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*NOTE: "The Awakening" begins on Thanksgiving Day 1995, which is about a month after the events of "The Rewrite ~ Prologue (Parts I-IV)"

Chapter 1, Part 1:

Felicia Gallant drummed her manicured nails on the steering wheel as she impatiently waited for the Illinois State Trooper to climb back into his patrol car and head down the highway. When she could no longer make out the trooper's tail lights in the distance, she crumpled the speeding ticket and threw it on the seat beside her, slowly guided Luke's red sports car back onto the asphalt and continued on her way to Cass & Frankie's house to pick up her youngest daughter, Isabelle ("Izzie") Blake. As the sun was still rising on this Thanksgiving morning, Felicia chided herself for mistakenly thinking she had the road to herself as she sped down Highway 61, too lost in thought to notice the trooper parked out of sight at the abandoned gas station where Highway 61 intersected Route 7. Felicia had only recently begun to drive Luke's car, having stored it under a protective cover in the Love Tower parking garage since his death. And she never intended to drive it. She removed the cover and sat in the driver's seat with the sole intention of getting the number of miles off the odometer so that she could make arrangements to sell it. But when she sat down, a sweet aroma filled the air and it took but a second for Felicia to realize that the leather seats entombed a fragrance that was unmistakably Luke's. That wonderfully expensive Italian cologne that she noticed on Luke the very first day she was reunited with him behind the Bay City police station. The same cologne he wore as she kissed him for the last time in his hospital room the day he died. After he was gone, it still permeated his clothes, his shoes, even his hair brush. Felicia told herself that day in the parking garage that if the car started up on the first try, it was a sign that she should keep it. She barely turned the key in the ignition when the engine roared to life.

"Stupid Barney Fife, what's he doing giving tickets on Thanksgiving," Felicia muttered under her breath. Despite the crisp fall air, Felicia had the driver's side window rolled halfway down and the scarf adorning her head caught a gentle breeze and flowed outside the window like a kite tail soaring high over the beach. She took hold of the gear shift and pressed her booted foot firmly on the gas pedal. That was all the encouragement Luke's little car needed and Felicia was again flying down the highway.

She took a sip of coffee and turned on the radio.

"You ask me if there'll come a time
When I grow tired of you
Never my love
Never my love

You wonder if this heart of mine
Will lose it's desire for you
Never my love
Never my love

What makes you think love will end
When you know my whole life depends
On you (on you)..."

*CLICK*

She snapped the radio off and forced herself to focus on the reason she was on the road so uncharacteristically early. She wasn't looking forward to having the conversation she knew was necessary before she could return to TOPS and the Thanksgiving festivities ahead. Felicia usually closed TOPS on Thanksgiving so that her staff could spend the holiday with their families; however, this year Izzie talked her into opening TOPS to the homeless. Even so, Felicia still gave her crew the day off. Most of them, following the lead of General Manager Franco, loved the idea of feeding those less fortunate and volunteered to work their regular shifts so she was confident that the prep work was already underway. Friends and family ~ including Rachel, Carl, Lorna, Matt, Cass, Frankie, Gary, Josie, Sharlene, John, Jake, Paulina ~ also planned to give up all or part of the day to serve up turkey and all the trimmings.

As she turned onto Longridge Road, Felicia looked down at her left hand and the large marquise diamond gracing her ring finger. From the moment she opened her eyes that morning, she was trying to convince herself that the ring not only belonged there but that she felt comfortable wearing it. District Attorney Garrett Lockhart had surprised her with the marriage proposal the previous evening. He dropped down on one knee and asked her to marry him in front of all of those gathered at his $500-a-plate gubernatorial campaign kickoff dinner and though Felicia didn't see it coming, she played it perfectly and with eyes brimming with tears, gracefully accepted. She had hoped to keep the news quiet but with the press in full swing at the dinner, her photograph was splashed on the front page of every newspaper in the state and The Bay City Herald was no exception. She was hoping to put off having this chat with Izzie until after Thanksgiving but she was afraid that her daughter would somehow see the Winthrop's morning paper and would not be a happy little camper. So before she could think about getting one turkey into the oven at TOPS, Felicia drove over to Cass & Frankie's to retrieve Izzie and talk to her about the events of the previous evening.

