Chapter 1

A month and a half later....

"I'm going to have the disk repaired." Marlena states, simply, her hands resting limply in her lap.

Hope arch an eyebrow, stifling a groan. She exchanges a look with her husband, Bo Brady, then she speaks up.

"Do you think it'll work? What if the disk is irreparable?"

"It has to work." Marlena states with determination.

"Bo, Hope." The look up at the door where Commissioner Carver has just entered the office at the precinct. "Can I talk to you?"

"Yee-ah..." Bo says in his long drawn out way as he stands up.

"Sure." Hope leans forward and takes Marlena's hands in hers, giving them a soft squeeze. "Hang in there." Then she follows Bo and Abe into his office. Marlena stands up to leave, remembering her earlier conversation with the mad scientist-turned-butler, Rolf.

"It has got to work." she whispers before leaving.


They all file in and make themselves comfortable, as Abe shuffles some papers behind his desk, then proceeds to talk.

"The package from Paul Hollingsworth before his...disappearance, hasn't turned up much. Are you sure you have gone through everything?"

"There wasn't much to work with, just the letter to Morgen really, when you get down to it. It didn't give us any more leads..." Hope answers, going through all the case facts in her mind. She feels convinced they are missing something....

"Bo?" Abe looks over at his long time friend and colleague.

Bo rubs over his chin, then sits forward, staring straight ahead.

"Yee-ah.... There just isn't more to work with...."

They are collectively silent and then Hope sighs dispondantly.

'Yeah, I know how you feel." Abe sympathizes, "It is cases like these that make our work a lot less enjoyable. Two suspects, the one is family," he holds a hand up in Bo's direction, "and the other feel, or at least felt, like family..."

"I think it is time, not just for Marlena, but for us as well, to say farewell to John. Again. We grieved, we were starting to get over his death, and then..." the sentence hangs in the air. Hope continues, "Look, we have to accept the fact that the John we knew and loved is dead, and he is not coming back. The man walking around the Dimera mansion, basically taking over Stefano's life, is not John. It may be biologically, but..."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean he did it..." Bo interjects, a little forcefully.

Abe and Hope looks at him strangely.

"Are you saying that you think Philip did it?" Abe asks.

Bo looks up a little startled.

"No." then collecting his thoughts, he continues..."I just think we have to try and be objective. The fact that he walks around acting like a Dimera doesn't necessarily make him one."

"Even though he nearly killed you that time you all went to Ireland?" Abe sounds, skeptical.

"Yeah, well..."

Hope looks a little perplexed as well. Sure, she does still feel a certain amount of affection for John, whatever he may be like, he was her best friend, they have spent many years supporting and helping one another, but still, this is a possible murder case, and he is a whole different person now. What ever their relationship was with him in the past, that cannot taint their objectivity towards the case, and right now, most of the evidence seems to be pointing straight at him...


"Hollingsworth?" John calls through the basement door as he opens it.

Paul looks up at the man standing like a soldier in the doorway, his face unreadable as he hands him a plate of food.

"We have to talk about this, My daughter..." Paul doesn't get to finish his sentence, as John interjects.

"Later. Ava is upstairs, and she can be a little follower. I don't want her down here."

He turns around, marches out, closing the door in one smooth motion. Paul sighs and eyes the plate hungrily. He doesn't know what to expect. Is it safe to eat? Is John using him only to discard him later, or is he safe for a longer time than John's interest in him will hold?

"Time will tell." he sighs, then he slowly takes a bite of a baked potato.


Bo Brady sits. That is it. He sits. He doesn't want to think. When he thinks, the situation falls on him like mountain turned...

"You tampered with evidence. YOU TAMPERED WITH EVIDENCE!" His mind screams at him. And the worst part of it is: Apart from Victor and Philip, Kate is now involved as well!

He hits himself against the head.

"How could you be so stupid?!" he exclaims at himself. It is too late now. The tape has been destroyed, and chances are John is going to go down for murder – a murder he most probably didn't commit. Perhaps they can get him off by pinning it on Ava? She's going to prison soon in any case?

No! What is he thinking? He isn't going to go compounding his lie with more lies!!!

He lets his head fall into his hands, sighing, feeling miserable. Trapped.

"Brady?" Hope's soft voice interrupts his thoughts. He looks up and around to see her standing at the foot of the stairs, dressed in a silk pajama suit, and big fluffy slippers that looks more like something that should be in Ciara's bedroom than on his wife's feet in the lounge. A warm glow fills his heart. If anyone can pull of that look, it is his Fancyface. She looks concerned though and he realizes the picture he must make...

"Hey, Fancyface." He walks over to her, and pulls her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. She feels so tiny and frail..."It's just the case, it just feels like we're not getting any where." he explains, hating himself for lying.

She pulls back and smiles up at him as she drops a kiss on his lips. "Come to bed." As she turns, holding his hand, pulling him after her as they mount the stares, he smiles to himself. All he has ever wanted was to make her happy and the surprised he has planned will definitely make her very happy. At least they have that....