Chapter One

The sign welcoming him to Capeside glinted in the early evening sun as Jack drove past. He was back and he was worried .He knew that it was just for the summer, some time to slow down and shake off the stresses of city life, but he wasn't convinced that he would ever be able to unwind here. He didn't want to be the talk of the town anymore and he was too tired to defend himself in the face of other people's ignorance and intolerance.

It had been Pacey who'd suggested that he come back, and kindly invited him to stay at his place. Jack was looking forward to seeing his friend again, but living with him, that was going back in time - it had been over three years since they'd shared the apartment in Boston.

The town itself came into view and it was precisely as Jack remembered it. A few faces looked familiar as he cruised along the busy main street. Was this really such a good idea, he thought to himself, wondering if the Caribbean would have been the more sensible option. Still, he was here now and he just had to make the best of whatever came his way.

Doug flicked through the TV channels waiting for something to grab his attention. Nothing did. He was spending another evening at Pacey's taking advantage of his brother's culinary talents. It had turned into a regular occurrence and he had to admit, it suited him, even Pacey's company was better than an evening alone with a take-away meal. The kid working in the video store knew him so well that he'd started selecting films that he thought Doug might like. Doug couldn't make up his mind as to whether this was embarrassing or if he was just glad to have someone else make the decision.

It had been a long, frustrating day, some local kids had been seen stealing and despite a chase they'd got away. Doug knew who they were, he just couldn't catch them. He leant back in his chair letting his eyes close as fatigue took over.

Jack knocked on the solid front door and waited, wondering if he should have called to let Pacey know what time he was arriving. As the door opened Jack was pulled into the most enthusiastic and exuberant hug he'd had in a very long while.

"It's so good to see you Jack" Pacey released his grip and stood back grinning at his friend. "Come in, can I get you a beer?"

"You may, but don't stop at one, it's been a long drive" Jack closed the door behind him and followed his friend into the living room

"You remember my brother, don't you Jack" Pacey looked back over his shoulder as he spoke "He's here for dinner- I'm the only date he can get"

Doug threw his brother a chastising look and rose from his seat trying force the tiredness from his body. "It's very nice to see you again Jack. You'll have to excuse my juvenile brother he thinks he's being smart" A warm smile graced Doug's features as he continued, "what he doesn't realise is that we've heard it all before and it wasn't funny then either"

"Your harsh words wound me Dougie" Pacey retorted, with a huge grin and a hand on his heart in simulated pain. He handed them the two beer bottles he'd brought from the kitchen. "Drink my friends but think of me while I strive for culinary perfection, for you deserve no less"

"Just get back in that kitchen little brother. I'm starving." said Doug, laughing as Pacey retreated in feigned surrender.

Jack relaxed in his chair enjoying the light-hearted banter. Some things never change, he thought to himself. He glanced across at Doug curiously, he'd never had much to do with this man, he'd always just thought of him as Pacey's older brother, uptight and defined by his job. Jack was surprised to see how happy and relaxed Doug looked,was there more to Officer Witter than met the eye, he wondered. Jack hadn't realised he was staring until Doug's head turned and a pair of clear blue eyes looked straight back at him.

"So how's the teaching working out for you Jack" Doug inquired, slightly unnerved by the way Jack had been looking at him. "Do they have to call you Mr McPhee?"

Jack smiled at the question, he'd hated that at first, it always felt as if he should be looking around for his father. "Yes they do, unfortunately, but in spite of that, it's wonderful, very rewarding. I get to put something back, help the kids to find their way. You must get the same sort of feeling, having been a cop all these years"

"On a good day. If I can see past the mountain of paperwork that I constantly have on my desk"

"Tell me about it" Jack responded, grinning." It's the one part of my job that gets me down"

"You're looking good on it anyway Jack"

"Thanks." Jack was pleased at how easy he found Doug to talk to, but something in those eyes disturbed him, all he had seen when Doug looked at him was intense sadness and it stayed there no matter how wide the smile became. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, Jack thought to himself, there was something troubling Doug intensely. Jack's mind began to wander as he thought about what could possibly make someone so unhappy.

"Jack"

"What?" the sound of Doug voice penetrated Jack's thoughts

"Are you ok; you looked miles away"

"I'm fine Doug, just tired I guess." It was a convenient excuse and much better than the truth "I'm back with you now." He threw Doug a friendly smile "Give me the hot news of Capeside"

Doug smiled, "That won't take long"

"There must be something, has Pacey not been getting the grapevine going recently?"

Doug was just about to answer when Pacey leaned his head around the door "Did I heard my name being mentioned. Don't believe anything he says Jack.How are you two getting along ?"

"We're fine" Doug answered defensively, sensing that there was more to come. He was right.

"You know Doug, you should get out more, talk to nice people like Jack here - you might even get youself a date, if you're lucky"

"Shut up Pacey" Doug spat the words out in undisguised fury

"Relax, I didn't mean you should get a date with Jack, you're not his type anyway" Pacey winked at Jack conspiratorially.

Jack, feeling extremely uncomfortable, said nothing. He looked across the room and saw Doug rising from his chair, his eyes burning with anger

"What the hell makes you think you have the right to talk to me like that" Doug growled furiously at his brother. "I will not be ridiculed and laughed at by you, how I choose to spend my time is my own business, would you like me to start dissecting your life, analysing every second of it?" Pacey shook his head as Doug continued "I didn't think so. Sort yourself out first, and then you can start on me"

"I'm sorry" Pacey muttered, in shock at the ferocity and suddenness of Doug's attack on him. "I didn't mean anything, it was just a joke. It's what we do"

"No Pacey, it's what you do" Doug replied, letting out a weary sigh. The anger had gone as fast as it had arrived and now he just wanted to get out. He picked up his keys from the table and began making his way across the room. "Goodbye Jack, sorry to have spoiled your evening "

"Don't apologise, it's not all your fault, I'll see you around the place" Jack shook the hand he'd been offered. "Take it easy Doug"

Jack was pleased to see a slight nod of the head and a tired smile in response to his words. Maybe he could be a friend to this man, he had a feeling Doug could use one. The door closed gently as Doug left, without saying another word to his brother.

"Why do you do it Pace?"

"Do what?" Pacey replied innocently, bringing the food from the kitchen.

"Tease him like that,"

"I don't know, habit. Like I said, I was just kidding, Doug knows that"

"He didn't seem to find it too amusing this time" Jack said seriously

"That's his problem isn't it. Come eat and tell me all about Jen and Grams"

Jack knew this was his cue to stop talking about Doug. He was intrigued by Doug's comments about Pacey's life but now definitely wasn't the time to ask and Jack wasn't sure if Pacey would have told him the truth anyway.

Doug sat uncomfortably on Pacey's doorstep hating himself for the way he'd just reacted. He knew he shouldn't let Pacey get under his skin like that, and to have behaved in that way with someone else there, Doug was mortified. As he thought about everything that had happened he could feel the tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes. They were tears of anger, embarrassment and the intense frustration that had been building up inside him for a while now and Doug longed to be able to let them out.

The sound of footsteps on the street jolted him back to reality, this wasn't the time or the place, and how he was feeling was not this town's business. He rose to his feet, wiped the dampness from his face and, back in control of himself, began his journey home.