Being Measured for the Crown

by laurensnana

The Explosion that has rocked the historic Brady Pub has killed many, changed lives, and sends EJ, Harris, Bo and John on a quest to rescue Sami and the children. Who did this? Why? What do they want?

1. Chapter 1

Being Measured for the Crown

Prologue: Lives have been lost, families destroyed, and a city is devastated by what has been done at the Brady Pub. EJ Wells, Harris McMurty, and Lexie Carver now have more reasons than ever to work together to make sure the DiMera legacy does not die.

Chapter I

The cry came to her in the dream. It was an infant, angry with hunger, cold or wet, but for whatever reason, there was a high level of distress being signaled by the sound. It awakened in her a response, triggered by some level of the human programming to care for babies. She fought to get to the sound in her dream, but the effort was so tiring, her limbs felt as though they were weighted down, and her head was too heavy to lift from the pillow.

Her head moved from side to side on the pillow, and she managed to open eyelids for a moment, and was rewarded by the sound being distinctly louder, which was helping her to become a bit more alert and more able to concentrate on the cry. Her vision was only of a white light, and she put her hands up to her eyes, and felt that they were covered in a gauze film, which she could tell was some type of bandage. She struggled to remember, but she could not. The dryness of her mouth and lips made speaking impossible, but she made an effort anyway.."EJ..." her whisper was weak, but she was calling for her husband, knowing he should be here by her side, he would want to see her, to know she was alright.

"She is waking up..good, good, see if you can get her to eat a little soup. She will need something on her stomach soon or she will get nauseated" a female voice was speaking, and Sami was relieved.

The doctor was a woman, this must be a hospital she was in. Her lungs still burned from the smoke, there had been so much smoke. It had seemed like she was floating out of the smoke, now she knew she had been carried. Fighting to recall things that shock had forced her to forget was tiring her out again. There was so much she did not remember. When the infants cry came again, she was startled, and she struggled to sit up, the children! Now she remembered! She had to find them, it was so dark, and she was trying to find them..that was what she had forgotten!

"Lie back down now, little Missy, it's alright, I won't let anyone hurt you, " the voice was familiar, and his touch was firm and insistent as he pushed her back down. The side rails on the bed had restraints which were again put on her arms to keep her from sitting up, and she was too weak to struggle much. The needle was put into her arm, not to put her to sleep, just to make her easier to manage. Bart knew it was important to make her eat something. She had to be made presentable before the children could see her. If she was like this, they would be more frightened than they already were.

On the second level of the building, a nursery area for the children had been set up. It was well equipped with television, toys and video games. The nursemaids who had been assigned to the children were pleasant women, who had been instructed to treat all the children kindly.

Theo was sitting on the bed with the other four children grouped around him. He was reading to them, which had been a nightly ritual for them since they had arrived at this place. The first few nights, he had done it to keep the others from crying so much, and now he did it to keep himself from crying with them. They all wanted their mother and father. He wanted his too.

Jessica had nightmares from the very first night, Justin had taken to crawling into bed with her to soothe her .Kacie was holding up well as her struggles as a cancer patient had taken much of the fear in her little soul away and she maintained a quiet stoicism. Ace was different, again, this was another case of abandonment to him, and he was dealing with it as he had all the other times. He was a holy terror, and the only child the nursemaids warily watched, before bringing him meals, or helping him dress. They both had the bruises on their shins that had earned their caution.

The soup was warm, with a savory taste that felt pleasant going down her throat. It was also helping her think, as the nourishment in her stomach made memories come sharper. She found her voice, and grasped at the hand that was feeding her the soup. The restraints kept her from getting to the hand, and straining only tired her, so she let her hands fall again at her side.

"Where is my husband..my children..tell me please..what happened?" Questions came fast now, there was much she needed to be told.

"My grandmother, Grandpa Sean..there was an explosion..where are they? Are they alright?"

"Shh...you must not get excited, don't worry, everyone is fine, you are fine..eat the soup, it will make you strong, and you will be able to see your children soon, Eat the soup now..You need to be strong". The voice carried with it an accent Sami could not recognize. It soothed her, but she would not be silent.

"Why are my eyes covered, can I take it off?" she pointed up at the gauze film again.

"In a few days, yes, your eyes were injured by the...the flash..but in a few days all will b well, the doctor has said..please, eat more soup..it is good for you." And the voice soothed as it spooned the soup into Samis mouth.

Sean Brady paced the cell he was in. The blow that had knocked him out had left a goose egg sized lump on the back of his head, and he rubbed it, welcoming the discomfort, as it kept him awake. He began to yell at the top of his lungs, then picked up the mattress from the narrow cot he had been lying on. He picked up the small cot and began throwing it against the cell bars, trying to make as much noise as he could! He wanted to see a human face..he wanted to know where his wife was! Who is doing this to him?. He could imagine only one answer, but that was an impossibility, as Stefano DiMera was dead! .

Chapter II

When the reports began coming over the television about the devastation at the Brady Pub, Kate had stood transfixed. Phillip had punched in a number on his phone, forgetting all about the Council vote, and had cursed when his call failed to be answered. He too found himself staring at the scene unfolding on the screen. Only Victor still seemed unfazed. He called for Nico to bring the car around. Telling Kate to stay put, Phillip and Victor drove down to the waterfront area. The police had cordoned it off to almost a mile perimeter, so they parked and began trekking to as close to the Pub as they were allowed.

As Victor saw the damage done, and the cost in human lives and suffering, he glared at Phillip in anger. "The Council said it would be a clean job..is this what they call clean? Hell, I could have hired gang members who would have acted more professionally!"

Bo Brady and Shawn had made their way down to the area, many of the officers were still friends with Bo, and they had not stopped him as he bulled his way in, he was not going to be stopped as he tried to find his parents. One of his former partners called out to him "Bo..Oh God, Bo I am so sorry!"

"Duke, what do you know? Have you seen Mom or Pop? Do you know if they got out ok?"

"Bo..over there, God, Bo, I am so sorry" Bo looked where Duke had pointed, on the street was a row of bodies, covered in white sheets. There had been so many injured, that the dead were just laid out to await transport to the morgue. The living had to be attended to first.

Bo clutched onto Shawn, and they made their way over to where the bodies had been laid out and covered. Bo saw the slight figure, and a cry of agony escaped his lips. He ran then, covering the distance in a second as he fell to his knees next to his mothers body. He pulled the sheet back, and saw her beloved face, still as kindly looking as when she had been alive..and she had been alive only minutes ago. Bo screamed then, screaming his rage at who could have done something like this to a woman who would have helped anyone..who never hurt anyone..who was so full of love and kindness, now gone for what reason on gods earth?...

Victor saw Bo kneeling, holding the sheet covered body to his chest, and his own heart began beating harder with the knowledge that he had also lost his soul that night. His steps to reach Bo were quick, but he was finding it difficult. For some reason, he could feel his breath becoming short, and his legs so heavy he had to struggle to keep them moving. Phillip saw his father stumble, then collapse, falling to the pavement before he could reach Caroline.

"Pop!" Phillip ran to reach his father, trying to find the aspirin that Victor had been told to always keep handy. Victors eyes were wide open as he saw death approaching. He knew he had it coming, had known it for so long, but it was still a surprise. The only wish he had as he gave in to it was to turn his head towards where Caroline lay, which he did, then his eyes closed for the last time.

His cries for help had gone unnoticed, there were so many injured, still so many being led to the ambulances, one old man dead of a heart attack was not of paramount importance. Finally someone had stopped.

"Carrie..I think he's dead..oh God, what have we done?" Philip cried up to Carrie who had seen him, and ran over to check if he was alright. The man with her had stripped off his coat and knelt down to Victor, opening his shirt and beginning CPR, alternating the pumping action of his hands with mouth to mouth breathing. His efforts were strenuous, but after a minute, he announced, "he has a pulse, get someone over here quickly, he needs to get to a hospital now!"

Phillip managed then to get one of the paramedics to come and assess his father. The medic was disgusted, "We have a lot of trauma going on here, and you lookie loos coming down here to stick your noses where they don't belong is a shame! This old coot would have been fine if he had just stayed home where he belonged!"

As the last words left his mouth, the medic found himself in a death grip by Philip. "This is my father, Victor Kirakis..a very important man in this town..you want to keep your job and your breath..get him on an ambulance NOW!"

The threat in Phillip's voice resulted in a immediate attitude adjustment on the part of the medic who signaled for the next ambulance and had Victor placed on it. Phillip whispered in the ear of his father, "I will be there as soon as I can Pop, now I need to find Lucas and Austin."

"Phillip..my God, were Austin and Lucas still in the pub when this happened? Let us help you find them" and Carrie would have done so, except she then saw Bo and Shawn and the figure of her Grandmother being rocked in Bo's arms. Her own cry of devastation made Lloyd hug her to him, but she struggled away to get to her grandmothers side.

Running, Carrie stumbled in her haste over one of the sheet covered corpses, and as Lloyd caught up to her, and helped her to her feet, she looked down in horror as the face she had uncovered was one she had known so well for so long! Austin! He was not peaceful looking in death, and Carrie reached one hand down to gently move a lock of his hair from his eyes. Then she began to cry with grief, a cry so deep and hurtful, it made Lloyd stand back, afraid to interfere, afraid not to.

Belle had called over to her parents house, asking them if they had the televison on. It was not often they did, and tonight was no exception, but when she told them what was going on they had gone immediately to the balcony to see what was visible. Both had grabbed their coats, and Marlena pulled out her medical bag. She knew whatever expertise she could offer would be needed. The injured would overwhelm the para medic teams, and any assistance would be welcomed.

John had seen EJ first, and as he urged Marlena to give medical assistance, he made his way over to where EJ sat, with Harris, both of them holding cups of coffee that never reached their lips. Chandler Loring was with a news crew, getting reports out, but John was relieved to hear, instead of putting her microphone in front of suffering people, she was instead concentrating on giving people information about how to check on loved ones, and advising people not to come down to the area, they would only get in the way of the emergency personnel

"EJ, has anyone seen the Bradys?" and they gave him the news of Carolines death. John saw that EJ was deep within himself, barely nodding towards where the bodies were.

Then John knew why. "EJ, Sami, was she in there? Where is she?"

Harris answered, for he knew EJ was unable to say the words, he had not spoken at all for the last hour.

"Sami and the family were in there, still in there..and so was Pop Brady..we have not found any of them with the ones who managed to get out of the Pub..the firemen say we will know if they are in there when they can enter the building, or what is left of it..that won't be until morning at best".

John then saw the burned out remains of the van that Sami always used to move her family about in. The car seats were burned out, and a small stuffed toy lay on the pavement, unharmed. John went to pick it up and saw it was little 'Anton's teddy bear. John held it to his chest, remembering the spirited little boy who had clung to that bear, a fierce child who would not give in to lifes bumps in his road.

Chapter III

Matt had turned the corner leading to the pub when the blast occurred. The force of the first explosion had made his car leave the road, hitting against a mail box. His past experience in the Navy Seals had left him no doubt as to what had occurred. This had all the earmarks of a nitrate car bomb, like the one used in Oklahoma City, only on a smaller scale. At first he did not see that it was a direct hit on the pub, then he had seen the cab that had rolled onto its side from the force of the blast. Making her way out of one of the cab windows was Chelsea, her face bloodied, a look of fright and confusion on her face.

Matt ran to help her, and the cab driver also. He took one look at her, and was relieved to see she did not appear seriously hurt, just stunned. The cut on her forehead was still bleeding, and he took his handkerchief to hold against it.

"God Matt, what happened?"she leaned into his strength, not comprehending what was going on. Then she looked toward the pub and screamed! Her great grandparents, her uncles, and Sami and all the kids had been inside when she had left only minutes before.

"Matt, what if they are still in there?"but his face told her the story, if they were in there, there was no hope, no hope at all.

Marlena was taking the blood pressure, and other vitals of four victims at once who were lying on the pavement, not even able to cover them as there were no longer any blankets available. She took off her own coat to cover the most seriously injured man, but when she knelt to tuck it in, she heard the rattle in his chest that meant he no longer needed it. John was next to her by the time she had taken it on to the next woman in the line. He carried the teddy bear she had seen him tuck Anton in with, and she looked at him with an unbelieving look.

"Where is Sami? Where did you get that?" John's head dropped to his chest at the question, and he did not know how to tell her of everything that was lost on this night. Standing, she looked past him to where EJ and Harris sat, still staring at the smoking ruins of the pub. Over on the grassy area, she saw Bo carrying the limp figure of Caroline Brady towards her. Chelsea and Matt also were making their way into the area, both of them white with the shock of all they were seeing. It was too much to take in, and each time another victim looked up at them, they would pause, seeing if there was anything they could do to help, most times the victim just wanted to know if they had seen or heard of one of their loved ones..showing pictures if they had one. Chelsea had tears raining down her face as she had to tell each one.."No, I am so sorry", while Matt tried to keep her moving in the direction of EJ and Harris.

Chandler Loring put down her microphone, and got out her phone to call home. When the message machine picked up for the third time, she got worried. Nanny should have woke up with that ring, or else how would she ever hear Liam when he cried? The broadcast had to continue, so she put her phone away, deciding she would find Harris and have him make the next call.

Carrie and Lloyd were doing all they could to help as well, when Carrie heard someone weakly call out her name. Her attention was caught by the green and yellow jacket of his favorite football team, and she saw Lucas being carried on a stretcher to one of the waiting ambulances. His face was covered in an oxygen mask, and he was covered from the waist down, both arms infused with i.v. tubes. Horrified, Carrie looked away, and Lloyd shielded her from the sight, Lucas was alive, but he had no legs!. His hand reached out to Carrie..he needed to know "Austin..is Austin alright..please call Mom, tell her I am fine, but find out about Austin.

"Damnit,!" the para medic was reading the alert bracelet on Lucas's arm. "This guys HIV, double glove it now people!" and Lucas was taken onboard the ambulance.

When her cell phone rang, Kate picked up immediately, not bothering to check, but assuming it was Phillip or Victor.

Her former daughter in-law twice over was sobbing as she delivered the news to Kate, who only began screaming at her to quit lying, "Damn You to Hell, quit lying! Put Phillip on the phone, where is Phillip?" and Kate was still screaming that when Nico came in and took the phone from her to speak with Carrie.

His accent was thick, but he was calm as he asked Carrie if she knew where Phillip and Victor were, and again, she was the bearer of the bad news. Thanking her, he hung up the phone, and took the glass of bourbon out of Kate's hands.

"We have to get to hospital, Mr. Kirakis is there, and your son Lucas also, come, we must go quickly!"

"And Austin?" Kate demanded he give her a different answer from what Carrie had said.

"He is dead, that is what Carrie has said, so come, we find out for ourselves, but Mr. Kirakis is alive, Lucas is alive, that is what counts..here is your coat. Lets go!" He pushed her towards the door, helping her put it on as they walked. Nico was trying not to be too hard on her, but woman should shut up and listen, do what she told! Nico was nothing if not old world when it came to these things. The fact he was sleeping with Kate had no bearing on what he thought her place should be.

The waiting to hear was finally too much to bear for Hope. Maggie was on her way to stay with Julianna, and Hope called Julie and Doug to see if they may have heard anything. Glued to their television sets, they had tried to see if they saw Bo or any of the Bradys on the set, but no one familiar appeared. Over and over the news people had repeated that the historic Brady Pub was leveled, but there was no word on any of the people who had been known to be in the pub when it was bombed.

The moment Maggie walked in Hope was out the door, barely stopping to make sure Maggie had the cell phone number she would be on. Running, she made the waterfront area in ten minutes, and she began the desperate search for Bo and Shawn. Marlena was the first one she found, and although she was busy, still helping bandage the wounded, she hugged Hope like she would never let her go.

