(A/N Okay, so here is my sequel to Deadly Games! Hope you enjoy. As always, leave me a review!)

She was in the waiting room when her father came out to see her.

"I'm sorry, Bunny," he said. "She's not going to get better."

"Why is this happening to us?" Tara demanded. "She doesn't deserve this!"

"I know," he said. "I know."

Flash forward six months.

"You'll be...all right," she was saying. Her voice was hoarse and barely a whisper. She looked at Tara and felt such sadness for leaving her and also for not telling her the truth.

"Don't go," Tara cried. She was clutching her mother's hand so hard.

"We can't live forever," she whispered.

"But you're not even thirty eight yet," Tara sobbed. "It's not fair."

"I know. You gotta...you gotta take care...of...your father," she managed to say. "He needs you."

"I need you," Tara told her.

"I know. I'm so sorry..."

"Bunny?" Steve came in. He looked at his wife and knew the time was near. "Oh, honey." He knelt beside her on the other side. She gave him a knowing look, one that he returned. He knew it was up to him to tell Tara about her parents. The thought terrified him.

"I'll...miss...you," she whispered. Breathing was getting harder to do. So much harder. Every ragged breath was such an effort. Things were getting blurry.

"Mom?" Tara's voice was faraway now. "Mom!" Then there was nothing but pure bliss.

Now

Tara opened her eyes. She was lying in her bed thinking about her mother. Well, her adopted mother she guessed. Since her father had dealt her that blow, she felt like she was stuck in a tunnel with no light in sight. Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the clock. Right on time. She swiped it to ignore. She still didn't feel like talking to her dad just yet. It had been a month since that fateful dinner. A month she knew she'd never get back and never forgive herself for if he died without her talking to him again. Bobby had tried to convince her to talk to him, but she just couldn't. What man keeps such a secret for almost thirty years? She barely registered the knocking on her door.

"Tara? You there?" Bobby's voice reached her. She had felt bad for putting off moving in with him. She knew if she forgave her father, she'd have to let him live with her until...until it happened. He understood. She padded downstairs to let him in.

"Hey," he said, giving her a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," she replied.

"Haven't really seen you at work," he noted.

"I took some time off," she explained. He nodded slowly.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Okay." They stood there looking at each other.

"You want a coffee?" she asked him finally.

"Sure," he agreed. At least she hadn't asked him to leave like the last two times when he had pressed the father issue. He followed her into the kitchen and watched as she prepared a coffee for both of them.

"How is everyone?" she asked him. She did miss the gang. She knew they were concerned. Bobby hadn't shared anything with them upon her request. They just knew she wasn't well, which she wasn't. In a way. She had spoken to Ted. He was fine with her taking a leave. He knew what was going on.

"They're good. D is D. Myles is all right. Lucy is going mad with all of us men there with just her. Jack is so over the moon with excitement that I don't think he realizes he's at work half the time," Bobby grinned. Tara laughed at this. He felt happy to see her smile.

"Good for him," she said.

"Two months to go," Bobby mused. "Gosh, it's hard to believe isn't it?"

"Yes and no," she answered. "It's about time for them to start a life together."

"I agree."

"So how are you doing?" she asked him.

"I'm fine. A little tired, but there's a cure for that," he winked. "It's called sleep."

"You're not sleeping well?"

"Yes and no," he echoed her.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"It's not you. I think it's just a lot of pressure at work right now. It'll pass. It always does," he reassured her. He didn't mention that he had been going to Gambler's Anonymous meetings a little more frequently lately. He hated how the urge to gamble attacked him when he was stressed. Coping mechanism, his therapist had told him before. He believed it.

"As long as you're sure," she trailed off.

"I am," he promised. "Now, what can I do for you to help make you feel better?"

"I don't think there is anything," she said honestly. "I'm just...stuck."

"You need to get out of this apartment at least," Bobby said. "Staying in a place for days on end will make you go mad. Come on, let's go see a movie or something." She pondered this. It would be a nice change. He looked very hopeful, and she found it very cute.

"Okay," she agreed.

"All right!" he said, jumping up and clapping his hands. "Off we go."

"I get to pick," she said.

"Absolutely."

Jack & Sue

They were sitting at his kitchen table perusing for ideas for their wedding. So far, things had been coming together nicely. Lucy was on the rampage for decorations, something she took very seriously. Sue was grateful for her friend's help. She was worried about Tara, but she didn't know how to approach her since nobody knew what was wrong. Bobby had advised everyone that she had just wanted to be left alone for now.

"What about this?" Jack asked, pointing to one of the flower arrangements in the book. Lucy called it the Wedding Bible.

"I like it," Sue agreed.

"Don't tell the guys I'm good at picking flowers," Jack warned her. "I'll never hear the end of it."

"I won't," she promised, chuckling. He really wouldn't.

"You pick out a dress yet?" he asked slyly.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," she replied vaguely. "You're to know nothing about it."

"All right, all right," he said. "Thought I could wrangle it out of you."

"You won't. You'll have to wait," she told him. He sighed dramatically in response, making her laugh.

"It's not fair. You know what I'm wearing," he complained.

"I don't make the rules," she said. He leaned in forward so that his lips were close to hers.

"So break them," he suggested. He was almost convincing. That and he made her go crazy inside whenever he was close to her.

