Christmas In California

"Come on Ange!" Rollie called then looked over as the connecting door opened. "Nice bikini Angela." He waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Sure I can't talk you into a thong?" She lookedat him lasciviously as she tied a cover-up around her waist.

"Not bloody likely." He snorted grabbing their beach gear.

"Spoil sport." She retorted.

"Come on." He grabbed her hand and led her out of their hotel suite.

Rollie noticed the looks Angie was receiving from the male populace as they walked to the pool and slid an arm around her shoulder telling them she was off limits! He didn't notice her slight smile at his act of jealousy.

"Wow!" She exclaimed upon reaching the pool. "Remind me to thank Welli for all those annoying calls to come to Palm Springs and do his film."

"As far as holiday shoots go this one is pretty much bonzer." He agreed.

They found two lounge chairs and settled in after slathering each other with suntan lotion. The hotel provided drinks and Rollie toasted with her enjoying the warmth of California.

"This is the life." She sighed a while later.

"Would you want to live here Ange?"

"Do you?" She asked looking at him.

"Asked you first."

"I could live with the warm weather and the lower odds of being mugged."

"So it's a yes." He said softly.

"Then there are the earthquakes...plus you'd have to drive everywhere."

"No then?" He asked hopefully.

"I want to be wherever you are, New York, L.A....the Outback--"

Rollie kissed her.

"I love you sweetie."

"I love you too." She smiled.

"Let's get ready for dinner." He grinned and pulled her up.

Rollie escorted Angie inside the restaurant and they were shown to their table, the waiter took their drink orders and left them alone to look at the menu.

"This is really expensive Rol." She whispered looking around.

"No worries, I have a card from Welli."

"Wellington really went all out to get us here."

"He knew we could get the job done under budget, this is his personal appreciation for that."

The waiter brought their drinks and they asked for another moment.

"Rollie?"

"Cousin Bonnie?" He smiled and rose to kiss her cheek. "This is Angie." He introduced.

"Rol has told me a lot about you, it's nice to finally meet you." Angie smiled at the older woman.

"What are you doing in Palm Springs?" Bonnie inquired.

"Work. We're here til February in fact." Rollie shrugged.

"Have you two had dinner yet?"

"No." Angie replied.

"Cliff and I would love for you to join us."

"We don't want to intrude." Rollie replied.

"No intrusion." Bonnie insisted.

The couple looked at each other and silently agreed.

"Thanks." Rollie nodded and Bonnie led them over to her table.

The four ate and talked about the fx business and why the Coopers were in Palm Springs, Cliff was raising funds for special projects.

Rollie excused himself after dinner to use the men's room while the others ordered dessert. Angie got the chocolate mousse for them to split.

"Rollie says you've known each other a long time."

"Since I was eleven." Angie nodded at the woman.

"You grew up with him around then." Bonnie smiled.

"Yeah...he was like a brother...who I fell in love with." Angie admitted.

"And he reciprocated." Bonnie patted her hand.

"I'm really lucky, he's such an amazing guy."

"He certainly is, all the help he's given the police." Cliff agreed.

Angie suspected he had checked them out but she held her tongue on her thoughts about that invasion of privacy.

"What is your new film about?" Bonnie asked.

"It's based on comic book characters, really sci-fi."

"I remember taking Daniel to see Star Wars, he just loved it. We had a discussion on the way home about how Darth Vader could find redemption."

Angie nodded gancing toward the men's room.

"Then in Return Of The Jedi he called me so happy that Darth Vader had found that redemption." Bonnie added.

Their dessert arrived and Angie looked again to the bathrooms.

"Would you like me to check on him?" Cliff offered.

"If you don't mind." She nodded so Cliff excused himself and went to the men's room....

And found Rollie slumped against the wall, hand over his side, blood seeping through his fingers.

"Dear Lord!" Cliff uttered and hurried back out to get help. He returned a moment later and did what he could to help until the ambulance arrived.

Angie was puzzled when she saw Cliff come out and speak to a waiter then hurry back inside the men's room. She followed him and gasped at seeing the man she loved.

"ROL!" She fell to her knees beside him and pulled her sweater off to press into the wound. "It's gonna be okay Rol." She soothed stroking his hair.

The paramedics arrived a few minutes later and tended to him them put him on the stretcher, Angie went with him.

The Coopers followed in their limo and waited for word on Rollie's condition. An officer appeared not long after and began questioning them.

"Ms. Ramirez?"