"They are all gone..Hope, all of them. What is happening?" Marlena was sobbing, but at the same time, she was giving a shot of morophine to the man whose arm was badly burned.

"Who is gone? Marlena? Tell me now!" Hope shook Marlena, demanding to know what she meant.

"Sean, Caroline, Sami, the kids..all the kids..even Theo Carver..they were all trapped in there!" Marlena was in agony, agony of regret, guilt, remorse, and the sorrow of someone who has lost a child. It was searing in its pain to her, for Sami was her child, her baby girl from so long ago.

Chapter IV

The resilience of children is an amazing thing. That is what the psychologist on the staff had said. As he watched from the balcony at the sight of the five of them playing and laughing on the beach, the wheel chair just out of sight, he had to admit that the psychobabble the man preached was correct. Left to the care of the two nursemaids who had been instructed to be kind to them, they seemed to be thriving. Apparently under the tutelage of the two nannies, and the youngest of the five, Italian was being spoken more and more in the nursery, and it had only been three weeks.

Samantha was improving by the day. Her bandages were being removed today, and she would for the first time see her real surroundings, and become completely aware of where she was and who it was who had saved her and the children. Chuckling to himself, he knew she would not be the slightest bit grateful. Her injuries from the blast concussion had gone beyond the shock to her eyes, internal injuries had also occurred that had necessitated some surgery. The scarring on her face was unfortunate, but repairable. She would be restored to her former beauty. He would make sure of it.. She was alive, her children were alive, that was what was important. Because of him, and him alone they would remain so.

The old man however was more trouble than he was worth, and it was probably a bad idea to have gotten him out of the building. The noise he made was disturbing to all the staff, and no one could get a civil word out of him. He would be reunited with his granddaughter and the children soon, but he was an annoyance

. "Ah, well, he will soon have another purpose, so it is well that he was saved", regretfully, Caroline had ran for the front of the building when the men had come in, and while she had escaped from his people, she ran into the path of the worst of the blast.

Monitoring the news reports, he knew she had died. That was so unfortunate, but things happen. The councils plans had been thwarted, and it must be up to EJ to take care of them. Until then, the lineage was protected and safe with him.

He motioned to the attendant who came over and pushed him back into the house. The elevator took him to the hospital level and he took his place in the observation room above the operatory to watch the unveiling of Samantha.

She was sitting up now, not too sure of herself, as the time in bed had been lengthy. Her limbs had been exercised by an excellent therapist, and some of the time she had even been connected to the Phoenix, to ensure she would remain ambulatory once she was completely well.

Now, all of the medical team was assembled, waiting to see how her eyesight would be after the unveiling. She seemed to sense the tension in the room, and her hands kept going to the bandages, ignoring the rough patch of scar tissue that was alongside the cheekbone area. It was red and firey looking, and as he looked down at her, he knew she would believe it destroyed her looks. He knew that was not true, but she would not be made aware of that knowledge. It would make other things easier for him to control.

The Doctor began to cut the first layer of bandage away. Sami called out once again for EJ. When she became a little too agitated, the sedative dose was administered again, it was calming, and it was designed to fog the memory as well.

"EJ is here little missy, he is waiting for you, you just let the doctor do his work, then you can see EJ and the family as well..quiet now..quiet.." the familiar voice did soothe her, and she floated once again on the cloud of euphoria, knowing soon she would see EJ, her children, everyone she loved once more.

Another layer came off, and as the light inside her gauzey world became a bit brighter, she tried again to come into full recognition, but once more the dosage was given to calm her down. The doctor cut another layer off, and unwrapped a bit more. Her lids blinked against the light, but still could not open. Her impatience was now overcoming the sedative, and she quietly told him, "Hurry, please , hurry."

Theo looked up at the balcony where he had caught another glimpse of the wheel chair man. That was what all the children called him, Wheel Chair Man. He tried not to let them see him, and it became a game among the children to try and spot him when he came out. They never let the duennas know, Theo knew instinctively that they should not.

"He is up there spying on us again!" Theo whispered to Justin. Justin knew he was not to look up, but find a way to sneak a look up the hill. He looked as he bent to pick up the ball they had been tossing about. Jessica was the next to look, holding up the shovel she had been building a sand castle with Kacie, and Ace to shield her face from looking directly at the spot Justin barely pointed his finger at..

"Wheel Chair Man is bastardo!" Ace was not at all reticient to say what he thought of the man. Of all the children, he was least affected by the change in their lives. He knew this place, he had spent much of his babyhood here. It had not been a bad time for him, he did not mind all that much. It was fun to have the others with him though, he had no playmates before, only the Bart Man.

He was bothered a bit by the baby crying in the night bothered him though, he seemed to be the only one who woke up at the sound. The duennas had made him return to bed last night when he had climbed out of his crib and opened the door to find where the sound came from. He had been looking up, the cry was coming from a top floor. He had never been up there before, but he knew if he was very quiet, he could get up there and see why the baby cried. Ace smiled to himself as he finished up his sand moat around his castle. Tonight would be a good time to go see the baby!

A cry of dismay escaped Samis lips as the last of the bandage was rolled away, and the flesh colored eyelid pads were removed. The light was blinding, and she blinked it away. Blurring figures floated in and out, but nothing distinct was visible to her. Fear caught hold of her as she tried to focus, and found she could not, no matter how hard she tried. She felt her chin being lifted, as a light was now shining directly into her eyes. It was not blackness, but it was still blindness..and it was just as frightening. The emotion she felt from the doctor also played into her fears..she could feel his pity!

Chapter V

Harris had slapped the phone shut for the third time, no answer again, and now his instincts were kicking in. Something was up at his house, and he was fearing for his son. Chandler was still giving television interviews with the commanders of the fire and police departments, and he had not been able to speak to her in over an hour when she had told him to call the house until Nanny answered.

"EJ, I need to send someone to check on my house, the phone is not being answered by the Nanny, Chandler is worried". Harris hated breaking into the wall of grief surrounding EJ, and he did not want to leave him alone, but EJ looked up, almost surprised to see that Harris was still there. EJ had really felt totally alone, an island in this sea of humanity rushing about, his eyes never straying from the sight of the now smoldering ruins of the pub.

"Harris, no..I will be fine..you go. Find out why, I don't want you to be uncertain, you must find out that your son is ok..in fact, make Chandler go with you. I see Chelsea over there, she can take over for your wife. I insist, no argument" EJ also felt uneasy over this development. All the descendants of the DiMera legacy were now unaccounted for. EJ knew no bodies had been recovered out of the Pub, he had kept a watchful eye on the emergency personnel, and the police department was now just an arm of his organization.

Chandler gave Chelsea a few quick instructions, confident that the young reporter was going to do fine, and she ran with Harris to the car.

"Really, she probably just has the phone turned way down, I am sure everything is fine, but thank you EJ, and I am praying for you now.."Chandler hugged EJ, giving everything she could into the embrace, trying to find hope in a hopeless time. He looked over the top of her head, shaking his own in doubt as he saw the firemen began to lift up debris, trying to find what he was praying would not be found within the pubs interior.

Hope had left Marlenas side to go to her husband and son. Bo was shaking with grief, and he sobbed into her arms. All she could do was be with him, letting him hold her for as long as he wished. Her heart too was broken, Caroline and Sean were as close to her as her own mother and father. It came sooner than she had expected, for she knew her husband well, he would have to find someone to place blame on, and she saw his sights land on EJ Wells.

"No, Bo, don't you have to listen to me for once!" she was holding onto his arm, as he angrily tried to shake her off and go to EJ.

"What? What Hope?" Bo was looking more furious by the second. "You know something happened that EJ had to pay for..only look who got in the way? My mother and father! He is behind this or the cause of it somehow..we all know it!"

"Bo..stop..Marlena just told me, Bo, Sami and the kids were inside the pub when this happened..my God Bo! His whole family is dead!"

Bo stopped..he looked at her in disbelief. "Sami..she was in there? The kids? Oh sweet Jesus, no..." again, Bo went through a grieving process. He and his niece had not been especially close, but when she had made it possible for Zach to come home alive, sacrificing her own freedom to do so, he had known the true measure of his niece. She had still married a DiMera, and that, he could not excuse. Now he realized all he had lost tonight.. so much of his family was gone now. That thought made him look at his wife and son, he reached for both of them, bowing his head in a prayer of thanks that he still had them, as well as Zach and Julianna.

Carrie came over to the group then, she had been busy with helping out at the firemans coffee station. It had been too hard to wait for news of Grandpa Sean, and her tears for Caroline were dry now, there had been too much to do. Hope reached to embrace her, saying, "Those poor babies, Sami, all of them..oh my God, Carrie, this is so awful!"

Carrie had forgotten the fact that Sami had been in the Pub with all the kids, but only one child was concerning her now! Katy...Katy had been in the back room with the others, with Caroline..where was she, where were all of them..where was Sami! In her preoccupation with Caroline, with Austin, and with Lucas, she had forgotten about all the others in the Pub this night. Finally, it was all too much for her to take in at all, and she had collapsed, Lloyd kneeling next to her, with a deep understanding of all she had gone through this night. The sun was just breaking the horizon, and an eerie quiet was taking hold.

All around them, the chaos was winding down. People were standing in small groups praying for the dead, the count was now at sixteen confirmed dead, with another seventeen people unaccounted for. Among those were Samantha Brady, her children, Justin six years old, Jessica his twin sister, Kacie, another twin girl of three, her brother Ace, also three, Theo Carver, age eleven, Sean Brady, seventy one...as she continued to read the list of the missing, Chelsea started to cry, losing her professional composure in front of the cameras. These were not just names to her, they were family members, friends, babies she had held and cared for, the very fabric of the soul of Salem was now torn apart with the terrible attack on the historic pub.

In the distance, the bells of St. Lukes Church began to toll. People were filing in to pray for those who had died, those who were injured, and for those who had seen their lives turned upside down in a matter of a few hours.

When the car turned up into the driveway, Harris heard Chandlers sharp intake of breath. She knew, felt, saw something was horribly wrong with the way the house looked. It was different, as though it had been violated, its trust misused...she could see that the house felt sad..and she opened the car door and ran for the front door screaming for her child! Her son! Her Baby...Liam! LIAM!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter VI

"Doctor Salvatore, I must admit I am disappointed. You said she would have no lasting effects, that her eyesight would be fine..now, she still cannot see..what is the reason for the misdiagnosis?" Piercing black eyes were fixed on the Doctor. He was only known to staff as Signor, and that was how he was always addressed.

"I assure you, Signor, she will be fine. It will be a matter of a few weeks, gradually the muscles will elongate again, and she will be fine." Hoping he sounded convincing enough, the cowering doctor regretted over selling what the patients recovery time would be. He had made it sound like it was only a matter of days, when he knew that was not the case.

"She is of no use to me with the handicap of blindness..you would not want me to have to dispose of her, would you Doctor. I see you all in the hospital seem to have made a pet of her. Not a wise idea. Now go, see to her, do what you must to restore her to her former self. The scar, though, lets wait a bit on that. I do want her to see it clearly when she is able to..that will be of importance to my plan."

Walking backwards out of the room, the poor man stumbled in his haste and fright. He wanted out of the presence of this sinister man. Was the money he was being paid worth the danger to his soul this place represented. Once out of the line of sight of the Signor, he had bolted to the room where the patient was again resting. From this day forward, he would measure her progress himself, and push it along as needed.

The children filed in to the room, hungry after the day of play, and eager to sample the meal being prepared for them. Anyone looking at them would have assumed that they were all docile little inmates in this beautiful prison, but that would have been a mistake.

Crying out for their mother had done no good, while the duennas seemed sympathetic, they would not respond to questions about her. Justin alone, had seen his mother being carried by one of the men to the floor above them. All of them banded together to pretend to cooperate, but each piece of information was added to what they already knew,

Grandpa Sean was taken downstairs, and they had not seen him, but they had heard the staff people grumbling about the old man, who was making all the racket. Theo was writing everything down in his notebook. He had learned from Chelsea that taking good notes was very important!

Ace had the ability to hide and remain unseen and unheard for hours, and the duennas were almost in awe of this little guy. He could speak fluently to them in Italian, so they learned it was unwise to have conversations in front of him. Who knew what he was retaining? Who knew indeed? The I.Q. test results that EJ had taken on him revealed an intelligence ten years beyond his age.

The first time Ace had crawled into the dumbwaiter and disappeared he had scared his siblings to death, but Theo had been full of admiration for the little guy. On this night when he had returned, crawling lightly past the sleeping nuenna, he had been grinning in triumph as he held forth the baby bottle as proof of his mission being accomplished!

"Bambino..I told you all, baby was here, crying I heard many times..now you believe me? I saw the baby..look at this!"

Jessica was first to take a look at the bottle, then she showed it to Justin. "This is Liams, remember, when Auntie Chandler brought him to see us, he had a bottle like this one!"

Justin knelt close to Ace, and asked him "The baby, has it got reddish hair?"

"The Baby has not much hair at all, but what there is, yes, it is orange colored..is that what you mean by red?"

This was not good news to Theo. His escape plan was getting more complicated by the minute, Mr. Brady was downstairs, Mrs. Wells was upstairs, and now a baby too! Flipping open his notebook, he wrote all this new information down.

Sean Brady had finished his daily tirade, and soon someone came in to see to his cell. For a basement cell, it had many comforts that Sean was not grateful for at all. If his freedom were to be taken, he did not want color television, or afternoon tea being served to him by a dumbwaiter precisely at four o'clock each day. This time, when the dumbwaiter bell jingled, he went to it, determined to throw whatever was sitting on that tray across the room!

When the door slid up, his brawny hand reached in and grabbed hold, almost tossing away what was there until he saw the curls atop the head of ACE!

"Good God Boy! What do you think you are doing?" Sean had looked behind him to make sure no one was looking as he peered in at the crouching figure of the mischievously smiling face.

Putting his finger to his lips in a shhhh motion, Ace handed Sean a small notebook and a pen. There was a note inside as well. He quickly read it, then in time honored IRA fashion, he had chewed it up and swallowed it. Ace looked at him in astonishment."Don't want the enemy finding out our secrets, now you take this one back up, and don't get caught!" Sean was elated, he now knew his great grandchildren were safe, and somewhere in this compound, his granddaughter Sami was well, just waiting on him to come to get her, and he vowed he would, or die trying!

Theo and Justin helped Ace climb out of the elevator, and when he proudly held out the note to Theo, all of them had huddled around to read what Sean had wrote!

"To my grandchildren., I am so happy to hear you are all safe, and your mother is safe, how these devils came to take us, is a mystery to me, but I swear, I will find a way to come to get all of you, your mother, and little Liam..I know who this devil is and I have never been beat by him yet! I will get word to you soon! Love Grandpa Sean.

When Theo finished reading it, Ace grabbed the note out of his hand and popped it into his mouth. He made a valiant effort, but try as he might, the paper gagged him, and he ended up spitting it out on the floor as he choked and spluttered.

"Just what was that about?" Theo queried.

"Don wan da enemee finding our secrets!" Ace spit out with the rest of the paper!

Chapter VII

His wife had collapsed against him when she had finally seen for herself the empty crib. As tight as he held her, she still managed to sink to her knees with the weight of her agony. She had seen enough in this one night to have brought an army surgeon to the ground, and she had not faltered, but this was the blow that took her will and her strength away.

