."

Leo and Mike both saw the baby and gasped.

"Didn't make it?" Leo asked as he carefully took the baby out of BJ's hands.

"They chased us and we hid in the warehouse. We hid in some small cubby closet and her water broke and there was so much blood." BJ cried. "I didn't know what to do to save her."

Mike held BJ and closed his eyes as tears ran down his own cheeks.

Leo caressed the babies face with the tip of his finger. "Damn." He sighed loudly.

******************************

"I want my baby," Royal spat as he stood up and pointed in the direction of the jeep.

Tyler looked at him and then where he was pointing. That was when she saw the small arm lift out of the shirt Leo was holding. "What did you do to Cait?" She narrowed her eyes and stepped towards the man.

"Fuck you, what ever I did I had every right. That slut was carrying my baby." Royal ran at Tyler and grabbed her around the waist and brought her to the ground. He punched at her sides and stomach.

Tyler got her knees up and kicked the gang leader off of her. "I've had enough of you." She yelled as she did a round house kick to the man's head as he tried to stand. When he fell back she kicked him again and again.

Leo looked over at Tyler. "Shit take the baby." He handed the baby over to Mike before he ran to Tyler. He wrapped his hands around her waist and picked her up.

"Put me down you," Tyler fought to get loose so she could get back to the bleeding man on the ground. "He did something to Cait and I want to know what it was."

"He will get what is coming to him." Leo said as he grasped on tighter to the strong woman.

Royal staggered to his feet, "you fucking bitch. Look what you did to me. My nose is broken and I lost three teeth." He spat a mouth full of blood onto the ground and reached around for his switch blade he had in his pocket. "Now try it."

"Fuck you," Tyler yelled as she kicked Leo in the shin with the heel of her boot.

Leo grimaced in pain and loosened his hold on Tyler, "OUCH."

Tyler took off as soon as her feet hit the ground. She ducked a swipe of the knife. "What's a matter can't take a woman on without a weapon?" She said as she stepped back a couple of inches.

"Oh I really don't need this knife. I just want to hurt you bad and make you bleed." Royal sneered with an evil glint in his eyes.

"Bring it on, because you get one shot and then you will go down." Tyler waved him closer with one hand.

"Time to die bitch," Royal mumbled as he spit one more time.

Tyler wasn't expecting Royal to be able to move so fast she got her arm up just in time to protect her body from the knife. The sharp edge cut a four inch long wound on the outside of her arm.

"Now it's my turn." Tyler paid no attention to the blood as she wrapped her hand around Royal's wrist and slam her plaster encased hand along side his head. The force of the blow shattered the plaster on impact. Tyler then grabbed the gang leader by the head and brought her knee up to his face over and over again.

"That's enough," Leo tackled Tyler to the ground.

Royal's limp body fell to the ground.

"The cops are on there way. Let them take care of him now." Leo said as he held on tight to Tyler.

After a few minutes Tyler calmed down and took a deep breath. "You can let me up."

Leo released Tyler and watched her stand up.

Tyler offered him her hand and helped him up, "where is Cait?"

Leo sighed and pointed towards the warehouse, "her body is in there. BJ did what she could, but they were hiding and her water broke. Something happened and she lost a lot of blood."

Tyler rested her head in her hands, "oh God." She turned and walked towards BJ.

BJ saw her coming and let go of Mike, "I'm so sorry."

Tyler ran the rest of the way when she heard BJ. She wrapped her arms around the tall actress, "it's not your fault. You did everything you could."

"It wasn't enough." BJ cried.

Tyler held on to her and let her cry. Her own tears falling down her cheek. "I have to go to her. I promised to protect her and I didn't."

******************************

Tyler opened the door to the small closet were Cait's body was. She could see the lifeless form laying in the floor. She turned and looked at the two policemen and a man from the coroners office. "Can I go in for a few seconds alone?"

They all nodded yes.

"Thanks," Tyler wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and crawled into the space. She crouched on her knees over to Cait's body. "I'm sorry for not doing what was expected of me. I should have done a better job." Tyler grasped the cold hand that rested on the cement floor. "I promise with all my heart that your son will have the best life. He will never go without and feel like he wasn't wanted."

Tyler played with the stiffening fingers. "I should go and let them get you out of here." She took a deep breath. "Royal won't hurt anyone ever again. After what happened here I will make sure personally that he will never breath air as a free man again." She leaned over and kissed Cait's forehead softly. "I promise."

Tyler laid Cait's hand on her stomach and crawled back out. "Please be careful with her." She asked as she walked by the men.

******************************

Several days later BJ and Barb sat in the kitchen watching TJ sleeping.

"I really like what you and Tyler call him," Barb smiled as she sipped her tea.

BJ nodded and grinned, "we figured it would be less confusing than calling him Tyler."

"How is she doing?" Barb asked softly as she looked over at her daughter.

BJ closed her eyes, "okay, I guess. I tried to get her to go and talk with the psychologist with me but she refuses."

"Give her some time." Barbara grabbed an oatmeal cookie. "She'll figure out that she needs someone to talk to." A wet nose hit her elbow and a paw landed on her lap. She looked down, "what do you want?" She raised her eyebrow at Bandit.

The dog softly barked and eyed the cookie.

BJ laughed, "give him the cookie. He hasn't been getting the attention he's used to with TJ being here and all."

Barbara tossed the oatmeal cookie in the air and watched as Bandit snapped at it until it finally fell in his mouth. "Good catch boy." She rubbed the top of his head. "Where is Tyler?"

