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Code Blue Ch. 59- Shadows of Doubt

Summary: Is it the end for Salem's supercouple as Jo and Lee feud? Jo gets a disturbing phone call. An overheard conversation fuels the fire. Jo makes a wild accusation but is she wrong and could it cost her another loss? True feelings and a solemn vow come to light during a heated moment of reckless reasoning. Regret is swallowed as a lock turns.

*Chapter Warnings* Angst, language, mentions of rape, smoking, racial slurs, sexual references, insults

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Notes: I am now writing in third person as it just makes more sense

March 24, 2022

Salem, Massachusetts

As Jo stormed out of Craig's apartment and bee-lined across the hall to hers, a distraught Lee chased after her only to be barricaded by the slamming and locking of her door.

Instantly angered, he began to pound on the metal slab that separated the recently estranged lovers. "Jo!! Open the door! Let me explain about Angel!"

Pacing about, high on blood boiling adrenaline, Jo spun around to face the door with fuming eyes. "I'll open the door when you stop acting like Captain fucking CAVEMAN!!"

Lee stiffened up, his jaw gritting as he scoffed at the insult. "Really Jo? Just open the door before your gun slinging gangster landlord calls the cops."

Jo chortled as she walked to the door and swung it open to glare at him. "He don't call the cops."

Moving to the side, she clutched the door handle as Lee walked in, side-eyeing her and then she flung it shut. "You're damn lucky you don't have a hole or two in your chest right now. What the fuck were you thinking by breaking into his apartment Lee?? Craig would have been justified for pumping you full of lead." she confidently spouted as Lee glowered down at her, his jaw still gritting.

As the two stood alone and too close for comfort, Jo could not deny the one thing that always turned her the fuck on and that was the physical manifestation of Lee's anger. The furrowing of his thick brows that enhanced the vertical dimple between them. The pursing of his pouty lips as his jaw clenched. The noticeable flare of his nostrils as they expelled his fuming breath. The way he folded his arms over his chest that accentuated his sculpted bi-ceps and last but surely not least, the way his hypnotizing sapphire stare pronounced her spellbound. Standing so close to him was dangerous, for the magnetic pull between them was indestructible and in that moment, the tantalizing force taunted her very core to burst as the seductive scent of his cologne breached the entrance to her airways and his deeply erotic voice was always the icing on the cake.

"First of all little Miss know-it-all, I didn't BREAK in. The door was ajar. I guess you both were too preoccupied with desire to check it and second, YOU would have been shot, not me! So what the fuck were YOU thinking??"

Jo's hands snapped onto her hips. "Saving your ungrateful ass. THAT'S what I was thinking and WHY would you just walk into Craig's home???"

"To find my girlfriend who I had been desperately trying to reach this morning after finding out from a colony of gossiping groupie nurses that Mr. magic mafia man had taken her to the hospital for an anxiety attack the other night and when I got here, you didn't answer your door, so I called again and that's when I heard your phone ringing from inside his place! So yeah, when I discovered the door wasn't latched when it opened AFTER knocking, I peeked inside and called out to you, but I guess you couldn't hear me over the music, so I made my way through the room reeking of a gagging concoction of smoke, cologne and perfume accompanied by empty wine bottles and glasses and low and behold, I found you both sound asleep in his bed. Were you too drunk to walk across the hall to sleep in your own bed??? It's becoming quite the pattern. First Orlando, then Dave and now cheap cologne Craig. Reminds me of that shit Carpenter wears. Will Gerry be next?? and then maybe Luke or this new Jeffrey dude saving the damsel in distress?"

The burning desire she felt for him had now been replaced by burning tears. "WOW. I cannot believe you just said that to me. Tell me what you really think of me Lee?? I reeaally want to punch you in the face right now."

"Wouldn't be the first time baby. Go ahead."

"You deserved it then and you deserve it now for such hurtful and baseless remarks that I will not even entertain justification for...And girlfriend??? Don't you mean EX-girlfriend?? It was my understanding that forever was over at the cemetery and THEN you made that abundantly clear on social media by changing your status to single and unfriending me too after turning to the town tramp in your drunken despair and slept at her place that very same night! I heard all about it because Angel made sure the entire hospital staff knew about how you called her to come pick you up. Your house is next door Lee. Were YOU too drunk to walk across the yard to sleep in YOUR own bed??? First Britta and Ethan and now Angel once again. Who will be next for you mister hypocrisy??? Because you actually DID sleep with them. No wonder the nurses awarded you with the epithet of Dr. feelgood."

Lee's eyes also burned of tears and his angered expression had been overruled by pain as he leered at the only woman and person capable of emotionally devouring him.

After an intense exchange of scorned gazes, Lee revealed the truth behind the rumor mill. "I'll tell you what happened and you can believe whatever the hell you want. I went to Gordon's in Boston. He took my keys and Donna kicked me out. I called a cab and before we even got out of Boston, I got sick in the back seat and the driver kicked me out too. I wanted to call you. I really did Jo but it was late and I just didn't want you to see me in the state I was in and I honestly didn't think you would even answer after that day in the cemetery. I know how incredibly stupid it was for me to call Angel but it seemed convenient since I live next door. I wasn't thinking about the consequences and how she would run her mouth about it. I just wanted to go home and crash. When we arrived at her place, I started to walk home but Dash came out and begged me to come inside and play some Xbox. I hadn't seen him in awhile and I didn't want to tell him no because I think he stayed up to wait for me. That's all I did Jo. I played games with him and at some point, I accidentally fell asleep...ON the couch. I left first thing in the morning before anyone was up. I never touched her Jo. I swear on Jacob."