Harris felt the weight of the blame, as he knew he had not taken the right precautions, but the woman had come out of the DiMera organizations file of trusted and screened personnel. What had gone wrong, and it was a case of willful kidnapping, as there was no sign of a struggle, which would have been expected. Nanny Bea was skilled in martial arts, firearms training, and evasive driving techniques, and this Nanny would have been no different! Obviously, she was a plant of some kind. His call to EJ was answered with the usual terse, "EJ here, what have you learned Harris?"

The question came from EJ as he was putting pieces of this puzzle together. Something did not fit, there were too many questions without answers that made any sense here. It was possible this was a pay back to Sean Brady from someone from his past with the IRA, or it could have been someone in the council ensuring the vote did not matter. EJ had rigged the vote so he would lose, then his plan had been to take out the council rather than follow its dictate to murder Samantha. Had they decided he should be shown who was really in charge? Hating himself for his hubris, and knowing his own sense of ego was probably the cause of all of this, he still managed to quiet the rage in his heart into a cold, iron, sense of purpose now. This all would be avenged, no matter the time, or the cost, his family would be avenged!

Hitting the motel television to try and bring it in focus, Lexie cursed it, slapping so hard at it, she injured her hand. None of what she had seen seemed real, and the laptop she had been given was now not working, it seemed the entire connection server system was down. The breaking news about the explosion in the waterfront district of Salem was on every channel, and she could not even get reception that lasted on even one of them! Figuring it had been long enough to have heard something, she decided to defy the orders of Harris and get into town. Running out, she was caught by a pair of strong arms, and she whirled about to fight at who ever had hold of her!

"Matt, you bastard! Let me go, I need to see what is happening, what if Theo was down by that explosion!"

He looked at her kindly, and waited a bit before deciding she should be told. The kid was her son, even though she was not exactly mother of the year material.

"EJ said to take you to the house, and no one is to see you yet Lexie, so come quietly, don't make me hurt you, ' his voice was calm, but left no room for argument, he would force her if he had to. " I will fill you in while we drive".

"Looks like whatever EJ had up his sleeve has backfired on him, is that what's going on? Did Tony outsmart him?" Lexie was defiant as always, and Matt could almost admire her for that.

"Tony DiMera is dead, this is not about him anymore".

"So the term the Phoenix Rises does not mean anything to you, huh? Well it should!" she hissed the words at him, not believing for a moment anyone had gotten the better of her brother. He was a devil, but he could always be counted on to cheat death. Just as her father had, and she would also. DiMera blood was almost insurance against death!

The hospital corridor was still flooded with guerneys of injured patients waiting to be looked at, and every medical facility within a hundred miles had sent assistance. The explosion had occurred at one of the worst possible times, when restaurant and bar patrons in the area were either just leaving, or just heading in for a nightcap. Couples often found their way there to stroll the pier, then walking along the area where the pub was situated, and this had been disastrous for so many of these young lovers.

Kate and Nico had rushed in, and Kate had cowered at the sight of so much blood and mayhem. The desk nurse had tried to calm her, but Kate was not one to be calm in the most ordinary of circumstances, and this was anything but ordinary.

Nico pushed her aside and demanded to know of the condition of Victor Kirakis, his first concern was for Victor. He managed to scare the poor woman enough that she pointed and stammered.."room 222, upstairs.." he muttered what could be taken for a thanks, then took hold of Kates arm to drag her with him.

"But Lucas, what about Lucas.." she pulled away and went to the desk again. "Tell me where my son is, Lucas Roberts, tell me now, or I am going to start screaming at the top of my lungs!"

Deciding it was best to get rid of this crazy woman so she could finish or try to finish the stack of charts that were still piling up, the nurse fished through it until she found the name.

"He is in surgery now, ma'am, besides his legs, he had some pretty serious internal injuries..please sit over there, we will call you when we know more". The nurse was kinder now, once she had seen the mother of this young man and how worried she looked.

Reality began to set in for Kate. Austin was dead. Lucas was horribly injured, and Victor was in here with a serious heart attack. Phillip..dear God..Philip, he was almost all she had left, she had to find him. She began running for the stairs to get to room 222, and Nico was on her heels.

"Mother, oh Jesus, Mother, they say he has to have a heart transplant, it is his only hope!"Phillip was crying like a baby in his mothers arms, and she was crying too, in relief at seeing him, probably the only son she would have after this horrible night ended. So intent on his presence, she had not heard his words at all. Victor mattered little to her, he was simply a means to an end, but the love she had for her sons was all encompassing and obsessive to a fault.

"Has he heard about Caroline" the first question Kate asked, as she had always known Caroline was first in Victor's heart.

"Yes, that is what brought this on..we got him revived with CPR, but the doctor says he has so much damage, he needs a new heart, and it has to be almost immediately.

Clearing his throat, the doctor entered the room and introduced himself to the family, announcing some news.

"You found a heart, this quickly? Doctor Curliss, that is fantastic, thank you so much!"

"There is a catch, the donor has a positive HIV status, but even so, the risks of waiting are worse than the fact your father will have to live with that. Without the transplant, he will be gone by tomorrow night!"

Kate felt the room whirl around her at what she was hearing. Her mind had already heard, digested, and catalogued what the doctor was telling them. Her son Lucas was also dead, and this monster was suggesting using his heart to keep this bastard alive!

It would not happen! She would never give permission for this! She voiced her opinion in no uncertain terms, until Phillip quietly reminded her.

"You have no say in this Mother, the decision to make belongs to Hana! She is his lawful wife!"

Chapter VIII

Opera music wafted through the hallways, eerie a tragic sound with no joy in the music at all. As her mind fought to get to a wakeful state, the infants cries started up again. This time Sami knew it was real, and she made herself sit up to try and find its' source. When she became aware of the pain from straining from the i.v, she stopped, staring down at the needle in her arm. It made her feel faint, and she knew there was a reason from long ago that she should react this way.

"Hey, now, missy, you are not supposed to be up yet, the doctor is coming in again in a few minutes to see you?" the blurred outline of the man bending over her was no longer comforting to her. A vague memory was returning, and it was not pleasant, a memory she associated with this voice.

Once again she asked for, this time with more insistence, "I want to see my husband now, bring him to me, or I am checking out of here right this minute!"

"You never change Samantha, that is what delights me about you! I could have you locked in a tower like Rebekka in Ivanhoe, and you would still order us about, as if you were a Queen. Aaah, but you are the Queen now, so how do you feel about being the one wearing the crown, the one I wanted your mother to wear once upon a time?"

"Who is there?" Sami was hearing but not believing the voice was real. She turned her face to the shadowed area the voice emanated from.

"Your reality is coming back to you now, so you know who I am. Search your memory, it is real, what you are thinking is real, I am real".

"Not possible, you have been dead so long, why is the baby crying? Whose baby is it? Where is EJ." Once again, the line between dream and wakefulness was indistinguishable as a bit more of the medication was put into her veins by the i.v. unit

Once the duennas had tucked them all in, and retired to their own rooms, blankets were thrown off as the children scrambled from their beds. Theo waited to hear the key turn in the lock, as each night they were kept within the room. The small night light they were allowed was used for all of them to look at the information Ace was bringing back each night.

Grandpa Sean had asked for them to find him a nail file or some type of tool that would be useful in picking the lock on his cell. Theo had looked all around for something like that, but could not find anything that worked.

"How about this?" and Jessica had produced a knitting needle taken from one of the duennas.

"Good job Sis!" Justin was looking at the little patch of knitting that Jessica had actually managed to do under the duennas patient tutelage. He seemed puzzled by the shape, and the number of gaping holes representing the dropped stitches that appeared every so often in the little bag.

Taking it out of his hands, she huffily told him, "Hey I was making you a marble bag, don't be mean!"

Sticking his fingers through one of the larger holes, he shook his head. "I woulda lost my best aggie in this thing, but nice thought!"

The bell on the dumb waiter jingled slightly, Theo had set a piece of cloth around the clanger to muffle it, now it was fairly silent when he returned. When he climbed out this time, Ace was quiet, as if he had been frightened by something.

Kacie took note of his mood first and went to him, taking his hand in hers. She offered him a piece of her orange she had saved from dinner, but he shook his head no. Orange was his favorite, and she looked at him puzzled, he often tried to sneak a piece of hers, and here she was offering of her own free will and he was saying no?

"What's wrong Acey," she asked him, her solemn brown eyes searching his face and waiting for him to tell them what was making him so quiet.

"Bastardo man got the Mama." Ace never referred to Sami as his mother, but as the collective Mama. Then Ace had grabbed the knitting needle to point it at his arm, imitating all the needles Sami had in her arms.

He took the pen from Theo, and the note pad from Justin. He drew three horizontal lines, and marked the third one. They knew he meant he had gone three floors up in the dumbwaiter.

"The Mama up there! The Bart Man there too, and Bastardo Wheel Chair man!"

Justin immediately came forward. "I want to go see her,"

Theo shook his head no, "You or I can't fit in the dumb waiter".

"Once it's quiet in the hall, I will go up the stairway, I will find her!"Justin was insistent, he had to find out if his mother was okay.

"The door is locked? How do you think you are gonna get it unlocked?"

Jessica came forward with the knitting needle, saying "We can try this, it might work. I watched a movie once where the crooks picked the lock, you just stick it in and squiggle it around a bit and hey!" the surprise she felt when the lock actually did give way shocked her.

The door opened slightly, but it was apparent that there was still a lot of activity out in the main hall. Staff, guards, and even people dressed in business suits were walking about. Closing the door again, they crouched down to plot their plan of escape. If Grandpa Sean found a way to get out of his cell, they would all just make their way down to the docks, get on a boat, and go back home. First they had to get their mother, and she and Grandpa Sean would take them home to daddy!

At last, the house seemed still, Justin had even dozed off while waiting, but Theo had taken it upon himself as the oldest to remain awake. When he thought it seemed quiet enough, he had shaken Justin awake, and out the door they had crept. The others were sleeping, no longer able to hold their eyes open, and Theo figured that was best. He had carried them all back to bed, with Justin helping him with Jess. He opened the door, and motioned for Justin to follow. Once they made it to the stairs, they would have to cover the three flights quickly, it was on the stairs they would have no place to hide if someone came. The hallways had many tables and screened areas to hide behind, but the stairs were wide open!

Justin turned and whispered, "I'll go first, so if anyone catches me, you run back to the room.!"

Being the oldest, Theo wanted to object, but Justin had already made it up to the first landing before he had gotten the words out. He looked up to see Justin motioning him to come up, quickly. The second floor landing had an enormous potted plant, and they both took advantage of it to hide as footsteps sounded on the stairs above them. Holding their breath, then letting it out in a collective sigh, they had watched as two women in nurses uniforms walked by, speaking in rapid Italian. When they had passed, the two boys made the run up the last flight of stairs, afraid to stop or look around, it was just enough to make it to the floor without being seen!

The apartment entry was wide open, no doors at all, so Justin walked in without any care at all. He could see the bed in the room down the hall, and as he inched closer, his eyes lit up, for lying there, breathing easily, and seeming like she was sleeping peacefully just as she would have been doing at home was his mother!

Chapter IX

EJ waited in his office for the police commander to come in with his reports. For the commander to be summoned in this way in any other city would have been looked at with suspiciously, but this was now EJ Wells' department in every way. The influence of the Brady family was long gone, and most people in the town did not seem to miss it. There was now very little crime, but if it did occur, it was quickly solved. EJ needed a peaceful town to raise his family in. Now he carried a burden of guilt for all of his plans had come to this. He no longer had a family.

Westin had been a good choice for Salem as police commander. Military training, several years in a detective division, and he was also a good administrator. He ruled with his head, not his emotions, and his family was the center of his life. Everything Abe Carver was not. EJ thought of Abe now, tethered to the Phoenix machine, destined to be kept there until Theo was old enough to not be weakened by him. It was hard, but it was the DiMera way. To EJ, Abes biggest mistake had been throwing Lexie aside after she had vowed to change. She should have been given the chance, but Abe and his pride stopped that from happening.

As EJ read the reports, his brow furrowed. Only three bodies had been recovered from inside the Pub, all grown up males. "What about my family? Why haven't they been found?"

"It is possible they, ..uh..well ..you know the heat, it could have been like the Towers, maybe there are no remains?"

"I refuse to believe my family is dead without some proof! Get a detail over there, and sift through that building until you can come back here either telling me conclusively my family perished there, or I will be conducting my own investigations privately. You know what that means!"

Westin understood.

Hope opened the door to her, ready to accept her well wishes, but Kate had no time for that, she was here on important business.

"Bo, thank God I found you! They want to pull Lucas off life support so Victor can have his heart..can you believe that? And Phillip is backing them up..Bo, get down there this instant and stop them! "

"My mother is lying in St. Lukes Church,a coffin, my father is burned to a crisp in the building, along with most of my nieces and nephews! Kate, do you think I care what is going on with Lucas and Victor? How can I stop them anyway, Lucas is married last I heard, so it seems his wife should be the one you talk to about this..now if you would care to sign the guest book, Hope, get her a pen, then you can be on your way."

Hope brought Kate over a cup of coffee, whereupon Kate reached into her purse to pull out her flask and pour a generous amount of whiskey into it. Bo could be pretty harsh at times, and Hope felt for Kates loss. She had one son dead, and another soon to be gone. If it had been Shawn or Zach it would have killed her too.

"Kate, you should be talking to Lucas's wife. She is the one who will make this decision, go to her, but remember, Victor is your remaining sons father, do you want Phillip to lose him? He is also Bo's father, and when Bo is calmer he will remember that, don't worry about what he just said, he does care about Victor" Hope was gentle as she spoke.

"Oh Hope, you don't understand, his wife is practically a heathen, she wears this shapeless moo moo thing all the time, with a rag covering her face. I can't wait to ship her back where she came from, the whole marriage is a travesty!"

Hope lost patience then, "She is his wife, if he married her, it must mean he loves her, and she loves him. Who cares what she is wearing. Kate, you and your insistence on interfering with your kids lives has never worked out for you or them." As she said this, Hope was opening the door for Kate to leave.

Once again, the haughty look replaced the desperate one as Kate picked up her purse and coat, saying, "I just remembered why I have never liked you!" one step ahead of the door slamming, Kate made her exit.

Tippin was organizing some tidbits and tea for the meeting going on in the Wells family room. When he entered with the tray, he fought back the tear that was threatening to roll down his stiff upper lip. There were so many reminders of the little folk in this room. However, he had his duty to attend to. Mr. Wells would count on him to keep things rolling until all was settled.

"Someone has them, they are not dead. I don't even think Caroline was a target, she must have not cooperated, or ran, something. Liam as well, so this is not the work of the council, at least taking them. It may be a ransom demand, and we just have not heard about it yet".

To Chandler, this was welcome news, but she still turned her head into Harris shoulder to cry again. EJ nodded to Tippin, who came to her immediately with a cup of tea. "This is a very special blend, a Nanny's recipe from way back. Drink it, you will feel much better."

"What would they want with so many hostages?, That seems hard to manage to me, and with one of them being Ace, they may have a Ransom of Red Chief on their hands." Matthew offered a small wry humorous observation. EJ looked at the portrait of the young hellion on the table, knowing exactly what Matthew meant.

"I am thinking if we get no ransom demand, there may even be another angle to this, what if someone knew of the council plans, and decided to interfere. Who ever this is might want these children protected..'

"And who might that be?" Lexie asked.

"Your father, Stephano DiMera!"

Chapter X

Snorting her disbelief, Lexie gave EJ a look of disdain. The others in the room knew showing disrespect like that to him was not a good thing, but EJ let her have her say. "You know my father is dead, that is why you have all of this.."she swung her arm around the room. "It should not be yours, but somehow you wormed your way into his good graces..God knows, I never made it into the inner circle! Guess I should have married a Brady!"

