A/N: Remember, this is an alternate universe, so going forward, there may be some things that do not line up exactly with canon. Also, my 96 year old mom is in poor health and taking quite a lot of my time lately, so be patient. I will finish this story, but there may sometimes be a few weeks between postings.

"We need to call Justin," Kayla said, interrupting the wave of excitement that had swept the room as Roman began to make plans for the rescue. Her suggestion brought the faces of everyone present toward her, and the sudden unease was immediately palpable. S Kayla felt a surge of annoyance. "He and Jo must be frantic with worry. It's certain they know by now that she's been kidnapped, and they're probably waiting for word from her kidnappers." She placed her hand on Steve's arm. "And they also need to know about Steve."

"I don't know, sis," Roman objected, warily. "I know he's her husband and I have nothing against him personally, but I don't like the idea of the Kiriakis family being involved in this."

"They already are involved," Kayla pointed out. "Justin's wife has been kidnapped!"

"I know that, but if we notify him, he may in turn notify Victor, and we know that his uncle Vic does not play by anyone's rules except his own. Victor's involvement could jeopardize our plans, not to mention Adrienne's life."

"Then make sure he understands the consequences of telling Victor. He knows how Victor operates, and I don't think he's going to do anything that will put Adrienne's life in danger. Roman, how would you feel if you'd been left out of th e loop when Marlena was kidnapped?"

Roman did not appreciate the comparison. "That isn't fair, Kayla. No one in our family history has a history that will even compare with Victor's total disregard for the law."

"Justin isn't like his uncle," Kayla insisted.

"I have to agree with Kayla," Kim said. "Justin is her husband, and it isn't right to keep this from him. And we can't forget about her mother. Steve's mother."

"We're not going to keep either of them in the dark. With a bit of luck, we'll have Adrienne back in a few hours, and then we'll give them a call."

"I don't think we should wait on this," Steve spoke up. He had been quietly listening to the arguments for and against before offering his own comments. "None of us are fans of the Kiriakis family. Victor has been directly responsible for hurting every single person in this room in one way or another, and I don't want him involved in this any more than you do, Roman, but Justin came through for me in a very big way when I was accused of trying to murder Harper Devereaux. I owe him that much, and I have more at stake in this than the rest of you! If you won't call him, I will."

Given Steve's history with Victor Kiriakis, Roman had clearly expected his support in withholding the information from that family. "Looks like I have a mutiny here," he commented with little humor. "What do you say, Bo? He's your cousin. Will he keep his silence to Victor?"

Bo lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "No idea, but I've always liked him. He seems a reasonable man. You are right to worry about Victor interfering if he finds out, but I think I can persuade Justin to let us handle it. But frankly, I don't think Justin is going to want Victor's heavy handed tactics involved in this any more than we do. There is more to consider here, though. The Dallas police are following protocol and using resources that are not going to yield results for the simple fact that Adrienne is up here. They need to know that we're handling this on our end."

Confronted with the efforts of another city's police department to recover a kidnap victim who was no longer in their jurisdiction, Roman gave a reluctant sigh. "You're right. The Dallas PD needs to be notified. I'll handle that end of it. You can deal with Justin. Just make sure he understands that interference from either him or Victor will not be tolerated." With his cell phone, he withdrew to the other side of the room where the conversation among his relatives would not disturb his call to Dallas.

"Thanks, Bo," Kayla said. She had reached into her purse and withdrawn her cell phone. "Do you want me to call him?"

"No," Bo replied. "This is police business, so I'll talk to him. I don't have his number programmed into my phone, though."

"I do."

"Okay. If you'll find the number for me, I'll talk to him."

"Sure." Kayla scrolled down her contact list, and pressed the call button. "It's dialing," she said as she passed the phone to her younger half-brother. "He's going to see the caller I.D. and think it's me calling."

Bo nodded, and sure enough, when Justin answered, he said, "Kayla?" His voice sounded strained and rushed, and Bo knew he wanted to keep the line open in case Adrienne's kidnappers called.

"No, Justin, it's Bo," he responded. "I'm using her phone."

"Bo?" Justin said, surprised. "It's great to hear from you, but can I call you back? I'm expecting a very important call on this phone."

"I know about Adrienne," Bo told him. "That's why I'm calling. The kidnappers are not going to be contacting you."

