"Nicholas?" Alexis was starting to feel dizzy. She shook her head, "No. This isn't real."

"Alexis are you okay? What's going on?" Chace stepped forward and looked over her shoulder at the picture of her brother on her phone.

"I have to call Nicholas."

Alexis quickly called Nicholas and begged him to pick up the phone, "Come on Nicholas pick up...pick up...pick up."

"This is Nicholas. You know what to do."

Alexis could feel the panic rising within her when her brother's voicemail message played. She decided to leave a message, "Nicholas where are you? Call me back now!"

She dialed the same number again only to hear, "This is Nicholas. You know what to do."

"Nicholas this is the second message I'm leaving you! Where are you? Call me now!"

She was about to dial his number again when Chace grabbed her shoulder, "Alexis what's going on?"

She shrugged off his hand and dialed a third time. Her message this time was of her trying not to cry in fear, "Nicholas...I'm begging you please call me."

"Is Nicholas okay?" Chace asked.

"I don't know. I don't know. I'm going to call the police. I can't lose him too," her words were strung together and Chace was having a hard time keeping up.

Alexis was about to dial 911 when the front door opened and in walked Nicholas.

"Nicholas!" Alexis ran to her brother and had him in a tight hug.

"Whoa sis' I'm glad to see you too but can you let go a little? I can barely breathe," Nicholas laughed trying to extract himself from his sister's bear hug.

"Why didn't you pick up your phone? I've been calling you nonstop?"

"You were? I'm sorry. I must've forgotten to take it off silent mode after my meeting," Nicholas said, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "Three missed calls and three messages. You really were blowing up my phone."

"Nicholas he's coming for you."

"Who's coming for me?"

"The man that murdered my friend," Alexis whispered.

"What? Why are you saying that Alexis?"

Alexis pulled out her phone and showed him a picture. He looked at Chace who was staring at the two of them curiously. Nicholas gave a nervous laugh, "It's...it's fine Alexis. He's probably just trying to scare you."

"Well he is. I don't want anything to happen to you too Nicholas."

"I'm not sure I'm following everything that's going on but if you feel threatened you should call the police Alexis," Chace stepped suggested.

Twenty minutes later, Officers Dean Winters and Shelby Diaz were at her house.

"Is this the text?" Diaz asked.

"Yes."

"Don't worry Dr. Reyna. Technology is pretty advanced these days and we can detect which cell tower was used when the message was sent."

"Will that matter?" Chace asked getting everyone to stare at him. "Well...it was clearly taken wherever Nicholas was at."

"If the phone is on maybe we still trace a signal."

"Why don't you change your number in the meantime?" Officer Winters sighed, his hands in his pockets.

"Why don't you shut the f-"

"Nicholas," Alexis stopped him from finishing his sentence.

Officer Winters smirked.

"I guess you're happy you got to see Gabby," Alexis said directly to Officer Winters.

"What was that?" Winters caught a quick glimpse of his partner Shelby who rolled her eyes.

"I talked to Gabby. You know, your ex-girlfriend. She said you told her all about Ivy's death and how it was my fault. As I said, I bet you were glad to have spoken with her. I'm sad to say that being the messenger is not the equivalent to being a knight in shining armor to a woman. If anything you're now someone she may associate with the death of her friend."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Winters practically spit in his anger.

Nicholas laughed, "What she's saying is that you don't have a chance in hell with this Gabby chick."

"No one asked you," Winters sneered.

"Regardless of your personal feelings for me, your job is to serve and protect Officer Winters. I would suggest you do so without spreading malicious gossip," Alexis lifted her chin when she spoke.

"Malicious gossip?" Winters scoffed. "How is it malicious when it's the truth? There's someone after you and he's targeting your friends and even your brother. You don't feel the slightest bit guilty?"

She did, but she wouldn't admit it. Especially not to someone like Officer Dean Winters, "Why should I feel guilty? I'm not murdering anyone. I'm concerned and I care. These are people that I love. Why should I feel guilty? I can't control the actions of a madman."

"That's right sis' you can't control what this guy is doing. None of it is your fault," Nicholas draped an arm around his sister's shoulders.

Officer Winters smiled, "I wonder if he'll think the same once this guy comes after him."

