9:49 a.m.
As Steve held JJ in his arms, Jennifer hugged Kayla tightly at the terminal gate. Jack stood behind his wife, looking uncomfortably at the two women. It wasn't until they separated and Jennifer stood aside, did he take a step toward. It was just one single step and he couldn't make himself go any further. Kayla gave him a moment�s look of uncertainty before reaching over to hug him goodbye. Steve came over then and included a friendly slap on his back.
"Thank you, Jack. Thank you for helping us." Kayla smiled back at him as he turned sheepishly away. He couldn't quite look her in the eyes, but acknowledged the compliment.
"Me? What did I do? I was nothing more than a travel agent for you. You should try and get your money back... I mean... it didn't turn out to be a holiday excursion, you know?"
"Jack?"
"Yes?" He mumbled back to her.
"Will you just accept my thanks without the commentary?"
"No closed captions?"
Shaking her head at him, Kayla grinned back as Jennifer took hold of his arm. "Take care of him Jennifer." She told her sister-in-law. "He really backed us up there... when we needed it."
"I will... and you do the same. Have a safe trip back... and give Abby a hug and kiss from us."
"First thing, Baby!" Handing JJ over to his wife, Steve gave Jennifer a hug as well. "You guys take it easy over here."
"We will." As she stepped over to the side, her husband stood facing his brother as a few seconds of silence grew between them. Jennifer nudged a little, but Steve made the move and embraced his brother whole-heartedly.
Neither man said anything as Jack let himself hug Steve tightly. It was a long moment before Steve started pulling away, but before he did, he grabbed hold of Jack's face and held it within his hands. "Be careful, Jackson! I don't want anything to happen to my baby brother!"
"I'm not a baby... anyway, they've never been able to keep Jack down."
But Steve just holds firm and tells him not to be careless. "Listen to me Jack... just be careful... okay! Don't let yourself be vulnerable."
"Don't worry. I gave up being foolish for 2007. It's my new years resolution."
Laughing a little, Steve finally releases him. "Just see that you do, or I'll be coming back here to..."
"... Kick my butt !" Jack answers him. "I hear you... loud and clear."
Turning back, Steve gives Jennifer another quick hug as he reaches for the carry on bags. Kayla gives JJ another kiss and Steve places one on his head before she hands him back to his parents. Taking Kayla's hand they start walking to the gate. Stopping just before reaching the door, Steve turns and reminds them of the wedding. "We'll be expecting you all at the wedding next month, Billy-Jack. Don't disappointment me!"
"It's already on my calendar! We'll be there..." He tells him as he puts his arm around Jennifer's shoulders. "We'll all be there... soon."
Nodding at him, Steve gives him a wink. "I'll be waiting."
**********
12:16 p.m.
They had expected Stephanie to be at the airport, but Bo was the one to pick them up after they emerged through customs. A little worried, Bo assured them that Stephanie was fine.
"She doing some test runs today and couldn't make it... asked me to pick you up." They walked briskly to his car and loaded their bags in the back seat. Steve took the front passenger seat, as Bo started the car and drove out of the parking lot.
Checking his rear view mirror before heading towards the highway exit, Bo questions them about the flight back. "Okay flight? Are you guys tired?"
"We're fine Beauregard. Had the whole deal, peanuts, in-flight movie, stale air... just fill us in on what happened here. How's John doing?"
"Not too good. Doctors say there may be brain damage from the loss of blood and oxygen. He's still in a coma and hasn't been responding at all."
"Poor Marlena!" Kayla exclaimed. "How are she and Belle doing?"
"Marlena hasn't left the hospital at all. Belle spends as much time there as she can, but the doctors aren't too optimistic about John's condition. His prognosis isn't good. If he does come out of the coma, they believe there will be permanent brain damage."
"Do you guys have a lead on who did this?" Steve banged his fists against the door as he asked Bo. Inside he was thinking how it was that John was shot at around the same time he learned the truth about his past.
"There's no witness. He was all alone when it happened... Marlena didn't even know where he was."
"Maybe he was investigating something? When was the last time you spoke to him?"
"The day you and Kay left. He mentioned he was going to see Victor."
"What did Vic have to say about that?"
"Nothing much. Said he came home and John was already for him. They talked, then... John left."
"You think Vic's lying?"
"No. I don't think so. He's got no reason to hurt John."
"Maybe." Steve mused. "Still, he may not have liked being questioned about his past... activities. John did go there to find out his involvement with the Pawn. Maybe... he got twitchy?"
"Well, I wouldn't put it past Victor to do things... to keep someone quiet, but it doesn't seem his style to gun someone down in cold blood. No. Whoever did this wanted John dead."
