Disclaimer: I don't own J & J but take them out for nostalgia so I can block out the crap that DOOL is now.
December 31 was an exciting day for Salem. It not only marked the end of 2004, but it was also Sami and Lucas's wedding day.
The small, private wedding was scheduled for noon at St. Luke's. Will was standing up for Lucas and Belle was standing up for Sami.
The wedding went off without a hitch with Roman walking Sami down the aisle to Ave Maria. Kate stayed seated and kept her mouth shut as Roman threatened to file for divorce if she did anything to ruin the ceremony.
Sami look beautiful in a cream colored silk dress designed by Belle with an empire waist, bell sleeves, and reached down to the floor. If you looked carefully, you could see the beginning signs of Sami's pregnancy and the bride was glowing.
Belle also designed her bridesmaid dress of a vibrant turquoise blue silk, also with an empire waist, but cut lower with spaghetti straps and knee length. Belle kept sneaking looks over at Shawn, who returned them back with love. It was a relief that morning that they could open with their affections after they confessed the truth to Philip earlier that day.
The reception was at Brady's Pub. The newlyweds were presented with a five day honeymoon to Jack and Jennifer's cabin as a wedding present from the Deverauxs.
Across town, a man was watching someone's apartment across the street. The bug he planted also got him nothing except sounds of two people having a very good time. He felt bad for the one person whose privacy he was invading, but there were people whose lives were at stake. When his phone rang, it took a minute to figure it out how to answer. Cell phones still gave him problems.
"Yeah...I see him driving up now...later". When his promised relief on surveillance came, he hauled ass out of the parking lot. Someone he missed dearly was waiting for him. If he didn't see her soon, he would go nuts.
When the figure in the apartment dwelling noticed the car leave, he knew it was time. He would do anything to be with her.
His friend was sleeping, sated with sex and a Mickey Finn. Their plans were to watch the ball drop together. However, HIS actual plans were much grander, and they involved a different companion.
He showered and methodically dressed, accessorizing with items he knew would be recognized, for he did not look the same as he did all those years ago. Once she saw him, he knew it would be grand. She might hesitate at first, but he pulled a hypodermic needle out of his drawer. She would be scared, so he knew she had to be calmed down. After a while, she would understand. Understand it would just be the two of them...forever. NO Deveraux...no brats...no complications.
These thoughts ran through his mind as he snuck out the rear entrance. The surveillance team watched from the front, unaware their quarry had made the slip.
The Deverauxs made it home around six pm. Steven was falling asleep at the reception and after Jack and Jennifer's night in the kitchen, they were tired and planned on a quiet New Years Eve, just the two of them.
They dropped off Steven at Jo and Vern's along with Jack's car for Jo since her battery died that morning. Abigail was planning on hanging out with Stephanie. She and her mother were in Salem until January 2nd so Stephanie wouldn't miss the beginning of the spring semester.
Jack was in the car with Abigail to take her to the Brady's since her car was in the shop. He was anxious to hear back from the lab. He tried to keep it from his daughter, but she was too perceptive.
"Dad, what the matter? You're like in outer space"
"What, Princess..oh nothing...I am running through the Spectator headlines for tomorrow. So what are you and Stephanie going to do tonight?"
Abigail knew he was full of it, but let it go. "We're going to watch chick flicks and stupid horror movies!"
It was then the two arrived at the Brady's. "All right, have fun, but not too much fun, you hear me young lady" Jack said in a mock stern voice. When he saw she got in all right, he pulled out to head back for home slowly as the roads were getting bad. Abigail entered his mind as it was so hard to believe his little girl was going to be eighteen next year and a senior in high school.
'Perish the thought, Deveraux' he thought to himself. 'Now, time to go be with my wife'.
He began whistling 'Peter the Wolf' but was interrupted with the phone ringing. Seeing Bo's number on the caller ID, Jack answered it. "Bo, what have you got for me?"
"Jack, get down here to my office NOW! What I have to tell you has to be done in person."
Jack began to get panic. "Who the hell is this guy? What about Jennifer?"
"Since you have Jenn's SUV, Hope is on her way to pick her up and bring her here. This is big, Jack...really big", Bo said. "Now, get over here as fast as you can, but be careful. The roads really suck today because of all the snow last night". With that, Bo hung up the phone.
Jack pulled a U-turn and headed to Bo's office.
Hope was driving slowly through town as the weather was nasty. Salem got eight inches on snow last night and it was still snowing. Traffic was down to a crawl, but she knew that Jennifer needed to be told in person. God, she couldn't believe what Bo told her. If it wasn't for the fact she was pregnant, she would be kicking someone's ass.
"Ugh, come on, cars. I have places to go to" Hope muttered as she continued to be frustrated.
Jack arrived at Bo's office ten minutes later. He ran through the doors, slightly out of breath. 'God, when all this is over, I've got to go to the gym' Jack thought before he turned his attention to the other man. "Bo, what the hell is it?"
"I think we should wait for our wives, Jack", Bo said soberly.
"Damn it, Bo I want to know why this guy has to do with my family, and I want to know now!" Jack ranted as he leaned over Bo's desk.
Bo contemplated. Hope said for him to wait until she could get Jennifer there. As much as he wanted to, the weather was horrid. Jack deserved to know. "Sit down, Jack."