One of the many things Jo had learned about Lee was his expertise in the art of lying but he would never use his son to do it. Not for any reason.

"I...I believe you. I should have known better to than ever believe anything that comes out of Angel's mouth and for that...I apologize. It's just that after all that happened and then the Facebook thing, I stupidly presumed that..."

"What the hell Jo? So you're blaming me for that too? I didn't change any of that but apparently I'm guilty as charged like I am for everything in your eyes."

"Ummm well I didn't do it!"

Lee chuckled. "Yeah ok then. Who did? Some hacker that decided to randomly make us single and unfriend us??"

"I don't know!!????"

"Whatever Jo. I guess it's ok for you to lie. You probably did it during your drunken shenanigans with Cosa Nostra Craig."

"Oh stop it Lee!! Stop with the stupid appellations about him already. As if you have any room to talk Saint SAM COLIN. Speaking of, why in the hell did you go to see Peter??? And don't even try to deny that because I saw that name on the visitor log and Peter happily verified your visit and showed me his broken hand that you gifted him."

Lee's eyes squinted in confusion. "Wait...YOU went there???"

"OBvisouly! I decided it was time to face him and confront him over the hell he has put me through and douse his delusions that I would ever love him. After Gerry told me Peter was trying to find ways to contact me, I began having flashbacks and nightmares and it was also part of the reason for my panic attack so I figured it might help to face my fears head on."

"So....did it help?"

"To answer you deflective question, not really."

"I'm not deflecting. Believe it or not Jo, I care about what you're going through. Why...why didn't you tell me about the morgue incident?"

"Well for one thing, you had too much on your plate already and..."

"Bullshit Jo. You could have told me long before all this started, like when you told me about Peter before and about how you had been shot, so why did you leave the kidnapping part out? What are you not telling me Jo? Did he...do something else to y..."

"Why did you leave out the entirety of your past?? At least I told you most of mine, which even that was extremely hard to do because as I had already told you, I was scared you wouldn't want me anymore if I couldn't have children. Being locked in a morgue drawer was so traumatizing and was the true cause of my anxiety and my fears and I didn't feel it was necessary to talk about it, especially when I couldn't even trust you anymore. Peter was gone and I just wanted to forget and move on. It was the past and..."

She paused when she realized the relevance of her own words to Lee's explanations of his sordid past. As she lowered her guilty eyes, Lee couldn't help to become smug. "Well well well. That sounds exactly like the reasons I gave you about my past with Luke. Except I got called a liar for it and coerced into telling you. It was your way or the highway. Now who's the hypocrite? And don't get me started on the trust thing."

"You're right ok?!! You win. Now WHY did you go there Lee?? And why use that alias??"

"OBviously for the same reasons you did. To confront him about you and...about what happened to my parents. He needed to be reminded about what I did to his brother for hurting the ones I love and that not even a maximum security prison will keep him safe. Busting up his hand was merely a small taste of the karma train that's coming for him."

Jo sat down as her heart fluttered from incredulous emotions. "Jesus. What is even happening right now? What is happening to you? Where is the doctor that I met and fell irrevocably in love with?"

"He's standing right here Jo."

"Physically, sure, but you're not you anymore."

"Ahhh right. You love me irrevocably, just not unconditionally and without judgment. Although my past is quite similar, I guess murderous mob men are more your style considering you're so quick to always defend and forgive Craig but not me and always seem to be in his fucking arms for some reason and now his bed and smelling of his cheap cologne like you do now and I mean, hey, at least he don't LIE to you either such as keeping the truth about Jason from you. His daughter means more to you than your own nephew. You know, my dead son who isn't really my son that you seemed to have forgotten about? He's still around you know. I got a dose of the bloody shower too. I think he is trying to warn us of something and you're too far up Craig's perky ass cheeks to notice or care!"

Jo angrily stood, tears threatening to fall. "I love you enough to stand in front of a fucking gun for you! And Craig has nothing to do with this or us and your exaggerations about me and him are just too much. But since your insecurities insist on bringing him into it, then fine. He had to keep the secret of my brother being alive for his protection and not to tip off YOUR ex-hubby MOB MAN Ethan! And Craig was forthcoming about who he is right off the bat, unlike YOU. And let us not forget that he isn't my boyfriend like you are! Wait, correction. WAS."

"I had to keep my past a secret too Jo and you know it!! It's all highly confidential shit and as far as Ethan, you know I did not know he was involved in that world back then. Tell me Jo, if I had told you the truth when we met that I had been an agent, would you have even believed me?? And if you had, would you have stuck around when you knew the full extent of it??? I suppose though, that that is a very dumb question since you don't seem to mind Craig's dirty.... laundry...."