Kayla had said very little all the while. Steve looked back at her as she forced herself to smile at him. He reached out his hand as she took it and squeezed tight.
Steve turned back and faced the road. His gut instinct was telling him that John wasn't his target, but he still had no idea who was. Kayla's fear that it maybe Bo was weighing on his mind when Bo asked them what happened in England.
Inhaling deeply, Steve tells him about Lansing and the deal he made with Stefano. "We were right in thinking Stefano had something he wanted. Stefano had access to his wife Portia and Lansing was willing to sacrifice me for it."
"That damn son of a...!" Bo furiously let out.
"Yeah! He's that all right... and as much as I hate to admit it... I could understand why he did it."
"Don't pity him Steve!"
"I'm not! I still wanted to kill the man for what he did to me... but... it wouldn't have changed anything."
"What about this... training? Do you remember much about it?"
"Just bits and pieces so far. I'm sure the British military sent me on some top secret missions. I'm not sure I ever want to know now... but I don't think I'll have any choice in the matter. When I get the second box and open it... I'm supposed to remember everything. Portia really did help me when she returned a large portion my memory back. That must have driven Stefano crazy... having his grand plan spoiled like that."
Bo's grip tightened on the steering wheel, as they got closer to home. He glanced occasionally at Steve, but said nothing. Steve saw his looks but kept his focus straight ahead. Unable stand the silence, Bo had to ask about Stefano's plan. "How can you be sure there is only one target?"
"What are you talking about Bo?" Confused, Steve looks at him a second before his glance goes off into the distance.
"Meaning... what if there is more than one person who have to...?"
"You mean the substitute victim... if I failed?"
Shaking his head at him, Bo exits the highway and turns onto the road leading to their house. "Who's to say in the end, it's just one DiMera enemy? Stefano hated Roman, me, John, you? You did turn his son from him. It seems... odd he just wants to focus on one person now."
"Yeah. It does." Steve thought for a moment as Bo pulled into their drive way and parked the car. Getting out, Kayla went to unlock the front door as Steve and Bo got their bags. Upon entering, Kayla mentioned calling Stephanie. Steve went to the living room and looked through the stack of mail as Bo closed the door and joined him. As soon as Kayla left them and went upstairs, Bo repeated his concern about the hypnotic trigger.
"Steve? Look man... I just don't know about this. This Portia chick really messed with you... so how do you know for certain there will be one name?"
Looking away, Steve places the letters back on the table. He watched the staircase, waiting for Kayla's return before turning back to Bo. "Don't think I'm crazy for saying this... but..."
"Go on." Bo urges him.
"It's a chess game! That's the way Stefano sees... all this."
"You want to run that one by me again."
"Think about it, Dude! That's how he looks at all of us... like pieces on a chessboard. He's the king and we're all the pieces on the opposing side. He sits in hiding, letting his hired goons attack us... do his dirty work, while he sits at home where it's safe and he's protected."
"Okay... I get you. But if that's true, then a lot of people will have to die before he can kill the other king."
"Not necessarily." Steve remarked. It was something that he mentioned earlier to Kayla, and now after coming home, it felt more certain to him. Lansing's behavior made him see just how his loss ruled his actions and Stefano used that to his advantage. "In a chess game... if you kill the queen... you severely weaken the king's strength since she is his primary protector."
"So you think the victim is a woman?"
Nodding at him, Steve offers his reasoning. "Think about it Bo! Since his wives have been killed, the man is always in hiding. He hasn't lived out in the open..., which would have made him vulnerable. To control Lansing, he used Portia. To get back at Roman and John, he went after Marlena. To hurt you, he took Hope. To make sure I completed his plan, he made Kayla my substitute victim. He lost his queens, so he attacks ours. It's the only way he can really hurt us."
"My God, Steve! Then who is it? Hope? Marlena? Kay? They're all in danger!"
"Just one of them... there's just one."
"There has to be a way we can find out who before Elliot gives you that box."
"Don't you think I've been trying? I dreamt about... killing her. It makes sense now. Why all the tests they put me through... my target was always a female."
"Damn!" Bo yelled out.
Sitting himself down on the sofa he tries to calm down and brings up his visit with Lansing's son. "He's one cool character. Never let his guard down at all. Sorry man, but I couldn't get anything out of him. I even pointed out how strange it was that he is making Salem his home... especially after living in London and all over Europe. Now I know why he's still here..." Eyeing his brother-in-law a second, Bo leans forward and places his arms on his knees, clasping his hands in front of him. "When he gives you that... that box... he'll probably be on the first plane out of here."