"Why, Bo?"
"Just trust me and sit down!" Bo yelled. As Jack sat down, Bo stood up and began pacing with a folder in his hand.
"This folder contains the DNA and fingerprint results, along with a dossier John was able to get on Coach Jackson's activities for the last few years. I don't know how you knew to give the lab what you gave them, but it's what sealed it for me. Hope had the fingerprints checked anyway with an expert at the Salem cop shop, so it is a definite match. Why he hid who he was I don't know, but I sure as hell plan on finding out, and I'm sure after reading all this, you will want to, also." With that, Bo handed Jack the folder and prepared for the blowout he would see in about ten seconds.
Jack opened the folder, read through the contents, his face getting more ashen as he turned each page, until he closed the folder. He sat for a moment, lost in thought. He rubbed his face and digested the information he just read. "Something compelled me to give the lab that sample. I can't explain why...oh my God." He said in a very sobered tone of voice. Then he got up.
"Jack, where the hell are you going?"
"I'm going to confront him, that's what! I'm sure he's at the Community Center. It's across the street. I want to know why, Bo! After the last few years...WHY!" Jack stormed out in the snow.
"Damn it, Jack, wait up!" Bo grabbed his jacket and ran after him.
Hope had finally gotten through the traffic jam on Salem Boulevard. There was a three car pileup, so she had gotten out of her car to investigate. The cause was some idiot didn't think to drive slower.
"Putz" Hope muttered when she got into her car a short time later. 'I've got to get Jenn' Hope thought to herself.
As she turned onto Lake Shore Drive, a deer ran out in front of her. "Damn it" She yelled as she slammed on the brakes.
With her anti-lock brakes, she couldn't pump them. Her car went 360 degrees on the road and landed her in the ditch. She felt okay and made sure the baby was okay as she assessed her injury, a small cut on her forehead when her metal coffee mug flew and hit her over her right eyebrow.
She got out of the vehicle to assess the damages. She still worried about the baby, but so far felt fine and hoped she stayed that way. As she was checking her car, a Ford Taurus sped past her, driving too fast for conditions and not stopping to help. Her car was totally in the ditch. There was no way she was going to get her car out to drive to Jennifer's tonight. After debating on what would take longer, Hope gathered her gloves and muffler for her ears, grabbed her purse, and decided to walk to Jennifer's house. What she had to tell Jennifer was too important for her to wait three hours for a tow truck.
Jack stormed back to the office of the Community Center. "You son of a-?" What he saw shocked him. Just then, Bo came up behind him. "Jack, wait. Kay, what are you doing here?"
Kayla stood up and looked at Jack with a look of guilt. He knew, and so did Bo. She could tell by the looks on their faces. She looked at her companion. "They know".
Just then, tears start to form in Jack's eyes. "Steve?"
"God, I missed you, Billy Jack Happy Jack Deveraux" as the newly revealed Steve Johnson ran and hugged his baby brother.
Jennifer was pacing in the living room waiting for Hope to pick her up. Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Hope, it's about time you got here!" Jennifer yelled as she raced to the door. "Just what is so-?"
The person at the door was not Hope, but another friendly face. "Hi" Remembering her manners, she opened the door further. "Please come in. Can I take your coat?"
Jennifer did not want to be rude, but was deciding on a tactful way to get rid of her guest. Hope was on her way and hoped her romantic plans with Jack would not be derailed. She was surprised at who was here, assuming her visitor would be celebrating with someone else.
"Sure, if you don't mind". As her guest took off his coat and handed it to her, Jennifer noticed his sweater. It was white, fleece, and buttoned up the front. What grabbed her attention was his tie. Not an ordinary tie, like the one he wore usually, but a bolo tie. She'd seen it before, but where?
Her visitor noticed her apt attention to the tie. He knew she would recognize it. "Is there something wrong?"
Jennifer forced herself to smile. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm just surprised to see you. I figured you had grand plans for this evening with your significant other." All of a sudden, Jennifer got the chills. Something was not right here.
"I do, but they're with someone else"
Jennifer all of a sudden recognized where she'd seen the bolo tie and felt the blood drain from her head. 'Keep calm, Jennifer. Get out of the room, but don't make him suspicious'
"Will you excuse me for a moment? I have to check on the baby. Make yourself at home in the living room"
As she turned around, he got the hypodermic needle out of his sweater. In one swift move, pulled off the cover and stabbed Jennifer with it as she stepped on the first step of the landing. Jennifer managed to turn around and whisper "...Hawk...but how..." as she drifted off into unconsciousness.
When Jennifer became still, Howard Austin "Hawk" Hawkins III, a.k.a. Ward Powell picked Jennifer up, opened the door, and carried her out the trunk of his Ford Taurus. When that task was completed, he entered the car and looked into the rear view mirror.
"It's a miracle what plastic surgery will do for a shanking in the face!" Hawk/Ward said to himself with pride. "It doesn't matter now. It was all worth it. The surgeries, the fake identities, insipid Harold, all worth it for my Jenny" He said before as he cackled a maniacal laugh.
He started his car to head to his hideaway. He was free and clear. No one would think to look for him. Ward Powell was a homosexual. Why would he kidnap a woman?