Lee's sentence fizzled as his eyes caught sight of something that triggered a halt and catch fire in his mind. A bottle of wine sitting beside two glasses and Jo's skimpy nightgown on the coffee table and underneath that coffee table were a pair of men's shoes that weren't Lee's.

"Lee??"

His gleaming eyes moved to her, then back to the table, then back to her once more. "Is that an exaggeration?"

Before Jo could stand up, Lee bolted to the table and picked up the glassy black footwear to look them over. "Size 11. Two sizes too small for me. Should I assume these are Jason's? They don't really match his established biker attire though."

With astonished eyes, Jo gazed at the shoes and immediately recalled how Craig had left her apartment the other morning with only his socks on.

"Ok, listen. They're Craig's but I swear to you, it is not..."

"It's not what I think? Really?"

"Yes really Lee! I let you explain about Angel and I believed you now I need you to do the same for me. Please?"

Lee tossed the shoes on the couch and folded his arms back over his chest as he resumed his icy stare.

"The night of my anxiety attack, the hospital gave me a hefty cocktail of drugs and it really messed me up. Craig brought me home and sometime later I woke up in my bed and Craig was asleep on the couch. He stayed to watch over me, that's all. I didn't know he was going to. I don't recall asking him to but maybe I did. It's all so fuzzy still because apparently when I woke up, I changed into that nightgown and I sat down with my laptop and drank wine and...."

Her eyes gaped as a memory flashed as clear as day before her. "Oh my god..." she lightly sobbed as she closed her eyes. "It was me. I...I did it. I changed my status and deleted you and I didn't even remember until now. I think I blacked out again like I did at your place. I...I am so sorry.

But I swear Lee. Nothing happened between me and him."

His reply was cocky. "Well how would you know if you don't remember??"

"Because Craig assured me that we didn't and I know that's true because he would never do that to me. Craig had told me that I carried on a conversation with him while we both drank some wine and then I went back to bed."

"So you conversed over wine with Craig in your tiny little nighty. Interesting. I sure bet he loved that. So what did you guys talk about? Did you get some good laughs in over me?"

"No Lee, it wasn't like that...."

"Again, HOW would you know?? Craig's word don't mean shit to me Jo."

"Well it does to me. He said I talked about Megan and what she did to me and Gerry and I talked about Blaise and how bad I felt and I told him about Peter and..."

"Whoa, wait. What exactly about Peter?"

"Ok, yes Lee. I told him about the funeral home but he said I was vague and when he asked me about it the next morning, I decided to tell him because I needed to talk to someone."

"Right. Just not ME. You told him about something so personal but not me. You just said earlier that you didn't want to talk about it!"

"I didn't! Not back then! Lee, I am sorry ok? This was all after you left me all alone at the cemetery, believing that we were over and I tried to find you. I looked everywhere. I called you but you wouldn't answer or reply to my texts and Landy told me that you texted him and told him that I was all yours. Why would you tell him that??"

"Why not? The opportunity was there and he's wanted you from day one. Did you ever stop and wonder if it was Landy that you were meant to be with? I have."

"Stop saying these things! I don't want to be with Orlando!!"

Lee's hands were now on his hips as he stared at the coffee table again and this time, he picked up the nightgown. Bringing it to his nose, he inhaled deeply.

"Lee, what are you doing???"

He didn't answer. He just wadded it up into a ball and flung it at her chest. "It reeks of the same cologne I can smell on you now. NOW tell me you didn't sleep with him."

"I didn't!!"

"Christ Jo, I just found you in his fucking bed and now all this! How gullible do you think I am??"

"Lee, please stop. I don't think that at all. Look, I gave him a hug before he left to thank him for looking out for me and..."

"That must have been one long ass hug for the cologne to be that embedded and to still be there 2 days later. So what, do you guys have little sleepovers at each other's apartments now?"

"Oh my god stop! You KNOW me. I am NOT LIZ LEE! I am sorry you are hurt but I have never lied to you or cheated on you and I am not going to start now. NOTHING happened here or there. Lee, he saved my fucking life. He found me in the hall and I wasn't breathing! He took care of me. I had no one! YOU left me all alone and I couldn't find you!"

"They say you never truly know a person Jo. I mean, you found that out about me right? I guess I'm seeing that about you now. And what about last night huh? I don't have any missed calls from you then!"

"I know. It's my fault because I believed you had been with Angel and that's mostly because of the Facebook thing which I was also wrong about. I was only at his place because he was upset over a dead end lead about his daughter and he just needed a friend to talk to like I did. Yes, we drank and got pretty drunk but he was really bad and got sick. I stayed with him to repay the favor he did for me. THAT'S all. Lee, can't we just sit down and talk about this? I mean, really talk."

She could see it in his eyes that he didn't believe her. "You know, I needed a friend too Jo. I needed you. I had finally told you about my past because you gave me no choice and I didn't want to lose you. It was the worst thing to ever happen to me aside from losing Jacob and it really fucked me up but you weren't there for me. You're everywhere else for everyone else while I waited at my dad's grave for you and I just can't do this anymore. I love you. God I love you so fucking much and I know I always will but it's just not enough. The trust...it's gone and I know I am to blame for the majority of that but I'm not blind. You say you're not Liz but your actions don't lie. Honestly, I really thought it would be Gerry you'd run back to but it's pretty clear who you want and it's not me because you basically admitted you don't like who I am anymore. You don't need me. You have everything you need right across the hall."