"Benjy said... he'll probably be doing it soon." Thinking of his last conversation with Benjamin, he still recalls the man's plea to find someone in the family to side with him. The single name that came to him had not changed and Steve knew, he had to contact that person as soon as he possibly could.
"Oh! Great! We don't even have time to prepare." Bo complained to him.
"He told me... he said I had to go through with it. I had to do this... or it will never end."
"He wants you to kill someone?" Bo looked back at him in shock. "If that's what he's asking... don't do it man! That's crazy!"
"I've got to... or else Kayla will.... "Taking a deep breath, he tells Bo that Benjy asked Steve to trust him. "He told me, he asked me to trust him... he said no one will get hurt."
Bo burst out laughing then as Steve narrowed his eye at him. "No one will get hurt... no one will get hurt he says." Bo repeated his reply. "Man! You're going to have to explain to me how that one works. How you can go from intentionally trying to kill someone... to having no one get hurt. I just don't see it. Steve... or am I missing something here?"
"No. That's all he said." Frowning a little, Steve looks back at him. "And I believe him Bo. I believe him. " He repeated as he was greeted with a look of complete and utter disbelief.
**********
3:10 p.m.
Stephanie was able to come around by the mid-afternoon that day. Steve gave her a big bear hug as they stood in the doorway. He gently held her face in his hands before she pulled at them and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I missed you too, Dad! Where's mom?" She asked him as she went inside and placed her things on the sofa.
"Your momma's in the kitchen. Are you joining us for dinner, baby?"
"Yeah. You can tell me all about your trip."
Clearing his throat, he followed her and sat in his chair. "There's not much to tell. Just needed to look into some things... and talk to someone I used to know. It's not something that would interest you."
Giving him a small frown, Stephanie shook her head at him and brought up Benjy. "Where you able to see Ben while over there. You know I emailed him about your trip the morning you left. He mentioned trying to see you. I hope he was able to. I think he's overworking again. I figure it would be a nice break for him to meet with you two over there."
"Um? Yes, we saw Benjy... but it was just a quick visit. He had to get back to Italy again."
"That's too bad! He did say he was coming to the wedding right?"
"He promised he would!"
"So did you and mom get to do any sightseeing over there?"
"We did a day in the country... your Uncle Jack took us."
"Really? Where? Any place I know?"
"I think it was called Devonshire... dale... something... like that."
"You don't remember, Dad?"
"Baby, it was just a little village a couple of hours outside London... nothing to get your stockings in an uproar over."
"Okay, if you say so." She looked back at him a little strangely as Kayla emerged from the kitchen.
"Baby! Come here! I missed you!" Giving her daughter a hug and kiss, Kayla sits down with her on the sofa. "Can you stay for dinner?"
"Uh huh! Actually... there was something I wanted to talk to you two about." Steve's head snapped in her direction right away as Kayla reached over and took her hand in hers. "Now don't look at me like that. It's nothing bad... it's great news in fact."
"Okay, so talk." Steve pushed her. Stephanie eyed him before getting up and facing them.
"No, it can wait until dinner. Mom? Need some help cooking?"
Looking a little surprised, Kayla accepted her offered help all the same. "Sure, you can work on the vegetables. Follow me."
While they worked preparing dinner, Steve turned to the computer and checked his emails. He was searching for one, which popped up immediately. When he read Benjy's message, he frowned slightly and sat back contemplating a response. The young man's message was brief and repetitive.
"Steve, please get, find someone to trust you. That's all you need to do. It's what you need to do."
"But it's not all I'll end up doing, Benjy." Steve said to himself. "I just wish I knew what you're thinking."
**********
6:55 p.m.
During dessert, she gave them the wonderful news. Stephanie was extremely excited about the prospect of staying in Europe for the next few months. Getting in on those six races would strengthen her chances of getting picked to be on a racing crew there. She would have to finish pretty high in the rankings, but so far, she was inching up more and more after each race.
Steve looked really disheartened at his daughter's announcement. It made him proud knowing all his baby girl had accomplished so much, but he had secretly been hoping she would be around here more. Stephanie had only just returned from France. It was too soon to lose her again. Kayla hugged her girl on hearing the news. Like Steve, she hadn't expected to have Stephanie leave again so soon, though she wasn't as openly disappointed as her husband was. She glanced back at his forlorn expression and saw Stephanie doing the same. At least he hadn't started to pace up and down the room.
"Papa! Please don't look like that!" Stephanie turned to her mother for help and saw the same sadness in her eyes. "Mom?"
"I'm happy for you baby! Your father is too. You just caught us off guard."
"Look, I know it's sudden.... but you must have expected it to happen."