"That's enough!" Diaz said stepping in between her partner and the Reynas. She turned to Alexis and apologized, "Listen I'm sorry but we should get going. We have all the information we need. I'll send some patrol cars to drive around the area."

As they were leaving, she noticed the electronic key pad, "You have an alarm?"

"Yes we just had it installed," Alexis answered.

"Good. They're a great preventative measure. Keep in touch Dr. Reyna."

"Thank you Officer Diaz."

After they had left Nicholas cleared his throat, "Well it's been a long day. I think I'm going to hit the sack."

"Nicholas. Don't you want to talk about all this? Aren't you worried?" Alexis asked her brother.

"Alexis I love you but I don't want to talk about it. I just want to rest. I'll see you in the morning." Nicholas walked upstairs to his bedroom without looking back.

"He's scared," Alexis whispered.

"So am I," Chace answered, startling her. She had forgotten he was there. "I'm scared for you. Why didn't you tell me sooner what was going on?"

"How could I? Someone has been sending me texts, notes, and targeting my friends. It's been horrible," Alexis said as she sat down on the sofa.

"Tell me about it," Chace urged her.

She didn't need much prodding. Before she knew it, she had given the entire story to Chace who was now pondering the situation.

"Alexis why do you think he's targeting you?"

She shrugged, "Honestly I think he's angry with me. He doesn't seem to be obsessed in a way that would make me think he has feelings for me other than hostility. To come after my friends and now Nicholas makes me think he wants me to suffer. To be all alone."

"Then the suspect list could be huge."

"How so?"

"What if this is someone that's upset because you caused their relationship to deteriorate?"

"That's ridiculous! Why would someone try to kill me because I caused a relationship to fail?"

"People have killed for less. Besides, what if this person was already mentally unstable? You might have been the last straw that broke the camel's back so to speak."

"I don't know what to do anymore. If something happens to Nicholas...then I'll be all alone."

"Not true," Chace whispered.

"What?"

"You won't be all alone. I'll be here for you Alexis. And don't worry. Nicholas seems like he can take care of himself."

"Are you kidding? He pretends to be tough but he's very sensitive. When we were younger, I once caught him crying because he accidentally pulled the wings off of a butterfly."

Chace laughed, "Why would he do that?"

"He thought it would turn back into a caterpillar. He was so devastated when he found out. Besides, Nicholas works out and all...but when that guy broke into our house, he got his ass kicked."

"Someone broke into your house? You didn't tell me that just now."

"It feels like nothing compared to everything else that's been going on but yeah. It's one of the reasons we had the alarm installed."

"I'm sorry you've been going through all this Alexis."

"I feel bad for my friends and their families. My friend Gabby won't even speak to me anymore. She's so upset."

Chace was sitting next to Alexis and hugged her when she began crying, "I feel like I'm slowly losing control over everything and I'm scared Chace. What's next? What's he going to take next?"

Chace patted her back and tried to soothe her.

"I wish I had an easy solution for you Alexis. Instead, just know that I'm here for you. I got your back."

Alexis let herself soak in his comfort but she still dreaded what the next day had in store for her.

The Following Day

"Are you sure you don't have to go anywhere?" Alexis asked her brother Nicholas.

"Yes, I'm sure. Are you sure you weren't a prison warden in a past life?"

"If it'll help keep you safe, then I'm glad if I was."

"Spare me. Alexis go to work already. I have some Karate Kid to watch. I need to brush up on my fighting skills."

Alexis smiled and gave Nicholas a hug, "I love you brother."

"Yeah...yeah...I love you too sis'. Now hurry up and go to work."

Alexis turned on the alarm and walked outside. She walked to her car and saw a red note attached to her windshield. She stopped and looked around. She didn't see anyone. She walked forward and picked up the note.

In the envelope was a picture of her, dressed in her undergarments. It was an old picture, before the baby monitor had been found in her room. She remembered the day she last wore her sports bra and she hated to admit it but some very unflattering underwear. She sighed, "So he's letting me know he has pictures of me in my underwear. Big deal Alexis. Don't be bothered by this. It's the same as if you were in a swimsuit."

She got in her car and drove to work. As she walked in, she waved at Jose who simply nodded and blushed when he saw her.