"Stephano has made the people of Salem think he has died many times, why would he have any problem doing it again? And if he thought he was really acting in the best interest of his legacy, this is something he would do..Lexie, you know in your heart this is a possibility, there has not been a single body found. I for one, prefer to think he is hiding all of them somewhere safe, rather than they are a pile of ashes inside that funeral pyre!"

Embracing his wife, Harris gave a sign of agreement. Matthew was thinking along the same lines, only Lexie expressed her doubt.

"Why should I believe you EJ? If that council vote had gone through, then you were going to lose..my vote would have ensured it. The council would have given you orders to do exactly what you did! I think you are lying!" She had finally lost it, and she went against him, swinging her hand in the arc of a woman slapping, aiming to inflict pain and humiliation. He caught her hand and pressed hard, waiting until her heard her cry of pain signaling her submission.

The phone rang, and Tippin brought it in, knowing EJ was accepting this particular call. "Dr. Ford here, letting you know that the wife of Lucas Roberts has consented to the donation of the heart. We will be doing the surgery on Mr. Kirakis within the hour. It is as you wished, and it looks like a viable match."

"What about the HIV status? When will we know if it is conferred?" EJ was still settling old scores, nothing was allowed to get in the way of things like that.

"Oh, he definitely will be positive, there is no doubt about that"

"Excellent..good work Dr. Ford. I am always amazed at how things have their own way of working out in the end". EJ had never planned on Lucas ending this way, but when his injuries were as serious as they seemed to be, it almost seemed the kindest way. Austin had died too, unfortunate, but Kate was now feeling the pain she seemed to think was her duty to keep inflicting on Samanatha. Her family now consisted of Phillip, who would be be busy keeping his father alive, Billie, who really had no use for her, Chelsea, who still had secrets to keep from Kate, and a grandson from a daughter in law that Kate also despised. As EJ had said to Dr. Ford, things did have a way of working out.

A hospital waiting room is a terrible place for those in it. They have the burden of the wait, while the patient only has one thing to think about. Living or dying. Victor was thinking about living, and he was grasping at life with everything he had left, which was not much. If it had been a heart from a completely healthy donor, Dr. Ford would not have wasted it this way. But Victor was older, so the thought of living his life with HIV was not a huge concern. The board had okayed the surgery with few objection. Mr. Kirakis was a member, and he told them to go ahead. He needed to buy the time Phillip would need.

Of course, Lucas may have survived a bit longer , if a few other medical interventions had not been taken by the well paid Dr. Ford. Mr. Wells took care of his own. Guilt might have intervened in Dr. Fords decision, but looking at the young man, both legs gone, and his blood tests showing the T cells he had growing weaker under the onslaught of the HIV that was working against him had helped him along in his decisioin. This was really the kinder way out, as he had fed the solution into the tube of his i.v.

Kate sat and glared at everyone else in the room. Hana, the bitch who had signed the order, Phillip, the son who was willing to betray his brother for a father who would have disowned him at birth had she not begged him to let them stay, and of course, Annalies, the blonde Swiss whore who even now was holding onto Phillip as if he were her lifeboat. If she thought for one moment she would end up keeping Austins son away from her, she better think twice! Sami had tried that and look what happened..then Kate remembered what had happened. It had ended with Will dying, but Kate quickly shook off any feelings of guilt she may have had over that. Time proved out that it was all EJ's fault!

The doctor came out to them, almost smiling, but trying to remain as respectful as possible as he told them, "The harvest went very well, he went very peacefully, and the heart is on its way up to the team working on Mr. Kirakis as we speak?"

Hearing the word harvest spoken about her son brought Kate to her knees in a spasm of grief. She had never thought of it as a harvest! My God, how could medical personnel be so heartless? Phillip came over to her, trying as hard as he could to make her feel any better.."Mom, he went peacefully, and now his heart is going to give Father new life, and hope..isn't that better than it just rotting away in his corpse when he is buried?"

She looked at her son in disbelief at his words, not wanting to hear that about her dead son. "I hope," she spit out at him, "You are not trying to make me feel better!"

Disgust at her was his reaction. With her it was always about Lucas, then Austin, and he came a distant third was how Phillip felt. Leaving her, he went to Annaliese. This woman had lost her husband, and was left alone with a young son to raise. Phillip had already decided that she would not have to worry about being taken care of. She was attractive, and he knew she could bear children. He could do worse, and so could she. He could tell by the way she was looking at him, she had the same thought.

A different story was going to be written for Lucas's widow. She was not made to live in this country, and she had made no effort to fit in. The clothes, the always going into her closet to pray, none of it was going to work in the Kirakis world. Besides, she carried the disease, and Victor would not want her around reminding him of her condition. An unfortunate accident may be in her future. Phillip pulled out his blackberry to note in it: Hana, May 15.

Chapter XI

The light stroking of her face was pleasant, and Sami turned her face into it, rubbing her face against the small hand she knew so well. Justin often woke his mother up on Sunday mornings this way. It had been his habit to sneak in, and wake her up so she would come downstairs and read the funny papers with him. He knew he was probably getting a bit big to want to sit and cuddle with her, but it still was something he liked, and was not ready to give up. He was not sure what day this was, but his mother knew, as she woke up and smiled.

"Did you bring the paper in?" she was looking at him as if they were both back home, her safe in bed with Dad, and him quietly summoning her to their weekly ritual. Then his fingers went to the area on her cheek that covered about three inches of her face in a swollen redness.

"Mom, does that hurt?" Justin was concerned that she was in pain, but truth was, the burn had gone deep enough that the nerves were a bit damaged, and though she felt his fingers on her face, it was through a numbness. For the first time she herself reached up to feel the uneven bumpiness, and her vanity took over.

"Justin, bring mommy a mirror please! I have one on my bureau". Justin looked at her in confusion, as he knew he was not at home, how come she did not? Then it struck him as he looked about the room. Except for the hospital type bed she lay in, and still was not aware of, this room did look like the bedroom she shared with Dad. He walked over to the bureau, and sure enough, a silver handled mirror lay next to the hairbrush he had seen her use nightly so many times. He hesitated, he did not want her to use the mirror. Something was not right with her, and his instinct was to stall.

He could see all the tubes that were hooked up to her, with bags of fluid attached, but his mother took no notice. She seemed to believe she was at home, and the next time she spoke confirmed it.

"I guess your Dad got up to go out for a run, funny, I did not hear him leave." Then she noticed Theo for the first time.

"Good morning Theo, my, you are up early too. Have you been down to breakfast yet? This is waffle day! Go on down, and have Tippin order you up your favorite kind!" Then Sami had attempted to sit, which was a trigger mechanism for more medication to be realeased.

She slumped back down onto the bed, and was fast asleep again. The whirring sound coming from the next room caught the attention of Justin and Theo. A clanking sound, then they could see..it was an elevator door, and it was beginning to open! Both of them dived under Samis bed, and tried to blend into the floor!

The wheelchair man was being pushed into the room by a figure clad in white shoes, and stockings, with a white unform. Theo inched out a bit, he wanted to see the face attached to the legs, but Justin pulled him back. The wheelchair was pushed right up against the bed, and it was apparent the legs were straining to enable his arms to reach up to his mother. This made Justin tense and squirm, trying to stop this, but now, Theo was the one to grip his arm, and make a pleading look for calm with his eyes.

"This will soon be gone, my Dear, I cannot allow this to mar your beauty. So much like your mother in some ways, but thank God not all ways! It is almost time for us to make you more aware of what has happened. I saved you all, you know. If not for my intervention, everyone would have died. Now, I must be repaid for my help. That is how it is done. Favors are returned, wrongs are avenged. This is the DiMera way. Now I must leave you, sleep well, you have earned it, as I have earned mine." When the wheelchair man had finished speaking, he seemed to pause, as if sensing something within the room.

Theo felt it, as if he had known what the man was thinking too. Why, he could not say, but it was something that he sensed. These premonitions had been coming to him since his grandmother had been killed, but now were becoming stronger. Theo know somehow the man seemed to be aware of their presence, but he did nothing, just had his attendant wheel him back to the elevator.

The two boys came out of hiding then, and went to inspect this elevator. It had a key activator, but when Theo examined it, he knew it could be jimmied, and he looked about the room for something to use. A small allen wrench next to the equipment Sami was hooked to seemed perfect, and he pocketed it. Using the elevator was too dangerous now, but it might be useful later..

They made it back to the room, and Justin hugged onto his siblings..he had such good news! Only Ace did not seem enthused, just matter listening in an offhand way as Justin told of seeing and speaking with Mom!

"I want to see her too, next time I go with you!" Jessica was in her stubborn mood, one of the traits she had inherited from her mother.

Theo spoke,"It is too risky, Jess, and they have her hooked up to all kinds of stuff, I think they are keeping her on some kind of sleeping medicine!"

Kacie listened, and for a three year old, she had some memories no child should have. "you pinch the tube to make it stop!"

"What do you mean, show us!" Justin was as sure as Theo that the tubes in his moms arm was doing something to her, but he did not understand what Kacie meant.

Kacie looked over to the snack table, and saw the straw holders. She ran over and picked out one of the juice straws and showed them.."like this" and she pinched the straw as if it was a piece of medical tubing. Kacie had been hooked to these things for so long while she was in hospital, and had seen the nurses clip off her i.v. tubes many times to move the needle to an different spot, or to change out the bags. Sometimes when they clipped it off, she had either started feeling pain, or had woke up and felt better.

"I think she has something here guys!" Theo was clear on what they had to do. He gathered them all in a little circle on the floor and began to tell them his plan!

Chapter XII

Carolines funeral morning had broke bright and clear, as if everyone saying good bye to her had a right to do so in the same way she had lived her life, open to the sun. Victor sat in his hospital room, as alert as he had been in days, and watched the proceedings on television. The news crews had decided the burial of the woman who had been the heart of the Brady Pub for so many years was something worth covering. Scowling at the sight of the news vans camped outside St. Lukes Cemetery, Victor reached for the pitcher at his bedside to pour a glass of water when his visitor stopped him, and poured it for him.

"Hana, thank you, but really, you don't have to stay here with me all the time, you need to be at home getting some rest". He looked at her kindly, she had been with him almost continually since he had woke up from the surgery. It would normally have made him uncomfortable and irritated, but now, he found her presence soothing, and when she reached to grasp his hand, he was pleased. It was strange, he realized,, but she was the one who calmed him while he watched his beloved Caroline go to her final resting place.

"You have the heart now of my Lucas, you are good man now, like he was. I stay with you ok?' and Hana had sat with him while the news played the funeral, while the faces of the townspeople who had loved her came and went, some talking to the cameras, some refusing.

Bo Brady has stopped in front of the cameras and scowled. When a reporter tried to push a mic in front of his face he has erupted, which was what the newspeople lived for!

"You slimy bastards, let us bury her in peace! Go shove your camera in that mans face"Bo pointed to EJ, "He caused this! He has done so much evil in this town, we will never know it all, and it didn't matter to him that he killed his own wife and kids in the process!"

"Mr. Brady! You mean to say you think EJ Wells may be responsible for this tragedy? But hasn't the Police Commander said they have no suspects in this case? " the question posed, brought Bo's other tirade.

"He owns the police now, and he probably owns you too!" Bo hissed the words, then pushed his way through, shielding Hope and his children from any more of the hurt that the press was adding onto.

EJ saw the reporters heading his way, and steeled himself, readying his noncommittal smile reserved for most idiots. Beginning with Bo Bradys accusation, all the way through to asking him about his current standing and connections to the DiMera Empire, EJ remained the calm, but grieving funeral guest, only her to pay respects to his wife's grandmother, the great grandmother of his children. When they pushed him as to when he would be having services for his own family, he had looked at them with the cold and deadly eyes of a snake, saying only "We will discuss that when any and all remains have been recovered, now please excuse me!"and he had entered the church.

John observed EJ from the vestibule as he entered. This was not a man who was used to showing grief, or this was not a man grieving. Something in his demeanor made no sense. Harris not being here was another question. He loved Sean and Caroline, so why was he missing? John escorted Marlena to a place, close to the rest of the family there to bury their mother, grandmother and friend.

Matthew sat next to Chelsea, holding her hand. He knew she should have been sitting with her dad, and her half siblings, but like Sami, she had a tenuous welcome in that little grouping at best. Zach returning from the dead had not been enough to make them include her in the bosom of the family, and now she was not inclined to push things anymore. Then he had seen her face light up! In through the church doors came a woman Matt had heard about, but never met. It was Billie Reed, Chelsea's mother, and he could see the resemblance between the two. They were both dark eyed beauties, both with a sadness in their eyes so much of the time. Billie came to Chelsea and gave her a warm embrace, then looking at Matt, waiting for her introduction.

Phillip Kirakis escorted his mother in, she was having difficulty walking, and it was now apparent, she was over sixty. The past years had left a mark, and the alcohol that she was now addicted to was taking a toll on her looks. Her face was marred with blotchy red spots, and her eyes had a rheumy look to them when she removed her sunglasses. She was still a handsomely haughty woman, but now she seemed to be weighted down with grief, having just buried two of her sons the day before. Now, once again in the same church the services had been held for Austin, and the mutiliated Lucas, she stumbled, only to be kept upright by Phillip and Nico.

The full Brady contingent was there, Kayla and Patch, who now resided in New Orleans, where she ran a clinic for the poor, and Patch worked on redevelopment housing for the still displaced hurricane victims. Both projects had been heavily funded by EJ Wells.

Stephanie had left the racing circuit, accompanied by her fiancé, another racer to attend, and since EJ was her sponsor, she had stopped to wish him well, and say he was also in her prayers.

Kim also made a showing, one of the few she would ever make again in Salem. Her illness was progressing faster now, and she was making the pilgrimage now to pay her last respects to her mother, her father, her family, and the town. No one knew she was dying, and she did not want to share that news with anyone, they would all know what they had to know soon enough. Her son Andrew was in Iraq, and her ex husband Shane Donovan was working still with the ISA, and they were the only ones who were aware of the tumor now invading her brain.

The sobs in the church were beginning even before Father Jankins made his way to the podium. The favorite hymns were being sung by the choir, when Harris made his way into the church. His love for Caroline had made him appear, even though Chandler was home, trying to work through the week that had passed. No one was being told of Liam's disappearance, it was to be announced tomorrow, as a Nanny kidnapping. Harris had left her, saying "I hafta do this, for her and Pop Sean".

He made his way to the choirs section, and took the mic, nodding to the music director to begin on of Carolines favorite hymns, "when lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed" and when he had finished the last of the song, the tears had began a flood down his ruddy and handsome face.

Chapter XIII

Father Jankins had finished his liturgy, and had spoken out about how he had come to know and love Caroline. It was an unstructured service, which was how Caroline had asked to be remembered in her will. So when the call went out for those in the audience who wished to say a few words in rememberance, EJ was the first to stand and ask for the floor.

The crowd in the church let out a collective murmur, some of dismay, some of gratitude, and some of curiosity. Carrie reached out for Marlenas hand in anger. She could not help her anger towards EJ, Katy was dead, if she had been with her, Carrie knew she would still be alive.

EJ ignored the look her got from Carrie, he ignored a lot of the looks he was getting, but when he began to speak, his words were listened to.

"There is no one here who has not been touched by this woman, in some way or another. Greatness was found in all the little things she did for so many, and I am no exception. Caroline Brady gave me what so many have always denied me. Acceptance. I am not a perfect person, she still loved me. I have made mistakes, she forgave those. This was also what she gave Samantha, my wife, her granddaughter.