After navigating the long driveway, Felicia finally arrived at 88 Longridge Road, where she would find the entire Winthrop household awake. Frankie was in the kitchen busily preparing her infamous *tofu turkey* and humming to, and occasionally dancing with, the Elvis tunes radiating from the cassette player. Cass was holding little Charlie in his arms and twirled her around to "Blue Suede Shoes" when he answered the bell and opened the door to see Felicia standing there.

"I can't believe it," Cass said to his best friend, "I don't think I've ever seen you rise and shine before nine a.m." He grabbed Felicia's hand and spun her around while pulling her into the house. Charlie giggled and stretched out her arms to Felicia.

"Here, fix this," Felicia said, expressing irritation as she stuffed the scrunched up speeding ticket into Cass's free hand while pulling her goddaughter from his other arm and giving her a kiss on the forehead. She looked around the room for Izzie but didn't see her.

"Whoa, no coffee this morning?" Cass smirked as he inspected the crumpled paper Felicia had handed him. "Felicia, is this ANOTHER speeding ticket?" he exclaimed. "You know, the insanity defense can only be used once and I think we burned that bridge on your last...82? YOU WERE GOING 82 MILES AN HOUR?!? On an icy country road? Maybe you should rethink this whole 'driving yourself around' thing and go back to having a driver. I know you love Luke's car but I'm beginning to think Wally was right when it comes to you and driving. I mean, need I mention Tall Boys?"

"Very funny, Cass," Felicia said as she gave Charlie another kiss. "And Tall Boys was not my fault...really."

Cass, though changing the subject and lowering his voice so as not to be heard in the kitchen, was not through ribbing his less-than-chipper friend. "So where is Prince Charming this morning?" he said with a huge grin. "You know that was quite the proposal last night," he whispered. "When I told Frankie about it after I got home, she was sorry she missed it but I told her that one of us had to be the responsible adult and take care of our girls and since she drew the short straw, I had the privilege of watching Snow White get swept off her feet, though, really I see you more as the wicked stepmother type, not that you were ever wicked to Matthew or anything because he still adores you, but..."

Felicia seemed oblivious to Cass, having turned her full attention toward Charlie and their usual game of "Tickle Monster." She sat down in the nearest chair and bounced Charlie on her lap.

"What are you...Hello?...Why do I get the feeling you're not listening to me? Still flying on Cloud Nine?" Cass waved his hand in front of Felicia's face in an effort to get her attention. When she didn't acknowledge him, he continued on. "So tell me, how does it feel to know that you are going to be the future First Lady of the State of Illinois? Cass asked teasingly then suddenly stopped and looked at Felicia and spoke in a more serious tone. "Have you given any thought about what would happen if Garrett actually did win the election? And let me tell you, the word on the street is that he could very well win. Felicia, are you prepared to move into the Governor's mansion? That's in Springfield, you know. Of course I can just picture you sashaying into the mans and having it completely redecorated in two hours."

"I know where the mansion is, Cass, and I'm not moving to Springfield," Felicia retorted while still visually searching for her daughter. She continued bouncing Charlie on her knees, "Who's got a big tummy...Charlie's got a big tummy...oh, you like that, don't you..."

Felicia felt Cass's hand on her shoulder and looked up at him. She sighed heavily, handed Charlie back into his waiting arms and got up from the chair.

"You know it all happened so fast last night, Cass. One minute I was taking a bite of my salmon, which was dry by the way, I TOLD them to order the food from TOPS, and the next minute Garrett was on his knee in front of me."

"Are you saying you are having second thoughts in the light of a new day?" Cass asked lyrically.

"Maybe I had too much wine?" Felicia countered jokingly.

Cass put his arm around his best friend's shoulder and drew her close to him. "How does Lorna feel about it? After all, she will be handling the publicity for his campaign."

"You saw her, Cass. Lorna was there last night and she couldn't have been more thrilled. She thinks that I have been alone far too long. I keep telling her that I am not alone. I have Isabelle." Her eyes began to search the Winthrop living room again. "Speaking of Isabelle, I haven't seen her since I got here."

Cass was about to point toward the kitchen when they both heard a familiar voice.

"LAY OFF OF MY BLUE SUEDE SHOES!!!"