In desperation to keep him focused, she softly cupped his face in her hands. "I'm not running to anyone. I don't want anyone else. Lee please listen to me. Hear me. Tomorrow is your birthday. Let's get the hell away from here and all the chaos and noise and outside forces and negative energy and spend a few days together to recharge, just you and me. Let's put us first for once and try to work through this and get back to what we had, what we HAVE because it's still there. The love, the trust. It all just needs some extra TLC. I know I have neglected you. We've neglected each other and...and without each other, we're not ourselves. Like you said to me more than once, I'm nothing without you. I still want forever. Please tell me you still do too. I love you more than my own life and I'd step in front of that gun again without hesitation. You're my heart Lee. Forever."

His reddened tear glazed eyes released the tears they held back. "It all sounds so perfect doesn't it? But you know as well as I do that everything that threatens to tear us apart will all be there waiting for us when we get back. Every time we get back on track, we get derailed by something or someone. You're the one who believes in signs so maybe you should start listening to them. I never cared about my birthday until you. I foolishly believed we were born to be together but really Jo, tomorrow is just another day that I will try to survive my way through without you, just as I had before I ever knew you existed and honestly...I wish I never had."

An incredulous gasp sucked through her quivering lips in response to his heart stopping words as her hands slowly fell from his face and then just like at the cemetery, Lee left Josie standing in a state of shock as he walked out, quietly closing the door behind him.

Standing at her window, holding her hand on her heart and sobbing like a child, Josie watched the man she would forever love get in his car and drive away. She had wanted to chase after him and keep fighting to save their relationship but she feared she would only push him further away by doing so with the adamant frame of mind he was in to keep her at arm's length. For the time being, she would offer him some space and time to think as she held onto the hope that love WAS enough and that he would eventually come back to her like he always ha

As the clock struck 7 a.m. on that cold-hearted March morning, Josie's radio alarm by her bed came on that she didn't recall setting. It was Deja-Vu from when it came on at Lee's all by itself which she and believed was Jacob's doing so they would dance and they did. The song was "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and they had almost kissed until Angel rudely and surely intentionally interrupted them, only this time the song playing was "The Best of Times" by Styx.

Frozen in place, she stared at the radio, listening to how relevant the lyrics were regarding her and Lee. Another sign?, she wondered and wondered if he was listening to it too since it was on the same station that he listened to daily.

Lee was listening as he cruised down the bayside and he found himself softly mumbling the words while tearing up.

"I feel so helpless like a boat against the tide. I wish the summer wind could bring back paradise. But I know if the world turned upside down baby I know, you'd always be around. The best of times are when I'm alone with you. Some rain some shine. We'll make this a world for two. When I'm alone with you, everything's alright. When I'm alone with you, you brighten up the night...."

A sign?, he wondered. Wanting to turn around and race right back to Jo and take her in his arms and never let her go again, he slowed the car down, white knuckling the steering wheel as he fought the desires of his love-sick heart and for a moment, the vigorously beating organ almost defeated him until the vision of Jo and Craig in bed flashed through his mind. Angered by his momentary lapse in judgment, he flicked the scan button and a curled grin appeared on his lips. "Fucking sign indeed." he sneered and began to loudly sing.

"Here I go again on my own! Going down the only road I've ever known. Like a drifter I was born to walk alone. But I've made up my mind. I ain't waistin no more time. So here I go again."

Josie waited, still watching out the window for her knight in the shining classic car to pull back up and take her in his arms and never let her go again, but the clock kept ticking and he never came. Instead, Jeffrey pulled up in a white classic car, dressed in his usual black leather attire and finishing his cigarette as he eyed her Monte Carlo.

Needing her things from the trunk of her car, she figured she go out to get them and say hello.

Jeffrey's smirky grin formed as soon as he saw her. "Top of the mornin there to ya trouble. What's got you up bright and fucking early on this fine ass day?"

She lightly smiled. "I could ask the same of you trouble. You're sure in a good mood."

He got out of his car and swaggered over to her with the cigarette hanging loosely from his pursed lips. "I'm always in a good mood to see you sweet cheeks. I'm just here on...business. You...ok? You look like you've been crying."

"Never better." she lied and opened her trunk which brought his attention to her broken taillight.

"You never got back to me about fixin that. Cops in this town are dicks."

"I know. Sorry. Just have a lot going on."

"I hear ya. Me too. Here, let me help you with that luggage."

Tossing his smoke to the ground, he grinded it into the pavement with his biker boot and then with a growling grunt, he hoisted her bag out and swung it over his shoulder. "You got a dead body in here sweetheart?"

Jo rolled her eyes and grinned as she shut the trunk. "Maybe."

"Ooooh freeeaky fucking deeeky. I like freaky."

Once inside, he plopped the bag on her apartment floor and let his hazel eyes wander around. "Nice pad. So when you makin me dinner?"

She chuckled and glanced over at the burnt bacon Craig had cooked that she had forgotten to clean up. "Trust me. You do not want me to cook for you. It will turn out just like that."