Angie quickly stood as the nurse appeared an hour later.

"Follow me."

Angie was led to a room several doors down and she rushed to Rollie's side.

"I'm okay sweetie." He assured her.

"Mr. Tyler was stabbed, the wound was two inches deep, missed the vital organs thankfully. We stitched him up and I want him to stay here for the night." The doctor informed her.

"Okay." She nodded stroking his cheek.

"Rollie?" Bonnie looked in, Cliff was beside her and Rollie saw the officer as well.

"Keep it short." The doctor ordered and left them.

"I need to ask you a few questions Mr. Tyler." The officer said pulling out his notebook.

"Yeah, okay." Rollie answered tiredly.

Angie knew the painkillers he was on would put him out soon.

"Do you know who attacked you?"

"No, never seen the guy before."

"Can you describe him?"

"Shorter than me...5'9" maybe...short brown hair, he wore a brown leather jacket, longer style."

"Okay, that's a start. Did he say anything to you? Give any reason why he was attacking you?"

" '...the devil's sire...'" Rollie's brow furrowed.

"Is that all?" The cop asked puzzled.

"Yeah." The Aussie nodded, eyelids drooping.

"Anymore questions?" Angie asked.

"I think that covers it. If you recall anything else give me a call and I'd like you to take a look at our mugshots as well when you feel up to it." He said handing her a card.

"Thanks, we'll be in touch when he's well enough." Angie nodded.

The cop left and they could all see Rollie was just about asleep.

"We're going to go but we'll be back in the morning." Bonnie touched her shoulder.

Angie nodded, eyes not straying from Rollie.

The couple left and headed for the elevator where Bonnie turned to him.

"Cliff..."

"I know." He nodded and pulled out his cell phone.

Angie moaned softly in her sleep and cried out Rollie's name.

"Wake up Ange." He shook her gently.

"Rol!" She bolted upright.

"I'm okay sweetie." He stroked her cheek tenderly.

Angie hugged him crying.

"Shh, I'm alright. Struth."

Angie kissed him gently then hugged him again.

"Good, you're awake." A nurse said coming in. She looked at the stitches and changed the dressing then checked his vitals and departed after leaving the notes on the chart.

"Gee, thanks mate." Rollie made a face at his breakfast as the orderly delivered it.

"You need to eat Rol."

"So do you sweetie." He eyed her.

"Alright." She sighed and left to get coffee and a bagel. She espied a man in a dark siut across from the room and her internal alarm went off so she stopped at the nurses desk.

"Can I help you?"

"Who's that man over there?"

"A bodyguard...he's for the man you came in with."

"What? Who--" Angie started to ask when the phone rang and the nurse answered it. She eyed the man a moment then strode over. "Who hired you?!?"

"I work for the Coopers ma'am."

"Angie?"

"Why did you bring him here?" Angie demanded of the Coopers who had stepped off the elevator.

"The man who did this is still out there." Cliff replied.

"Obviously not mentally well...we just wanted Rollie to stay safe." Bonnie added.

"Oh...okay...good." Angie said relieved.

"We brought breakfast." The older woman smiled at her warmly.

"Thanks." Angie replied and led them to Rollie's room.

"Good morning." Bonnie squeezed his hand.

"G'day."

"How do you feel?" Cliff asked.

"A bit sore but otherwise alright."

Angie removed coffee and a danish from the bag Bonnie had given her and Rollie looked at them longingly, pouting when Angie pointed to his tray.

"Rollie...we'd like for you two to come and stay with us for a while." Bonnie said after a few moments.

"We start work in less than a week." He shook his head.

"Just through Christmas then." Bonnie requested.

Rollie looked at Angie and saw she was leaving the decision up to him.

"Alright." He agreed,touched by their concern.

"Bonnie and I will see about your release and follow-up care." Cliff replied and led his wife out.

"You okay with this Ange?"

"If you are."

"Daniel told me she might spoil me a little."

"You're worth spoiling." She kissed him.

"I need to go to the police station." Rollie reminded them as they pulled away from the hospital in the limo.

"You should have some lunch then get some rest." Bonnie replied.

"Yeah, we can look at mugshots after lunch." Angie agreed.

Rollie acquiesced and they were taken back to the hotel where he ate and napped. Their luggage was put in the limo to go directly to the airport from the police station.

"I'm Carly, come with me." A tall redhead instructed shortly after they gave their names and why they were there. She led them to a small cubicle and sat down at the computer.

