The car came to screeching halt outside the house as Joe and O'Donnell saw the two officers who were watching the house detaining a scruffy looking guy in handcuffs and another unit parked nearby.

"What's going on?" Joe asked as they approached them

One of the officers, a tall blonde man, named Richards, responded, "Sir, we caught this guy snooping around between your house and the neighbors. I guess he's not so smart after all and didn't notice us."

It was afternoon so Corey was at school but Michelle should have been home, "Where's my wife?" While he was relieved it wasn't Falco he wanted to know Michelle was safe

"She left couple of hours ago." The other officer, Peterson, answered

"Left?" Oh God, how could she leave by herself? What was she thinking?

"Yeah we saw her pull out." He replied then addressed the burglar, "Come on, wise guy." He took him over to the unit and shoved him in the back seat

Just as Joe and his partner were going to get more information Michelle's car pulled up, "You take care of this, okay?" Joe said to his partner

"Sure, Joe." He replied

Joe met Michelle and Corey as they got out of the car, "Where have you been?" His tone more accusatory than it was meant to be

Michelle gave him a puzzled look, "Joe, I told you Corey had a doctor's appointment today."

"What's wrong, Dad?" Corey asked looking up at him

"Nothing, Son." He replied

"Corey, why don't you go on inside and start your homework?" Michelle said

"Okay." He said and headed toward the house

As soon as he was inside Michelle turned back to Joe, "Honey, what is wrong with you?"

He sighed heavily, "I thought you'd have the officers follow you."

"Follow me?" She asked, "Now Joe, that's silly."

He looked at her incredulously, "The safety of my family is silly?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing

Before she could respond Joe's partner came over, "Hey Michelle." He said giving her a kiss on the cheek then looking from her to Joe, "Everything okay here?"

Joe just looked away and Michelle forced a smiled, "Yeah John, everything's fine."

The tension was palpable but he left it alone, "Joe, we better head back to the station."

Joe looked at Michelle and it was clear this wasn't over, "Alright."

"What about dinner?" Michelle finally asked

"Don't bother." He replied coldly and walked away

Michelle started to respond but the words hung in her throat and she just went inside.

Later that night Joe and his partner sat at Benny's, the local watering hole, having a few beers. John tried to engage him in conversation about the game that was on television but Joe was clearly distracted.

"You wanna talk about it, Joe?"

He took a drink, "Not really." He said taking a handful of nuts from the bowl on the bar

"Come on, man. I spend as much or more time with you than she does." John replied, "You can talk to me about anything."

"I was angry that she went out alone." Joe explained, "This guy's a maniac and he could have done anything."

"Joe, you can't let this come between you and Michelle." He said

He sighed heavily, "I know. I just…I can't stand the thought of something happening to them."

John slapped him on the back, "Then stop sitting here nursing your beer and your ego and go home. Talk things over with her. She loves you."

Joe looked at his watch, almost ten, "Yeah I guess I better go." He drained the rest of his beer and got up, "Thanks partner."

Joe pulled up to the house and everything seemed quiet. He got out of the car and glanced at the patrol car. A couple of the neighbors had wondered what was going on with a car there all the time and about the night of the shooting but he didn't say anything. This had to be handled discreetly and they managed to keep the shooting out of the papers at least for the time being. He walked into the house and the downstairs was quiet but there was a light on in the kitchen and he found a plate of food in the fridge that he could heat up. He smiled to himself but he put it back and headed upstairs. He looked in on Corey who was sleeping peacefully then went back down the hall to the master bedroom where he found Michelle asleep with her back facing the door. He quietly got undressed and crawled in bed beside her. Apologies and discussion would have to wait until morning as he slipped into bed and snuggled up to her. Wrapping his arm around her, he rested his hand on her belly and she smiled to herself and put her hand over his and squeezed it. In that sweet reassurance a peaceful slumber enfolded them.