Bo's statement was followed by a long moment of silence, and Bo could almost see the puzzled expression that must have crossed Justin's handsome face. "How do you know that? Did the Dallas police notify you?"

"No, actually we have some news for you about that. The people who kidnapped her brought her up here to Salem."

Justin understood then that they had made contact not with him, the husband, but the police in Salem. "Wait a minute. To Salem? You know this for fact? You've talked to them?"

"Yes. This isn't about you or extortion, which I'm assuming you probably believed was the motive for her kidnapping."

"I'm listening," Justin said when Bo paused. "If they're not after money, then what is this about?"

"It's a long story that spans nearly sixteen years, but the short version is that she was kidnapped in an effort to bring someone she loves out in the open," Bo said carefully. "A lot has happened here in the last 24 hours and I don't have time to go about this in a more delicate way, so I'm just going to say it. This is about Adrienne's brother, Steve Johnson. He didn't die as we all thought. Instead, he's been held captive all this time, but managed to escape a week or so ago. They know that the surest way to convince him to surrender to them is to kidnap someone he loves and offer her in exchange. They tried first with Kayla, but we found out about it and thwarted the attempt before it could be successful. Apparently, Adrienne was their backup plan. I'm afraid we never considered her because of the distance."

This news was met with a long moment of stunned silence before Justin asked, "You're telling me that Steve is alive? I don't understand. How can that be?"

"We're sorting through all that right now and we don't have all the answers to this puzzle yet, but the reason I'm calling is that I wanted you to know that they allowed us to speak to Adrienne. She's all right."

Justin heaved a deep exhale of relief. "Thank God. We found her car abandoned, but there was no indication of what happened to her, except that the evidence at the scene indicated that she had most likely been kidnapped. Like you said, I thought it was an extortion attempt. I never imagined they would have reason to take her back to Salem."

"Roman is on the phone right now with the Dallas P.D. to let them know what's going on, but Steve and Kayla thought that you and Mrs. Johnson should be told by a member of the family. Also, hearing that Steve is alive will be easier on Mrs. Johnson if it comes from you rather than from a police officer."

"You're absolutely certain he's alive?" Justin asked, still skeptical. "I wouldn't want to tell her that only to find out later that it was a hoax."

"It's absolutely true, Justin. He's here with me right now."

Justin was quiet for a moment, but accepted his cousin's words as fact. "Why did they do this? How could this happen?"

"It's an ongoing investigation, but it seems to be related to something in the house where Steve and Kayla were living before the explosion. Apparently, they think Steve is the key to whatever it is they're looking for. We're currently working on a plan to get Adrienne back, but Justin, I need to ask you not to tell Victor about this, or anyone else for that matter, who might jeopardize the operation and put Adrienne's life at risk. She's their only bargaining chip to get the information they think Steve has, so they know they'll need to keep her alive and well cared for, but we don't want any outside influences causing problems that might take away our advantage in that respect."

"I understand," Justin said promptly. "I won't tell Victor, but I'm going to fly up there. I can't just sit down here and wait around for word. I can be there in a couple of hours."

"I figured you probably would," Bo said. "Let me know your flight number, and I'll have someone pick you up."

"I'll call you back with the details," Justin said, then disconnected the call.

His first course of action was to call his favorite private airline and charter an immediate flight to Salem. Unlike his Uncle Victor, Justin had never seen the need to keep a personal jet standing by. He did not travel often enough to justify the cost, so he had become a sought-after customer of several Dallas area charter lines, and they were willing to bend over backwards to secure his business.

Next, he packed a bag with several changes of clothes for himself and for Adrienne when they managed to get her back, and tossed it into the trunk of his car.

Then, he faced the most difficult task of all: informing Jo Johnson that her kidnapped daughter was being offered in exchange for the son she and everyone else had believed dead for the last 10 years. He also knew her well enough to know that she would probably want to make the trip with him back to Salem.

Jo Johnson dealt with the stress of Adrienne's disappearance in the way she had always dealt with stress – keeping her hands busy by cleaning her condo. With a dust rag in hand, she moved from room to room, lifting objects from the pieces of furniture to dust under and around them, then dusted and straightened the pictures on the walls, washed the sinks and the tub, and moped the kitchen floor. She wanted to bring out the vacuum cleaner on the living room carpet, but feared the noise it made would prevent her from hearing the telephone if Justin called, so she left it in the closet.