Felicia smiled at Cass and walked toward the kitchen. She had been told many times over the years that her youngest daughter was like her in many ways ~ Izzie had her mother's coloring and her biting wit. She was impulsive and stubborn and had Felicia's fierce loyalty to friends and family. She had also inherited her mother's singing voice, or lack thereof. Felicia had no doubt that the strained and totally off-key warblings emanating from the kitchen came from her daughter. When she opened the door, she stopped for a moment and surveyed a scene that had played out so many times before ~ Frankie and Izzie, their heads together, smiling and laughing while seeming to be fully in synch with one another. If Isabelle was that close to any other person, Felicia would be jealous. But this was Frankie. Frankie, who silently took over during that dark time when Felicia couldn't and made sure that Izzie was safe, happy and loved. Frankie, who stepped back while Cass was consumed with bringing his best friend back from the edge and held him the night of the intervention when he was certain he had lost Felicia forever. Frankie, who handed Izzie back to Felicia without reservation, without doubt, without question when she knew that Felicia was ready to assume all responsibility for her daughter again. They never talked about it but it went without saying that Felicia was forever grateful to Frankie for protecting Isabelle from her own mother.

"Hey you, I could hear you all the way out in the driveway," Felicia joked as she swung open the door to the kitchen.

"Mom!" Izzie exclaimed as she jumped off the counter, dropping the wooden spoon that doubled as a microphone less than thirty seconds ago. She hugged her mother around the waist and picked up the spoon. "We're making tofu turkey," Izzie exclaimed with a huge smile, her trademark Cubs hat adorning her head and unruly curls tamed by a long braid down her back.

"So I see," Felicia looked at the "turkey" then looked up at Frankie, who turned off the cassette player.

"Mornin' Felicia," Frankie said in response to Felicia's false grimace. "And we've already tackled the guacamole, which, as you know, is the new Winthrop Thanksgiving tradition, so we should be just about ready to head over to TOPS as soon as Cass gives Charlie her bath. I don't suppose he's started yet, has he?"

"No, Fred and Ginger are still twirling around the dance floor out there. Uh, Frankie, if you don't need Izzie anymore, I would like to take her back to TOPS with me. I'm sure Franco and everyone is in full swing over there and I need to go oversee everything. And Ms. Presley here is going to help out A LOT since this was her big idea." Felicia cupped her daughter's face and kissed her on the nose.

"Actually, we're done here Felicia so she is all yours. But you didn't have to drive all the way out here to pick her up. We could have taken her back to TOPS with us."

"Thanks, but..." Felicia spun her daughter around and directed her toward the door, "... I need to talk to Izzie about something anyway so the drive back will give us some time."

Izzie stopped immediately before the door and turned back around. She was hoping that her mother would not yell at her as loud in Frankie's presence. "I know what you want to talk about, mom, and can I just say something before you get mad at me?"

A sudden panic came over Felicia. Had her daughter already seen the paper? Did she know about the engagement? She looked up at Frankie and her questioning face was met with a shrug and a shake of the head.

"Bobby Rafferty is a crybaby," Izzie said as she began to mount her defense. "We were all playing together and I can't help it if he can't catch a ball. I threw it straight at his mitt, right there," Izzie balled her right hand into a fist and hit it into her left palm. "Right there and he missed it. The ball hit his stupid arm and he started crying."

"Isabelle, what are you talking about?" Felicia inquired somewhat impatiently.

"Bobby Rafferty. His mom called you right? She always calls the other kids' moms whenever Bobby gets hurt. Which is like, everyday." Izzie rolled her eyes.

"No, this isn't about Bobby Rafferty. This is about...well, it's about me. And Garrett. And you. Come on, let's say goodbye to Cass and Charlie and get going."

Izzie looked at Frankie and the disappointment was obvious. "She said 'Garrett' didn't she?" Izzie inquired of Frankie, although she already knew the answer.

Frankie nodded and gave Izzie a look that told the girl that she knew exactly what Felicia wanted to talk about.

"Now I really do wish this was about Bobby," Isabelle said as she hung her head and stomped out toward the living room.