"Nothin wrong with some crispy piggies. Although Dwighty boy may beg the differ when he looks in the mirror."

"Yeah about that. How did your hunt go?"

"THAT got put on hiatus for the time being due to a technical difficulty but that's being repaired as we speak so I'll be back on the piggie prowl before long. Speaking of repairs, I can fix that light for you today. You got time to bring it by the shop?"

"Actually no. I need to get to the hospital and check on my mom and sister."

"You're just askin for a ticket darlin but suit yourself."

"Ugh. Alright. Here."

She dug through her purse and took out her keys, then removed the car keys and tossed them at him. "Take it and drop it off back here when you're done."

His grin went from ear to ear. "Well hoooolllly shit. You're gonna let me drive the silver beast? Hot fucking damn. You don't gotta ask me twice."

"Yeah well...I hope you don't get a ticket either."

"Shiiiit sweetheart. If anyone can evade the law, it's little ol me. You want me to drop you at the hospital in a few? I just gotta check in with the boss man next door and I'll be ready to fly. What saaaaay YYYOU?"

"I guess so. I need to get a shower first."

His eyes twinkled under his perked brows, looking like the cat who ate the canary. "How bout we skip the dinner and you let me wash your back for you."

Shaking her head, she grabbed Craig's shoes and shoved them into Jeffrey's chest. "In your dreams. Take these back to Craig please."

"Ugh!" he grunted from the thrust and smiled. "In my dreams indeed, every damn night. All jokes aside, I pulled up here on my pearly white horse and saved you from breaking your back and I'm going to fix your car, not to mention I'm handling your inbred infestation so I suppose I could settle with a simple thank you Jeffrey, you're my goddamn hero and then maybe a little smooch on the cheek."

"Let me paraphrase. Thank you. Now go."

Jeffrey chuckled as she pushed him out the door. "Damn I love a dominant woman."

"Arrgh." she huffed and flung the door shut, then had to laugh when she heard his greeting as he knocked on Craig's door. "Little pig, little PIG. Let...me...in."

Craig's audible response was even more comical. "Not by the hair of my chinny fucking chin."

As Jo was finishing up her shower, the ringing of her phone on the bathroom counter sent her racing to it, naked and dripping wet in hopes that it was Lee, but it wasn't. It was her sister that she was still extremely pissed off at about Gerry.

"Megan?? What the hell do you want??"

"Jo! Don't hang up!!" she loudly whispered and continued to do so. "Where are you?? I have been trying to call you for TWO days! I need to talk to you ASAP!"

"Yeah well, in case you didn't notice, I didn't want to talk to you. Hold on. I just got out of the shower and need to dry off."

As she did a partial pat down, she could hear Megan complaining. "Hurry up!! I don't have much time!"

"Jesus Megs. Where's mom and why the hell are you whispering??"

"She's in the restroom with an upset stomach. I don't want her to hear me or she'll freak out."

"Well, you're freaking me out so tell me what's wrong!"

"The other night I smelled it!"

There was silence as Megan began breathing heavy in panic.

"Oh my god Megan, smelled what?? The smell of the pot you've obviously been smoking??"

"Him. The man in the tunnels."

"Wait, what? I thought you didn't remember anything?"

"I didn't until I smelled it! I had a nightmare and when I woke up, I...I saw a man walk by my room and stopped to look at me!! The door was open and I could smell his cheap cologne and suddenly, it triggered it."

"Ok hold on. There's a guard at your door remember? It was probably him and..."

"No!! He's been there awhile but I never smelled it on him!"

"Ok so then, you said this man looked at you? What did he look like? Did you recognize him??? Could it have been Ethan???"

She began to sob through her whispers. "I couldn't see his face, just like in my dreams. The hall was dark and my eyes were groggy from sleeping. It was like he was a silhouette. But...but he was tall and I could make out his clothing. He was wearing a ...a dark suit. Like a jacket and slacks and...his shoes, I noticed them because they were shiny and his shirt because it was white. Joey, it wasn't Ethan. I tried to tell you before I didn't feel that he did this....and....and there's more. I swear to god that Elizabeth woman was there, in the tunnels. I could hear her screaming. I can STILL hear it! Oh god Jo! Make it stop, make it stop!!"

"Calm down, calm down before mom hears you! OK listen to me. You said you had just woken up from a nightmare. Are you SURE you weren't dreaming all this??"

"YES!!" she shouted and then softly whispered. "The guard spoke to him. He asked him why he was in the halls that late. The man told him he was there waiting on his wife who was getting some tests and that he was just killing time and got lost. KILLING TIME JO! I think he was trying to intimidate me! I think he is still after me and wants to finish me off before I remember who he is!!!"

"SHHHHHH!!!!! Megan...breathe. Did you tell Luke?"

"Who???"

"Detective Bloom! Did you tell him or the guard??"

"Noooo. I'm too scared!"

"You've got to be fucking kidding me right now. So ok...you heard this man speak? You didn't recognize the voice either? What did his voice sound like?"

"No...I never heard it before, at least I don't remember his voice in the tunnels anyways but...this voice...it was a little deep and...and I think there was a little accent to it...maybe???"