"Perp's height?"

"Five-nine or so."

"Hair and eyes?"

"Both brown."

"Any distinguishing features?"

"I...I don't recall." Rollie sighed.

"We'll work with what we have." She replied and ordered a search of their database within those parameters. "It'll take a few minutes, would you like some coffee?"

"No, thank you." Rollie looked at Angie.

"Tea?" The blond inquired.

The woman removed a box of bags from her drawer and Angie nodded so Carly went get her some hot water.

The terminal beeped a few minutes later and Angie took a look.

"942 matches."

"Maybe I should have had that coffee."

She rubbed his shoulders and he smiled up at her.

"Okay, let's see if we can make a match." Carly said returning.

Rollie shifted in his seat after an hour, ubbed his blurry eyes after two. Angie massaged his shoulders into the third hour.

"Twenty more." Carly smiled sympathetically.

The Aussie nodded and kept looking.

"That's him."

"Adam Morgan..." Carly read and pulled up his record. "Was picked up for threats with explicit violence...doesn't say who he threatened. Spent the last twelve years at Seacrest Mental Hospital...he escaped three days ago." She sighed.

"Lucky me." Rollie uttered.

"Why go after Rol?"

"He's not got all the lights on sweetie. We're gonna stay with family, this is their number." Rolie replied handing the woman a card with the Coopers' number that Cliff gave him for that reason.

"Alright, I'll let the detective know."

"Thanks." The couple nodded and left the cubicle. Rollie called the cell number and the limo picked them up and took them to the waiting Coopers aboard their jet.

"Did you find out who it was?" Bonnie asked.

"Adam Morgan, escaped mental patient." Rollie replied as they buckled up for the plane trip.

"I'm sure the police will find him and take him back there." Cliff said glancing at Bonnie who wore a worried look.

The flight back to Irvine had been uneventful and the drive to the estate was a short one.

"Welcome home."

"Thank you Rose." Bonnie smiled at the housekeeper. "This is my cousin Rollie Tyler and Angie Ramirez."

"I've put fresh linens on the beds and new towels in the bathrooms."

"Thank you, I'll show you to your rooms." Bonnie replied and led them up the grand staircase. She showed them to separate rooms and let them know dinner was at six if they wanted to rest a while.

There was a soft knock on Rollie's door a short time later and he smiled as he opened it knowing it would be Angie.

"Will you hold me?" She requested.

Rollie led her to his bed and they fell asleep in each others arms.

Bonnie lightly knocked on Angie's door and waited, when there was no answer she went inside where she found the bed empty, the bathroom door was open so she left that room and went across the hall and knocked.

"Hi Bonnie." Rollie smiled upon seeing her.

"Dinner is almost ready." She informed him espying Angie as well.

"Great, we're starving." He replied and they followed Bonnie down the stairs.

They ate dinner with the Coopers then took a walk in the garden with Bonnie afterwards.

"Your garden is beautiful." Angie told her seeing all the colorful flowers.

"Daniel helped me plant a lot of them." Bonnie smiled fondly.

"Bonnie..."

She turned to see Cliff in the door.

"I need to speak with you." He said.

"Excuse me." She nodded to Rollie and Angie and went inside.

Rollie led Angie to a bench and they sat holding hands and admiring the landscape.

"Now I know." He smiled.

"What?"

"I wondered if she had a garden."

Angie chuckled and kissed him.

"I need to get Bonnie a present." He said after the kiss ended.

"We'll call a taxi in the morning."

"Let's walk some more." He smiled at her.

The next morning, two days before Christmas, they joined the Coopers for breakfast.

"G'day." Rollie said as he seated Angie.

"What can I get you this morning?" The cook asked them.

"His cheese omelets are delicious." Bonnie suggested.

"Sounds good to me, Rol?"

"The same." He nodded.

"Coffee?"

The couple nodded and the cook poured them a cup then went to cook the omelets.

"We have to go out for a bit." Rollie said as they sipped their coffee.

"Alright." Bonnie nodded. "They could take Daniel's car." She added looking at Cliff.

"I'll get his keys."

"We don't want to impose." Rollie said as Cliff rose.

"Daniel wouldn't mind." Bonnie assured him.

The minister returned a few minutes later with the keys and handed them to Rollie,who was closer.

"It was fully serviced by our mechanic two weeks ago." He informed them.

"You have a mechanic?" Angie asked startled.

