Time: March 31, 2009
Place: Lugano, Switzerland
Anna still wasn't sure this was such a bright idea but she'd promised Tony to stop by the hospital and it had to be on the way to the airport.
The receptionist stared up at her from where she sat behind her desk, waiting.
"Hello…"
Once she had the room number, she made her way to the elevator, riding it to the correct floor and followed the signs. 734. John Black.
Just as she raised her hand to knock, it opened and Marlena stood in the doorway.
"Anna." She smiled and reached over to give her a peck on the cheek. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it."
She could see over her friend's shoulder that John's bed was empty. "Is everything alright?"
"More tests," sighed Marlena, inviting her in and motioning at a chair where Anna could sit. "So far that's the only thing they seem to do in this place. Tests."
"Has there been any improvement?"
Marlena suddenly looked on the verge of tears and Anna reached over to offer what comfort she could. "I wish…"
"No, I'm fine. Really, I just have to keep up my spirits with John and …" She sniffed and turned to look out the window at the magnificent scenery.
Damn, how she wanted to tell Marlena the news but Tony had made her promise…swear on their future not to breath a word and she did understand. If the information wasn't there, it would be an empty promise. And that would break Marlena's heart. And anyway, she had other concerns at the moment. "How long will he be gone?"
Marlena shrugged. "About another hour, I'm afraid. I know you can't stay that long and still catch your flight."
"No, but I'll see him when I get back."
"Anna," she began awkwardly, trying to find the right words.
Biting her lip and shooting a nervous glance to make sure they were alone, Anna put her hand up to stop Marlena and reached behind her to shut the door completely.
"That's why I'm here."
Marlena's confusion was almost comical but her concern was also painfully obvious.
"Tony isn't in University Hospital," she explained. "Or in Salem." She didn't even say the last three words aloud, just mouthed them.
For a long, drawn out moment, Marlena stared at her. Thankfully Anna could see the wheels turning and it didn't take all that long for her to figure it out.
"How long?" was all she asked.
"A few weeks after we moved into the mansion. You know Tony…he was curious about what Stefano was up to with the renovation and just as expected, he discovered the location of the new laboratory…and it's occupant."
"Andre."
A grimace twisted Anna's mouth and she nodded.
"So this was Stefano's doing."
'Well darling, you're not surprised, surely."
"No, just curious as to how you managed to fool the old bastard into thinking that Tony is…"
"SHHH."
Marlena actually looked embarrassed momentarily. "Sorry."
"Besides, it doesn't matter right now," said Anna quickly. "We're not home free yet, not until Stefano is certain I've swallowed this whole charade and that's going to take some, ah…well not unpleasant theatrics." A grin slid up the side of her mouth. "I have to admit, I'm rather looking forward to letting off a little steam. Not like he doesn't have it coming."
Marlena sat back in her chair wearing a faint look of disgust. "I should have known."
"Known?"
"On Christmas Eve, when I saw him at the mansion. I couldn't believe he'd send you over here by yourself, not when it was only your second holiday back together and then when he told me it was because he was worried about EJ…" Marlena shook her head.
"Well, he is pretty worried about EJ."
"Thank God, not enough to turn a blind eye as his brother is doing and end up marooned again, or worse."
It was the or worse part of that scenario which had Tony doing the unthinkable. Just contemplating the danger he was putting himself in was enough to make Anna sick with apprehension and thankfully Marlena wasn't paying attention enough to notice.
"No, he's not about to do that again," Anna assured her.
"But?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'll admit, I was fooled at the time," said Marlena carefully, glancing up at Anna's face and then away, "but even I know your husband won't…" she paused for a second, as though choosing her words with precision and lowering her voice, said, "leave EJ to twist in the wind at Stefano's mercy."
Anna shifted in her seat. "Marlena…"
Before she got any further, Marlena had grabbed hold of both of her hands and squeezed them tightly.
"Please tell me you're not going to suggest we pray," said Anna, still squirming.
"No, actually, I was going to ask for an invitation."
Anna raised an eyebrow. "To?"
"Just a quiet weekend away from the cold…a nice tropical location or whatever exotic locale the two of you have picked out."
With a chuckle, Anna reached over and kissed her friend on the cheek. "I'll see what I can do, and thank you."
"I'm the one who should be thanking you. When I heard what was going on, I couldn't believe it was happening all over again, and…" her voice trailed off, not wanting to say it aloud and Anna was grateful. She didn't want to hear it. The next forty-eight hours were going to be stressful enough without that image stuck in her head…even if it wasn't really Tony. There was still the real possibility that he could get caught.
University Hospital, Salem
EJ stood in the hospital corridor, his focus switching from the note he held to the door of his brother's room and then back again.
It has been delivered not five minutes ago, by special messenger.
Thing was, he'd noticed the guy hanging around earlier. He was sure of it. Wearing a rather nondescript sort of uniform much different from those of the hospital personal and with a head of flaming red curls. Not the sort that faded into the background. But he'd sat and waited before approaching EJ to make the delivery…for what?
Who was with him that the messenger wanted to avoid?
Stefano and Lexie and then Nicole of course, and on the other side of the nurses station, Bo and Phillip. Maybe Hope as well.