"We were... well maybe in another month." Kayla admitted.
Steve had looked away from them, staring off into the air. He was thinking about how much he was going to miss his baby girl. He thought of all the races he promised to see her in, and so far, he hadn't been able to keep any of his promises. But then he started thinking of how safe she would be when she was in Europe instead of here in Salem. Right now, Salem was more dangerous. Not wanting to think about what could happen in the days to come, he realized having Stephanie far away for now was the best thing for her.
"What about the loft?" Steve suddenly asked as both Stephanie and Kayla looked at him, but said nothing. "Will you be giving it up? You practically just moved in."
"I'm keeping it of course, Dad! It's not guaranteed I'll be picked up to join a crew. There's still a lot of if's I have to get through... so I will be heading home from time to time. Anyway, Abby mentioned looking out for the place. I already told her, she's more than welcome to camp out whenever she needs some time alone."
That's great... baby. I'm really happy for you." Kayla tells her again and gives her a hug.
"Dad?" Stephanie looks at him as he stares back silently at her. "Aren't you going to say something? Please? Say something!"
"When do you have to leave?"
"Um? Well... actually... kind of right now." She hesitated and mumbled her way, as she played with her fork.
"What! Right now! As in tonight!" Steve eye bulged out as he bent towards her across the table.
"Steve... just calm down and let her talk." Kayla turned to her daughter not too happy with the news herself. "Stephanie, why so soon... I mean, can't this wait a few days or weeks?"
"Dad, Mom... the first race is in two days. I should be there already. I'm cutting it close as it is."
"Define there, Baby!" Steve requested.
"Well... Monte Carlo! I mean... isn't it incredible. A race in Monte Carlo. I've always dreamed of seeing that place."
He shook his head and pushed back at his dessert. Somehow, he felt a sudden urge to toss the plate through the air. "Yes. It's incredible, great... and all that good stuff... and you're leaving tonight!" He told her sarcastically.
"All right. I knew you'd be angry. I shouldn't have just told you like that. But really, how else could I have said it."
Steve just looked to Kayla as he started rambling about her trip. "Tonight... she's leaving tonight... so we've got how many more minutes before she leaves...?"
He gets up then, throwing his napkin to the table and walks off into the living room. Kayla gets up to join him, but Stephanie stops her. "Mom, aren't you happy for me. This is my dream come true."
"Oh Baby, of course I'm happy. I'm thrilled for you. I just wish... we had more time to get ready. We just got back home ourselves... and now... you're leaving."
"Yeah! I know I seem to have lousy timing all the time."
"Don't worry. I'll talk to him."
"No Mom." Stephanie stands and smiles down at her. "Let me."
Steve paced a little by the windows as Stephanie slowly approached him. He was upset that she was leaving so soon, but a part of him was happy her dream was coming true. The mixed emotions wrestled within him, neither side letting up. When she got nearer, Steve looked into her eyes and saw the answer there. She was happy and there was nothing on earth he wouldn't do to keep that look there always. She hesitated a little, but he opened his arms up to her and she ran into them.
"I am going to miss you so much. Baby!" He told her and he hugged her tightly. She looked up and saw a few tears fall already.
"I'm going to miss you too Papa!"
He looked a little sad when he faced her, but he forced a smile and gave her a kiss on her brow. "Why did you have to grow up so fast, Baby? It just all happened too fast."
"I know dad. I'm sorry I couldn't stay a little girl for you." She placed her head near his heart and felt the strong beating there.
"Just come back home safe. Will you do that for your old man?"
Stephanie nodded at him as her tears washed down her cheeks. Steve used his finger to wipe them away. "Can you do something else for me?"
"Anything, Dad."
"Don't fall in love too soon. Let me be the only man in your life a little bit longer?"
She smiled through the tears as she reached up and placed her cheek next to his. "I promise."
**********
7:50 p.m.
Perhaps five minutes had passed since Max arrived to bring Stephanie to the airport. She gave her parents several more tearful hugs before finally leaving. Steve was glad in a way that he wasn't the one who would drop her off. He figured if he made it to the airport, he might not have been able to let her go once they got there. When the phone rang, he reached it first as Kayla was in the kitchen washing up. The crisp, cultured voice sent a momentary chill down his spine, but he held himself steady as Elliot asked if he was available to meet with him the next day.
"I think I can manage sometime after one p.m.? Is that okay with you?" Steve asked him.
"Yes. That will work perfectly. I am sorry for the short notice, but there is something I need to give you."
"Really?" He sounded surprised, but inside, he felt himself shake. He tried to catch his breath as sweat grew across his brow. "What is it?"
