"So the police have no idea?" Ben asked, rubbing Charlie's shoulder as they sipped their hot cocoas outside Masonic.

"Fitz said there wasn't enough substantial evidence to issue a warrant," Charlie said, numb with cold and fear. "And if I try to find out this Monica chick's address and talk to her myself, I might muck up the investigation. Or worse, put Eddy in danger.

"I'm sure the police asked this, but did she have any enemies?"

"Well, Eddy was a piece of work, to be sure. You might think she was a bitch if you didn't know her well. But there's no way it'd be bad enough that someone would threaten her. Well, this one psycho chick that was obsessed with her, but her name sure as hell wasn't Monica."

"We'll find her. Don't worry." Charlie hated that this awesome guy that he just started dating had to see him in an abrupt emotional crisis. But as Ben put his arm around him, allowing him to lean his head on Ben's shoulder, Charlie felt okay about it. As Ben squeezed him tighter, kissing him on the top of the head, Charlie started feeling guilty about Josh, even though for all intents and purposes it was over.

"I have to tell you something," Charlie began timidly.

"Is it about Eddy? Did you just remember something?"

"No... it's... you're just being so awesome and I'm such an ass."

"I'm likely to object, but why do you feel like that?"

"Remember that guy I was with? When you were waiting for me at my front door?"

"Yeah... ?" Ben said, nervously.

"Well... it's a long story, but... basically... I started dating you both at the same time."

"Ah."

"And I don't usually... I mean, I've NEVER... but... on one hand, I hoped against hope that we'd meet again and on the other... the timing with Josh's break-up and... "

"So who did you end up choosing?"

"You, of course."

Ben kissed him lightly on the lips. "Alright then."

"You're not mad?"

"How can I be? You chose me."

"But I didn't tell you. I mean, it was kind of d-baggy of me... "

"See, but you just did. And you didn't have to. That says a lot more about you and what you feel about where we're going than if you hadn't. Plus, I imagine I'm much more adorable than he is."

Charlie kissed him back. "Much."

*

Ben barely had signed in but he could hardly wait for his rounds to be over. He didn't care that he wouldn't have had a chance to even grab a catnap: in just ten hours, he'd be having breakfast with Charlie and that was just awesome.

"Someone's all flushed," said a voice next to Ben as he put away his personal effects in his locker. "Is it the cold or this new boy we've been seeing?"

Ben blushed. "Evenin' Doctor," he smiled at his colleague.

"Evenin' Doctor," she smiled back.

"I've been meaning to tell you, I love what you've done with your hair."

"Thanks," she giggled, putting it back in a ponytail. "I've definitely been feeling more Marilyn than Ann-Margaret lately. But you still haven't answered my question."

"Yeah, alright, it's the new boy. It's just going so well," he beamed.

She smiled back. "I get it. I've kind of fallen head over heels myself."

"Oh yeah, who's the lucky lady?"

"No one you'd know," she said, as the microwave beeped that her dinner was ready. As she went to get it, Ben noticed pictures taped to the inside of her locker. Pictures of a beautiful woman who looked a lot like Charlie (but not as cute.)

Pictures of the woman at a bar.

Pictures of her hailing a cab.

Pictures of her having lunch with Charlie.

Ben realized in that instant: this was Charlie's sister. He remembered her from when Charlie was in his coma.

"Doctor?" Ben asked apprehensively.

"Yo!" she asked, salting her TV dinner.

"How do you know Eddy Parker?"

She grew quiet for a second. "You know Eddy?"

"She's the guy I'm seeing's sister You've got a picture of them... "

A chair came crashing against the side of his head, knocking him to the ground. As blood rushed from his forehead, he looked up to see his colleague standing over him.

"Why, Dawn?" he asked.

He never felt the needle entering his vein.

###

Glad to be back for Volume 4! Just joining us? Catch up now:

Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

###