Note: This will be continued, not sure when. I just wanted to know what would've happened if Kristen had heard about Jennifer's death before supposedly being pushed into the pool at the Blake house. I took the flashback to the boot-scooting session from a Days episode (from the '98 season I think) I recently saw. Also, all constructive criticism is welcome – please give it! :)

Kristen Chameleon

Plans Discarded On A Whim

Kristen Blake smiled drunkenly and raised her wine glass in another toast. She said in a slurred voice, "You're brilliant…" and flicked her hair back over her shoulder, sighing loudly. "Susan's on her way back to Salem right this moment…with your baby. You lost John…thanks to that bitch Marlena…and you lost your brother and father…but you won't lose your baby. You'll have his love at least."

She smiled in triumph, though when she let herself dwell on matters too long she started to realise that it was rather a hollow triumph – not the trumpeting glory she'd expected. Was she losing her touch? Stefano seemed to think so. Everybody else in Salem abhorred her, but that'd never reflected on her skills as a master manipulator. What was worth more in the end, anyway: friends to giggle stupidly with, or brains to secure herself a happy future?

"Security, that's what," she drawled, stumbling into a nearby chair while managing to handle her full wine glass deftly. In the worst situations she still had her self-control. Right? She had been feeling distinctly out of control this evening, quite unlike her usual self. But that was just a sign of the times – a sign that things were as bad as they could be, and could only get better.

"Hurry up, Susan," she muttered, pursing her lips as she made her unsteady way over to the couch and draped herself over it. "Bring me my baby."

*          *          *

The telephone shrilled, jerking her out of her doze. She sat upright and automatically looked for her wine glass – it wasn't in her hand. After a dazed moment of contemplation, in which the phone continued to shriek at her, she realised that it was sitting on the coffee table in front of her – even in her drunk stupor she'd managed to get the wineglass to safety.

Groaning, she dragged herself to her feet and weaved over to the little nightstand where the phone sat. As she walked she muttered angrily about who could be calling at this time of night – she certainly had no friends who might be checking up on her. Then her fogged mind perceived that this wasn't her usual abode, and therefore whoever was calling was trying to reach someone else. She picked up the receiver and set it down again immediately – then she took it off the hook and began to make her sluggish way back to the lounge suit.

Halfway there she stopped, wavering on the spot, and decided she wanted some music on. It'd distract her from all this waiting, at least. She'd keep it at low volume, so that nobody passing by outside would pick up on the noise.

The only source of music nearby was the small portable radio with its own antenna that stood next to the phone on the nightstand. Kristen moved over to it and leaned heavily on the nightstand for a moment, waiting for the waves of dizziness to pass. She swallowed, wondering what kind of hangover she'd have tomorrow morning, and then turned the radio on.

Soothing strains of classical music washed over her, reminding her of what she didn't want to think about – Stefano. He was lost to her now. The thought no longer made her angry, only sad. He and Peter had been the only two people in the world she could call family. Now she had nobody.

Don't dwell on it, she told herself as she turned to face the opposite wall, closing her eyes momentarily. She didn't like how dizzy she felt, the room spinning her around even though she was no longer looking at it, so she hastily opened her eyes again and lurched ot the side, having lost her balance completely. When she had recovered she thought, don't dwell on what's lost. Only dwell on what is to be gained. My precious John Junior. He'll be with me soon if that nitwit Susan does everything I said.

The classical music faded out and a well-known reporter's voice replaced it. Kristen listened with half an ear as she swayed gently to and fro, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"Good evening, listeners. Your usual programme has been interrupted for this newsflash."

Kristen resisted the urge to look at the clock, or ask herself again what was keeping Susan, or counting the number of things that could go wrong with her plan.

"Late last night the body of Jennifer Horton Devereux was found in a burnt-out car just north of the city."

Kristen had just begun to hum softly aloud when she stopped, jerking to sudden stillness. Her hearing immediately tuned in completely to what she was hearing on the radio.

"…The circumstances of Horton Devereux's death are unclear, but investigations are ongoing. Commander Abraham Calver of the Salem Police Department…"

Kristen choked on air, and very nearly stumbled. She hastened to the couch and leaned against it, preventing herself from toppling right over. Her head swam even more ferociously now, affected by far more than just alcohol.

"…Is survived by her mother and small daughter, as well as a wide community of devoted friends and secondary family members…"

"Oh my God," Kristen blurted in a voice made harsh by shock and horror. "It can't be."

"…At Saint Luke's tonight from 9:30 pm onwards, and will be resumed in the morning from 8 am onwards. The Horton family have asked that instead of flowers…"

Kristen was frozen on the spot, and somehow it felt completely wrong. Having Susan sent off to a harem didn't seem quite as important as it had a few moments ago. Kristen found herself suddenly looking around for her purse and keys, as if preparing to…leave.

She realised she felt the compelling need to find out if the radio had been lying to her.

Slowly, she moved her tangled hair out of her eyes and tried to equalise the rhythm of her breathing. "I have to get to the church," she said huskily, her face still betraying no emotion but that of shock. Inside she was a roiling mess. "Have to go…see my friend…"

*          *          *

In the backseat of the taxicab, Kristen was forced to reminisce about old times. It had been so long since she had allowed herself this luxury in regards to anyone besides John, the love of her life who was now lost to her forever, but now that she was allowing herself the opportunity, the pain she felt twisting inside her was excruciating. The problem was, she couldn't stop now that she had started…

Kristen laughed and realised that Jennifer and Billie were doing the same – all of them laughing, having fun together. All of them somehow managed to keep up with the dizzying boot scooting routine, clapping and stomping and twirling in time with the music. It was the laughter, though, that most enhanced the moment. The laughter, the friendship, the secrets shared…

There had been times in her life when she'd wondered what she'd been missing – at this moment she knew the answer. "I love you guys!" she yelled at one point, and the other two yelled the same in thing in return. She felt more elated than she remembered feeling in a long time.

She wondered if they'd known then that she really did love them. Was I really so different back then? she asked herself. All I've ever done, I've done for love. I am a lover now, as I was back then. Why can't anybody see that?

"Probably because all they see is you kidnapping people and manipulating others," she muttered under her breath, sinking lower into the seat.

"What was that, ma'am?" the taxi driver asked, glancing at her in the rear-view mirror.

She responded, "Just get me to the church," and took to staring out the window at the night beyond. It was a landscape full of life and activity, but in that moment it seemed terribly empty to Kristen.