Jo froze as her heart skipped a beat. "Acc...ent? What...kind of accent?"

"I DON'T KNOW! An accent! He spoke English but the accent was rather distinct."

Jo's voice now had a slight tremor in it. "Megan...what exact night and time was this?"

"Two nights ago, about 11:30...on the day you were here and I told you about Gerry....and...Joey...what's wrong? "

There was a moment of silence as Jo recollected that night. The night she had the anxiety attack and Craig took her to the hospital. "I want you to tell mom and that guard and have him contact Luke immediately. I....I gotta go. I'll be there soon."

"Wait, Jo no don't hang u...."

Jo's chest began to tighten as she stared at her reflection in the mirror with horrified eyes. "It can't be." she whispered. "He...he wouldn't..."

Doubt was settling in against the man she thought she knew and even cared for, for she knew the things he was capable of. She had witnessed it first hand but she had also witnessed the genuinely good side of him who wasn't proud of his profession so...was he capable of killing his ex-wife, the mother of his daughter? He certainly had motive for what she had done to him and the way he had spoke and felt about her proved that but...why would he hurt Megan? It didn't make any sense, especially when both of them had been sexually assaulted too and Liz was 2 months pregnant.

"No, no!" she exclaimed as her breathing shallowed, squeezing her airways. "Lee had fit that profile too but you were wrong then and you are wrong now. Craig, he couldn't....he just could not be the monster that did these horrific things!"

Still wearing the rubber band on her wrist that Craig told her to do to help her anxiety, she stretched it up high and let it snap back into place, over and over again until she could breathe normally.

Jo's anxiety had lessened but her racing thoughts of that night at the hospital accelerated. When she and Craig had first arrived, he was instantly set off by Orlando from their heated exchange of words and while she was getting a cat scan, he certainly had the opportunity to go by Megan's room. She also recalled that he was wearing a suit, a white shirt and black shiny shoes, then there was the fact that he did in fact have an accent.

The doubt was winning as she recalled Lee's words of how no one ever really knows anyone and now she was just flat out angry, hurt even that she had believed in yet...another man and she was going to find out the truth.

Quickly, she threw herself together and then like a stealthy cat, she snuck in the unlocked door to Craig's apartment that Jeffrey previously went in and hid in a concealed dark corner of the entranceway as she eavesdropped on the middle of their conversation for any leads.

As Jeffrey relaxed on Craig's studio sofa, puffing on another cigarette, Craig was rinsing out coffee mugs while the coffee brewed and complaining about Lee and his intrusion. "Arrogant asshat thinks he's 10 foot tall and bulletproof just fucking walking in here. If it weren't for Jo, the coroner would be wheeling his bloody body out of here as we speak."

"Ya well, you ever heard of those little gadget thingies called locks? News flash. They actually put them on doors for that purpose."

"YA WELL SMARTASS, that was a booze blunder. Pot calling the kettle black much? I've seen your booze blunders as well. ANYways, for a brain surgeon, he really is pretty fucking brainless to cheat on someone like her and having intimate liaisons with the likes of that trollop of a nurse. Reminds me of Liz. Cuckold cunt got what she deserved. No wonder the two were cahooting besties."

"Can't you little boys all get along? After all, you both were hoodwinked by that same cuckolding cunt and even put your dicks in same said cunt. Helllll, ya'll should have just played three-way bedroom twister and well shit, maybe you still can with his new ex since it appears ya'll don't seem to mind swapping sex partners. NOT that that's a bad thing. I like variety. Keeps things sweet and spicy with no sticky strings attached."

Jo's jaw dropped at Jeffrey's appalling perspective. If there was one thing about his invincible Negan persona, he had an unfiltered forked tongue and an a fearless ego. He called things as he saw them and he didn't care who's feelings got hurt. Not even Craig's. She had to wonder if the late Lucille was the reason behind his madness considering his revelation that day in the thicket junk pile of what he inflicted upon a man named Dwight who Jo could only presume had killed her. It actually surprised her that Jeff didn't just choose to kill him instead of maiming him for life.

Craig's mouth gaped as well and his eyes abruptly narrowed, releasing invisible bullets at the smug man on his couch. "I can handle your witty bullshit any fucking day, but you leave Jo's name out of it, especially in that fucking disrespectful manner or I'll handle you. Capeesh??!! You, nor is anyone else privy to my personal life. Not even doctor dumbass since he dumped her for Angel's reheated french fries. Perfidious prick. He don't deserve her."

"And let me guess. You do?" Jeffrey chuckled. "Do tell my inquiring mind why your shiny Cinderfuckinrella shoes were in her apartment?"

Craig slit-eyed him. "Your inquiring mind needs to fuck off. Jealous much? I know how you are and I see how your perverted eyes ogle her."

"Goddamn right I'm jealous. As jealous as Cinderelly's fugly ass stepsisters. If I could shove my big ass foot into those girly ass slippers, I sure as shit would if it meant I could join in on the twister games with that sweet eye candy. Hell, I'd even cut my big toe off...."

"FUCK ME, SHUT....UP!" Craig snapped. "Was I not clear enough about Jo?"

"Crystal but your water sure as shit ain't. You got a wine tap now? Steppin up your boss game eh?"