"Not a chance," she whispered back, tapping his lips with her finger. She stood to go pour herself another coffee. Levi glanced up at her from the floor briefly. Lucy was in fact picking up The Dress today. Sue was waiting for the right moment to ask Lucy to be her maid of honor. She wanted Tara as a bridesmaid as well with Jane and Tess. She just wasn't sure if it was okay to ask Tara right now with whatever was going on. Jack was actually ahead of her on this one. Bobby was his best man with Myles, John, and Charlie to boot. D had declined, stating he'd rather watch than be in it. Sue felt a twinge that Billy wouldn't be there, but she didn't dwell on it at this point in time. He was watching elsewhere.

"Bobby might tell me what's going on," Jack said, reading her thoughts.

"I don't want to pry. If it's personal, she might not want us all knowing," Sue replied.

"I know you want her up there with you, and I know she'd probably want to. I'll see if they want to hang out soon," Jack offered. She nodded. It was worth a try.

John

John was looking at photos of some thugs he was tracking. There was one photograph that kept grabbing his attention, and he wasn't sure why. He was peering at it when Jane tapped his shoulder, making him jump almost out of his seat.

"Dammit woman," he growled. "Must you do that?"

"It's fun," she replied airily. "Come on. The day is over. Let's go home."

"Do you see anything here?" John asked, handing her the photo. She gazed at it, surveying it.

"I see some shadows and our perp," she said. "What am I looking for?"

"Nevermind," John said, taking it back from her. She looked at him quizzically.

"What are you seeing?" she asked.

"Absolutely nothing," he reassured her. He looked at it again. Nothing was there. He stood and grabbed his coat. Jane walked out ahead of him. John was feeling a bit of happiness again lately since Billy's death. Everything wasn't just black and grey anymore. Some colors were coming back.

"Maddy at a friend's tonight?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied.

"Hmmm," he said, catching up to her and putting his arm around her. "I have an idea of what we could do then..."

"I already like it," Jane smiled, kissing him. It was going to be a good night.

Lucy

"Why did you bring me if I'm not allowed to even see the dress?" Myles asked. They were driving to the bridal store.

"Because I need someone to protect me from dress stealers," Lucy replied. She also kind of wanted his company.

"Dress stealers?" Myles asked. "Really?"

"You never know," she said defensively. When they arrived, she was the first one out and skipping across the parking lot. She was very excited for her friend. Myles loped in behind her, feeling very out of place.

"So many...women," he said, looking around him. They were everywhere. He looked at his watch. Did everyone come right after work?

"It is a bridal store," Lucy scoffed. She rummaged through the racks to find the one Sue had picked out. They both were hoping to catch it on a sale.

"I got it! I got it!" she squealed. She pulled it out just as someone else reached for it. Myles stepped forward, sensing his presence was needed. The other woman glowered at him but backed off.

"Don't look!" Lucy ordered, trying to hide it.

"I can't see through the plastic anyway. Let's get out of here before we're eaten alive," Myles suggested. He escorted Lucy to the sales desk before anyone else could jump them for the dress. He reminded himself if he ever got married, he would rather stay out of this part of the business. Let the woman do what she wanted. He wouldn't care.

"Thanks for coming with me," Lucy said when they reached her place. She was sad in thinking it would soon just be her place and not hers and Sue's, but she knew that was going to end at some time.

"You're welcome," Myles responded. Lucy hopped out and took the dress with her. Their relationship hadn't really progressed forward, but it hadn't gone backward either. Myles wasn't sure where Lucy was at anymore. They hadn't discussed it in a while.

"Good night!" she called, waving. He waved back and pulled away. Maybe it was for the best things just stayed the way they were.

Tara

"Thank you for getting me out," Tara said to Bobby at her front door. "I needed it desperately."

"Pleasure's all mine," he smiled. He kissed her gently. She realized what else she needed. She pulled him inside urgently. He took the hint. An hour later they were side by side while he curled up behind her. Tara felt a little happier, but her phone ringing killed it. She didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?"

"Yes. We're looking for Tara Williams," a lady said.

"This is she." Tara sat up. Bobby watched with his brow furrowed.

"I'm calling to inform you that your father is in critical condition here at the hospital. He keeps asking for you."

"Critical how?" Tara asked.

"He took a bad fall, and with his condition, recovery doesn't look promising."

"Oh," Tara swallowed. Bobby felt his gut twist.

"I'm just calling to inform you since you are his Power of Attorney," the lady went on.

"Okay. I'll...I'll be there soon," Tara said. She hung up.

"Bad?" he asked.

"I think so," she replied. She got up and got dressed. Bobby followed suit.

"I'll come with you," he said.

"Okay," she answered. She felt like a robot. This was a familiar territory for her, and she wasn't ready. They didn't say anything on the way to the hospital. When she found her father, she almost cried out. He looked so gaunt and haggard, and he was covered in bruises from his fall on his face and arms.

"Hi, Bun," Steve said, seeing her.

"What happened?" she asked, going over to him. Bobby hung back.

"Oh, took a little fall," he tried to smile.

"I can see that. You look terrible," she said.

"Oh, thanks. Look, I know you're mad at me..."

"I'm not, Dad. I'm just confused. I wasn't ready to hear it yet," Tara told him.

"I don't have much time," he said. "I need to tell you the story."

"Okay," Tara said, sitting down. "I'm listening."