Disclaimer: I don't own Days and I am not affiliated with them by any means.

Chapter Three

Jeannie sat tensed up in the backseat as her so called aunt and uncle drove her to the place where she lived; at least, that's what these people told her. She couldn't really be sure because, well, she didn't have any recollection of her life, her past, and who she was.

"Your grandmother is making your favorite for dinner tonight" Bo mused happily from the front seat.

"And what would that be?" Jeannie finally spoke; it was the first sentence of words she'd said to them since she got into the car.

"Corn beef and cabbage; you'll love it. Might even bring back some memories" Bo suggested in an utmost hopeful tone.

"I doubt it," Jeannie groaned warily from behind him and fastened her stare to the translucent piece of glass, commonly known as a window.

"Well," Bo began as the brakes of the car came to a screech, and the car to a halt, "we're here." He put the emergency brake on and got out of the car, popping the trunk on his way out. Hope slipped from the passenger's side, striding around to Jeannie's door and opening it wide for her. "Here, honey," she offered her hand graciously, but was not surprised when Jeannie brushed it away.

"Thank-You" Jeannie helped herself out of the vehicle and took her duffel bag from her Uncle, securing it on her right shoulder.

"I can carry that; you really shouldn't be lifting anything heavy right now." Bo insinuated his comment towards her fragile state; a bus accident was nothing minor, and he did not want to see her get hurt anymore than she already was.

"Its got clothes and a book in it; I think I can manage," Jeannie tossed her hair to the side, as she usually did when she was annoyed- though she didn't acknowledge this habit; possibly, didn't even recognize this habit.

"Alright, alright" Bo put his hands up in a show of surrender to his niece, who had grown feisty in her days since the accident. Upsetting her was the last thing he wanted to do

Jeannie walked slowly into the open doors of the pub; all eyes turned and fixated on her. Caroline even stood and hugged her- the first hug she'd gotten from anyone since the accident. Jeannie replied by patting her nervously on the back. She was stand-offish at best, but mean, no.

"We're so happy to have you home," Caroline's smile was honest; they really were glad to have her there.

"Thank you," Jeannie whispered. She tried to smile but couldn't bring herself to.

"You just take all the time you need, alright?" Grandpa Shawn had approached her next and given her a hug; they sure were a touchy-feely family, which only made Jeannie feel all the more uncomfortable. She nodded, though, thankful that he wasn't going to push her into a past she might never regain.

Kayla and Steve approached her finally, with Stephanie at their side and Jeannie noticed for the first time that Kayla was pregnant. "Welcome home, Baby" Kayla's bright smile matched that of her own, a fact which made Jeannie ease up a bit. At least they were who they claimed to be.

"Thank-You," Jeannie replied softy, looking from Kayla to Steve to Stephanie.

"I hope you're feeling better, little cousin." Stephanie gently ruffled Jeannie's hair; a habit which she could not break even if she had tried.

Jeannie nodded only slightly.

"You go back to school the day after tomorrow," Kayla declared, as if it were supposed to mean something important to Jeannie. "Your school's nurse is on a temporary leave and I've accepted an invitation to be her fill in for the time being"

"Aren't you like a doctor, though?" Jeannie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She knew that a doctor was much higher than a nurse, and couldn't for the life of her understand why someone would accept a job beneath their capabilities.

Kayla nodded and set her hand on Jeannie's shoulder. "Well I thought that with you in your…condition… you could use a familiar face around. Besides, someone has to keep on eye on you."

"I can keep an eye on myself." Jeannie folded her arms stubbornly across her chest, taking offense to her aunt's comment.

"I didn't mean it that way," Kayla's voice became suddenly hushed and she took a step back. Jeannie glared at her aunt, cold as ever; no one had ever seen a look like that from Jeannie-but then, this girl, she wasn't Jeannie- she wasn't anyone that anyone in this family recognized.

Jeannie threw her hands down in exasperation. "I think I'm going to go take a nap; it's been a long day"

"It's only noon," Caroline protested for a second and then wished she hadn't.

"You take a blow to the head, lose every piece of your identity and then come talk to me about when I should and shouldn't nap."

"Jeannie that is out of line," Roman stood in front of his mother, who had clearly been hurt by her sudden outburst of anger.

Jeannie threw her hands up, dropping her duffel bag to the floor. "Jeannie's not here; Jeannie's not coming back; Jeannie is NEVER coming back, so if I were you, I'd get used to the person whose here now." Anger seethed through her voice

"Jeannie!" Kayla looked shocked; who was the girl speaking to them with such disrespect? It certainly wasn't her niece.

"I'm going for a walk," Jeannie ran a shaky hand through her silky hair, and couldn't help but think it needed washing.

"Like hell you are. You sit your butt down right here, young lady" Kayla gently but sternly forced her into a sitting position.

"DON'T touch me," Jeannie's eyes bore into her aunt, as if they were burning her flesh with just a mere gaze.

"You're my niece. I'll touch you if I want, when I want."

"You're not my mother," Jeannie had yet to ask about Kim or Shane, surprising everyone with the sudden comment. Did she even know what her parents had gone through to keep her alive? Or her family?

"No but I'm the closest thing you have to a mother and you will NOT speak to any of us in that tone of voice." Kayla had never been so stern with her, but it wasn't as if Jeannie had known- or even cared- for that matter.

"I'm not Jeannie; I'll never be her again. Get used to it."

"No," This time Bo stood up. "You are Jeannie; you need to give yourself time to readjust, make yourself comfortable and concentrate on trying to get your past back."

Jeannie shook her head. "I don't think so."

"You don't have a choi"- Bo was about to tell her she had no other option when his father stepped in, his face red with anger.

"Enough! All of you! Now, Jeannie, we understand you're going through a tough time but you are not the only one hurting here. We all want the old you back, but we'll love the new you no matter what. We're just thankful that you're alive. And the rest of you, leave her alone; Jeannie will come around in her own time; forcing her to be someone she isn't right now is not going to change the fact that she doesn't remember herself or us" Shawn Sr. rarely lectured, and he never yelled. Everyone looked up at him in astonishment.

Jeannie sighed in defeat. "Alright; I'll try if they just get off my back"

"Fine" Kayla, Bo, and Roman replied in unison but each couldn't help but to wish their Jeannie was there…that Kim was there. Jeannie needed her mother, and her father; she didn't need them, and that frightened the Brady's.

"Then it's settled; now, Jeannie, why don't I help you up to your room and you can rest." Shawn took her duffel bag from her and led her up the narrow stairwell and to the right, to a room which could only be hers- or someone that used to be her.

"Well this is it," Shawn set the duffel bag down on her bed. "Your clothes are all in those drawers, so if you take a look I'm sure you can figure out what's where. That door over there," he pointed, "is your bathroom. There are extra towels in the closet and extra sheets in the linen closet." He made sure to point out the linen closet, and where a couple other necessities might be found and then made his way to the door. "If you need anything at all your grandmother and I are downstairs."

Jeannie nodded. "Thanks," her voice was soft, and reminded him of the Jeannie everyone knew and loved.

Shawn nodded and left her room, closing the wooden door behind him. He sat there, just outside her door for a second, leaning against it tiredly. He missed her already and seeing her like this, his family, like this…it hurt. It hurt more than he cared to explain, and for an instant he thought he might keel over. He thought about Kim; she should be there, not him. Jeannie needed her, not him; she needed Shane, not him. She needed Andrew and Andrew was off at school. A tear ran down his cheek as he thought of the girl his granddaughter once was, and the thought she might never be that girl again… it scared the hell out of him.