If Samantha were here today, she would be remembering an abiding love that was showered on so many by this woman. Samantha would be the first to say that her Grandmother was a person who forgave much.

I run an organization that was founded by a man who many in this room feared and despised. I understand that, but when I married into this Brady legacy, I gave up wanting the world to fear me, I wanted respect. The kind of respect given to this woman who we are taking to her final rest today is something that cannot be bought or bargained for, it is earned on a daily basis. She has earned mine.

I have taken the podium today to ask for your prayers, and your good wishes in what I am about to reveal. As of now, I renounce any ties to the DiMera organizations, I will be severing ties with any and all business entities associated with them! Furthermore, I am giving notice to any and all who may be listening..my family is alive! I believe Sean Brady and Theo Carver to be alive as well, and I am asking all here who want to join us, help us bring them back alive!

As many of you have heard, there has been a power struggle within the DiMera organization, by some who think I may not be the right person to head it. They may be right, as my desire to run an Evil Empire is waning. I wanted a decent life for my children, I want a decent town for them to grow up in. I want a world where they have a chance, and their children as well. I think my association with the scientific community and my investments in the coming race to save the world from global warming has worried some in the organization that I may not have the right stuff.

EJ paused to let all this sink into the minds of the crowd. Then he spoke again,

"Harris, my loyal and steadfast ally in all of my work here in Salem has also suffered during the past few days. Besides the love he had for both Caroline and his grandfather,Sean Brady, he is now suffering another unbearable loss. He an his wife, Chandler, have been the victims of another crime we think is the work of the DiMera Organization. Their infant son, Liam, has been kidnapped from their home, the same night of the horrible tragedy that took Caroline Brady from us.

We are all suffering in this terrible week. I am reaching my hand out, to all of you who have mistrusted me in the past, I want us to work together. This is all our family that is out there somewhere waiting for us to help bring them home, make them safe again, to let them come and say their goodbyes to this woman.

Look into your hearts, what would Caroline want her deaths legacy to be? That we all continue to hate and distrust each other? Plotting our little plans of revenge or one upmanship? I think I have known her well enough to say she would want this:

Please, bring my husband home. Bring my granddaughter, Sami home, bring her children home, bring Harris and Chandlers child home, Sean and I love them all so much.

For that was Caroline Brady's message to us all.

Love one another, be kind to one another, help one another." EJ finished, and walked over to Bo Brady, he extended his hand, but Bo brushed it aside, instead pulling EJ into an embrace that welcomed him to the family, while whispering in his ear, "If you meant all that, I want to help you bring Pop and your family back to Salem! I'm in brother!"

John and Marlena both left their pews, and Steve and Kayla followed. Harris came to give EJ backup, with Matt and Chelsea close after. Kim followed, a tad weakly as she was now dependent upon a cane for steadying her walking. She had explained the cane to those who asked by saying she had sprained an ankle recently. Carrie had held back, but as she saw the circle of Bradys tightening around EJ, with Hope hugging him in congratulations, she had to come too. Lloyd stayed back, letting her into the circle of the family, not wishing to force himself in.

John was the first to voice it, the fear that everyone had, but did not want to say aloud. "So does it look like the Phoenix may have risen up from the ashes once again?"

Harris looked at EJ, waiting for him to say the words first.

"If he has not, then my family is dead. I pray he has come back, for at least then we know it is not just money that is the cause here, Stefano would only do something like this for the sake of the family, not the destruction of it!"

Steve was next to speak, and Kayla nodded her approval. "If you need me, I'm with you on this. I want my niece and her kids brought back safe, and the old man too! I never much took to you Squire Crumpets, but I got your back on this caper!"

Kim introduced herself to EJ, "Sorry I never made it out to your wedding, wow! The first one with Sami that I actually really missed something! I just want you to know, I will make sure that Shane gives you whatever help he can too. I think having an ISA senior operative should give you some assistance, huh?" her eyes twinkled as they always had, but EJ could see she was in some pain. He resolved to have her medical condition looked into. He was still maintaining most of his connections after all!

John stepped forward, but Marlena was still uncomfortable with EJ, she knew he probably would never forgive her for what she had done. She was wrong. Now he wanted all the help he could get, all the support he could get.

"Marlena, or Doctor Evans, which ever should I call you? Kacie still has medical issues to face, we must get her home..please, John, Marlena, will you join with us to help bring that about?"

"Partner, I thought you would never ask!"

Chapter XIV

Pacing back and forth in his cell, Sean Brady waited for the sound of the dumb waiter coming down again. When he heard the whirring sound that meant it was en route, he looked to see if anyone might be about, seeing the coast clear, he opened up the door to take out his meal, and greet his great grandson once more.

Ace sat crouched, looking up at the old man. The notes being passed back and forth had given the kids instructions to explore the island, and see if any vessels that could be used to get away were moored close enough to get to

"Hey, little fellow! What do you have for me today?..Wonderful, I knew there had to be some boats around here somewhere! Tell Theo good job, these are the numbers I need, I know several of these types, and this one here will suit us perfectly! Just the right amount of room, and a little bit of speed.!"

As a group, the children were given pretty much run of most of the small island that was unfenced. The area where the boats were moored was between a small lighthouse bordered by a quay, and when the tide was out they were able to wade out where the boats were anchored. If the tide was in, it was impossible, as the water was at least ten feet deep, but at low tide the duennas let the kids walk out, checking out the fishing boats belonging to some of the locals who lived the other side of the island in the old villages. Sadly, most of the fishing was played out, and the ones who made a living on the island now made it in some way working for the man who lived in the big castle on the hill. The boats were now mostly in disuse and in need of repairs.

Theo had diligently walked around most of them, noting make, year, and engine size from the markings Sean had written up for him to look for, now Ace was delivering the information to Grandpa Sean.

Ace brought the information each day at the afternoon tea that was sent down to Sean. Ace was glad to do it, that was when the best cookies were put on the tray, and he always managed to stuff a few in his pockets. The duennas were very insistent that the children not have too many sweets, so these cookies were a treat for all of them when he brought them back.

Sean was beginning to see the way of the great escape. .He had used the knitting needle on the rust covered lock on his cell, and with a bit of jiggling, he could get the cell door open. Sean had many times picked a lock on a jail cell, and he was glad to see it was like riding a bicycle, once you learned, you never forgot how! His prior association with the likes of Stefano DiMera was still paying benefits. Pride in his great grandchildren was also growing, as well as in Theo Carver. The children had devised their own plan for getting their mother out of the confines of the castle and Sean had laughed with delight when he heard what they planned. It was just simple enough and devious enough to work perfectly!

This time, it would be Justin and Jessica who made the foray into their mothers room. It was also decided they would try the elevator, if they were caught, they planned to cry they got lost, the house was so big, and it was an accident. Jessica was a natural born actress, so it was decided she would do the wailing and Justin would just stand by, and pat her as if comforting her if they got caught! Kacie told them what they needed to find, they needed some of the shot sticks, and if they could find it, any vials of the small bottles of medicine that the nurses would use on the bags in Mom's i.v. If they could get that back to her, it would be easy to make the duennas very very sleepy!

Lately, the children had all developed a game to give them a chance to get more familiar with the castle, and to make the duennas think it was just children being children! They would scatter themselves in the hallways, each of them running a different direction, causing the duennas to shriek and chase them, often calling on other staff members to catch them up. Most of the staff was good natured about it, as the children were mostly a friendly bunch, save the young blonde boy! They knew he could be dangerous to catch, as he had a ready kick, and sharp little teeth. The advantage to that was, Ace got the furthest away, and he was the one who found the elevator entrance for the nursery floor!

He saw them put the wheel chair on it, then the doors closed. Not waiting to be caught by the other staff, he had boldly gone right into the room the wheel chair had been brought out of and came out spinning the wheels on another chair, barreling right down on the ones who had just seconds before been chasing after him! His little arms had been pumping the wheels as fast as he could, before he noticed the little panel of lights on the side! Pushing one, he found the wheels going by themselves, and the chasers soon became the chased as he had laughed with delight! The melee of catching up to him, and replacing the chair in the room where it belonged had made the staff not think about all that Ace would have observed on his little adventure.

And so it was that on this evening, Justin and Jessica were able to use the elevator to go up to their mothers apartment once again.

"Mom, it's us, Jessica and Justin, wake up now, " the tube had been pinched off as Kacie had said needed to be done, and minutes later they were rewarded by the sight of their mother's beautiful blue eyes waking up to her two oldest children sitting at her bedside. It took her a moment to come fully alert, but once she did, she seemed to be alarmed at something.

"You can't let him find you here! What are you doing?" Sami and her semi conscious state of the past couple of weeks had gradually been coming more and more into focus. The conversations she had heard in her twilight sleep now became clearer, as her mothers instinct for protecting her children came into play.

"Please, go back, go back now!' She was hugging them to her, and pushing them away at the same time.

"Mom, no, we have to take you out of here!..We are going to to it tomorrow! All of us are leaving..even Papa Sean! On a boat Mom, back to Daddy!" Jessica wanted to make sure her mother knew what was happening.

"Mom, I am going to fill up these medicine bags with just water ok? So they can't make you stay sleepy anymore..Jess, find the clamps to put on them, nothing will go in your arm now Mom..you are going to be safe now, so you just pretend to be asleep ok! We are going to come and get you soon!"

Justin quickly dumped the i.v bags out, refilling them with just water, at the same time placing a small clamp under her wrist bandage. To keep the nurses from knowing that none of the liquid went into her arm, he made a small slit in the tubing with a small knife taken from his dinner tray. The liquid would drip out onto the floor, so he put a towel down to catch it. They had to make sure she stayed awake until they came to get her!

Sami watched all their preparations, amazed at how brilliant her children were! They told her that Papa Sean had told them a lot of what they had to do, and how Ace went back and forth with the notes of the plans! It was going to be foolproof! In no time at all they would all be off this island heading back to Salem!

Chapter XV

By the time Jess and Justin stole away from their mother, the three of them had gotten all the details of their plan down exactly. Nothing could go wrong, and they would get the duennas clothing up to her during the night. When they undressed for bed, they were going to steal their clothing, one set for Grandpa Sean to wear, and one for their mother! Ace would get the set down to Grandpa, and Theo and Justin were going to take a set to Mom! The tea the duennas drank would have the medicine that was being given to Mom, so they would sleep! Papa Sean would get out of the cell, and make his way up the stairs looking like the servant that came to clean.

It was so beautiful in its simplicity. They would all then walk down to the quay, push one of the boats out to the higher tide area, start up the motor, and out to the sea they would go! Sean knew that they had to be close to a shipping lane of the Mediterranean, Stefano always retreated to his Italian roots when he wanted to hide out. It would only be twenty or thirty miles at most, and they would find cruise ships or tankers that would pick them up.

The night was a humm of activity in the nursery, as the duennas slept like two oversized angels in their room. Kacie was busily putting pillows with the heads of various dolls into the beds to make it look like they were all snug in their beds when the duennas came to wake them, if the duennas were able to wake themselves!. The tea they drank had been heavily laced with the medication from Samanthas medical supplies. During the night Kacie and Jessica had added to it by slipping in, and giving them even more with an injection. Kacie had been very observant during her hospital stays, and impressing Jessica so much that her sister had said "you should be a doctor when you grow up!"

Theo and Justin had made several visits to the elevator, sending it up to the apartment suite several times, and once to Liams nursery. The duenna assigned to Liam was a problem, so now the plan was to see that Liam woke up and began crying a lot. When she went to fix the bottle, they would put the baby into the dumbwaiter and send him to the nursery downstairs. That seemed to be the best shot.

"How will you make him cry?' Kacie had a soft heart and was worried.

Ace held up a safety pin, and grinned.

"You boys are so mean!"

Jessica concurred, but agreed it was the best way to make the baby scream bloody murder, and demand for attention now!

Theo thought a moment, "But we must make him stop crying and be quiet while we get away, how can we do that".

Kacie gave a sad look, knowing how it felt to always have needles pricking at you, and she went to one of the small syringes, and pointed at the medicine bag. She filled one, and told Ace, "you are gonna be with the baby, do this!" and she went to pick an orange out of the fruit bowl and showed him how to do an injection.

Sean heard the dumbwaiter coming down, giving a quick look around to see if anyone was within earshot. It was eerily quiet, no one had been down to him in hours, and someone usually came at least once an hour. Stefano must be slipping in his security was all Sean could think. When it opened, Ace was there, next to a small pile of black clothing. He took them out, slipping them over his own clothing, topping it off with the black headscarf.

"Ace, me boy, how do I look?" Sean had twirled around for effect.

Giggling, the blonde haired tyke gave a thumbs up, handing over the not from Theo with the directions on how to get through the house to the nursery. As usual, after reading it, Sean put it in his mouth, chewed the paper, swallowing the note.

Ace looked at him with admiration. He had tried and tried, but paper just would not go down his throat, gagging him every time. Theo had now made sure when any note was handed to him by Ace, he hurried to burn it at a candle. It would not do for Ace to get sick and the duennas come running to see what was the matter!

Sami also was getting dressed in the duennas clothing at this time. The dress was yards too large for her, trailing the ground, and threatening to fall beneath her bosoms. Jessica looked about and saw the drapery tie backs. She took them, and fashioned a makeshift belt for her mother, then led her to the elevator to meet with the others.

In a matter of an hour, the children had accomplished most of the rendezvous necessary for the escape. Papa Sean was there in the room with them, their mother was there, nervously hugging all of them, asking how they were, and trying to keep her scar hidden with the scarf. The baby was sleeping soundly, Kacie was keeping watch over him like a mother hen. All was going as planned.

The screens in the security room were showing all of this, and the figure in the wheelchair was laughing heartily. This had been the greatest amusement he had witnessed in so long.

"I am so impressed with all of these kids, what DiMera spirit! Have you ever seen anything like this Bart?"

"Boss, they are all keepers! I agree with you all the way!"

"I know, but we have to stop their fun now, before they hurt themselves, what if they gave the baby too much of the medication, get a doctor here right away!"

Chapter XVI

It was three days of getting the Fancy Face II together that kept the four men busy. Bo was agreeing to this, only if he was going as the captain of the ship, and all who sailed with him agreed to follow his orders. EJ was amenable to it, Harris had no objection, the one who objected the most was John. He felt as the senior one, the one who had the ISA experience, and the knowledge of how Stefano DiMera worked, he should be the one in charge of the mission.

EJ had talked in private with John, showing him that since Bo was the more experienced sailor, he would be the one who handled the running of the boat. John would be given the main say in how to deal with Stefano when and if the time came for negotiating. As for any moves to gain the captives, EJ wanted to have the power of veto. This was after all his family they were trying to save, along with the infant son of Harris. Everyone had some voice in it, but he was willing to let Bo dictate how matters and duties would be delegated onboard the Fancy Face.

They figured it would be a ten day sail to get near the island that EJ remembered as being the one Stefano favored. It now seemed the death of Stefano had once again been greatly exaggerated. But each of the four had a different scenario as to what Stefanos motives had been for remaining out of the spotlight for the past few years.

Bo figured he had laid low to once again exert his power over the town of Salem. For whatever reason, the deal he had made with Sami was being reneged on. If the deal had ever had any real meaning to him anyway. To Bo, the book she had written was just a betrayal of her own family to serve Stefanos ends. It would not be the first time that Stefano had used someone to wreak his havoc for him. Now the end result could be seen. His mother, Caroline was dead, his Pop, Sean was missing and maybe even dead. Sami and the kids also missing. For what? Because they were of Brady stock!

