Lizzy POV

These past two weeks had been the hardest. I hadn't spoken to Sean due to their practice schedule but I did hear from Jarreau telling me Sean was focusing on the team. My calls from Aries were few and in between. He also had a crazy schedule and I was able to convince him not do anything to Sean.

After leaving the hospital and coming back home, I threw myself into my work too. Out of habit I checked my phone all day to see if Sean had called but nothing. Maybe this was the last straw.

I wanted to cry. So many times I picked up my phone to call but never made it past the send button. Jarreau begged me to call him but the look on his face when I told him to leave broke me. The bad part I don't know how to fix it.

I was finishing up my last surgery when Alanna Roberts stopped me.

"You look miserable."

"I feel miserable."

"Call him."

"No."

"Are you still mad about what happened at the funeral?"

"No because I know he would never hurt me. I tried to stop him from stomping Aries down because Sean could have killed him. I had never seen him so angry before and I was scared. If I didn't try to stop him, Aries would have been ten feet under and Sean would have become prisoner 543453."

"Aries should have never instigated the situation. I just hate you got hurt in the process."

"I'll be okay. It takes a lot to knock me down."

We turned the corner.

"I have a confession and only you will know."

"Are you plotting something?"

"I am actually."

"I have a feeling this is going to be good."

"I treated Sean the way I did because I hired a private investigator to follow Shaunte."

"Lizzy?"

"I can't be with Sean until I know for sure if Shae is pregnant or not. I truly think she isn't and I can't touch her records because I don't have access."

"What really happened when you were in California?"

"Let me buy you a tea because you are going to need it."

An hour later, Lana was in awe. She listened while I told her about the fight with Sean and everything in between until I came home."

"You followed her?"

"I did. I keep thinking this Dr. Ausef Banda is crooked. She was literally dressed to have sex with him."

"Do you think they could be dating?"

"No. She hadn't been back to the clinic since my PI told me."

"Ausef Banda. That name sounds familiar for some reason. I don't remember from where though."

"Anyone helping that heifer can't be right."

"I agree. So how long is this going to last?"

"Until I get my answer."

"Let me help you Liz."

"I'm not sure if you can?"

"Have you forgotten that my dad and his best friends are FBI agents with access to everything."

"I totally forgot about that. I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I can play it off. Let me take care of this doc. At least that is one thing off your plate."

"I appreciate that."

"Anything to get you two together."

"Aries or Sean?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Sean of course. I just don't know why you even want Aries."

"He's sweet, good in bed and he loves me."

"We have been friends for years Liz and I just don't trust Aries. He seems like a playa."

"I'm sure he was until he met me."

"Although Corbin never cheated on me, I hear now that he is tapping everything under the sun. He wasn't ready to settle down. I didn't see it at first but now I'm glad we didn't get married. I would have been miserable."

"Corbin still loves you."

"He may but he's not ready for the love I have for him. He would have to change everything about himself before I could ever take him back."

"Sean loves me Lana."

"I know. I just don't understand why you won't fully give him your heart."

"I have been thinking about that for days. Every time I want to make that move, something stops me. I'm not sure if its emotionally or psychologically. I want to be with him but it just never seems like the right time."

"Relationships are hard.  Some people would say you both love each other and I can't understand why you can't be together or they might say, you're so dumb that you can't see what is in front of you. But people are different. You and I are just alike, we love hard. When Corbin left me, my glass walls came tumbling down. It's been two years and I haven't been with another man since then. I keep my heart guarded."

"It's been hard not talking to him. It feels like a piece of me is missing."

"This is what I think and I could be wrong. After this Shaunte deal is over with, I think it will be the perfect time. No more interruptions."

"And Aries?"

"You will visit him next week. You need to watch and listen to those hoochies. You will know if he's been creeping."

"I don't think he is like that."

"We will see."

I loved Lana, you could always count on her.

