Chapter TWENTY NINE

"What no words of loving greeting from my youngest son to his father?" asked Stefano with a sarcastic laugh, "Why Elvis, how you disappoint me… yet again."

"I'm not really in the mood for niceties Father," said EJ, his voice clipped but otherwise giving nothing away, "Someone tried to kill half my family today."

"Ah," and EJ could imagine his father nodding sagely at this, "It is indeed a terrible thing to loose family Elvis. I do hope no one was seriously hurt at all."

"Haven't your cronies informed you that they failed yet again to do your bidding?" asked EJ flatly.

"My bidding?" asked Stefano and there was a hurt tone to his voice that made EJ grip the phone tighter as he listened to his father play games with him, "Why would you say such a thing I wonder?"

"Oh come now Father," snapped EJ, not in the mood for this kind of cat and mouse game, "The idea of killing Johnny and Ali's mother on their birthday has a special extra twist of cruelty that could only have been dreamt up by one man. A man who's whole life has been about revenge and death."

"What have I ever done to deserve such vitriol from a son on whom I only ever lavished my love and fortune on?" asked Stefano and EJ gritted his teeth as his father continued to play the innocent, "And speaking of such things Elvis… I have to say how hurt I was that I was not invited to Gianni and Alianna's birthday party. I am after all both of those children's grandfather am I not?"

"Ali's name is Alice," said EJ, knowing he shouldn't be surprised that Stefano knew that Ali was his, "Not Alianna."

"Bah," sniffed Stefano, "Such a common name does not befit a DiMera."

"Well oddly enough you don't get a say in such things," said EJ coolly, "You are never going to be anywhere either Johnny or Ali ever again so it doesn't matter very much what you think of their names now does it Father?"

"Never is a big word Elvis," said Stefano calmly, "And it is a word that I have no use for."

EJ shook his head, astounded by the gall of the man but then no one could ever accuse Stefano DiMera of lacking conviction… insane convictions but nonetheless, convictions. It was clear that Stefano had taken EJ aligning himself with the Brady's as a personal attack and had responded in kind. The three people he had arranged to be at that café explosion were aimed to cut directly at EJ's heart.

The usurping half brother who had taken his fortune and his place in the DiMera empire, the daughter who had urged her siblings to leave him to his coma and Samantha. Stefano knew that this would be the deepest cut for EJ. To lose her or the children would devastate him utterly and it was clear that was what his father had intended. The cruellest of punishments for his so called betrayal. To watch all that he loved in the world fall around him and be left with absolutely nothing. He doubted his father even intended to kill him at all, rather leave him to go through this world as alone and bereft of love as the man himself was.

"So," said Stefano when his son didn't talk for a long minute, "I think it is time father and son are reunited… what do you think eh Elvis? We have much to talk about."

"I agree," said EJ smoothly, "How about we meet somewhere neutral… like a park or something like that?"

"My thoughts exactly," agreed his father, "But I think that this is to be a private reunion Elvis so I have somewhere else in mind. You don't mind do you? Indulging an old man with his little foibles?"

EJ's lips turned up in a humourless smile. His father was far from the doddering old age pensioner he was trying to paint and they both knew it. He knew that this would be no simple meeting and that his father no doubt had an ulterior motive but EJ had to take that chance because things could not go on as they had been. This had to stop and the feeling of him being the only one able to stop this whole vendetta farce returned to him in force.

"Very well," said EJ evenly, "Where and when Father?"

oooOOOOooo

EJ checked his watch yet again, seeing that it had just gone past four o'clock and his jaw tightened, knowing it was almost time to meet with Stefano. He'd retained the air of normalcy, having breakfast with the family, coming to work and meeting with clients as if it was any other day. He'd toyed with the idea of informing the police but their record with his father hadn't been the stuff legends were made of and besides, EJ felt as though it was time he and his father had it out once and for all.

For the longest time he'd been very conflicted over his father - a man he'd grown up worshipping only to find that his idol had clay feet. Stefano had come after his family, not once but twice now. First with Lucas as his cohort and now obviously still seeking his revenge. EJ was not prepared for another wave of the vendetta to rip apart their two families and he was prepared to do what it took to stop it.

He'd already done some research on where Stefano had asked to meet him. There was a series of deserted warehouses that littered the Salem docks, far away from the usual busyness of the docks and Stefano had chosen one to meet EJ in. It was highly probable that his father had something in store for him that was unpleasant but EJ was confident that he could either talk or outwit his way out of any situation he might find himself in. And if that wasn't the case there was always his back up plan.

EJ pulled out the bottom drawer of his desk and removed the gun he had stored there and slipped it into his brief case. It never hurt to be prepared after all. His father was not to be underestimated. EJ walked out of his office and smiled at Marcie.

"I'm off Marcie," he told her, "Heading home a bit early today."

"Of course Mr DiMera," she smiled up at him from her desk, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"That you will," said EJ firmly, "That you will."