"I'm afraid I don't know. It is something my mother wanted to give you. She left it in my care, you see. Tomorrow then?"
"Yes. Around one thirty."
"I'll see you then Mr. Johnson. Good evening."
When he hung up, Steve remained holding the phone in his hand, hearing the dial tone buzzing in his ear. He took several deep breaths before dialing Bo's number. His brother-in-law answered by the second ring and Steve told him it was going to happen tomorrow. The voice that came out of him was calm and collected, but already, fear was working it's way back as his companion. Bo offered to go with him, but Steve declined. Elliot might not give him the box if there was a third party. Afterwards, they could decide what to do.
When Steve went into the kitchen to tell Kayla, she just started crying. He took her in his arms as her body slumped against his, almost in defeat at the news. His fingers went through her hair, soothing her, but she sobbed all the more. But it wasn't over yet, he thought to himself. He still needed to do one thing and that was something he would get to the next morning. Try as he might, he couldn't understand how getting someone to trust him would change anything. As crazy as Benjy's request was, he would follow through. The man had not steered him wrong so far. Steve trusted him. He just needed to find someone else to trust him too.
**********
10:01 p.m.
He stood by their bedroom window looking out into the dark street below. The only light in their bedroom came from the small bed lamp on the bedside nightstand. Kayla slowly approached her husband and placed her hands against his back, when he suddenly turned around to face her. He looked intently at her in the dim light and caressed her face in slow gentle circles. She tired searching his face, seeing if she could sense his feelings, but they seemed blocked off. His eye bore into hers as his lips quickly captured her in a deep kiss. When he lifted his head, it was to place kisses along her jaw and neck, then he took her in his arms and pulled her closer to him.
Kayla clung to her husband, feeling his need for her and responding to them. She felt herself shake as his lips returned to hers, but his hold was steady and secure. The kisses grew, they multiplied and deepened. When Steve lifted her up in his arms, she held on, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Laying her on their bed, he pressed himself down beside her, his hands running over her arms and sides. He felt an urgency, a need to lose himself in her for a while. Not to think about what could happen to them tomorrow, but to focus on the now. He needed her. Steve needed his wife to make all his fears go away. Each touch of her hands eased his pain and he wanted more. He wanted her to cleanse him, to make him feel whole and safe.
"I need you Sweetness." He whispered into her ear as he placed more kisses there. "I want you so much, baby!"
Their clothes were discarded quickly as they went beneath the blankets. Kayla reacted strongly to Steve's touches. His hands caressed her as she tired to slow her racing heart, but it wouldn't heed her soft plea. She always felt her skin come alive when he touched her. Her skin would glow, it would tingle beneath his touch that she yearned for more each time.
For several minutes, his loving touches are everywhere, as Kayla half pulls and have pushes him away. The feelings are always so intense when they make love, that it seems almost unbearable. Stronger and faster his passions rise, prompting hers to follow. As Kayla's hands touch his, Steve finds himself within the limits of his control. His actions seem almost panicked and wild. But when she starts places small kisses along his shoulder, he finds his movements halted as his touches grow more gentle and soft.
Her soft quick kisses reach his heart faster and deeper than the frantic ones he made earlier. She soothes him with each soft touch of her hand. He feels the growing urgency replaced. No longer too lose himself in the pleasure alone, too give himself a reprieve from the fears he has allowed in, but to make love to his wife. To remind and show her with his body that he loves her more than anything ever in this world.
His hands cup her face as he kisses her again. His lips, brushes tenderly across her as she holds him against her. When his lips travel down to her breasts, she achingly arches her back as she presses him closer to her. He lets the moment build and grow between them. As each touch heightens their pleasure, so will the final consummation bring completion. Kayla rolls over him as he holds her above, her hands now hold his face as he deepens their kiss. She lets his strong hands hold her as her arms grow weak and soft and she comes down upon his chest. When he finally rolls her on her back, she shudders, her movements uneasy. No longer able to keep himself apart, Steve comes into his wife, joining himself to her.
His lips claim her over and over as he comes to her. A fine sheen covers husband and wife as Kayla cries out first, joined a moment later by her husband. Steve feels his heart racing inside him. As each second passes, his heart returns to normal and he gently eases him down besides his wife. Her arms are still around him, so strong were the feelings that ran through her. Even then she will not release her hold on him. Side by side, they lay as the their world slowly resumes and their breaths grow less labored. When Steve looks down, he sees tears fall down her cheeks.
"Baby! Don't cry!" He begs of her, softly whispering his plea.
She turns and looks up at him, her eyes full of love and passion. "It's just so beautiful!" She tells him. "I can't stop."