"On another topic I have to ask you something." She took a sip of her tea and I tucked my feet under my backside. 

"I was talking to my mom and if you are interested in going to South America in the next few months, she would love to have you on the team as the lead ortho."

"Really? I thought Havers Goidwin was your mom's lead?"

"He's having back surgery in the next eight weeks and he wouldn't be able to travel."

"This is an honor."

"So I will take that as a yes? I finally have someone my age on this trip. I love my mom but she and her crew are getting old. The more younger docs we get the easier it will be to recruit and keep tradition alive."

"I'm excited."

"I will have our HR lady get your information and send you the packet."

I clapped. I had being wanting to be on the field team for the Foundation for years. The Foundation covered healthcare to poor nations and also helped with low economical communities here in the states.

Lana looked at her watch. "Speaking of Shaunte there is a psych presentation want to join me?"

"What is it about?"

"Not sure. I heard one of my residents talking about. She said Wade Cox, one of the top psychologists in the country was speaking, and I also heard they were offering continuing medical education credits."

"We all need those to maintain our licenses."

"Exactly and it's free."

"Let me check the board to see if I have anymore cases for the day, if not I will meet you in the classroom."

"It's in classroom three." Lana threw her cup away and stood by the door.

"Okay. If I'm free I'll be in there in ten minutes."

"Sounds good. I'll save you a seat."

Lana and I walked out my office and I headed to the surgery board. Everything looked good for ortho and I had two patients in x-ray.

"Mary if you need me, just call my cell. I'm going to attend a case study in classroom three. I have two patients in x-ray so just have the tech email me the results."

"Will do Dr. Johnson."

"Thanks."

I was walking towards the classroom when my phone rang. It was Jarreau.

"Hey is everything okay?"

"Shaunte is going to some hotshot doctor today."

"Who is it?"

"I'm not sure."

"How did you find out?"

"I overheard Sean talking to Shae on the phone. He is suppose to meet her there."

"Do you have the address?"

"Ah I was ease dropping not taking down addresses. I'm sure your PI can get it for you."

"I will call him."

"Sean misses you and to be honest, he sucks in practice. He's not remembering the plays, the coaches are in his ass and they even got him going to a head doctor."

"A psychiatrist, for christsakes. He's not crazy, he's depressed."

"Well if he keeps going like this, the season will be ruined."

"Poor thing."

"Exactly. I blame you, Shaunte and Aries. Shaunte is most of the blame but you and Aries put the icing on it."

"I will see what I can do."

"You need to fix this. All of it!"

"I'm working on it, geesh!"

"Are you coming to fan day?"

"I'm not sure the photo shoot was moved a few days back."

"The hell you're not. If I have to fly to Baton Rouge or Hawaii I'm dragging your ass here, I swear I will. It's been two weeks and my boy is losing it."

"Fine I will call him, satisfied?"

"You better! When are you going to do it?"

"Tonight."

"Not soon enough."

"I am still at work Jarreau."

"You better be or I am hiring a PI to watch you."

"I don't need to be watched."

"Oh by the way, the pictures of you and Sean for that magazine are officially out. You can look online to see the pics."

"Thanks Jarreau."

"Don't thank me, call him."

"Whatever Jarreau."

He hung up. I was at the door to the classroom and walked in. There was a pretty good crowd and I spotted Lana. The speakers hadn't started so I was just in time.

"Hey. I'm glad you could make it. Here is the case study." She passed it to me and on the cover was a picture of this Dr. Cox. He was an older physician with over twenty years of experience in psychotherapy. He was also an international expert in factitious disorders.

The lights darken and a slide presentation started. The case study began with a normal woman on the screen. It showed you stages of pregnancy and that the end result was a live human breathing child. The next few slides were of women that weren't actually pregnant but used manipulation tactics to keep a secret from everyone.

