Chapter 49: We Could Be Fighting for Tomorrow – Monday, November 14th, 2016

A gift. A redo. Another chance to go back and do things differently. Will tomorrow look dissimilar to the way it did yesterday?


Saturday, September 17th, 2016


During Chad and Will's wedding reception, inside the ballroom, Ciara attempted to talk to Theo once more. "Look, Carver… I'll leave you alone the rest of the night if that's what you want."

Theo remained silent, so Ciara began to walk away. Suddenly, a drop of blood fell from his nose. Catching it before it landed on his clothes, Theo sensed something was wrong with his grandmother and stopped Ciara by grabbing her arm with his other hand. "I need your help," he released.

Ciara studied Theo's body language and noted he was sensing something. "How can I help?" She wanted to do whatever she could to prove she cared about him.

Theo began to scan the guests in the ballroom. "I need you to help me find my grandma and mom." After Ciara rushed off towards the closest bathroom, he continued to look over the crowd for his mother and grandma. His eyes stopped to where some of the guests were dancing. He saw something strange. "What?"

Stepping closer to the dancing couples, Theo saw himself dancing with Ciara, but they were wearing costumes. It didn't make sense. They were so close… closer than before.

When a loud boom of thunder sounded, the image before Theo's eyes faded away. The sound of pouring rain took over, but when Theo turned his gaze to the windows, he could see it wasn't even raining. "What does this mean? Why do things feel so dark?"

After Ciara and Lexie helped Celeste out of the bathroom and into the ballroom, Theo, who felt a pull, rushed over and studied his grandmother's wellbeing. Celeste thought about what she saw while she was passed out and tried to play it off. "I'm fine. I just didn't get enough fluids today."

Theo knew better, and the look in his grandmother's eyes told him she knew better as well. Overcome by the lies and darkness, he rushed off.

Theo ran out one of the patio doors in back and headed towards the garden. He desperately wanted to escape the dark uncertainty that filled him. Why did his nose bleed? Was it somehow connected to the fear he saw in Celeste's eyes? What did it all mean?

All these questions ran through Theo's mind as he passed the flowers, the trees, the leaves, and the stones. He ran as fast as he could even once he reached Chad and Will's garden. He ran so hard he lost track of his feet and fell to the ground hitting his head.

Theo's eyes fluttered as his body laid still.

"Carver?" Ciara called out. She rushed outside to look for Theo, but she could not find him. "Theo Carver. Just tell me you're okay, and I'll leave you alone. We can talk about what happened in there. I'm still here for you. If you need, we can get away from here. You know more than anyone, I will never give up on you! It's who I am!" Ciara turned around and headed for the mansion.

Theo could hear her saying his name. It got fainter and quieter as she got further away. His eyes continued to flutter as his head rested on the stone it landed on when he fell. There were spots of blood everywhere.


Present: Monday, November 14th, 2016


Theo woke up again in his room at Salem University Hospital. His mind wasn't as jumbled as when he first woke up from his coma, but he still felt confused by the things his mother, Ciara, and a few others mentioned to him. How had he been in a coma since Chad and Will's wedding day? It didn't make sense because he recalled walking through the halls of Salem High and having so many one-on-one conversations throughout Salem.

"One-on-one. What if those weren't actual conversations?" Theo's eyes widened as he began to see these interactions in a different light.

First, Theo remembered when he thought Ciara surprised him with a visit in his bedroom. They weren't actually in his bedroom though. "Oh my gosh."


Sunday, October 2nd, 2016


Theo could now see himself comatose laying in a hospital bed. Ciara was there to visit him. She was clearly upset.

"Carver, I wish you would just talk to me. I am so sorry about what I did." The guilt. The fear. They were written on her face. She felt responsible.

In his coma, Theo wasn't able to respond. He wished he could because he knew it bothered Ciara seeing him this way.

Ciara wiped her face. She wanted to fight the hopelessness and maintained, "I'm not giving up on you. I will keep visiting you until you respond… in any way."


Wednesday, October 12th, 2016


Theo noted this memory was similar with the exception that Sonny visited him in his room at the hospital instead of the front porch of his home. He could see Sonny decided to come during his shift.