He walked down the stairs of the law offices he shared with Mickey Horton, forgoing the elevator as was his usual habit. It was now nearly four thirty and he had until five o'clock to meet his father. He knew Stefano would expect him to be early and he was going to be. He'd already told Samantha that he was going to be a bit late home tonight and she'd just nodded and seemed unfazed, used to him often working later nowadays. She'd seemed reserved again this morning and he knew the events of yesterday were finally sinking in for her now.

He'd promised they'd talk when he got home today and EJ was hopeful that he'd be able to tell her there was nothing to worry about anymore - that he'd taken care of the problem. He didn't want her to worry so he hadn't mentioned anything about Stefano's late night phone call. In fact he hadn't told anyone, not even John, doubting his ability to keep anything quiet nowadays. The lights of the car flashed as EJ opened it remotely with his keys and he opened the door and climbed in, folding his long legs into the car as he did. He put the key in the ignition and went to turn it.

"What the hell do you think you're doing EJ DiMera?!"

The question shouted in his ear and the sudden movement behind him in the back seat startled EJ, making him jump in his seat which in turned caused him to bang his head on the roof of the car.

"Bloody hell!" he yelled, rubbing his head and turning around to see his wife staring at him with a furious look in his eye, "Samantha - what are you doing there?!"

"I asked first!" she practically spat out at him, her eyes shooting him daggers of death, "Just where exactly do you think you're off to?"

EJ sighed heavily and ruefully gave his head a final rub before dropping his hand down and making a resign face. She knew somehow, he didn't know how but Sami obviously knew what he was up to and to say she wasn't happy about it seemed to be a bit of an understatement.

"You're going to see Stefano aren't you?" she demanded of him, "By yourself, not telling anyone!"

"It seemed like the best plan of attack," said EJ calmly, "And I was prepared."

"Oh really?" she snorted, leaning forward between the two front seats, "You were so prepared that you didn't even notice someone hiding in your back seat! What if I'd been some crazy person lying in wait for you EJ, what then?!"

"You mean other than the crazy person I married?" asked EJ dryly, shaking his head at the resourcefulness of his wife and wondering why he continued to be amazed by it.

"This is so not the time for your little jokes," huffed Sami, clambering into the front passenger seat and glaring at him all over again, "You are on thin ice mister. Thin ice! I can't believe that you are so stupid as to go off and confront Stefano alone! Especially after that little stunt he pulled yesterday!"

"You knew it was him?" asked EJ with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh come on!" said Sami with a roll of her eyes, "I know I didn't go to Cambridge but I don't need letters after my name to see that little horror show had Stefano DiMera's grubby hand prints all over it! Our family has been dealing with the DiMera's for a long time EJ, we know his handiwork when we see it."

"I see," said EJ calmly.

"Besides I came downstairs last night and heard you talking on the phone to him," admitted Sami begrudgingly.

"You listen in on a lot of phone calls," commented EJ wryly, "You don't have a job working for the FBI that I should know about do you?"

"You are not one to talk about keeping secrets EJ DiMera!" she said in annoyance, not willing to join in with his attempts at humour, still mad at him for keeping something like this from her.

"I didn't want to worry you Samantha," said EJ calmly.

"Oh no!" she said sarcastically, "And what could be worrying about my husband's body washing up on the river bank one day?! Spare me EJ!"

"Well first of all," said EJ with a quirk of his eyebrows, "Thank you so much for that vote of confidence in my ability to handle my father… very encouraging I must say."

"Stefano is a deranged killer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants," said Sami hotly, unapologetic of her worry for him, "And that's not you EJ."

"Isn't it?" asked EJ, his face suddenly hard as he wondered exactly to what lengths he would go to protect those whom he loved.

"No it isn't!" she said firmly, "So say what you will but if you're going to do this, I'm coming too EJ!"

"Is that right?" he frowned, very unhappy at this turn of events, "I am not going to allow the mother of my children to put herself in harms way. There is absolutely no chance of that ever happening Samantha so you can just take yourself out of this car this very instance do you hear me?!"

"Well there is no way I'm going to let the father of my children do something so stupid and badly thought out all alone!" she huffed back, "So you can just think again mister!"

They glared at each other than, both fearing for the other's safety and neither backing down. EJ blew out a frustrated breath and attempted to calm down.

"Clearly we're at an impasse here," he began but she interrupted him.

"Don't you go and try and talk me out of this EJ DiMera!" she snapped at him, knowing he was about to try and cajole her into doing what he wanted, "Either we both go or neither of us goes!"

"Samantha!" said EJ, his voice rising as his frustration at her stubbornness began to get the better of him, "You are not coming with me I f…"

EJ swallowed the word 'forbid' before he could go much further, knowing it wasn't going to help his cause but it was too late.

"Forbid me?" she asked sarcastically, folding her arms in front of her chest, "Was that what you were going to say EJ? You forbid me?"

EJ ground his teeth, annoyed with himself for the slip of the tongue and knew he had little chance now to reason with her after that particular red flag to a bull.

"I don't want to see you get hurt Samantha," he said, regrouping and trying a different tact.