Thoughts of Shae going to this Dr. Banda office was very unsettling. For each picture that was shown on the screen, I could imagine Shae which gave me chills. More pictures of women serial killers appeared and it showed how one lady was brutally cut opened and her baby taken away from her body and another woman stalked and killed for her unborn child. The pictures were sickening and made you grieve for the poor souls.

"I'm Dr. Wade Cox and today I will be talking about false pregnancy and phantom pregnancy which is officially called pseudocyesis. It is generally believed that false pregnancy is caused by changes in the endocrine system of the body, leading to the secretion of hormones that cause physical changes similar to those during pregnancy. Some men experience the same illnesses while pregnant when their partner is pregnant. Its called Couvade Syndrome, possibly caused by pheromones that increase estrogen, prolactin, and cortisol levels. The images I just showed were more of the most vile and psychotic cases of pseudocyesis."

I looked over at Lana and she turned to me.

"Tell the truth. Did you know what the subject matter was going to be about?"

"I did. If you are going after Shae, then you need to know how to take her down. She was right, you don't have to fight her physically, but you will crush her mentally."

I nodded and continued to listen. People asked questions and one in particular caught my attention.

"Is it true that some women result to using baby mills? I've always wondered if they exist?" A short blonde resident asked.

"As a matter of fact they do. All around the world young girls are kidnapped, sold into prostitution and while the mother can't work, they sell the babies on the black market to recoup their lost wages as you see here," he said showing more slides.

The conditions were horrific and it was no way they could be getting away with this in America. I continued the watch shaking my head and listening to the lecture. By the time I left out I was even more determined to bust Shae. If she was doing something illegal, I was going to make an example out of her.

Sean POV

My fingers roamed across the numbers on my phone. I traced each number pretending to dial.

"You are pitiful. Who needs to watch a soap opera when you and Lizzy are like this? I see why I'm single, you two take way too much out of me," Jarreau said getting out the shower.

I was sitting on the bench next to my locker with my head down. I replayed myself walking out that hospital room while she turned her back to me. Two days in a row and I had let her down. Life was so unfair.

"Man just call her."

I ignored Jarreau.

"I bet a million dollars she is just as sad as you are."

"How would you know that? She's probably galavanting with Aries."

"Ugh!!" I heard him say looking at me and slamming his locker door.

"You are my main man. I wasn't going to tell you this but Lizzy has called me everyday since she left."

"What?!"

"When you left her hospital room, she asked me to watch over you."

"She told me to leave."

"Sounds familiar?"

"Is this a game she's playing to get back at me?"

"Actually no. Just like you thought she was going to kill Shae, she thought the same between you and Aries. You thought she chose him over you but she was trying to defuse the situation. Aries took her to the airport and she hasn't seen him since. He's been practicing just like we have so they don't communicate like you think."

"Why are you just telling me this now?"

"Because you suck right now. We need your leadership and guidance. The guys know you aren't playing at your best and it's hurting them too. We can't win unless your head is in the game. People are looking for us to fail because of Lucius but like you told us, we have to see it through."

"So much is on my mind."

"I know, but we have to find a way to get you back on the path."

"I think it's easier said than done."

"Your love life yes, playing this game is way easier."

"So what does she say when she's on the phone with you."

"Let's just say, I'm not you. That girl can talk. I be like Lizzy can you please find something to do? She just talks, talks, talks. The other night I put the phone down for five minutes and she was still talking."

I laughed. "She can be...winded, but I love it. She just likes to express herself."

"She talked about replacing a left cuff and how this man had surgery before and he had no penis, I'm like next."

I laughed.

"See you are made to deal with her, I would have to tape her mouth if she was my girl."

"It's not that bad?"

"Yes it is. I will need an eardrum replacement by the time you two get together."

"Shae has an appointment today with some doctor downtown at this swanky place."

"Why she not using her regular female doctor? Most women do."

"This doctor is suppose to be real good. He is going to see her after hours."

"Do you know his name?"