Craig's eyes darted to the forgotten running faucet that now streamed red water. "What in the fucking redrum hell?? Fucking piece of shit plumbing." he barked and turned the handle with a fisted rage.

Jeffrey snickered. "Jumpin Jehosephine! She's got you all kinds of sideways today. Don't need fucking coke bottles to see that. Hell, I could be a brail reading blind man and still see you've been struck by the arrow belonging to that creepy little bastard Cupid. You poor fucking chap. I was afraid of this and I even told her so but she was very clear how she feels about the dashing doc. She's going to chew you up and spit you out and I'm not talking about your cock and baby making potion, although that will probably... come... first."

"How about you shut your fucking pie hole Winchester and keep an eye out for the call from chink boy Wu. He better not fuck this up."

Jeffrey's brows quirked as he grinned. "My boy Dean seems to be rubbing off on you. Don't get your pretty little robe all in a twist there princess Parker. If Wu follows the plan, Hell will soon gain another dev...."

Craig raised his hand in command for him to shut up as his keen nose took a whiff of the air. "Jasmine." he whispered and he turned around to face the doorway. "Are you going to come out?"

With a silent gulp, Jo slowly emerged and faced the man she desperately wanted to believe was innocent.

"Jason clearly taught you well on your unobtrusive stealth except you forgot one incy wincy wittle detail. Your perfume love. You absolutely never wear anything scented when you don't wish to be discovered."

Jeffrey couldn't resist to snark on Craig once more. "And THERE'S that incy wincy wittle door gadget thing again." He then looked at Jo with a sly smirk. "Sweet smellin sneaky Josephine. Here I thought that perty aroma was boss boy's body wash. You really are trouble aren't you darlin?"

"Yeah, whatever Jeff...Negan or...is it John Winchester, the same name I saw on the prison log that Craig just referred to you as? I don't know what the fuck to call you anymore or even who to trust but hey, thanks for having my back behind my back during your twister talk. I think you just landed on right foot in mouth. If you cut your big toe off, it will probably fit."

For the first time ever, Jo witnessed what she thought was utterly impossible. Slightly hunched, elbows on his knees, Jeffrey was speechless with a seemingly shamed expression as he lowered and closed his eyes to rub his fingertips over his brow.

Jo pried her betrayed eyes from the man of three known names and planted them on Craig. "So did I hear what I'm pretty damn certain I heard? Did you seriously put a hit out on Peter??"

Jeffrey stood up and leaned into a backwards stretch. "I think that's my que to go wait outside while you two love birds hash this out."

Jo whipped her head to him. "SIT DOWN."

"Yes MA'AM." Jeffrey quipped and complied, grinning and leaning back on the cushions to cross his legs, stretch his arm out on top of the sofa and bite his bottom lip as his eyes ogled her with devious delight.

Craig then answered her question. "Do you really have a problem with that theory after what he's done to you or would you rather he continue to terrorize you in your dreams and control your emotions to the point of another anxiety attack which YOU said all stems from him?? If Jason were here, he would do the same damn thing to protect you."

"What I have a problem with is the fucking secrets. I seriously don't know who to trust anymore."

"You speak to me of trust when you just snuck in my apartment and eavesdropped on my conversation?"

Craig turned to pour his highly caffeinated coffee when Jo just blurted her thoughts about Liz out. "Did you do it? Did you kill Liz?"

Dropping his stirring spoon in the sink from shock, he turned back to her with an open mouthed stare.

Before responding, Craig kept his brooding eyes fixated on Jo while he gave Jeffrey an order. "NOW is your que to go. Get the fuck out."

"YES SIR!" he eagerly and enthusiastically replied as he flung to his feet. He then stopped to look at Jo as he approached her but kept himself at arm's length. "Sorry not sorry but the wizard has spoken. Gotta hit the road Dorothy before I'm picking ceramic shards out of my forehead. You still want me to fix your car?"

She returned the brooding stare to Craig as she replied to Jeffrey. "Take it and go. I'll find my own way to the hospital."

"Allllrighty then. You kids have fun now ya hear? Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

After Jeffrey swaggered out the door, Craig responded to the accusation in question form. "I thought we already established this. Where is this coming from?"

"Just answer the question."

"I think you already know the answer or you wouldn't be standing here alone with me."

"I'm not afraid of you."

"Jesus Jo! I don't WANT you to be afraid of me! What the fuck is happening here? I would never hurt you! Did Lee put this horseshit into your head over the whole gun incident??"

"He has nothing to do with it. Stop dancing around the question already."

"I already answered this fucking question long ago! NO! I had nothing to do with her death! If I did, why the hell would I lie to you about it after everything else I've allowed you to know about me??"

"Because that same person attacked my sister!"

"Ok, hold the hell up. I've never even met the girl or even have seen her, nor do have ANY reason in the fucking world to hurt her!"

"Really? How about the other night when you took me to the hospital?? She is adamant that the guy who kidnapped, raped and left her for dead came by her room that night. She saw him and it happened to be at the same time that you and I were there. He never expected her to survive and now he has come back to finish the job before she talks!"