"Who knows," BJ sighed. "Ever since Cait's funeral she has been very secretive."

Barb shook her head, "that is not good, but like I said. Give her some time and she will come to you and talk."

"Ya," BJ grabbed a cookie and bit into it.

******************************

"Tyler?" Mike knocked and stepped in.

Tyler looked up from her paper work, "yes."

"What are you doing here. I thought you had taken the next couple of weeks off." Mike asked as he sat down and stretched his legs out and crossed his feet at the ankle.

Tyler shrugged her shoulders and began to write again.

Mike sat there and watched her without saying a word. He knew Tyler was close to exploding and he hoped it happened here and not at home. He wasn't sure what she would do or say and BJ didn't need that.

Tyler could feel Mike starring at her. She sighed and looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Yes?"

"You have a beautiful wife and a son at home waiting for you. Yet you are here working. Why?" Mike leaned forward and rested his hands on his thighs.

Tyler lowered her head, "I failed them."

"What do you mean you failed them?" Mike asked softly.

Tyler didn't answer for a several seconds, but when she did her voice cracked with emotions. "I couldn't save a woman who needed saving. She needed it more than anyone I have ever met, but I failed her."

"You honestly believe that?" Mike questioned. "I think you gave her the best weeks she had ever had. You taught her that she could be loved and that loving wasn't a fault. You made her smile and laugh. She didn't have a care in the world except the life that grew in her. That was what she needed and you gave it to her."

"She died," Tyler slammed her hands on the top of her desk.

Mike nodded, "yes she did, but she died happy."

"How can you say that when she died while she was hiding from some lunatic and his gang?" Tyler pushed her chair back and paced behind her desk.

"True," Mike agreed, "but she felt what it was like to have a family for the first time in her life and you gave that to her. You should be proud of that."

"Why did she have to die, she could have had more of a happy life." Tyler stopped and cried.

Mike stood up and walked around the desk and held Tyler while she sobbed. "Cait gave you a very precious gift. Let her son live for her with the love you and BJ have for him. Make Cait proud that she named him after you."

Tyler closed her eyes and rested her head on Mike's shoulders. She held his shirt in a death grip that turned her knuckles white. "I hate this. People I love dyeing, and I never told her that." Tyler sighed and loosened her grip. "I loved her even though I wanted to pound her every other second."

"I bet she felt the same way." Mike patted Tyler's back. "Why don't you go home and spend some time with your family."

"Thanks," Tyler tightened her hold before she let go. "I love you ya know."

"I love you too," Mike wiped a tear off his face.

Tyler punched him in the shoulder, "mushball."

"Me? No way," Mike said with a straight face that only lasted a small second before he smiled and laughed out loud. "Maybe once in a while."

"Will you lock up for me?" Tyler asked as she grabbed her cell phone and jacket.

"Get out of here," Mike waved her by. "See you later, much, much later."

Tyler stopped and turned back around, "I have an idea that I want to run past you. Do you think you and Leo can come over for dinner?"

"Well be there about 6:30," Mike replied as he waved her good bye.

Tyler waved, "see ya later."

******************************


Tyler walked into the house and saw BJ and TJ both sleeping. The small boy was lying on top of BJ's chest. She quickly went to the drawer with the camera in it and tried to find the best position to take a picture.

BJ knew the minute Tyler walked in the house, but chose not to move. She smiled to herself when she figured out what Tyler was up too.

Tyler knelt down in front of her wife and new son and watched them before she brought the camera up to her face and snapped off several pictures. "Perfection," she whispered.

"No it's not, if you were with us it would be," BJ acknowledged as she opened her eyes.

Tyler shook her head, "not in my eyes. You with our son is the best thing I have ever seen."

"Thank you," BJ slowly sat up and rested TJ on the couch in between her legs. His little arms flew out, but he didn't wake up.

Tyler crawled over on her knees and ran a finger across the top of his head. "How was he today?"

"He missed you," BJ looked into Tyler's bright green eyes. "I've missed you."

Tyler bit her bottom lips, "sorry I haven't really been here." She grasped BJ's hand and kissed the palm. "I had a little talk with Mike and I feel better. I felt guilty that I couldn't stop her from dyeing. I still do feel like I could have done something, but I will work through it."

"Come with me and talk to someone," BJ begged.

Tyler nodded, "I will. Not sure why I haven't yet. I know talking to Jackie helped me, but for some reason I didn't feel like I should."

"You want the pain to be there and remind you everyday that you couldn't protect Cait." BJ kissed Tyler on the top of her head. "But you did. You saved her in so many ways. You gave her a chance to feel what a family could be and should be."

"I know, and I did have help in that." Tyler squeezed BJ's hand.

"I'm always here to help," BJ responded with a smile.

Tyler used her free hand to caress BJ's cheek, "I know and I love you for that and everything else you've given me."

"I love you too," BJ closed her eyes and enjoyed the connection her and Tyler had.

"I want to name the center after Cait." Tyler said as she watched BJ open her eyes as she talked.

BJ rubbed TJ's small foot. "what do you have in mind?"

"What do you think of Cait's Dream?" Tyler asked as she stood up and picked up the baby.

BJ slid off the couch and stood next to her lover, "I think that is a wonderful idea."

"Great, I invited Mike and Leo over for dinner so I could talk to them about it." Tyler informed BJ as she walked towards the kitchen.

"Then we better get started," BJ quickened her steps and wrapped her arm around Tyler's shoulders.

******************************

THE END

Feedback.............Tinstrttn@aol.com
March 2003