"That's weird," she muttered.

Alexis started to get an uneasy feeling when she noticed people around the office staring at her strangely.

"Alexis!" she turned around to see Mack down the hall. "In my office now!"

Alexis followed him into his office, "What's going on Mack?"

"Explain this," he held his cell phone up to her and she saw it. The picture of her in her underwear.

"Where? How? I don't...how did you get that?" Alexis could feel herself getting hot with embarrassment.

"I was going to ask you why you sent it to everyone."

"What? I didn't send anything Mack!"

"I didn't think you did Alexis but almost everyone in the building got this text message of you in your underwear. Not even good underwear Alexis!"

She couldn't laugh at his attempt to joke about it. She felt like her world was caving in on her. The door suddenly opened and in walked Chace, "Alexis are you okay?"

"Who asked you to come in here?" Mack slammed his hand on the desk, "I'm trying to sort this out."

Chace ignored Mack, "Alexis, how are you feeling?"

"This isn't real. It can't be real," Alexis whispered to him.

Another male voice that she recognized came from the door, "Oh it's real alright."

Mack stood up, "Officer Winters. Did you find out who the sender was?"

Alexis could hear him smirking, "It's the same phone number that's been sending messages to Dr. Reyna. The same phone number that's registered under her name."

"This is ludicrous! She would never send compromising pictures of herself to anyone! Besides, she probably doesn't even have everyone's cell numbers," Chace had a hand on one of her shoulders as he stood behind her.

"A staff directory has everyone's contact information, doesn't it?" Winters asked Mack who nodded.

Officer Diaz walked in and stopped the conversation, "We're still trying to find out who the true owner of the cell phone is. Please advise your employer to advise the building employees that the message was not sent by Dr. Reyna."

A few minutes later, the officers left.

"This is a mess Alexis. Just a mess," Mack was sitting behind his desk, tapping his fingers against the wood.

"Mack, I didn't send that message," Alexis said feeling numb.

"I know you didn't Alexis but until everything blows over, I've been given directions to put you on leave."

"What?" Chace looked at Alexis who seemed resigned, "Then who will do the show with me?"

"No one. You'll do it on your own. We may get guest hosts. All of this has to blow over. We don't know who but some of the workers have posted your picture on the internet already Alexis. The message boards are blowing up. Everyone's making a big deal about it. Even the janitors are upset. They wanted to know why you were wearing granny panties. The big boss is asking for your resignation. I convinced him to put you on leave until we can figure things out."

"What if I refuse to do the show without Alexis?" Chace asked.

"You're on contract Dr. Ryder. You'll only be hurting yourself."

"No," Alexis shook her head, "Chace you have to continue. Things will get cleared up and I'll be back."

"Alexis-"

"No! I'm so sick of this right now. I don't know why he sent those pictures. It doesn't matter. I have bigger problems to deal with so maybe this is a good thing."

Chace tried to stop her from walking out of the office but couldn't. She walked to the parking lot where Oliver was doing his rounds.

"Hi Dr. Reyna. How are things?" the old security guard asked.

"They've been better." Alexis wondered if Oliver had also seen the picture of her in her underwear.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Did you and your boyfriend fight?"

Alexis laughed, "No. I think I'm going to take some time off so I'll see you in a few weeks, okay?"

"That's good Dr. Reyna. You take some time for yourself. You deserve it."

Alexis waved goodbye to Oliver and got in her car. Instead of driving to her home, she found herself going to the cemetery.

She passed what seemed like endless graves until she stopped in front of two that she hadn't visited in a long while.

"I'm sorry I'm coming empty handed. I just wanted to stop by and say I miss you guys and I really wish you were here. You two were the best parents I could ever dream of and I'm so grateful that you adopted me. I love you both so much." Alexis was sitting on the ground in front of the graves of her parents, bawling. "Dad, you used to always give me such good advice. Mom, you always listened to me talk about boys and work. I need you guys. I really need you guys right now. I don't know what to do. I'm sure you're watching over me and Nicholas but if you can...please just watch over Nicholas. I don't want anything to happen to him. Especially not because of me. Please."

As Alexis wept, a solitary figure in the distance watched, smiling.

.