"It's just easier." Cliff replied and kissed Bonnie's cheek. "I'll be back after lunch."

Bonnie nodded with a smile.

As Rollie and Angie ate, Bonnie kept them company then she gave them directions to the garage and said that Daniel's car was under the tarp.

"Here it is." Angie pointed to the covered car.

They each grabbed a side and pulled it off.

"Oh...my..." She breathed.

"A '67 Camero convertible, cousin has taste." Rollie grinned.

"Try the key."

Rollie slid it into the door and the lock clicked making him smile at Angie over the roof.

They slowly drove out of the garage, down the driveway and toward the wrought iron gate.

Rollie kept it to the speed limit, though he was tempted to see just how good a shape Daniel's car was in.

They reached the shop lined streets and checked out each one for just the right gift for Bonnie, it took them over two hours but they found the perfect gift.

"Look!" Angie pointed at the helicopter that flew low overhead as they entered the gate.

Rollie parked the car where he had found it and they recovered it then headed inside.

"Saw the helicopter..." He said to Rose as they met her in the hall.

"Daniel." She smiled fondly.

"Where is he?"

"In the garden with his mother."

"I'll take this upstairs." Angie offered knowing he would want to see his cousin.

"Thanks sweetie." Rollie smiled and headed for the garden.

"I just think we should."

"I know honey but--"

"Rollie." Daniel murmured as the Aussie came through the doors.

"Quite a car cous." Rollie tossed the keys to him with a grin.

Daniel hugged him with a chuckle.

"You here for Christmas?" Rollie asked.

"Christmas mass..."

"Oh! Of course." Rollie shook his head.

"Tell me about what you've been up to since Thanksgiving." Daniel requested as Bonnie ushered them inside.

"Why don't you take your bag upstairs? Your father should be home soon and we'll have lunch."

Daniel nodded to his mother and led Rollie up, they ran into Angie in the hall and she and Daniel exchanged a brief hug then they went to Daniel's old room.

"Books." Rollie smiled seeing the full shelf.

"I have a literature degree." Daniel reminded him as he tossed his bag onto the chair.

"You did go to college..." Rollie nodded and studied the books some more.

"Yeah, but I have no ability on the computer like you do." Daniel rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Guess we each have our own talents." Rollie smiled at him.

"God saw to that." Daniel nodded.

"Don't know about you two but I am ready for lunch." Angie took Rollie's arm.

"Let's see if dad is home." Daniel agreed.

After lunch Rollie and Angie went upstairs to check phone messages and e-mail then headed back downstairs to spend some time with Daniel when they overheard the Cooper's talking.

"Rollie is still in danger dad."

"That's why they are here honey." Bonnie soothed.

"But they don't know that. They have a right to know what is going on." Daniel insisted.

"What is going on?" Rollie asked.

The trio turned to them startled and guilty looking.

"The man that attacked you...he thought you were me." Daniel answered when his parents remained silent.

"You were dining with us so he obviously assumed..." Cliff added.

"Why is he after Daniel?" Angie asked.

"When I was fifteen I started getting letters," the minister sighed and dropped onto the couch, "from him. For a year we corresponded regularly then as I got more involved in school and made friends and played sports I wrote to him less often...he didn't take it well." Daniel dropped his eyes.

"What happened?" Rollie asked.

"A...chopped up rat arrived in the mail." Daniel answered softly.

Angie made a disgusting face and Rollie stiffened.

"The letter that accompanied it accused Daniel of being evil, that he wasn't our son at all and that he, Adam, was. He said Daniel was the devil's sire." Cliff finished for his son.

"I'm sorry you got caught in this." Daniel looked at his cousin remorsefully.

"It's not your fault the guy was more than a little off." Rollie squeezed his shoulder.

"Is that why he was in the mental hosptal?" Angie asked.

"He was ordered to undergo counseling and have no further contact with me...he did until I went off to college. He broke into my apartment and left some...unsettling things behind."

"The F.B.I. tracked him down and he was locked up in the mental facility." Bonnie added.

"Until he escaped three days ago." Angie snorted. "Why didn't you tell us all this when Rol was attacked?"

"We wanted to protect Daniel." Bonnie replied and held up the newspaper whose headline screamed, 'DANIEL COOPER VIOLENTLY ATTACKED!'

"I understand why you didn't reveal it wasn't Daniel but why withhold the truth from us?" Rollie asked.

"Our only thought was protecting our son." Cliff replied.

Rollie sighed and walked to the window.