The last twenty-hour hours had been excruciating, and he was beginning to think the damn day would never end…first Tony's odd behavior and the blow up with Stefano and then Nicole's desperate phone call from the pier, finding Tony…why she'd been was down there in the first place considering he'd warned her to stay clear of his brother was just another one of the many unanswered questions he'd thrust to the back of his mind until later. He could deal with all of that after…
He eyed the note again. It was definitely Tony's handwriting, and his personal stationary instead of his company letterhead and it was sealed. He pulled it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper. It was one that sent his mind reeling back several months, to his own experience of being where his brother was now...lying in the hospital bed…paralyzed…
"Up for company?"
"Tony."
EJ had been surprised frankly, though he noticed that Tony had made certain Stefano was gone before arriving. "Yeah, I guess so, though how did you talk your way past Lexie after visiting hours? She chased Father out of here an hour ago…and Samantha."
"She likes me better than Stefano…and Samantha from what I can tell," said Tony, his smile amused.
"I think she likes practically everyone better than Samantha."
Tony chuckled, and came to sit beside the bed, leaning back in his chair and appraising Elvis carefully. He definitely had something on his mind.
"Alright Tony, spit it out."
One of the side effects of his improved condition EJ had found was a short temper and he had a pretty good idea that Tony was here to lecture him about the wedding and falling back into bad habits…that he shouldn't be listening to Father. EJ wasn't much in the mood for such a conversation, even if his brother had the best of intentions or the experience to back it up, but Tony had something else in mind.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"If you're going to talk to me about Father, I'm…"
"No."
EJ narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Honest, this has nothing to do with Stefano. This is…" Tony was sitting with his hands folded on his lap and he glanced down a second and then sighed. "Okay, this does have to do with him indirectly but only as a precaution. I'm sorry but I don't trust the old bastard."
"Yes, you've made that exceedingly clear since you came home," EJ observed and without warning, found himself facing his brother's dark, brooding gaze.
"Do you have any idea what's it's like Elvis to know the people you love the most have been tortured by someone who looks exactly the same as you do?"
EJ felt his mouth go dry and he had trouble swallowing. "No."
For a moment Tony was silent and then he nodded. "I want it to stay that way. And I want to make sure that it's never allowed to happen again."
"Andre's dead, Tony."
His brother's mouth twitched bitterly. "Yes, I know."
EJ shook his head. "Come on, I think you're being the tiniest bit paranoid."
"If I'd been a little more paranoid twenty years ago, we'd know each other better and you'd probably have a niece or nephew…or two."
"Now, there's a scary thought."
Tony ignored the joke. Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin, slightly yellow piece of paper, folded into squares and handed it to EJ.
"If this is going to be some kind of proof that Father was responsible for Andre's crimes, or that he provided him with the plastic surgery, you're too late Tony. He admitted all of this to me last summer…"
Tony sighed and shook his head. "Just read it, brother."
It took a concerted effort, but EJ managed to keep himself from rolling his eyes, and pried the paper open. It was a marriage license. Antony DiMera and Anna Fredricks Brady DiMera were the names listed and it was dated from before Tony was shipped off to the island. "Ok." He waved the paper at Tony, rather confused. "I…"
"It's not a marriage license for me and Anna," explained Tony.
"Oh."
Tony stuck his hand out to take it back, folding it carefully and slipping it into the inside pocket of his jacket. Once done, he glanced at EJ again.
The younger DiMera remained silent at first as he took in what his brother had just revealed to him. He'd known of course that Andre must have had a relationship with Anna since he knew all about her but it hadn't really hit EJ that like everything else Andre possessed, he'd tried to steal her from Tony. "Why are you showing me now?" he asked finally, still feeling in the dark about whatever Tony wanted from him.
"To know that it exists and what it means…that if it is delivered to you, the person you assume is me, is in fact, an imposter…"
EJ reached into the envelope, His hand was shaking as he drew out the twenty-five year old license and opened it. There was no mistake. It was the same one Tony had shown him last year. How the hell was it possible? His eyes flew to the door of Tony's room and he walked over to peer inside at the man lying in the bed, remembering their conversations and his brother's behavior lately.
The progression of their relationship had deteriorated gradually, so that EJ couldn't really pinpoint the exact moment when it happened. He'd noticed it more after he'd accepted the position Stefano offered him and as Tony's jealously became more noticeable, EJ simply accepted that was the problem. Tony wanted the attention Stefano was showering on his younger brother…except Stefano's attention, or lack of it hadn't bothered Tony in the least in the wake of his return from the island. In fact, EJ was pretty certain if Stefano hadn't survived his liver transplant surgery, Tony would have celebrated with the rest of Salem, and footed the bill.
And on top of the jealousy he'd displayed, whoever this person was had chosen to remain in Salem last December instead of accompanying Anna to Europe. Not exactly the actions of the man who'd returned from his wedding on top of the world only a few months prior.
Turning to lean back against the door of Tony's room, he stared at the license. It was then he noticed a note written in pencil in the top right corner…
Meet me at the
Convent of the Holy Cross
I'll be waiting.
