Marian Baker lay awake, staring at the ceiling of her room; Bryan was out cold beside her, his breathing soft and gentle.

Lying on her back, hands criss-crossed on her chest, her thoughts hammering. She clenched jaw every so often. Alex’s face in her mind, the jaw line and eyes so unsettlingly familiar.

She glanced at the clock as the minute ticked up. One fourteen. She sighed quietly, looking back up at the ceiling. Ding. The room lit up as the datapad turned on beside Marian. Bryan shuddered awake, sitting up as he leaned over to his bedside table, at his own datapad, which was off. Pausing he looked over at Marian’s bedside table. “That should be off,” Bryan groaned as he lay back down. “I thought I was being summoned to an early shift.” “You know I cannot,” Marian replied, sitting up and lifting the datapad and unlocking it with a flick of her finger across the screen. “We agreed upon this last year, when I took the job.” “Yes, very true,” Bryan said, yawning as he settled into the bed. “Sorry.” “Thank you,” Marian whispered as she tapped away at the datapad. “Love you,” Bryan said. “Love you too,” Marian said, twisting to put the datapad down. Her breath caught as she clenched her hands, staring at the datapad. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Sighing, she relaxed, shaking her head. Bryan rolled onto his side, hand reaching out and taking hold of Marian’s fist, opening his eyes and staring up at her. “Bad news?” he asked. “They’re saying that it’s not good enough,” Marian growled. Marian closed the datapad and dropped it back onto the bedside table. “A year I’ve spent within close proximity with that man, and the evidence is not good enough,” she continued. “Then we will get more,” he said. “I’m not sure I can handle this anymore,” she whispered, her voice heavy. “It's for Hollie,” Bryan murmured, squeezing Marian’s hand. “It’s to get her what she deserves. Also, it’s only been a year and you got more than the last eighteen idiots they sent.” She scoffed. “Those eighteen idiots took bribes from someone ‘unaffiliated’ with the Stratwoods,” she said. “Yeah, but you still got more evidence than they did,” Bryan said. “And have not taken a bribe.” Marian nodded, keeping her fist clenched as she let out a sigh. Alex was back on her mind again, his familiarity annoying. Bryan made a noise as he sat up, hand still holding Marian’s fist. “What now?” “It’s nothing important. Just something silly,” Marian whispered, moving to pull her hand away. Bryan squeezed twice. Marian stopped and stared at him. Bryan stared back. “It’s Hollie’s boyfriend, Alex,” Marian whispered, her voice shaky. “Do you not want them in a room together?” Bryan asked, “I can go be the bad parent and split them into different rooms.” He was moving to pull the cover off when Marian reached out and took his hand. “No, it's…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “He’s strangely familiar, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Bells are ringing in my head like alarms.” She reached up and rubbed her temple. “I don’t think Hollie should be with him and I don’t even know why I think that,” she sighed. “Talk me through it,” he whispered. “His eyes,” she said. “I swear I have seen them before. Then his jaw is familiar too. I cannot think who they could have belonged to.” “Plural?” Bryan asked. “Or singular?” “My gut tells me plural,” Marian replied. “I feel like I know his parents.” “What about that time you spent on Dero?” Bryan asked. “No, not Dero, long ago,” she replied, shaking her head. After a few moments, she dropped her hands into her lap. “We should get some sleep,” she said. Bryan nodded, lowering himself down and pulling the cover up to his neck. As Marian settled down, he pulled her close, kissing her neck. “You’ll figure it out,” he whispered. “Just focus on Duke Asshole Stratwood first. Catch him red handed and get that test for Hollie.” Marian smiled, placing her arm on top of his. “Where would I be if I hadn't found you?” Marian asked. “What an impossible thing to imagine,” Bryan said, smiling. He went quiet as he shifted. “Maybe you should tell her the truth,” Bryan whispered. “She's not ready,” Marian whispered. “Besides, she wouldn't believe me without proof.” “I think Hollie trusts you more than you think she does,” Bryan said. A lump formed in Marian’s throat and her chest tightened. A tear formed in the corner of her eye as she cuddled into Bryan. “If only I’d reached out to Clara before she….” she trailed off, her throat tight. “None of this would have happened!” “Don’t start,” Bryan whispered. “We cannot change the past.” “I don’t even remember what she looked like,” Marian said, looking up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. They lay there quietly, Bryan’s arm wrapped around Marian. Mirian shifted, uncomfortable, alarm bells still ringing in her head. “I’m going to get some water,” she said, throwing the covers off and swinging her legs off the side of the bed. “Marian,” Bryan said, reaching out and laying a hand gently on her back. “You should tell Hollie, it's obviously eating you alive now.” She looked back at him, before down at the floor. “Maybe,” she said, standing up and heading for the door.