Chapter Two- Falling Forward

May 6, 1987

“Hey darling” The woman gave a weak smile from her bedside. Her blonde hair messily pulled up into a ponytail, as it fell over her shoulder. Her arm outstretched, in a tilted manner as her voice beckoned her daughter to come to her side. Her blue green eyes shining through the pain that wracked her body, as she lifted her fingers back and forth in effort to get her to sit down.

Slender frame, green eyes reflecting the mere image of her mother, the young girl of thirteen, dressed in jeans and an old red shirt, timidly sat in the wicker chair next to her mother, rocking silently back and forth.

“Did I ever mention how much I love you?” She gave a teasing smile, as tears began to well in her eyes. Her chapped lips began to quiver, but she quickly composed herself, as her daughter stopped rocking the chair, her body still.

Megan opened her eyes, got off the chair, and bent down to give her mom a hug that she had wished had lasted forever, if she could have. “I do--” She got up from where she sat, and placed herself on the side of the bed. Her smile small but there, as she stroked her mother’s cheek with her hand.

She would never forget the feeling that surfaced through her, noting that this was the last time, she would feel her mother’s breath caress against her skin. And the love that waved through her would deepen as noted that this was her mother’s goodbye, the last words she spoke, would become memories.

The doctor had said that she was getting closer. Every breath that she took would be the few that she had left within her But Megan knew within that with her mother’s passing, things would become harder, more challenging, leaving four children, left in the hands of their father. Brent Reeves. A successful businessman who loved his work and family; at least that’s the illusion he created.

“I want you to have this” She pointed slowly to the bracelet on her arm, bringing Megan out of her thoughts as tears welled up in her eyes, her gaze slowly focusing upon a bracelet that she had always adored, ever since she was little. Her mother slipped the bracelet off her own arm, and placed it upon hers, “You will never be alone” Megan silently ran her fingers over the gold bracelet, a single tear falling down her cheek.

-----

“Okay, but I might have something you want” Don called through the door, admiring the small item he had in hand. She had mentioned one time after they had all gone out to dinner together, of the value that this bracelet meant to her. He had never pressed her to know the full details, yet again everything had a meaning, and not everything was intended to be understood.

Megan was shifting through the medicine cabinet, the pounding ceasing slightly as she opened the small bottle of Advil. At his words she set it down on the counter before walking over to the door. The locks shifting across their prior hold, as she opened the door and stepped out into the hall.

“Don” She stood by the door, as she watched him turn around, his fingers grasping the fallen object. Her fingers lightly touching over the frame of the door, her arm outstretched, her palm laying flat on the wall.

He turned around still grasping the bracelet, “Thought you might want this” He opened his hand, revealing the gold, with a pretty exotic flower with hearts engraved on it. On the sides were a few names, one he recognized as Megan’s.

She smiled softly, and slowly took the bracelet with a small thanks. Her fingers running over the engraved names, as she shook her head, she could still feel his gaze upon her. “Thanks” Quickly composing herself as she placed it back on her wrist.

He nodded, ”Hey you still going to your nephew’s party tonight?”

She shoved her hands into her pocket “The fundraiser” She added abruptly, shaking her head, “How could I forget?” She smiled, folding her arms, over one another.

Her nephew Keegan had been planning this since he had learned about his grandmother. The one he never met, because she had died of heart failure. He had seen many photos, but as the future generation, his mother Lei showed her kids, passing on stories and pictures that they could always keep with them just like Audrey and Katie did with their kids. And one day Megan would do the same.

“Wait, when did this happen?--“ He quirked an eyebrow sarcastically, then paused, “I thought kids were suppose to have birthday parties”

A slight pause and a shrug, “Yeah well most do,” She unfolded her arms, arching a brow that read as something that he could understand, but realized they were not yet to be expressed in words. She sighed, “And those were the days” Megan said softly, her words trailing as she turned around, peering into her apartment to look at the black framed clock on the wall by the door.

Usually he wasn’t the one to pry, but something in her tone caught him by the tie; each always having a connecting sense—independently protecting the other, no matter what. “Yeah those were the days,“ he said distantly, consciously realizing as his head snapped in her direction--sudden paleness drawing to her face, concerns etching in his features as she turned back towards him.

“You know you should really think about my offer” She joked softly, noting his far off look, as she stood at the door. He looked up at her, immediately asking himself what offer? Before he could answer she replied, “How long has it been since you’ve actually gone home?”

He shrugged off the answer a bit, knowing she was right. He didn’t even really remember the last time he had gone home, took a load off of his mind, sat down and relaxed. This last case had been brutal—a newlywed couple had been part of a kidnapping scheme—only to have the husband and wife come back bruised and torn, both left for dead, after their forced deeds had been accomplished.

A scheduled conference for the FBI, had come soon after, bringing Don and Megan to San Francisco, leaving them to shift their thoughts and fatigue to someplace else.