Sonny rubbed his hands together and nervously said, "I hope I'm not being a bother," before admitting, "I'm here because I need your help. I heard about your gift from Celeste and Chad, but I'm not sure if it will work in your… situation."

Eyeing Theo's hand, Sonny seemed to stall for a moment because Theo couldn't really consent to anything. "I want to know if you can tell me anything about my great-uncle. I think there's something going on with his health." He took a deep breath before grabbing Theo's hand.

Theo felt a jolt as everything around him suddenly turned a celestial blue. Sonny disappeared; he was no longer in the hospital. Theo was inside someplace new – someone else's home.

Dario appeared and stood in front of a moderately sized wooden box. When Dario opened it, some sort of dust sprayed out before Theo began to hear music.

Returning to the hospital scene, Sonny stepped back in fear as he let go of Theo's hand.

Theo remembered believing he had warned Sonny that something was coming for Dario, but he could now see he didn't say anything because he was in a coma. Sonny did sense something though.

"I should get back to work," Sonny released clearly spooked. He rushed out of the room.


Friday, October 14th, 2016


Theo recalled visiting Pastor Carlson at his father's old church hoping for assistance in getting rid of his gift again, but that isn't what truly happened. Instead, Pastor Carlson came to see him – most likely at the request of his mother.

Pastor Carlson stood next to a comatose Theo. "It's good to see you, Theo," he gruffly stated through a smile. "I know your mother and family are worried about you."

Pastor Carlson peered forward; he was focused. "I'm unsure if I helped you before, but I will pray you get the life you so desperately want… the one you deserve…"

Pastor Carlson turned to face Abe's son again. "I have faith you will be healed, Theo." After patting his hand, he turned and walked out of the hospital room.

A moment later, Alessandro entered the room and took a seat next to his grandson. "Theodore, I hate to see you this way. I have returned to Salem in a different body because I am determined. I will make things right. This is a new era…"

Theo watched the scene unfold and remembered how he originally viewed this interaction. He believed he was having some sort of vision when he heard his grandfather's voice coming from Alessandro's body inside his father's old church. It was a warning… one he couldn't share yet due to being in a coma.


Tuesday, October 25th, 2016


Later that month, Lexie sat with her son. Seeing him like this daily… it was too much. She needed hope. She needed answers. "Theo… I know I shouldn't bother you with this, but maybe this could help in some way. It's your grandma. She's… I haven't been able to reach her. She's not taking my calls, and her phone doesn't even ring anymore."

Lexie took Theo's hand and warmly squeezed it.

Theo could feel the stress and fear that filled her even though he was in a coma.

"She told me she was thinking about leaving town. She's done this before, so maybe it's just like those times. She promised though. She promised if she had to go underground again, she would let me know beforehand. What if something happened to her? I wish you could tell me because I think you know what's going on."

After a moment of silence, Lexie sighed and tearfully released, "We can just sit here in silence then. I only want to be close to you no matter what. Just stay with me… please."


Saturday, November 5th, 2016


Visiting his brother and hoping for some kind of response, Brandon released, "I can't wait to eat grilled cheese with you. We'll have to make them together more often. I remember exactly how you told me dad would make them for you."

Brandon shifted in his chair so that his body could lean in somewhat. "You are so important to your mom, and I hope you know how important you and your mom are to me. I love you both so much." He bit his lip and appeared to get lost with the thoughts inside his own brain.

Suddenly, Joselyn entered the room with urgency. "Brandon, I need your help," she declared. "It's an emergency in the psych ward."

Brandon began to panic and hated to leave his brother alone when he promised Lexie he would sit with him. "Theo, I will be back. I have to go. I will be back."


Present: Monday, November 14th, 2016


Ciara knocked on the door post before walking into Theo's hospital room. Noting her friend was awake but spaced, she thought about how this was the first time seeing him like this since he initially came out of his coma. "Carver…"

Theo looked towards the door and sat up. "Ciara. You're here. I've been…"

"…asking for me. I know," Ciara released. "I'm sorry for getting back to you so late. The parentals forced me to go to school, do my homework, eat dinner, and finish my homework before I could come see you."

Fearing Ciara would believe he was upset with her, Theo quickly affirmed, "It's okay. I understand."

Ciara moved closer to Theo and asked, "Are you still feeling confused about everything?"