"Ahhh, I see where this is going. Funny you keep saying HE and not my name. SO if she saw HIM then she'll be able to vouge that it wasn't me. Show her my photo. Take one of me right fucking now and show her." He confidently commanded.

"Well..." she struggled, "she...she said it was dark and she couldn't make out his face BUT she saw his clothes and could smell him. He was wearing a dark suit, white shirt and SHINY shoes, all like you were and he was tall...like you and wearing the same cologne she smelled in the tunnels AND she heard his voice. He had an accent and...so do you."

Craig formed a cocky smile. "Oh really??? This just keeps getting better. How can you be so smart and so clueless at the same time? You just described the majority of business men and DOCTORS in the surrounding area, not to mention in case you have forgotten, Salem is a tourist attraction. Many people come here year round from all parts of the globe, hence the accent. Especially Boston. The accent is extremely distinct. Did she say what KIND of accent?? Oh and news flash, many men wear cologne. I in fact wear one kind. Go ahead. Go look in the bathroom. Take the fucking bottle and have her smell it!"

When Jo remained silent, Craig continued. "I do believe I see the wheels of doubt spinning in your pretty little head. I make a strong argument don't I? I don't need to be an attorney at law to have common sense. It's all circumstantial Jo or better yet, coincidental and absolutely absurd and you know it and you know me, well at least I thought you did. If I wanted her dead, she'd be dead. I would never have left her alive in that tunnel. I'm not that sloppy. Sloppy and also very fucking stupid would be going by her guarded hospital room, giving her AND the guard the chance to see my face, letting them hear my voice and describe me to a tee, OH and smell me like I just playfully scolded YOU about when you walked in and let's not forget WHY I did what I did to those rednecks. Because they were going to do to you what was done to your sister. I don't practice what I preach!"

Craig gulped down his cold brew with a grimace and then sharply sat the mug down. "I'll be right back. Let me give you something. Wait here a minute.... unless you're too afraid I might come back with my gun and shoot you."

She plopped down on the couch and began snapping her wrist again with the rubber band again until Craig returned only seconds later, carrying a zip lock baggie with a kleenex inside.

"Oh would you look at that. You're still here. Must not be all that worried that I'm going to take you down to the basement, chop you into little pieces and toss your remains in the incinerator. Here...give this to Melanie. My cologne is on it."

"It's Megan."

"What? Oh, well my bad. I guess that's what happens when I don't know Eve from Adam."

"You could have worn a different cologne."

Craig's lips pursed as he glowered down at her, nose flaring. "You know what JO, there's someone else that would be at that hospital who you EXACTLY described and who has a certain modus operandi and motive who also had a very weak alibi, which was provided by....drum roll please.... YOU, his girlfriend."

"Lee don't have an accent!"

"Right, cause no one can FAKE those. I can easily change mine, which I would have if it had been me. Listen carefully."

The next thing he said was spoken in an American accent with not a single trace of the full blooded Kiwi he was. "My bets still one hundred percent on that British boob stain Ethan who we know despised Liz and would most definitely have it out for Megan since she told the cops she thought he might have taken Blaise. See?" He then resumed his colonial twang. "But I'm still not counting out Dr. Giggles who had easy authorized access to the drugs that put the nail in Liz's coffin. God that movie was creepy as shit."

"Lay off of him already. I don't appreciate your ranting roast about him earlier when you don't even know everything. Sure, he is a person of interest but so are you."

"Annnnd you still defend him after being unfaithful or did that not count because you were on a break like Ross and Rachel? And maybe you shouldn't follow in his footsteps and just walk into someone's apartment where you might overhear things that were not meant for your ears."

Her eyes began to sting. "He didn't cheat on me! It was all a misunderstanding but he left me nonetheless so that should make you happy and right now, I'm beginning to see why Liz cheated on you!"

"As hurtful and cruel as that was to say to me, I still don't want you to hurt so no, I'm not happy that you're in pain Jo but don't come over here and take it out on me. You hated Liz too and not once did I accuse you of killing her, even when you were a person of interest as well."

She thought of the evidence Lee found in his car as she stood up. "You'd just set me up instead."

His brows fiercely clashed together as he threw his hands in the air. "What in the hell are you talking about now?? You know what? I don't wanna know. You are just bound and determined to believe that it's me no matter what I say! Why on God's green earth would I set you up when I'm IN LOVE WITH YOU??!!"

Jo's lids fluttered in shock, forcing out her welled up tears. "You're in...love with me? Why?"

"Beats the shit outta me right now!"

The silence was deafening as Craig's white flag went up. He stared at the floor with moistened eyes as he spoke from his heart. "All I know is, I solemnly swear to you on Blaise, it wasn't me Jo and now I think it's time for you to go. I'm not angry and I do understand how you were led to irrationally believe such nonsense but I am offended and hurt though because you should have known the truth in your heart."

Craig walked to the door and held it open and as Jo stepped into the hall, she turned to face him. "Craig...I...."

The door closed and she heard the deadbolt harshly lock. Clenching her eyes shut, she sighed as she thought of how Lee said the same thing about Jacob in his defense about Angel. It was no different coming from Craig because Blaise was his heart and now, she believed him but she feared it was a little too late to rectify. The damage had been done and she was alone once again.

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