"Then I recommend you stop forbidding me from doing things otherwise Stefano is going to be the least of your problems!" she sniffed, giving him the death stare.

"You are the most unreasonable, obstinate, infuriating woman I have ever met!" he said in exasperation, "Why can't you just be sensible about this Samantha? My father wants to see me and me alone. There is no need for you to be involved in this."

"You are my husband!" she said fiercely, hardly able to believe he would say such a thing to her, "Everything you do involves me! We are a team EJ, you and me… and you know what - there is no 'I' in team!"

EJ shook his head at her persistence, caught between being terrified that she was going to be hurt and loving her even more for her fierce fighting spirit.

"But you know when I think about it there is an 'I' in idiot!" she continued on smirk, "In fact there are two!"

"So that would make one 'I' each eh darling?" asked EJ mockingly, teasing her despite the seriousness of their conversation - he just really couldn't help himself when it came to her.

Sami scowled, not liking how that conversation had ended up at all and she shook her head determinedly at him and leant forward, making sure she made her point.

"You are not going anywhere without me EJ," she said flatly, her lips pressed into a thin, determined line.

"You know I could argue the point that I have a definite size and strength advantage and if it came down to it I could simply remove you from the car forcibly," he pointed out to her.

"There are three reasons why that won't work," said Sami smugly, having already thought he might go down this route, "One - if you try that I will scream so loud and make such a scene that every person in Salem is going to down here seeing what is going on."

EJ grimaced, knowing she was well capable of such a thing and that would definitely slow him down somewhat.

"Two - I know exactly when and where you're meeting your father so we can either go together or I'll get a taxi and meet you there," she said, enjoying the upper hand she had over him.

EJ sighed and leant back in his seat, rubbing his face tiredly as he realised that he might not have the power he thought in this conversation.

"And three," she said defiantly, "You're not going anywhere unless I say so because of this!"

Sami pulled out a black lead from the bag she had slung over her shoulder and held up a piece of black electrical cord triumphantly.

"While I was waiting I popped the hood and disable the car so unless you get this back this car isn't going anywhere!" she said proud of herself for thinking ahead like this.

EJ squinted at the piece of cabling she was holding aloft so victoriously and then shook his head before reaching for the key that was still in the ignition and turning it. The car engine instantly roared into life and Sami's exultant expression immediately dropped from her face.

"That's the connection for the horn," he informed her straight faced and to illustrate his point he pushed on the horn and there was nothing but silence to be heard .

"Oh," said Sami, looking decidedly crest fallen at the item in her hand now.

Cars were not really her thing and she'd just opened the hood and grabbed at the first piece of important looking black cabling she'd seen figuring it was going to do the job. Sami looked over at EJ then and the corners of his mouth were turning up in the barest of smiles and she knew he was about to start laughing at her.

"Well it's still illegal to drive with a disconnected horn!" she said hotly, defiant until the end and unwilling to admit defeat.

EJ looked at her and loved her more than he ever thought possible. Every time he thought he'd knew all there was to love about her she showed him something new and impossible to herself and he fell even deeper in love with her.

"If I say you can come along then you have to promise me you'll do exactly as I say," he said to her, hoping he wasn't making the biggest mistake of his life.

"Of course I will," said Sami, feeling a glow of victory at finally getting him to see reason.

EJ sighed and gave in then.

"Unless it's something really stupid," she finished off blithely.

EJ sighed heavily - this was increasingly feeling like a bad idea to him.

"Come on," she prompted him, looking ahead expectantly, "We're burning daylight here, let's go."

"Settle down GI Jane," said EJ with a little smirk, "And buckle up."

"You're not the boss of me," she huffed but did as he said anyway.

"A fact that has been pointed out to me on more than one occasion," he noted wryly as he put the car in gear.

"I can not believe you were about to do something so stupid!" said Sami suddenly, still not completely over her annoyance with him and slapped his arm as hard as she could as she sat beside him.

"Ow!" he complained, putting a hand up to rub his mistreated arm, "That hurt!"

"You wait until I get you home," she said, throwing him a warning look, "There is more where that came from, this isn't over EJ!"

"Promises, promises," he grinned at her, pulling the car away from the curb now.

"Don't you try and charm me," she said, trying not to smile now.

"I wouldn't dare to presume," said EJ straight faced.

"Good," said Sami, "So let's go get the bad guy then and end this fifty year old vendetta thingy already… we have to be back by six to pick up the twins."

EJ smiled then, she made it sound so simple… what could he have possibly been worried about?

oooOOOOooo

John suddenly froze, his glass of Scotch halfway to his lips and gave a bit of a shudder.

"What is it John?" asked Marlena as she looked up from sorting through the mail.

"I'VE GOT A BAD FEELING," he announced with a bit of a frown.

Marlena cocked her head at him and waited expectantly for him to continue.

"IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING I ATE," mused John and took a sip of his Scotch, "MOST LIKELY THE SMOKED HAM."

Marlena blinked and sighed, going back to her mail.

But as it would turn out… it wasn't the smoked ham after all.