Shaking his head, Theo answered, "No. I now understand that I've been in a coma since Chad and Will's wedding. I remember running through the garden and falling, but originally… for some reason, I remember you finding me."

Confused, Ciara set the record straight. "That's not what happened. I didn't find you." Guilt covered her face as she admitted, "I am sorry for giving up so easily because maybe if I found you, you wouldn't have been in this coma for so long. I'm sorry for a lot of things actually."

Theo looked directly into Ciara's tearful eyes. "I need you to hear me because I'm not angry or mad at you. Yeah, I was upset the last time we talked at Chad and Will's wedding, but even though you saw me just laying here in a coma, I could hear the things you said to me during it all. I thought it happened in a different way… in another reality, but I need you to know you helped guide me through what I saw in my coma."

"What did you see, Carver?" Ciara wondered. "What do you mean I was able to help you?"

Theo's eyes turned away from Ciara. He looked straight ahead and remembered the conversation he had with Ciara outside of the Horton house on Christmas Eve – in the future. The end of that conversation actually occurred in the past. "I heard what you said before I woke up. I heard you say my gift isn't death. It's life."

Ciara felt relief and concurred, "It's true!" Finally taking a seat, she questioned, "So, while you were in a coma, you thought you were living life like normal. Is it possible that what you saw was a vision of some kind?"

Coming out of his memory, Theo clarified, "It was a real life. Everything felt real. I saw everyone even though they didn't see me. I don't remember everything, and some things are fuzzy, but it felt so real."

Ciara gave Theo a skeptical look. "That sounds like a vision. When you woke up, you kept repeating the word 'death'."

Theo looked down for a moment. "I don't really remember that…" He suddenly lit up as he realized, "This conversation, the one we're having now, wasn't in my vision. It was withheld. I was carried on to observe what others were doing. Not what happened after I finally woke up from a coma."

"You were in a coma in your vision? I thought you said…"

"It was different," Theo cut her off. "I was only in a coma for a short while in my vision. Instead of my fall outside of Chad and Will's mansion, it was an intense vision inside my home. I had visions inside my coma vision."

Curious, Ciara returned to what Theo said before. "Why do you think this conversation was withheld?"

Convinced that what he witnessed during his coma was more than a vision, Theo answered, "I wonder if the future I saw was based on me deciding to avoid my gift because I was worried it would get in the way of your dreams… my dreams for the future…"

Ciara grabbed Theo's hand. "Our dreams?" She wanted to know more.

Hearing the way Ciara said 'our', Theo realized he almost said too much. "That doesn't matter right now. I believe there's something big that happens on this day." He closed his eyes and tried to think back.

Attempting to help Theo, Ciara reminded him, "You said that in your vision, you don't remember this conversation because your vision wanted you to focus on what was happening with others. Who did you see after you woke up from your coma in your vision?"


Tuesday, November 15th, 2016


After midnight, Alessandro woke up in bed alone. He pulled himself up and looked around the room Kate reserved for the night at Salem Inn. Getting out of bed, he wondered if Kate left while he was passed out. "Katerina?"

Alessandro found Kate's clothes on the floor where he threw them. "She must still be here," he said under his breath before noting there was a celestial light coming from the bathroom. Smiling, he carefully approached the door before knocking gently against it. "Katerina. Are you okay?"

The door pushed open a bit. She hadn't closed it all the way. Pushing it open, Alessandro stepped inside and discovered something so shocking, he almost fell over backwards. "Katerina!" he shouted. He moved quickly and couldn't believe he found her hung on the ceiling. He found her too late. Kate was dead.


Saturday, November 19th, 2016


Austin wiped under his eyes knowing his eulogy was coming to an end. "I'll finish up with something mom said to me recently. It happens to be a David Bowie quote, who mom absolutely adored and was truly sad when he died earlier this year." He looked down for a moment before raising his eyes once more to continue, "I was curious to know what changed in her life, so I asked her, "'Mom, there's something different about you. What changed?'"

Austin wiped his eyes again as he continued, "She told me, 'As you get older, the questions come down to two or three. How long? And what do I do with the time I've got left?'"


Present: Monday, November 14th, 2016


Theo came out of his vision. "Kate…" He noted Ciara was no longer holding his hand. "Ciara?" he called out before noticing Ciara was now standing in front of Chad and Dario.