Having been used for years by Stefano, John also knew Stefano would have his own motive for staying hidden. John was not of Bo's mindset. Too much time had gone by for Stefano to use this as some kind of revenge on the Bradys. If that was the case, Sean would have been found dead along with Caroline. Why not Sami dead as well since she was the daughter of his hated enemy Roman Brady. No, Stefano had seen that these people had been saved for some other reason. Not only that, but he must have known that EJ would come for them That was the kind of man he was. John admired that in EJ, but he hated what EJ was willing to do to follow the will and testament of a man who had done so much harm in the world, to so many people John loved.

Harris was a man on one mission only. His son had been taken from the safe confines of his own crib, by one who had been trusted to care for him. There was no reason good enough in his mind to want anything but to kill whoever was responsible. Promising Chandler that he would get Liam back or die trying had been all he would say to her. Her tears had not moved him except to harden his resolve as to what he had to do.

As EJ stacked piles of provisions on the boat, he too had his own thoughts of why Stefano had acted in this manner. He had often suspected that Stefano might have just had himself hooked up to the Phoenix machine and retreated to a world where he no longer had to make decisions or interfere with the day to day operations of his empire. His island had always been a place he felt safe, and in some ways even loved by its inhabitants that he provided a livelihood for. The ring on EJ's finger was a promise he had made to the man, now did Stefano think that EJ had betrayed his trust? Or was it in the fact that the council had been allowed to think for itself? EJ was certain, Stefano wanted something done about the council, and this was his way of brutally seeing that EJ got the message.

Jumping over to the dock, Bo reached out for a hug from Hope. Julianna was standing, her hand held by her big brother Zach, now dressed in his baseball uniform. He looked up at his dad, before asking, "You coming to the game today, Pop?"

Hope looked at Bo, giving him a "you better say yes to that" look, and Bo ruffled the carrot topped boy on the head.

"Of course I am, and I expect you to hit one out of the park for me, cause it will be awhile before I can see another game. This time out, I will be gone for a couple of weeks, but we plan on a pretty big catch!"

Knowing it was no good to try and talk him out of this, all Hope had said to him was "You be careful Brady! Bring them back! I love you, and I love you for doing this. Your dad would be so proud..I am so proud of you. We need them all back home. Salem needs them all back home!"

EJ had walked up behind them and had overheard what Hope had said. He smiled a welcome at her, she had always been someone he admired.

"We are not going to fail, Hope, everyone is going to come home with us!" EJ said, as he expertly tied off a load, and secured it to the deck of the boat.

Bo had been surprised at the talent EJ had, not expecting a city boy to be so sure of himself in the knots needed to tie off the boats supplies, and gear. He had gone over as soon as he saw EJ tie off something to inspect, and found he had done a perfect anchor bend knot, as good as any ever shown him by his own Pop.

EJ had seen Bo try and find fault with it, and walked over to whisper, "I was taught to sail by the man we are going to try and kill..probably as you were by your Pop. Stefano does have his good points Bo, I remember them."

Seeing the little exchange, John had sidled over to Harris, "I hope we can keep those two from trying to throw each other overboard before we get to Stefanos Island. This is gonna be a bumpy ride!"

Harris had just brought on the last of the nets, much of the food they would eat enroute was to be caught, and he wanted to make sure they were in good repair. To Johns comment, he nodded in agreement, knowing EJ was normally a reasonable sort, but Bo, a different matter altogether.

Chapter XVII

The first day out on the water was cold, a bit cloudy, and looking out over the horizon, Bo expected they would hit a storm within six hours. He was not concerned, the Fancy Face II was well equipped to handle it, he had been through a lot worse. He went below to give his assessment, while pouring another cup of coffee.

"Harris, you do make a mean cup of joe..they teach you that in hit mans school?"Bo was still in the mood to needle, but Harris was not taking his bait. Calmly, he poured out the dominoes from the box and just challenged Bo with his eyes.

"Up for a game?" so Bo sat down, across from EJ, next to John. "Nickel a point good enough for ya?" He began shuffling the tiles, and John got a score pad and pen.

"I've never played this before, how does it work?"EJ was looking, and as he saw each of the others take the seven tiles out, laying them upright so as to not be visible to the other players. Bo smiled, and gave EJ a quick lesson, thinking to himself, "dead money right there in chair number two!"

EJ was not an expert in dominoes, by any means. He was however blessed with a sharp eye, and a keen knack for numbers. After the first two hours, and the third page of the notebook he began tallying the scores.

"Looks like..John you owe me $2.45 cents, Harris, an even four bucks..Bo, wow! Twelve dollars! If this keeps up, I may just have the deed to this tub before we make the Bay of Biscay!

Scowling, Bo put the tiles back, and dug into his wallet. "Let's get one thing straight, Lord Wells..this is not a tub. The Fancy Face II is one of the finest vessels of its class in the world, she can do fifty knots into the wind without breaking a sweat. So don't be insulting her..this boat is our life for the next ten days!"

EJ immediately gave his apology. "I mean no disrespect, she is a beautiful vessel, and I am most honored to be serving aboard her."

"Damn straight you are, land lubber!" but Bo had a grin on his face as he said it. "Now, for all of you, we are heading into a storm now , we all have things to do. This storm may not be much, but then again.."he let his voice trail off, before he began assigning duties.

"Lord Wells, you and I will take care of the top deck, Harris, you and John take care of below decks." And he began with instructions that EJ noted, as he was the most familiar with the art of sailing. He would begin reefing the sails,, dropping the main and storing it below. He would be responsible for seeing that the engines were started when the time came. He would see the lash line secured, and any ring buoys as well in case the worst happened. As he looked out over at the ominous looking clouds gathering in a rolling and boiling cauldron of darkness, he came to respect the knowledge of Bo. They were going to need his expertise.

Bo next began barking orders to John and Harris. "Secure all the cupboards, pump out the bilges, check those hull fittings, top off the fuel tanks, check out the head, make sure the toilet is emptied out" this instruction was given at Harris who finally had enough.

"And just what will you be doing during all of this?"

"I will be making sure you all did everything I said, as I said, when I said. In addition, I will be making sure we stay on course, and don't get our asses capsized so you get a chance to live and get that son of yours back."

Everything was accomplished within an hour, and Bo went round to inspect how well it was done. Anything not to his satisfaction was pointed out, and the person responsible was made to redo the job. Mostly, it was fine, and Bo was beginning to have a bit of trust in his crew. John was a quick study, Harris was willing to do anything, and though it took a bit longer for him to finish due to unfamiliarity, he managed. And Lord Wells, this was a sailor, and he was earning Bo's grudging respect.

'I've set a course to take us as much to the outskirts of the storm as I could, but it seems to be gaining intensity, and covering more area. I want to tell you, most times the craft will take care of the crew, but it may not be so easy as I thought. The weather reports say it is going to hit right on top of us. Just do as I say, and we should ride it out just fine. Harris, jug up some hot coffee in those thermos bottles, we will be needing it. John, you stay down here, watch these coordinates for me, and if they go off this much, come up and let me know. EJ, you and I are gonna be top deck, so make sure you are well secured to the lash line, it's a long swim to England if you fall over!"

The rain came first, a light sprinkling that turned to a steady drizzle, then into sheets of water that coated their rain slicks into shiny wet slick pieces of vinyl. EJ walked along the side, making sure of each step as he went, for now the wind was starting up like a banshee howling, the waves alongside seeming to get taller as the boat moved slowly along. Engines were cut way back, and the boat was being allowed to just ride with the storm, not fighting it, but easing into it, letting the storm dictate the movement.

Bo looked about to see all was well, then he was going to suggest they both go below where it was at least warm and dry when he saw what he had forgot, and cursed his oversight. The roof dinghy was still upright, and needed to be face down so that no water weight would be gathered there from the rain and sea waves. He made his way to the ladder, and climbed, but his lash was too short. Forgetting his own order to EJ, he unshackled him self to reach the dinghy. The wave was strong, and hit him full face as it washed him directly over the side!

"Bo!!" EJ looked down as he saw Bo's bright yellow slicker bobbing in the sea, drifting out. EJ took the buoy ring, and tied the longest rope to himself he could find before diving in and swimming strongly towards Bo!

Chapter XVIII

Sullenly, the children sat huddled in one corner of the room, as security guards had entered unannounced. A man in a white jacket had taken Baby Liam, and placed him on a table, whipping out a stethoscope to listen to the baby's chest. He listened a bit, then merely nodded before saying all was well. When Sami had moved to pick the infant up again, she had been roughly pushed back into a chair, the business end of the weapon held by the guard pointed at her. Justin had rushed to her defense, but she had stayed him, assuring him she was alright.

Sean had looked about him after than, and saw the well concealed security cameras that had probably monitored every movement any of them had made since being confined here. The children could not be faulted with not knowing this, but as well as he and his sons understood the way Stefano had to live, he should have known.

The man using the electric wheel chair coming into the room seemed to have read his mind. "Slipping up in your old age my friend, time was you could have made an escape this way, we did it many times, right, old friend? Alas, times have changed, and my security people would never let me run an operation as slipshod as we were used to."

Sean glared at Stefano. He felt like a fool, and Stefano was enjoying making him feel that way. "I am not your old friend, and I will ask you not to refer to me that way again."

"I shall refer to you any way I please, I ask you to remember whose guest you are, and under whose sufferance you still live, Sean Brady!"

"You murdering son of a whore! Why have you done this? What of my wife, and all those others who were innocent in that Pub? You could have killed us all, what crazy plan for revenge was this about?" Sean was red faced and lunging, but was held back easily by two of the guards.

"You best just keep quiet, Mr. Brady, you do not look well at all..my Doctore says you have all the earmarks of a man about to have a heart attack..what is your present cholesterol level? Not good I would guess!"

Sensing that her grandfather was about to do something rash, Sami went to his side, and gently led him back to the childrens side of the room. "Please, Grandpa, calm down, I need you to be calm, so do the children..is your medicine in your pocket?" Sami reached in and got out one of the nitro pills Sean had been carrying in his pocket for the past couple of years, and slid one under his tongue.

Bart made to push the chair, but was waved away with an impatient hand. "Let me do some things for myself, after all, I am only up for an hour more..let me be!" and he used the controls on his chair to propel himself over to where the Doctore was examining the infant.

Kacie had an instinctive fear of the man, and she wanted him no where near little Liam, so she ran to place herself in between them. This made Stefano chuckle. "You are a brave little one, and so very intelligent. I have heard what has happened with you, and believe me, if it had gone on much longer, I would have intervened. No little one should have suffered that long when there was a way to stop it." His yellowed hand reached out to smooth her curls, but she backed away in fear.

"Yes, I am to be feared. I am glad to see you know that. It will be useful to you someday, I am sure. Now, go sit down, I need to see that this baby is well. When I say so, you may come and look him over!" his tone gave no room for disobedience, and in her fear, Kacie did retreat.

Justin welcomed Kacie back with comforting arms. He embraced her protectively which was noticed and approved of by Stefano. "You take good care of your sisters, and your mother too I see. That is good. All the DiMera men protect the women of the family. It is our duty!"

Ace did not know what was happening, but something was happening here he had felt before. He was going to be left in a new place again, and try as he might to steel himself for it, he could feel the unwelcome tears starting to burn within his eyes. Blinking, he fought against them, and at last he brought himself under control. For a three year old to do that was an amazing thing, and Stefano observed it with a sense of wonder.

"Theo, my actual grandson...how have you been my child? It has been very hard on me not being a part of your life, but Celeste thought it best. I have always seen to your welfare though, I want you to know that." Stefano addressed Theo, smiling, but understanding why Theo hung back and shot him dirty looks. His father had always hated the fact that Theo was part DiMera and had told him nothing good about that side of the family.

Finally, Stefano looked upon Sami, and gave her his warmest smile of all. "You, just look at you my dear! Married, a beautiful family, wonderful home, great career..do you ever just want to thank me for all of that? Heh heh, no, I thought not. I am responsible for it you know, I was the one who gave you the book idea that has brought you the most fame and fortune..I was the one who sent EJ to Salem to get involved with you..who knew he would make the mistake of actually falling in love..but then I understand, I loved your mother as much."

Sami could bear no more, "We had a deal! I kept my end of the bargain, so why did you do that to my Grandparents Pub? Why are people dead because of you? We should all be in Salem, right now! Instead you have us prisoner here..why..give me an answer please!"

"First of all, I did nothing. People are dead because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. As for Salem, yes, I think most of you can go on back to Salem. Sami, you even get to choose who goes back tomorrow! How about that?"

"What do you mean..I choose?"

"I have to make sure my legacy survives. EJ has been careless. As of now, the baby stays with me, and one more of the children. This is a heir and a spare situation. You, Samantha get the honor of choosing which one stays with me! Sort of a Sophie's choice..The baby, and one other. I suppose Theo is the logical choice, but again, sleep on it, I expect an answer in the morning."

Stefano then turned to Sean, "You should be glad we stopped you Sean, none of those boats in the harbor is sea worthy, you would have sunk to the bottom as soon as you left the bay."

With that, the wheelchair was turned and heading to the door. The doctore picked up the infant Liam and left. Sami was still dumbfounded but finally found her voice to say, "You can't make me do this...I won't."

Stefano only paused to say "You will." As the door closed behind him.

The tear he had been fighting rolled down Ace's cheek.

Chapter XIX

Sami tucked in Jessica next to Kacie. If she could not persuade Stefano to give up this evil plan, she knew she could not choose one of her daughters. Kacie was still going to need medical attention to act in case she ever rejected the bone marrow Justin had given her. Jessica, no, never. That would break EJ's heart, it was impossible to even think of leaving her..

Moving on to where Justin was lying with Theo, she bent to kiss him, then looked into a pair of brown eyes, heavily lashed, with that same endearing way of blinking that EJ had. She knew she could never leave him to be raised God knew how by a man who was so blinded by power, he forgot how to keep his humanity intact. Justin reached to hold onto her neck, and whispered "Mom, just let me stay. I will find a way to get loose, I promise!"

Theo was awake, and she knew what he was thinking. "I am a DiMera all the way..why not leave me? I am not even one of her kids. Yes, she will leave me, I know it, I see it in her eyes."

He did see that in her eyes, that is what she would probably have chosen, except her grandfather began to choke and gasp for breath again. She ran to him, and pulled out a nitro pill, placed it under his tongue, while giving him small sips of water. She knew Theo was older, and he would be able to help. Her decision then was made.

Ace was already blinking his eyes, trying to stay awake when she lay down next to him. His small body stiffened at her nearness. She ignored it, and put her arms about him anyway, pulling him against her warmth. He said nothing, just barely let himself lean into her, softening a bit, and deciding for this one night, he would pretend. She was his mother, she loved him as she did all the others. She was not going to leave him. This was a pretend..he was good at pretend. His eyes closed, and he had happy dreams.

Sami lay awake, holding him, finally, her own exhaustion overtaking her, with dreams of her own starting to invade her mind. Her fear of the future began to unfold within her subconscious.

...EJ was no longer with her, for he had not understood why she had left their son. The sacrifice she had made to save the others had sickened him, and he had hated her for it! He had left, and taken control of the other children, and she had been left to live a lonely existence, once again hated by all who knew her!

In her dreams an angry embittered man came home to taunt her with what he had grown up to be.

So, you are my Mother, I remember you. You left me behind so the others could live happily ever after! Thank you, for it was what Stefano wished for. I am the one he has always wanted to rule!

"I am the one Stefano has chosen to rule! And that means your precious Justin must now step aside! "

"What about Liam, what happened to him?"

"Mommy dearest...please..don't you realize there can be only one heir to the throne? Liam met with an unfortunate accident, most untimely!"