*****

With Felicia promising to drive within the speed limit, she and Izzie said their quick goodbyes to Cass, Frankie and Charlie and climbed into the car. Frankie remained on the porch long after the sports car turned onto the main road. She was thinking back to a conversation that took place back in the kitchen about the same time Barney Fife was giving Felicia her speeding ticket ~

"Frankie, you knew my dad didn't you?" Izzie was sitting on the counter, mixing bowl on her lap, wooden spoon whirling around in the bowl.
"Um, yeah, Izzie, I knew both of your dads. Who are we talking about, Mitch or Lucas?" She pointed to the bowl on Izzie's lap. "Make sure you mix that up well, sweetie."
"Mitch. So, do YOU believe he really disappeared in Africa?"
Frankie stopped chopping onions and turned her full attention to the little girl sitting on the counter. "What do you mean, 'do I believe'?"
"Some of the kids at school say that he's dead. They say if he was still alive, he would have come back to Bay City. You knew him, right? Do you think he would have come back?"
Frankie closed her eyes for a moment as she realized that kids had not changed a bit since she was in school ~ they could still be so incredibly cruel. She knew that no trace of Mitch had ever been found yet she never truly "felt" that Mitch was dead. And after what Frankie witnessed at the hospital last month, she was beginning to think her "feelers" had not failed her. But kindred spirits or not, she could not begin to explain what she saw to an 8-year old, even one as wise as Isabelle Blake. So she answered her as honestly as she could.
"Yes, Izzie, I think if your father were alive, he would come back. Especially if he knew about you."
And with that, Izzie smiled and turned her full attention back to the bowl on her lap.

Frankie was grateful that her explanation was accepted without further question. What she didn't want to tell Izzie, what she had not told another living soul, not even her husband, was that as Cass was comforting Felicia at Izzie's bedside in Bay City General last month, Frankie saw a bearded man, wearing a familiar ball cap, slip out of Izzie's room. As Matt, Rachel and Lorna gathered in the waiting room, Frankie excused herself under the pretense of fetching coffee for everyone. Frankie followed the man out of the hospital and into an alley behind Center Street. She called out for him to stop and for one brief moment he did so. "Who are you?" she inquired, then stupidly realized that she was standing alone in a dark alley with a complete stranger who could very well turn out to be dangerous. She thought those apprehensions were confirmed when the man began moving slowly toward her, causing Frankie to instinctively take a step back. The man stopped. He removed the Cubs hat from his head and tossed it gently at Frankie's feet. When she bent down to pick it up, the man bolted and Frankie didn't pursue him any further. Though she never got a clear look at his face, there was something about him that was very familiar to her. She stuffed the hat in her jacket, returned to the waiting room and said nothing, not even to the police, who by that time were swarming all over the hospital. If she was right about the man's identity, then she knew the last thing he needed was to be hounded by the police. But if she was wrong...

A cold wind blowing from the southwest suddenly picked up and brushed Frankie's cheeks. "Must be a storm coming," she said as she involuntarily shivered. She turned quickly and retreated into the warmth of her house and into the arms of Cass & Charlie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two hundred miles southwest of Bay City at Jacksonville State Hospital (formerly known as the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane), the doctor sat at his desk and looked around his sparse office, then focused on the newspaper in front of him. The headline "DA LOCKHART TO WED FELICIA GALLANT" glared at him from the front page of the Bay City Herald. He had been subscribing to the newspaper from his first day at the hospital. He thought it best to keep up with the latest Bay City news even though he now resided in Jacksonville. Although he was keenly interested in the headline about the Lockhart/Gallant engagement, it was the two-inch article on Page 8 regarding the most recent unsolved homicide in Bay City that he was most anxious to discuss.

"Guard!" he yelled through the small barred window in the two-inch steel door. "GUARD!"

"What do you want, Doctor?" the beefy guard asked half-interested as he peered inside Room 584.

"I want to call District Attorney Garrett Lockhart in Bay City. I have some very interesting information he will want to hear. I need to use the phone."

"You know you can't use the phone until 4 p.m. Rules are rules, doctor. Do we have to go over them every day? Four p.m." The guard turned and proceeded back down the long corridor.

Dr. Alan Glaser turned around, sat back down at his desk and surveyed his "office" again. He was Patient No. 874329. His "office" was Room 584, located on Level 5 of the main building, which housed the most dangerous of Jacksonville's patients. He reached for a candy bar, opened the packaging and began to eat his sweet treat, savoring every bite. "Patience, mother," he said quietly. "Garrett Lockhart will be very interested in what I have to say. But first, he has to let us out of this place. And he will. I have a foolproof plan. My precious is waiting."

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~

_________________
"It has been a magnificent journey..." ~ Linda Dano, 1999 Daytime Emmys

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