Noting Theo was now conscious, Ciara shared, "I was trying to get them to leave because I knew you were having a vision. I didn't want anyone to disturb you."

Theo eyed his uncle and Dario. "What are you two doing here?" Before they could answer, Theo remembered something and whispered under his breath, "Dario considered visiting me before heading to The Chill."

Dario got the feeling Theo didn't want him there. "I came to see you and your mom earlier. I came back because you were busy with tests and resting." Pointing backwards, he volunteered, "I can go find your mom."

Theo couldn't focus on Dario anymore because his brain returned to the vision he just had. "What's today's date?"

Chad could see Theo was focused. "It's November 14th."

Theo wanted to get out of bed, but his body wouldn't allow him to. "We have to save Kate. Nonno found a way to possess Alessandro's body, but André hitched a ride. André is the killer. He's the one responsible for all the hangings! Kate is his next victim!" Processing through as many memories as he could, he suddenly recited the same quote Austin used during Kate's funeral. "How long? And what do I do with the time I have left?"

EJ and Lexie abruptly entered the room and immediately noted the panic on Theo's face. "What's going on here?"

"Son, are you okay?"

Ciara turned to Lexie and EJ and explained, "Theo just said we need to get to Kate because André is going to kill her."

With concern, Lexie looked to Theo and held, "André is dead."

Looking at everyone with intensity, Theo asserted, "You don't understand. André and nonno have taken over Alessandro's body, but nonno has no clue that André is also inside of his son. André is playing a game of hangman with real people, and we don't have long to stop him from claiming his next victim, Kate. She's at the Salem Inn. What time is it? How long do we have? We need to decide what we can do with that time?"

Lexie felt the urgency from Theo and decided to believe him. She immediately informed him, "It's almost eleven o'clock. What do we need to do, Theo?"

Theo struggled as he tried to remember what happened in the future he saw in his coma. "We… we need to contact Barb to use JT to get to Rolf. Tell Rolf about André being in Alessandro's body. Nonno isn't the only one in there."

EJ pulled out his cell and decided, "I'll call Barb."

Moving forward, Theo continued, "André already has grandma and Uncle Tony hostage in an abandoned secret lab outside of Salem. Rolf may know it's exact location." His eyes lit up as he remembered another detail. "We need to get to Uncle Cameron because André has hypnotized him into killing others as well. I believe he put his blood in Uncle Cameron when he was a kid…"

Waiting on Frank to get Barb's phone number for him, EJ declared, "I will have Barb and JT flown to Salem ASAP."

Scared for Cameron, Lexie looked to Ciara and requested, "Can you please stay with Theo? I need to find my brother."

"Of course," Ciara agreed.

Patting Dario on the back, Chad volunteered, "We'll call the police on the way to Salem Inn." Chad thought about Charles's death as well as the package he received before dinner. Will was still with T at the mansion finalizing plans for breakfast the next day. He couldn't lose Kate, too.

(*)*(*)*(*)

Kate approached the bar at the Salem Inn, took a seat, and complained, "Room service is slow tonight. I need a drink now."

Joselyn, who was also seated at the bar, overheard Kate and was surprised to see her there. She remembered how she considered talking to Kate earlier. Maybe this was kismet. Moving closer to her deceased father's ex-wife, she said, "Kate… do you…"

"Joselyn?" Kate interrupted. She was confused by her presence.

"Yeah, it's me," Joselyn awkwardly released. "Can we talk?"

After the bartender handed her the drink she ordered, Kate replied, "We're talking now, but I don't have much time because I am entertaining a man with great stamina. His hunger also gives away his age." If Alessandro truly was Stefano, she wanted to help him keep his secret.

TMI. Joselyn wasn't here to talk about that. "I need to talk to you in private. If we can't go to your room, maybe we can talk in mine."

Kate drank some of her martini while giving Joselyn a strange look. "Did you follow me here?"

Shaking her head immediately, Joselyn denied it. "I didn't know I would see you here. You're not the only…"

"Why do you have a room here?" Kate interrupted again. "Don't you have your own place? You've been in Salem for a while."

Joselyn looked down due to embarrassment. She returned her gaze to Kate as she revealed, "I rent a room here every now and then to meet strangers and pretend like I'm visiting Salem." Shaking her head, she confessed, "I've been that lonely."