"We wouldn't have told anyone that they weren't the same person." Angie insisted.

"I wasn't willing to risk Daniel's life." Cliff answered.

"You'll understand when you have children." Bonnie added.

Angie walked over to Rollie, not sure she ever would understand why they chose not to tell Rollie.

"He's still out there." Rollie uttered.

"Yeah, he also thinks you're me now. I want them fully protected dad." Daniel requested.

"They have been son."

"At the hospital but what about today?!?" Angie glared at the older man.

"We were being tailed. I thought so but wasn't completely sure. He was good." Rollie turned back to them. "But what you're doing isn't enough, we need to catch this guy and put him away for good."

"Rol..." Angie said knowing the look on his face and growing worried by whatever he was planning.

"Call a press conference." Rollie looked at Cliff.

"Why?" Daniel asked.

"Because you are going to speak publicly about the attack." Rollie smiled as he smoothly transitioned into an American accent.

"Are you sure about this?" Daniel asked his look alike cousin.

"Yeah." Rollie met his eyes.

"Please be careful."

"No worries." Rollie squeezed his shoulder.

"Everyone is here." Cliff informed them.

"Let's do it." Rollie nodded pulling his jacket on and adjusting his earpiece.

"I love you Rol, please be careful." He heard in his ear.

"I will, love you too sweetie. Everything good on your end?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, let's catch us a crazy."

Angie sat in the FX van behind the main house, it had been disguised as a Cooper Ministries broadcast van. She carefully scanned the crowd looking for Adam Morgan, they were counting on him not to be able to resist showing up for the press conference and the security at the gate had been purposely more lax to let him slip in. As she performed her task she listened to Rollie speak.

"The man who attacked me is crazy. He is unequivocably insane. He has been stalking me for a number of years in fact."

"Is that the reason you've been in hiding?" A reporter asked.

"Yes, but I am through with that now! I've let him have that power over me, but no longer! I'm not afraid of him anymore, after he stabbed me I realized how puny he really is! He claims I'm the devil's sire, but it is he who is the true sire of evil!" Rollie replied angrily.

"Rol, there's movement to your left."

"He'll be caught and locked away with those like him," Rollie added turning slightly to get a look to his left, "crazy, evil people!"

"YOU'RE EVIL!"

Rollie spun around and heard pops, the reporters screamed and ran as he fell.

"ROL!" Angie screamed seeing him on the monitor.

The F.B.I. was on Morgan in seconds.

"Mom...dad...help me." He pleaded to Cliff and Bonnie.

"I pray you get the help you need." Cliff replied and turned to help Rollie who was just getting up.

"I TOLD YOU HE WAS THE DEVIL'S SIRE!" Morgan screamed as the feds hauled him away.

"I'm fine sweetie." Rollie said into his mike.

He was helped into the house where a doctor assisted him in removing the flackjacket then looked him over to make sure he wasn't injured.

Angie ran in and hugged him then gripped his hands.

"I suggest you rest, maybe take a soak in a bath to ease the muscle aches and the aggravated injury ache."

"Thanks doc."

Daniel appeared and helped Rollie upstairs while Angie drew the bath, then Daniel helped him into the tub and left him to soak.

"Ange?" Rollie asked after a few minutes.

"Yeah?" She answered sitting outside the door.

"Will you marry me?"

The door burst open and Angie dropped beside the tub and kissed him.

"That a yes?" He grinned.

"Yes." She smiled tearfully.

"Help me out?" He requested.

She wrapped a large towel around his waist and walked him to the bed drying his back with another towel and helping him into a robe.

"Get my suitcase." He said.

She did so and he dug through it until he came up with a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a white gold ring which he slipped onto her finger.

"I love you sweetie."

"I love you." She replied and kissed him tenderly.

"Come in." Rollie called at the knock on his door.

"Guess you don't need any help getting out of the tub." Daniel said seeing him.

"I'm officially the first to congratulate you then." Daniel smiled at the couple.

"Thanks." Angie nodded.

"Rollie...what you did..." Daniel tried to express his gratitude.

"Forget it."

"I can't. You--"

"Daniel, I look out for my family." Rollie stood meeting his eyes.

"Thank you." Daniel said simply.

"You're welcome." Rollie hugged him.

"I'm glad we're cousins." Daniel said quietly.

"Me too. Happy Christmas Eve, Daniel."

"The same to you both." Daniel smiled.

Both men knew they were family...and would always be there for each other.