"No but he was Buddy Valdez's wife, Lyna's doctor."

"Didn't Buddy think she was lying to trap him?"

"Yeah but DNA proved he was and seven months later she gave birth. Although it was messed up that he was on the road when it happened."

"I thought they were divorced?"

"They had two more kids so he decided just to stay with her. I personally think he's miserable."

"You are going to be too if you end up with Shae."

"Hopefully this doctor will tell me she isn't. That would definitely be a weight  off my shoulders."

"Please tell me you are going in the room with her and getting a DNA test?"

"Yes."

"I would make her pee on another stick and watch her do it."

"What?"

"Why didn't you first wear a condom and secondly why didn't you watch her piss?"

"She said it happened after a party and I was drunk. Secondly eww hell no I'm not going to watch her pee on a stick, thats gross and nasty."

"When it comes to your livelihood you better learn. I know Michael is your head agent but you need to watch out for number one. You can't trust a lot of people especially behind the money you make."

"Michael set up the appointment. I trust him. He's never stirred me wrong and has made me millions over the years."

"Just watch your back."

"Do you know something Jarreau?"

I looked at him and he turned quickly gripping his locker.

"You do know something? Tell me."

"Lizzy hired a PI to follow Shae."

"What?!"

"The day you and her got into that fight, I convinced her to stay. She was hurt and devastated."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

He looked around and the last of our teammates were leaving. He slipped on his shirt and took a seat next to me.

"Lizzy and I had a long talk. She shared some things I won't go into. But what I will tell you is that after I got her phone from your house, she was in my truck. When we left your house we went to a diner where we saw Shae and this pregnant girl. They left together and the girl went into Shae's apartment but never came out."

"Are you sure she was pregnant?"

"Lizzy thought so. She made me sit outside of Shae's apartment and minutes later Shae left. We followed her to this clinic in the worst part of town. The doctor's name was Ausef Banda. He is a real doctor Lizzy claims as she looked him up by the California Board of Medicine. Shae was dressed like she was going to have office sex with him."

"How was she dressed?"

"In a trench, black pumps and fishnets. Her makeup was fresh and perfect and hair pinned up. An hour or so later she came out and her hair was down and her shoes were in her hand."

"This just keeps getting worse."

"Anyway Lizzy was at the funeral. I had her things in my truck. I didn't know Aries was there as she told me, she was catching a taxi to the airport. I thought nothing of it until you saw her and World War Four and Five broke out."

"I replay that moment everyday."

He patted me on the back.

"Well good news she talked Aries out of pressing charges on you and the team."

"How did she do that?"

"I was afraid to ask."

"If she...never mind."

"I'm not going to lie the expression on your face broke me inside. You are both my friends and to see you both in pain was too much to bear. Before I walked out her hospital room, she cried. Those were tears of hurt not pain."

This was a lot to take in. What was Lizzy trying to do? She was playing a dangerous game and I couldn't let her.

"This is all so strange to me."

"Getting to know Lizzy there is always a reason behind her actions. Sometimes they don't quite come out as planned but she has good intentions. To be honest, I think she's plotting something?"

"Like what?"

"She is trying to bust Shae."

"If she is lying I will bust her myself."

"No Lizzy has to do it. She has this protective complex and she feels she has to protect you from all harm. From talking to her it started when you were young."

The first thing I thought of was Willie Thompson. He was a bully and Liz had taken him out.

"Look I really think she is going to pretend to be a gold-digger to get information. Through all her ranting and raving she is going to get into that inner circle."

"J please tell me she was just talking?"

"You know her wayyyyy better than I do, but I think she was dead serious."

"I've been going about this the wrong way. This damn woman is going to have me locked up in the the looney bin."

Jarreau looked at me confused.

"Give me your phone."

"Wait? What are you going to do with my phone?"

"Now Jarreau!"

He passed me the phone and I dialed. On the second ring I heard, "hello."