Kate finished her drink and told the bartender to send a few more to her room. She looked to Joselyn and suggested, "Well, you should meet a stranger to take back to your room. I need to head back to my youthful friend."

"Before you go," Joselyn stopped Kate. "I know you're not in with the DiMeras since Italy, but do you know anything about what's happening with Renée?"

Kate crossed her arms. "Renée, your sister," she mentioned before answering, "I don't know what's happening there, but I do have more advice for you. It seems you're looking to connect with someone. I'd suggest staying away from Renée. She is Stefano's oldest child and she may be more like her father than anyone realizes."

Before Kate walked away, the bartender had her drinks ready. She instructed him, "Hold off on sending more drinks for now."

Joselyn pushed up her glasses and watched Kate walk away. She contemplated whether she should leave or stay at the Salem Inn for the night.

Sitting on a bed in the room Kate paid for, Alessandró waited for her to return because Stefano had become too careless. He smiled because this moment reminded him of the time he faked Renée's death. "Out of pain, I will always find a way to have fun," he stated under his breath.

The door opened and closed. Kate entered the room with a drink in her hand. "You're awake."

Alessandró stood up and moved towards Kate. "I was cold. Are you cold?"

Kate adjusted her button-up sweater over her shoulders after placing her drink down on a nearby dresser. "I am fine, but you know how much I enjoy heat," she flirted.

"You enjoy playing with fire," Alessandró stated as he thought of his mother.

Confused, Kate tilted her head and questioned, "Excuse me? I'm not sure I understand."

Alessandró continued to move closer to Kate with one of his hands behind his back. "Come here. Let's play with fire together. See who can outlast the other."

Kate smiled and moved closer to Alessandró. "Never underestimate the resilience of a…" She suddenly stopped moving and talking because flashing lights appeared through the window from outside. "What's going on?"

Alessandró noticed the flashing lights as well and rushed to the window to find out what was happening. Peering outside, he could see police officers charging into the Salem Inn through the entrance. "Something is up," he released in suspense. "I don't understand. How is this possible?"

"How is what possible?" Kate asked with confusion before noting Alessandro had a rope in his hand. "What is that?!"

Alessandró ignored Kate and rushed out of the room. He had a feeling the cops were there for him and he couldn't take a chance on doubting that feeling. Taking the stairs, he made his way to the bottom floor before bumping into Cameron. He didn't understand what he was doing there, but he decided to take this opportunity in case the jig was up. He whistled parts of the Swan Lake theme in reverse before telling Cameron, "Make the call."

Outside, Joselyn decided to cancel her room for the night. Heading to her car in the back-parking area, she thought about how she saw Cameron inside. For some reason, he decided to ignore a call. He was so focused that he didn't see her.

"I just need to get out of here," Joselyn attempted to encourage herself. Pulling her keys out of her purse, she suddenly stopped when Alessandró jumped out in front of her. He had a gun. "What… what do you want?"

Alessandró motioned her closer to him with his gun. "Take me to your car. You're going to drive me out of here."

Busting into Kate's room, the police found Kate hiding in her bathroom. "You're alive," Steve cheered thinking about the chaos of the night already.

Martin came in soon after. "Any sign of Alessandro?"

Steve shook his head. "Seems he got out before we could get here. I'll have the squad search through the entire building for him."

(*)*(*)*(*)

Driving down a dark highway road, Joselyn was reeling over the things Alessandró revealed to her inside her car. He was actually André DiMera – back from the dead.

It appeared they were heading out of town, and Joselyn didn't want to keep driving with André – especially if he hoped to escape. Her thoughts were plagued with what André did to Renée. She felt sick sitting next to the man even though Renée had been awful to her.

Peering backwards, Alessandró cursed in Italian before complaining, "There's a truck that has followed us from the Salem Inn."

Inside the truck, Chad and Dario were trying to carefully follow Joselyn and Alessandró; they witnessed Alessandró take her hostage in the Salem Inn parking lot while the cops were inside. "I don't think he knows we're following yet."

Dario felt nervous about this. "The cops should be catching up. I think we're driving too close."

