Disclaimer: I still don't own Days, but I kind of wish I did. I want to be rich just as much as the next person.

Chapter Two

The twenty-four hours Jeannie was missing was the worst twenty-four hours the Brady's had ever experienced; excluding the two days Kim and Shane were missing before they were presumed dead. No one had slept that night; in fact, no one had left the pub unless it was to go search for Jeannie.

Finally, at 10 A.M. the next morning, Lexie Carver had noticed the sleeping girl by luck while making her rounds on the third floor of Salem U. She quickly pulled out her cell phone and called the Brady's to let them know that Jeannie was safe and sound, admitted as a patient in the hospital.

"How didn't I notice her?" Kayla cursed herself under her breath on the way to the hospital.

"Sweetness, you can't blame yourself for last night. You don't even have patients on that floor; you wouldn't have noticed her"

"I still could have come across her chart or something." Kayla stared out the rain drop-stained window of their SUV.

"Sweetness, it isn't your fault. Again, you don't even have patients on that floor of the hospital. You coming across her chart would be like 1 out of 100 chances." Steve reassured his wife as he parked their SUV in the space next to Max and Stephanie's vehicle.

The family walked in together, standing impatiently for the elevator to the third floor. They didn't bother to knock when they entered Jeannie's room; they didn't know of her "condition" and hadn't thought of anything but seeing her.

---

The doctor stood in front of Jeannie, shining his light in her eyes. "Alright now look to the right." Jeannie did as she was told and he checked pupil dilation. "Now to the left," he told her, as she moved her eyes to the left. "Good. Everything seems to be looking okay. You have a minor concussion, but that should clear up soon. We'll keep you tonight and tomorrow and you can go home on Friday." Jeannie nodded. "Alright" she whispered.

She motioned her head to her family, and looked at the doctor. "Who are they?" she asked, frightened.

"Well that must be your family." The doctor smiled and introduced himself. "I'm Doctor Montgomery. I've been handling Jeannie's case since she was brought into the hospital yesterday afternoon."

Kayla shook hands first with the doctor; they worked in the same field; they would be on the same level. "What is my niece's diagnosis?" Kayla pulled him to the corner, talking away from Jeannie.

"She has a minor concussion, some cuts and bruises. And she has a temporary case of amnesia." Dr. Montgomery spoke soft; Jeannie was fragile at the moment and he did not want to scare her anymore than she already was.

Kayla nodded. "Is she familiar with general terms, like dog, cat, house, etc?"

"She seems to be. She just doesn't understand certain complex thoughts and ideas, and she is in no way aware of who she is, where she came from, or who anyone in her life is. She doesn't remember going to school yesterday and she doesn't remember the crash."

Kayla nodded in understanding but the look on her face was total disbelief. Her niece was safe and sound just yesterday morning; how could she be lying here now, unaware of her life? The idea scared Kayla so much she clung tightly to her own daughter. Stephanie patted her hand gently; a sign she understood her mother's feelings and even agreed with them.

"Hi, Sweetie" Caroline smiled warmly as she advanced toward Jeannie, who, in turn, backed up into her bed.

"Who are you?" Jeannie asked skeptically. She'd met all the nurses and her doctor, so this woman had to have come from the outside.

"My name is Caroline Brady; I'm your grandmother. You live with me and your Grandpa Shawn at the pub." Caroline pointed Shawn out, who smiled warmly at his young granddaughter. He couldn't imagine how frightened she must be with their large family impeding on her personal space.

"Oh." Jeannie shut her eyes briefly, trying to recall this woman, but to no avail.

"It's alright. It's going to take time." Caroline smiled and began pointing out other members of the family. "That is your Aunt Hope and Uncle Bo" the couple waved and Bo took his niece's hand in his strong one. Jeannie quickly pulled her hand back and Caroline continued the introductions. "Your cousin Stephanie, your Uncle Max-by adoption"- she made sure to point this out so Jeannie wouldn't feel uncomfortable when she noticed the two were dating. "Your Uncle Steve, Aunt Kayla." Jeannie nodded, trying to take in all the information. "Your Aunt Hope is holding your cousin Zack and Your Aunt Kayla is holding your cousin Ciara, who is Bo and Hope's daughter."

Jeannie nodded and inhaled deeply. "Big family," she commented, closing her eyes.

Caroline nodded and chuckled. "Yes we're a very big family. We're going to step out and give you a chance to take all of this in and maybe get some rest. We'll be just outside if you need anything."

Jeannie didn't respond to this; how could she respond? She didn't know them; she wasn't going to ask complete strangers for help.

Caroline took hold of her husband's hand and the two led the family outside to the waiting room. "Kayla, how long will she be like this?"

Kayla boosted her head up from Steve's shoulder. "I don't know, Mom. I haven't read through her files but usually, in cases like this, each patient's memory comes back at different times. I've seen someone come out of this from a single day up to four months."

Caroline shook her head. "We'll all just do what we can to make her feel comfortable, loved, and we'll remind her of her past and her life. Hopefully she'll come back to us sooner than we all think." Caroline was forever the optimistic person.

"You're right, Mom. We'll all be there for her" Bo set a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Of course I'm right." Caroline nodded to herself.

---

Stefano sat in the dark of his living room alone in the Dimera mansion; his hands clasped together in pride as he beamed of his latest wrong-doing. "Andrew, now he was too tough, but Jeannie; Jeannie was easy. Foolish girl believes there is good in everyone; bad flaw to have for someone who should constantly be looking over her shoulder." He laughed maniacally to himself and continued reminiscing over his deed. "Jeannie Donovan is no more," he declared. "She will never again be a Brady and I will own her forever" He laughed again, rubbing his hands together.

---

There was a light breeze Friday morning as the PCA wheeled Jeannie down to meet her family. "Your grandmother said your Aunt Hope and Uncle Bo are going to pick you up; I think they're planning something special for your return home"

Jeannie nodded, keeping silent. It didn't matter what they did, she wasn't herself and she didn't know them. She didn't want to spend time with people she could hardly remember. Bo and Hope pulled up to the curb and put her duffel bag in the trunk.

"You ready to go?" Hope's smile was wide and inviting as she helped Jeannie from her seated position in the wheel chair.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Jeannie pushed Hope away, lifting herself from the wheelchair. She wasn't helpless, and she would not give any of the Brady's the idea that she was; doing so would only give them more of a reason to fawn over her.

"Then lets get this show on the road" Bo held the backseat door open, and Jeannie hesitantly got in, strapping herself in with the seatbelt.