The dream continued, and Sami saw so many evil things in store for her son. Fighting to wakefulness, she was damp with sweat. Pulling a robe about her, she ran into the hallway trying to make it to the elevator doors, but the security detail was just outside her door, and she had no where to turn.

A buzzer went off in the guards phone, after a seconds conversation in Italian, she found herself being led roughly down the hall towards the elevator entrance. He pushed her into it, then the doors shut and she found herself going upwards, stopping after 3 flights, and the door opening up into a room that was for all intents and purposes a hospital facility. There, hooked up to the familiar sight of a Phoenix machine, lay Stefano, next to him, his sentinel, Bart.

"Come on in Little Missy, ole Bart is here, and nothing is happening to you. I swear, this has been a trial for you, I know, but believe you me, ole Steffie just wanted to make sure the family stays alive..so much badness in the world ya know.."

Ignoring him, she went to Stefanos side, "You bastard! Wake up, wake up now! I want to talk to you this instant!"

Bart reached to tune in the frequency needed to bring Stefano up, and in a matter of seconds Stefano was looking about in a mild state of confusion.

"You said to get you up if Sami was ready to talk Boss. And lookee here, just like you said, she is right here..yesiree..Boss, you know her like the backa ur hand, I don't know how you do it, but it is amazing Boss..just amaz.."Bart stopped when he caught the look on the face of Boss.

"Shut up, you buffoon! Bring her a chair! This may take awhile!" His order was instantly obeyed, and Bart took Sami's arm to sit her next to the bedside.

"You have made your choice, good girl, always best to just make a decision, then do not second guess yourself..instinct is a God given talent for most of us". He reached to pat her hand but she pulled away in disgust.

"Ace, I am giving you Ace.". Sami said, with a catch in her voice, but she was not giving in to tears to which Stefano smiled with admiration.

"Excellent choice, he is the one I would have said too! You and I both know he is the one who will survive the best!"

"There is only one thing you must do for me though. I remain with him, let the others go back to their father, they will be fine. But Ace will need me, so please, let me stay with him. I promise I will not try to escape..I just want to be with him, I want him to know his mother". Begging was not in her nature, but Sami was close to it now.

"Hmm..well, it was not what I was thinking you would do, but this may have advantages..yes..I think we can work something out..Welcome to the family Samantha!" and his laugh rang out in an tone that sent ominous chills down her spine!

Chapter XX

Bo felt the waves pulling him out, and he fought against it, but his strokes against the force were weakening with each second. The cold was hitting him, and his mind began to close down to shield him from the shock of what was happening. He could see the face of Hope, smiling at him in a distant place, and all he wanted was to be there with her. He was so close to her now, almost within touching distance, and his hand reached out to stroke her face. Then he was snatched away from her, and he was pulled farther and farther away, until he knew he would not be able to reach her, and he turned to fight the force stopping him.

The first ineffectual slap at his face had only annoyed EJ, but he held on to Bo, and began the arduous swim back to the boat. The second one made him angry, since it was hard enough swimming against these waves as high as a one story building, so he swung his fist directly into Bo's face, feeling a bit of satisfaction at the slight crunch sound it made, but even more relief as he felt him slump, making the task of swimming with him easier. He managed to get the buoy over Bo's head and shoulder, which made him more buoyant and easier to tow. It seemed like an eternity, but the reality was John was pulling them up over the side with the help of Harris within an couple of minutes. EJ was exhausted, and Harris carried him in a firemans hold down to the galley, with John following with Bo.

First, they stripped the wet clothing off of them, wrapping them both up in woolen blankets. Bo had shaken off the effect of the blow EJ had landed on him, but now his hand was reaching up to inspect the area that had taken the hit.

"You basthard" the voice came out in a slight lisp! "You busthed my fuking nothe!"

John came over to take a look ,"Yeah partner, that is broke alright!"

Bo was not normally vain, but this was different. He wanted to see, and he staggered against the ships motion to the head and the shaving mirror. His nose was now a shade of purple tinged with the blood that had spurt out. It had a definite tilt to the left up at the bridge, and the effect was most pirate like. He came out of the head, holding a wet cloth to his nose, glaring at EJ.

"I had to do it Bo, for Gods sake you were trying to swim away from me, and I had no intention of letting you drown, and less intention of drownng with you, now come on, it really doesn't look too bad..Harris, what do you think, can you do anything?'

To Harris, a victim of a broken nose several times over, Bo was being a baby. Hell, this little adjustment was nothing. He probed a moment, enjoying it as Bo winced, after all, Bo had been on his case from the moment he had set foot in Salem, much less what he had taken while serving as his crew! Placing his two thumbs firmly on each side of the nose bridge, he had given a whoosh sound, then pressed to the right side of Bo's nose, stopping once he heard the slight crackle he knew meant the cartiliage had realigned, which would straighten the nose out. It would mean his whole face would carry a bruise of several shades, but the nose would be right as rain within days.

Bo suppressed his yelp of pain, refusing to contribute to Harris's obvious delight in the whole situation.

John fought his own reaction, and he almost succeeded until EJ had to say something, "I really think you should have left it leaning left, Harris, his face seemed so much more in balance that way..what do you think John?"

"You read my mind partner!" and the laughing started, from all four of them.

"Ok, ok, thanks EJ, thanks Harris, and as for you John, thanks a lot for hauling us up..now get this clear..I am still the captain, and there aint gonna be any group hugs for us..are we clear on that?"

Subsiding, the storm gave way to more gentle waves, and Bo righted the course once again. Surprisingly, the storm had actually sped up their journey a bit. After filing the plans again with all coast guards in the area they continued. Bo estimated the would arrive in Southhampton Port in four days.

After that, they would get over the Bay of Biscay, around the cape, on to the Mediterranean and Stefanos island near La Palma. The small fishing boat they were going to transfer to would meet them in La Palma. Getting into Stefanos island harbor would not be easy, but in the guise of a fishermans craft, it just might work. If they were turned back, they planned an assault by going in underwater from further out. EJ was very familiar with the island, He had spent a great deal of his childhood on holiday there, and it was while there that Stefano had decided upon him to rule. Now it seemed that Stefano may have had a change of heart. To EJ that was not important anymore, his family was important, and if Stefano wanted to mess with that, EJ would kill him soon as look at him.

John lay awake, he did not look forward to what was coming. If Stefano wanted to fight, he would stand and do so, but more likely Stefano knew exactly what was coming, and one way or the other was prepared. He pictured Marlena in his mind, she had railed against him coming on this mission, even his references to her grandchildren had not kept her from begging him to let EJ handle it by himself. It had been hard not to listen to her, but he knew in the long run, she would never forgive herself if another bad thing came from the evil of Stefano DiMera, and he had been able to help stop it.

The dream Harris was having was causing him to toss and turn, but no one noticed as they were all in their own reveries. Harris was carrying a wrapped up bundle towards his wife, and she was running out to him, her own arms outstretched. As he got closer and closer to her, the bundle got lighter and lighter, until he reached her, and she unwrapped the blue blanket to find..nothing..Liam was not there, only the small wooly lamb that Sami had given him. It seemed to him a sign though, a sign from Sami that she was looking out for him, and with that thought, Harris passed into a more peaceful sleep.

His arms closed around the pillow he had brought with him, and EJ inhaled the scent Samantha had left there on it. Her shampoo, and the scent of the moisturizers used on her skin lingered there, making him breathe deeply. He pictured her, how it felt to caress her softness, and run his fingers through her hair, while he kissed the sweetness of the top of her head. He shook it off, he knew he had to. Distractions during the mission would not help get her or his children back. Instead of thinking of her, he began to remember every detail of what he knew about the island, and how best to gain entrance to the fortress that the house really was.

Only Bo slept undisturbed. His faith now was with the Fancy Face II, and he believed in her with all his heart. After all, he had named her for the finest woman he had ever known, and she had never let him down yet.

Chapter XXI

Stefano had listened to Samantha, and how she wanted for this all to happen for an hour, not agreeing to everything she wanted, but for the most part, he let her have her way.

"I want time with them alone, I have to explain what is happening, and I have to have a way to let them know I am alright from time to time..can that be arranged?"

"Time with them is allowed. The other..no! This world is a hard enough place to hide in my dear, for me to allow you contact with them is only an invitation for your loving husband to come and make trouble. He is going to be difficult enough to deal with as it is." His voice was not harsh, but it had a note of finality in it that made Sami decide on a different tack.

"Ok, then just make sure that I can see that they are well, and happy, can you do that for me?"

"Done!" Stefano smiled, as he realized what she thought would reassure her could possibly also torment her, but he would cross that bridge as he came to it. Once again, this was all a means to an end for him, and though he was happy to be able to have a semblance of a family near him during this trying period of his life, it was rather tiresome to have to set things up again he had thought were cemented for life.

For the most part EJ had done well, but this latest lapse was deadly serious. His approval rating from the last council meeting was lower than President Bush'es and in order to reassert control over them, much blood was going to be shed. Would EJ still be up to it? Or had family life and the rigors of trying to make a life and a business that would not be held up to a light of day and found wanting by the so called pillars of Salem have been his undoing? Getting back Samantha with the two other children would depend on him once again proving himself to Stefano.

"But my dear, do you remember what happened with your lovely mother while she was once a guest with me? She also wanted to have reassurance that all was well with many of you in Salem, and she saw John, John making love with Kate..did she tell you? So how would it make you feel to see EJ moving on? Another woman? Your sister perhaps? Would you be able to live with that?"

The dagger he pointed at her heart did leave a mark. "EJ would never be with Carrie, he may move on, but not with Carrie. You are sick to even suggest such a thing."The doubt rose up in her mind, but was quashed as quickly as she could while covering her reaction to it.

He read her quickly though, that was a DiMera trait. They always read a face, for weakness, any sign of vulnerability. She was good though, all her years of lying, and deceit had served her well. Not many could recover like Sami could. Her mother also had the same ability he remembered. She had been a woman who could deceive him, while most could not.

"Samantha, you never know what a man will do when his bed gets cold and lonely..and after all EJ is just a man. He has the same weaknesses of the flesh we all do, or at least that I used to..aah well, one must give up the things of youth sometime, mustn't we?'

"Boss, I told you, that new medicine might work for you!" Bart tried to be helpful, but was silenced by Stefanos look of disgust.

"Do not speak this way in front of the mother of my Grandchildren..and Sami, I think of all of the children as my grandchildren,,I want you to know they are all equals in my sight! No matter what Tony may have thought."

Samantha thought back to another time. When EJ had first brought her to this island. Stefano had tried to weaken her faith in EJ that time too. It had not worked then, and now after the years they had been together, all the wonderful times, the tragic times, and the day to day existence of a marriage and raising of children, she was not about to allow it to work this time either. However, it might suit her to let Stefano think he had weakened her by using this tactic. Thinking her defeated would make it easier for her to probe for his weaknesses also. Of course he had them, he had just mentioned one after all, her mother!

"It is late, can I please go back to the nursery, I should like to spend as much time with them as possible before they are gone."

"Of course, and you know what..I just wish any of my wives or mistresses had received half the maternal instinct you have been blessed with..it brings a tear to my eye..really it does my dear.." but his smile was one that did not convey a person who could cry over anything. He was one who had lost that ability decades ago, and Sami knew why.

Escorted back to the nursery, Sami began to think about all she must remember to say to her children before they would be taken from her. How she wished she had been able to give them a life free from any of this, but their father was who he was, and when it came down to it, she would not have changed anything about him. His business was not the same as when Stefano had been running things. EJ was a person who wanted good for the world, but had to work in an environment of evil that had been created by Stefano. Yes, he could have led the revolution immediately, which is what she advocated, but so much of the world was ran by entrenched business interests that found change to be a frightening prospect. .

EJ and his crusade for cures to Global Warming, and alternative renewable energy sources had made him enemies in the world who had influence with the council. His pursuit of justice in the African countries plagued by genocide and scourged by Aids had been seen as a distraction from the work of increasing the empire.

Now she was seeing what EJ's own impatience had created. Stefano was now fearing something he felt he had lost control of. Sami was beginning to believe Stefano had not meant to harm them, for if he did, he would have already done so. In his own strange way, he felt he was protecting them, or at least making sure the legacy would continue. That he was willing for most of them to return to their lives in Salem did reveal something about his intentions.

The children did not awaken as she came back into the room, but Sean did. She went to him to see if he was needing anymore of his medicine. He seemed tired, and his skin had a tone she did not like at all.

"Sami, me girl, I want you to ask Stefano to let me stay here with Theo..I promise you I will take good care of him..and he is the oldest. You know that Abe will come and take care of him..Roman will help..Sami..let me stay".

"Oh Granpa, you don't remember, Dad is gone..so no..you have to go with the kids to watch out for them, I am staying behind, with Ace..he will need me, and the others will have their Daddy to take care of them, he will take care of them always! Don't worry, when the time is right, he will be coming for me and Ace...he has never let me down yet, he never will. I'm gonna be fine and so are you..get some rest now!: she leaned to kiss his beloved and wrinkled forehead. He seemed so very old and frail, this man who had always seemed a pillar of strength to her. As he drifted off to sleep, he murmured the name "Caroline.: then a few seconds later, he was murmuring "Eleni" the name that had been the start of all this pain.

Chapter XXII

John had taken over the top deck watch for awhile, when EJ came up the steps to sit by him as he gazed up at the stars. They had a companionable silence for a bit when John finally brought up the subject of Marlena.

"You know she is so very sorry and guilty for what she did, there is just something between her and Sami that cannot be breached somehow. I hope you know how much she suffered when she thought Sami and the kids had perished."

"Yes, I suppose so. She did have a lot to be guilty about", EJ was still not in a forgiving mood about his mother in law, so much had happened, and now was not the time for him to allow her to occupy space in his head rent free.

"Marlena spent a lot of time away from her kids, except for Belle, and most of it was not her fault, it was this insane vendetta Stefano had, and his penchant for making the Brady family pay for what their father did".John continued to make the case for his wife.

"That score was settled..Samantha paid the price.All your wife had to do was decide that Samantha was worthy of her love, and she has never been able to do that unconditionally. If she had, you might have seen a different side of her. The simple fact is, Belle comes first, then Carrie, then Eric and Samantha trailing along. I understand, she was gone during the time a mother normally bonds with her children, and it must have been hard dealing with a headstrong teenager who was bound an determined to reunite her own parents. I went through a lot of that with Will..before.."EJ became quiet as he remembered the boy who had left such a void in Samantha's life.

"I tried with Sami, I honestly did. She just held on to her bitterness for so long, it almost consumed her until you came into her life. I can despise you for working in the DiMera organization, but I know you changed her"

"You are so wrong about that John, I never changed her at all. Samantha is just as capable of being devious as she always was. You should ask Carrie about that. When she wants something she still will claw her way through until she gets it. I love that about her. She was always just this person that I love, but I adored the good and the bad in her. It fascinated me, excited me, and challenged me.

She is not her mother, when she is hurt, she reacts, she does not analyze it. That is how she loves, she gives in to it, and where ever it takes her she floats along in the same current. It is just a lot of the time, she seemed to be swimming upstream. Austin would have never made her happy, that was always obvious to me. Lucas, well, he might have had the slightest chance if he had ever decided to accept who and what she was, and believe in her. Then again, he would have had Kate to overcome. He could never do that, so he lost, I won. You know Samantha was genuinely happy that he seemed to have finally found what he needed. She is going to be sad when she hears he is gone.

Whatever the reason was that Marlena chose you, the same dynamic was in Samantha..she felt it, and she gave in to it..for that I am forever grateful" at that, EJ went silent, and accepted the flask of whiskey John handed over to him to ward off the chill.