Back in Joselyn's car, she noted that Alessandró's focus was elsewhere – most likely on how they could get rid of the truck that was following them. She tried to watch for the traffic signs to figure out where exactly they were headed. When an exit popped up, she tried to take it, but Alessandró quickly caught on.

"Don't do it," he warned. "Stay straight. No funny business."

Joselyn was tempted to just stop the car, but she knew André would probably kill her and take the car anyway. She needed to take André out somehow.

All of a sudden, Alessandró began to groan and shiver. His head dropped for a second before Stefano was able to take control of Alessandro's body. "Dr. Brown," he released scaring Joselyn. "You must kill André. Shoot him in the head." He was about to hand the gun over to Joselyn, but André took control again in time.

"You better watch yourself," Alessandró warned.

Joselyn realized she had help in Alessandro's body even though she didn't fully understand it. She tried to think of a way she could help whoever take control again, but then another plan formed in her head when she realized they were coming up on a long bridge.

Joselyn contemplated taking off her seatbelt so she could jump out in time, but she knew André would realize what she planned to do.

Chad and Dario continued to follow Joselyn's car hoping the police would arrive in time to stop André. "I don't understand why they're not here yet. Maybe I should step on the gas and do something before Joselyn or anyone else gets hurt."

Dario tried to imagine Chad doing that and being able to save Joselyn. "It's weird knowing my dad is alive in my brother's body. Maybe if we're able to stop him, I can get through to André because of our familial connection."

Pushing further down on the gas pedal, Chad was determined but still told Dario, "I doubt that would work because there's a lot I know about André. This time he has killed a lot of people and has supposedly hypnotized Cameron." He hated that Cameron's life may have been ruined if what Theo said was true.

Before Chad could catch up, he and Dario watched as Joselyn's car unexpectedly went over the bridge and into the Salem River. Both were shocked. "What?"

"Pull over," Dario directed fearing the worst. After Chad pulled over to where the car disappeared on the bridge, they rushed out to look over the now destroyed railing. "Joselyn's car is sinking into the river."

"We should go down and see if we can save her," Chad released as he frantically began to pull his cell phone out of his pocket.

Before Dario and Chad could follow through on their plan, the police finally arrived to the scene. They directed Chad and Dario to stay and tell them what happened.

Inside Joselyn's car, Alessandró was panicking because of what Joselyn had done. Water was coming in fast. "You stupid bitch!" He turned his head and noted Joselyn was either unconscious or dead because she hit her head against the steering wheel when they crashed into the river.

Though he was extremely upset, Alessandró knew he needed to get out of the car before he drowned. He took off his seatbelt and tried to open the window.

Stefano managed to take control of Alessandro's hands to put the seatbelt back on. He was determined to make them all drown. "We are not surviving this," he released.

Alessandró shot back, "You are too vain to kill yourself. Stop fighting this and I will get us both out."

Alessandro reflected on all the things he would miss out on. He wouldn't get to help Cameron and ask for his forgiveness. He didn't get to see Julian. He didn't get to talk to EJ, Chad, and Lexie to bring them altogether. He didn't get to oust Renée for her deceptions.

"Are you going to work with me so we live?" Alessandró questioned as water continued to fill the inside of Joselyn's car.

(*)*(*)*(*)

Meanwhile, at the DiMera mansion, Sami finished checking on her youngest children before returning to Will in the hall. Giving him a hug, she shared, "They're all asleep. I know you're worried about Chad and Dario disappearing at the Salem Inn."

Will's nerves were getting the better of him. He hadn't said anything to Sonny yet because he knew his friend was already in a tough place. "I just saw online that there was an accident on a bridge over the Salem River. I saw video, and I am pretty sure Chad's truck was in it."

Sami hated this fear for her son. She moved his hair back and encouraged, "Chad will be fine."

Just then, EJ arrived. After greeting his wife with a hug and kiss, he shared, "It seems things are over. Word is Alessandro has been stopped."

(*)*(*)*(*)

Chad and Dario stood with Bo and Hope as Alessandro's body was pulled out of the river. One of the paramedics approached them with news. "I'm sorry to report there are no survivors."

Taking in the news, Chad turned to Dario and commented, "Stefano, Alessandro, and André are dead."

With a sigh of discomfort, Dario added, "Joselyn killed them and herself to save everyone."