/

The next morning Michelle awoke to the sound of Joe in the shower. She put on her robe and went down the hall to make sure Corey was up and getting ready for school and when she returned to the bedroom she found Joe at the double sink shaving. She couldn't help but think how incredibly sexcy he looked standing there in just a towel around his waist. He wasn't a big guy and she was almost as tall as he was in her heels. Coming up behind him she rested her hands on his hips and her head on his back. She kissed his shoulder, drinking in the clean scent of his aftershave.

"You smell so good." She said, "I love that aftershave."

He smiled as he reached for his toothbrush, "Of course you do. You bought it for me."

She sighed against him silently relieved he couldn't see her eyes, "Are we okay?"

He spit out the toothpaste, "I thought you understood how careful we needed to be."

She moved in closer and with her belly pressed up against his back he could feel the baby move, "I do understand, Honey." She said, "I'm doing my very best to help keep us safe but I'm also trying not to frighten that little boy down the hall."

He swished around some mouthwash, spit it out and then turned around to face her, finally looking into her uncertain eyes, "I know, Babe." He took her hands in his, "I just feel so helpless, like I can't even take care of my family."

"You don't have to be the hero, you know." She looked down and squeezed his hands, "Look, I understand you see yourself as our protector and all of that macho stuff." She paused and looked up at him again, "And I love you for it. But we can't give in to the fear. That's what he wants."

"So what do you suggest we do?" He asked knowing what she said made sense but his years as a cop taught him that what makes sense doesn't always work

She sighed heavily at the hint of agitation in his voice, "We let Starsky and Hutch do their job and we live our lives. It sounds like this guy is all about mind games. Do you honestly think he would try something out in public? You said yourself they can't even find him."

"Maybe you're right." He conceded, "But I really don't want you going anywhere alone-"

"Joe…" She began to protest

"Please, just do that for me." He asked, "Even if you just go somewhere with a friend. He'd be more likely to try something if you were alone and no one was paying attention. This guy is just too unpredictable."

She nodded unable to argue with his point, "Okay, I promise."

"And I promise not be so macho." He quipped, "Now man hungry, need food."

She laughed and leaned in to kiss him, "Male Chauvinist Pig."

/

The following Saturday night Joe had hockey tickets so he decided to take Corey, his father and Mark while Michelle spent some time with Sarah and the girls. The guys were enjoying the game and Joe found himself beginning to relax again so between the second and third period he and Corey went to get sodas. They were standing in line when off in the distance he saw him standing behind a pole but he could tell it was him. They made eye contact and Falco gave him a blood curdling smile. His heart began to race but he knew Michelle was right. He wouldn't try anything in public. This was just to see if he could get a reaction but the fact was he knew Joe was there and that scared the hell out of him.

"Sir, can I help you?" The kid working the concession stand asked but Joe didn't hear him

"Dad." Corey said pulling on his arm

"Huh?" Joe said turning around, "Oh sorry, we'd like four cokes please."

They returned to their seats and Joe Sr. could tell something wasn't right. Joe kept looking around nervously, "Everything okay, Son?"

He glanced at his father, "Yeah Pop, everything's fine." The buzzer sounded for the last period to begin and he turned his attention to the game.

When they returned to Mark and Sarah's Michelle picked up on his nervousness but waited until they got home to bring it up. They walked in the door and hung up their coats.

"Corey, it's late so go on to bed so you'll be rested for Mass tomorrow." Michelle instructed, "We'll be up in a minute."

"Okay." He said and headed upstairs

Standing in the foyer she finally asked him about it, "You wanna tell me what's bothering you?"

Joe shrugged, "Nothing."

"Joe, don't lie to me." She said, "Something happened. You've been agitated since you got back from the game."

He sighed heavily, "I saw him tonight."

"What?" She asked, "He was at the hockey game?"

He nodded, "Just lurking to try and bait me."

"Oh God." She muttered and he put his arms around her, "What do we do now?"

He held her as tight as he could and she rested her head on his shoulder, "I don't know, Babe." He said, "But we'll get this bastard."

TBC