"Damn, that is horrible, what is that stuff?"

"I believe it came out of a bottle called "Generic Whiskey" in Bo's liquor cabinet"

"Here, give it to me", and EJ poured it over the side to the sea. "I apologize to you, denizens of the deep, but I must refill this with something that won't rot our insides!"

EJ went down, and opened his valise, getting out a small bottle of Crown Royal, and refilling the flask, then going back up to John and offering him something that John sipped, then prounounced "Smooth!"

The time had come for them to get around to other business, as EJ did not seem inclined to unveil himself any further, and John felt the same.

"Why did Stefano take them from you EJ? I think it is time you lay your cards all out on the table".

"I let him down."

'Ok, let me drag it out of you then..How did you let him down? When did you let him down? Why did you let him down?'

Taking a long swig from the flask, EJ first gave the wheel a slight adjustment, as he felt the wind picking up just slightly.

"I did not protect what he holds most dear, the family legacy, I let someone get to them, I let my guard down. As to when, it started when I tried to end run the council. I knew they wanted me to kill off Samantha to prove my loyalty to the code. I was going to trick them, they figured it out, and sucker punched me. I should have seen it coming and prevented it. Stephano saw it, that is why he has them all now. He always was smarter than me. The why of it, that is a long question, but it is because I wanted a different life for my kids."

I have everything I could want, but I want also a world that provides a future for my children, and everyone elses too. I invested a lot of the council profits in things they saw no payoff in. They were right about there being no immediate payoff, the payoff would come with a different world. Sounds rather idealistic of me, especially knowing what you know about the DiMera World, doesn't it?"

"Well, here's to ideas partner", and John lifted the flask in toast.

Chapter XXIII

Sami went round to each of the sleeping children. Gently shaking each one awake, she took them to the table in the corner of the room. Only Ace was left to sleep, he did not need to hear this, her goodbye to the others. Theo sat, and sipped at the hot chocolate the duennas had brought in for them. Justin stood by her side, he was shivering, not in cold but in a fear that was gripping him. Jessica was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, making Sami smile, she had always been like her, reluctant to leave a warm bed for any reason. She pulled Kacie up onto her lap, and the child turned her head into her mothers warm bosom, putting her small arms around her to snuggle into the warmth she offered.

Sean came over, and accepted the cup of coffee the duennas offered. Sami had told him he would be leaving with the kids this morning, and he had accepted what she had insisted on.

"I don't know why you don't just go, and leave me here Sami, I can take care of Acie boy, he's a fine 'un.." but the voice trying to sound so brave also sounded weak, as though he had aged years within the weeks since the explosion at the pub.

"You have to get back to Grandma, you know she is worried sick about you!"

At that, Sean looked out over the bay, he had been dreaming ever since they got here to this accursed island. Just as he had long ago let Eleni down, he knew now in his heart he had also failed Caroline. He was feeling her presence, but not in a here and now sort of way. He did not voice his knowledge to Sami, she had enough to burden herself with now, but he knew he would not be seeing Caroline again, at least not in this world.

When Justin saw that Sami had left Ace sleeping, the truth of what was happening hit him. "Mom, no, you cannot leave him here! Let me stay, let me stay! I'm the oldest!"

"I know you are baby, and that is why you must go with Papa Sean, you have to help him, you and Theo, watch over your sisters for me, and Ace and I will be along soon..I promise..I promise you..I won't be gone long, and when I come home, Ace will be with me," she lied as well as she ever had to them, proud that her skill at it once again came in handy.

"Mommy..you must come with us..Daddy will be sad if you don't come" Kacie was doing her best to persuade her mother to abandon this idea as well.

Jessica, though, with her own little maternal instincts as strong as her mothers understood. She looked over at her younger brother, his curly blonde head so like her own at that age, and knew there would be no way to make Mom leave him behind by himself..and there was Liam to consider too. Jessica reached up to rub the still reddened and bumpy area of her mothers cheek and could never remember seeing her mother so beautiful.

"Daddy is going to come and get all of you, and Uncle Harris. They will!" Jessica said it fiercely, knowing in her heart it was true, and there would never be any doubt!

'I know baby, I know." Placing her hand around her oldest daughter's neck, Sami pulled her into an embrace, and whispered to her, "take the envelope from my robe pocket, make sure your daddy gets it..promise me that Jess".

Jessica looked to make sure she was not observed, and took the envelope, stuffing it down her pajama bottoms.

When all were ready, Sami gathered them up, and together they walked down to the boat docks. Ace was left, still asleep. Sami smiled down at him, for in his sleep he reverted to placing his thumb into his mouth, not sucking, just hanging on to it for security. Rearranging the covers he had kicked off back over him, she left him with the one duenna while she walked down with the others to say goodbye.

Bart was there, along with a few of the security detail. A small craft, designed for fishing along the coastal waters was moored, and the engine was running smoothly. It was painted a cheerful yellow and white, with the name on the side being the Eleni. Sean saw, and looked at Bart with a sorrowful look in his eyes. Bart shrugged, and tossed Sean the rope to lower the gang plank down with. Sean looked at the balcony overlooking the bay, seeing his families nemesis and his one time friend sitting in his wheelchair looking down. He lifted his arm weakly in a salute of farewell.

"You just need to follow these charts, after two hours out, you will have radio available, but it is a dead reckoning over to La Palma. Once there, someone will be there to pick you up, that is what the Boss said to tell ya..good luck, and God Speed. I promise ya, we will take good care of the little missy and the young ones..I love that little guy Ace, practically raised him from a baby you know..him and I like peas and carrots!"

"Please shut up, the thought of leaving my grandchildren with you sickens me to death!"

"Well now you mention it, you don't look too good Sean..you got your medicine handy?"

"Just shut up, and help me get these kids on board!" red faced, at the exertion of just lowering the gang plank down, Sean was breathing heavily.

It was another fifteen minutes before all was readied, and Bart announced they all had to push off as the tide was receding quickly. Sami pushed Justin on, as he was still trying to convince her to let him stay.

"No! go, you and Theo need to help Grandpa Sean, he will need you..Daddy is going to come for me! Don't worry, but go now, I have to go back to Ace and Liam..please, don't make this any harder honey..I love you, when you see Daddy tell him I love him, and cannot wait to see him..he is going to be so happy to see you safe!"

Ace had rolled over, and saw that the mom was gone from his bed. Then he saw that all the others were gone too. It was no surprise, but he still ran to the window, looking down upon the bay, seeing the little yellow boat just clearing the rocks that marked the beginning of the quay. His tears rolled down his cheeks, but he gave no sound, as this was what he had expected. Then he heard the door open behind him, turning he saw Mom enter the room, her arms outstretched to him, as she was also crying, crying for him, for her, for her children that were now sailing away from them, and for the baby upstairs who was going to be needing her as well.

Chapter XXIV

It had been a long voyage crossing the Atlantic, and by the time they sailed into Southhampton Port, cleared customs and filed the papers required by the harbor master, the four sailors were ready for a night in a room, where they did not have to listen to each others sleep noises. EJ and John had usually kept the night shift, but the past three nights had been so smooth on the Atlantic, they had taken to sleeping on top deck in hammocks since the cacophony of sounds given off by Bo and Harris were bound to wake the dead. A night in a soft hotel bed, with running hot water sounded like heaven, as well as having a dinner that did not have to be cleaned and gutted before they ate it.

"Do you think we got into England without Stefano catching on?" John asked, after cutting into the steak he had been thinking about all day.

"If we got away with it, it is only because we sailed over..Stefano is not in the position he is in without being aware of all possibilities. He is bound to have been watching all the airlines, but I would say if we make it to La Palma without being pirated, we stand a good chance of surprising him."EJ waited for the wine to be poured by the sommelier before swirling it about, sniffing, then sipping a bit before gesturing for the man to fill his glass.

"Lord Wells, I gotta give it to ya, you seem to know your way around the best places! But since this is our night in port, don't you know any places where normal guys go hang out?"

"What do you have in mind? We do have to be ready to sail at 5 a.m. sharp..this is not a guys night out if you please." EJ was curt, while politely telling Bo to remember what they were here for.

"I get your point, but we are going to be another four days at sea now, and I might do us all some good to let our hair down a bit, if nothing else to get us relaxed for what is coming up!"

"Up the street, I recommend the Smugglers Pub. I used to go there when I came to visit Auto Union, they built a couple of my cars. It's close, we can walk.".EJ took the check, signed his card, and stood up to leave.

The Smugglers was a popular pub with the military crowd. Sailors on shore leave and wanting a time to themselves also attracted a certain class of young ladies. As soon as the four walked in they found themselves the center of some unwanted attention, both from the "working girls" and the sailors who soon lost the interest of the ladies.

"aye, andsome, I 'aven't seen the likes of anyone like you in here in awhile..care to buy a gal a drink?.."it was a young girl, no more than twenty who had decided that John was her type as she said, "I really go for the matoor gentlemens!" Her blouse was low cut, and the skirt she almost had on was a very tight denim. It was obvious all she wore beneath it was talcum powder.

"Nice place you brought us to EJ" was all John said, as he politely explained to the little red head that he was here with his own date, then he reached across to take Bo by the hand.

"Oye, that's 'ow it is eh? Damn shame,..I guess you all are double dating?" to assure her that was the case, Harris put his hand upon EJ's knee, giving him a loving smile.

When she left, EJ hissed, "move it, or lose it!" while Bo pulled his hand out from the grip of John.

Meanwhile the young lady had moved back over to the still ego crushed group of sailors. When EJ saw her speaking to them, and heard their laughter as she finished, he told the others.."this may not be the safest place to hang about, might want to finish these beers and find another pub."

Bo looked at Harris, in a challenge. "You think those seven are a even match for us?"

"Nope, they need a couple more is what I'm thinking."Harris was sipping slower, he wanted his beer to last. The past days on the boat, with no way of working out his inner aggressions had him wound up tighter than a coilspring. Bo was feeling the same way.

John looked at EJ, a pleading look on his face, but knowing he was stuck here and was bound to help his mates out, and when the seven came to stand around where they were sitting, he unconsciously began to clench and unclench his fist.

The stockiest of the seven was the first to speak.""'ow did you four manage to find your way to this eeestablishament"he dragged out the words, also making an attempt to sound sing song.

Then two of the others made a swish motion with their hands, knocking off three of the pints the four had been enjoying. This was what caused Harris to lose patience. All he had wanted was to sit and enjoy his beer, now he was going to enhance the experience as he stood and took the two by their ears, quickly knocking their heads together. Disappointed, he saw that had done the trick, as they slumped down, and he gently sat them in a nearby booth, propped against each other.

Now the odds were five to four, so EJ picked up Mr. Stocky, lifted him above his head, and twirled him until the man was begging to be put down. EJ obliged, and the man took the five foot drop flat on his back, but was well enough to climb out of harms way. EJ gave a grin of triumph, but let him go on his way.

With the evening up of things, the sailors decided they just wanted to have a peaceful drink themselves. "Hold up there fellows? You need to make a little restitution here, I think you owe us the pints your mates spilled over, and one for an apology for disturbing us.." John was figuring it out on his PDA, and handed over the total he wanted.

"Good, I think fifteen pounds is about right..night fellas".

Chapter XXV

They had all leaned out over the railing to keep their mother in sight for as long as they could, finally giving up when she became a small speck heading back up to the house. None of them gave in to tears, and Sean was so proud of them for that. Asking Theo to come forward to the wheel, he gave him a heading, and told him to just keep it in a straight line, and within an hour they should see the outline of Mallorca, and there would be La Palma where it was promised someone would be meeting them to help them contact EJ Wells.

Sean did not want to worry anyone, least of all the children, but he was growing weak, and the pains that had plagued him down his chest and arm were growing stronger. He knew it was a heart attack, he just hoped to keep the symptoms at bay long enough to get the children across the expanse of sea he needed to put between himself and Stefanos Island. He slumped heavily down on an area of railing, leaning on it so as not to give his condition up to the children. From here, he could rest, while still giving instruction to Theo.

The duennas had packed up a basket of food and drink for the group, and Jessica and Kacie busied themselves dividing it up, each of the plates getting a bit of the cheese, bread and fruit. Sean waved them off though, and Justin came to sit by him, alarmed at the funny bluish color that was forming around his Pops lips.

"Popa, do you have your medicine like Mom said?" at those words, Sean looked at his grandson, clutched at his chest and pitched forward to the deck!

"Popa!" Jessica ran to Justins side kneeling next to the old man. Theo left the wheel, and the dead reckoning that Sean had set it too spun around and the boat was off course. He tried so hard to remember what the training films his dad had brought home from the police academy said to do, and Theo began pressing down upon the chest, while breathing in, but he could not recall what the rhythm was supposed to be, as he did his best. Sean opened his eyes for the briefest of moments, ashamed that once again he had failed in his duty. He knew as long as Theo held the wheel to the line he had set it to, they should be fine, but if not, they might miss the lanes and lose themselves in this inland giant sea.

He had only two more seconds, and he fixed his gaze on the face of his beloved Caroline, and behind her, the face of another who had once loved him, and who also gave him a look of forgiveness..Eleni..

Kacie was coming to see what had happened, and she knew right away. In her time within the hospital, she had seen people die. This is how they looked. Death was always unwelcome, but it was accepted. Her brother and sister were now giving in to their fears, and she went to them, her little arms encircling each waist, wanting to give them what ever comfort she could. Even if it was just an offering of the banana she had saved for herself.

Theo all of a sudden remembered the wheel, and ran back to steer it on the same course.

He did not realize it, but they were already off the course set by Sean and Bart by several miles. Unless it was soon corrected, they would be missing the port by miles, and the fuel would not last much longer than La Palma. Without Sean, they also did not know how to operate the radio. None of these practical things were uppermost in their minds now, they were in shock with the witnessing of their great grandfathers death. With the shock came the realization that they were alone on a vast sea, with no food, and very little water. Justin and Jessica struggled to move Sean out of the sun to a shady area on the boat, but it proved to be impossible for them, and finding a piece of canvas, they had covered him with it, adding a rolled up ball of netting as a pillow for his head.

The sorrow from these losses was overwhelming now to all of them. Theo kept his grip on the wheel, then set the lock. He could only hope they found their way soon. Knowing it was his responsibility as the oldest, he called all of them over to stand over the body. "I think we need to say a prayer now, I know the Lords Prayer so I will say it , and if any of you have anything you want to say, go ahead." Theo began to recite the words given so long ago as a guide. When he finished he looked out over the sea, almost as a sign that God was listening and watching out for them, a pod of dolphins appeared at the helm of the boat! They stayed right beside the boat, at times even coming close enough to nudge it a bit to the right, which was acting as a way to get the little boat out of the area of the sea less traveled, and more into the active shipping lanes.

Kacie was fascinated, and she stared and pointed at the fishies! Her big brother explained to her that no, these were not fish, but mammals, just like Inky at home. Theo then sat down to tell them of many dolphin legends he had heard of where dolphins had rescued people at sea!

In the distance, Bo was looking out over the waters with his binoculars when he spied the boat, and for some reason felt it was odd to see that type of coastal hugging craft out in the open sea like this. He opened up several frequencies to try and hail the vessel, but there had been no answer. Also troubling was the fact that it was nearing sunset, and the boat had not yet turned on its running lights which was dangerous due to the fact it could be rammed out here by larger freight craft.

EJ came up top to see why Bo seemed to have changed course, and Bo pointed the craft out to him.

"We better see if they are alright, something does not seem right"

EJ took the binoculars and honed in on the craft, from where they were now, he could make out the name of the boat...his heart froze as he read ,"Eleni"!