While she worked, she cast frequent glances at the telephone, silently willing it to ring, so the knock on the door was so abrupt and so unexpected that she dropped the dust rag as she spun around to face the ornate entrance to her condo.

Knowing it was Justin, or perhaps the police there to deliver the worst possible news, she crept hesitantly to it and opened it, her eyes large with the dread of what might be waiting for her on the other side.

It was Justin, looking harried and rushed, and there was something in his posture and expression that told her he had news.

Without speaking, he stepped inside, and she closed the door behind him.

"Well?" she asked in a hoarse, strained voice. "Has there been any word? You've heard something, haven't you? Is she okay?"

He nodded and raised his hands, beckoning her to silence. "I have confirmation that she has indeed been kidnapped, but I also have assurances from a very reliable source that she is alive and well, and that she will be well treated until the situation is resolved," he told her, making certain she had that to hold on to before continuing.

"Okay, that's good, isn't it? She's alive and that's the important thing. What are their demands? What is it they want? Money?"

"No, they don't want money." Taking her by the hand, he led her to the sofa. "Let's sit down," he suggested.

"There's more, isn't there?" she asked when they were both seated.

"There is definitely more," he confirmed with an incredulous shake of his head. "The problem is where to begin." He placed his hand over hers, then looked toward the blue sky on the other side of the sliding glass door that led onto the balcony, trying to find an easy way to break the news. "This is hard to explain when I really don't understand it myself."

"Something terrible has happened, hasn't it?" she interrupted, misconstruing his inability to find the right words.

His eyes darted back to her face, to her eyes, which were wide with alarm. "No! No, quite the opposite, in fact. It's very good news. It's just going to come as a huge shock, and I wanted to cushion it as much as I can."

"Why don't you just say it?" she suggested. "You don't need to protect me, Justin. I'm a big girl."

He smiled. "You're a strong woman, that's true, and you've been as much a mother to me as you have to Adrienne, but this is something unique, totally unexpected."

"I've lost one son, and the other is a long way from me, so it's only natural for me to love you as a son."

"That's just it, Jo. That's what I'm trying to tell you. You haven't lost a son at all. We only thought you had." Sensing that she was about to object, he raised his hand, urging her to remain silent. "Please, let me finish. You remember Bo Brady?"

"Kayla's brother."

"You also know he's my cousin through Victor. Bo just called me a short time ago to explain that Adrienne was flown to Salem by her kidnappers. He also told me WHY she was kidnapped. This isn't to extort money from the Kiriakis name, like I had originally thought. It's about Steve."

"Steve?" The name brought a jolt of surprise. "My son died a long time ago. What could this have to do with him?"

Justin was shaking his head negatively as she spoke. "No, Jo. I don't know how it could have happened, but Bo told me that Steve somehow survived. He's alive, and in Salem right now." He sat back with a sigh. "I'm afraid I'm not explaining this very well."

Jo's hands steepled over her mouth and nose, fighting the overwhelming emotion that was building upon hearing his words, wanting to believe them, but her logical mind reminded her of the things she knew, the thing she had seen. "Are you sure he wasn't talking about Jack?"

"Yes. Bo assured me that it's true. Steve is alive."

"I don't understand. How? How can this be? Kayla was with him when he died. The doctors confirmed it. We had a funeral. We saw him in his coffin."

"That's where things get a little complicated. Bo said they don't have all the details yet, but from what I can deduce from Bo's explanation, Steve was kidnapped because of something they think he knows. He managed to escape a few days ago. It is these same men who kidnapped Adrienne. They're using her as a bargaining tool to try to get Steve back."

"Steve is alive," she repeated, her blue eyes filling with tears. "All these years . . . ."

"I know," he said, gently. "It was a very cruel thing to do."

"But Adrienne," she said worriedly. "There has to be another way to get her back. I don't want to lose either of them."

"I know. Bo assured me that they're working on a plan. Jo, I'm flying to Salem. I can't just sit here waiting for word on Adrienne, and -"

"I'm going with you," she announced. "I want to see my son and I want to be there for my daughter, and don't you dare try to stop me!"

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I won't. I have a plane being fueled right now. Why don't you go pack a few things while I check in with the pilot? I need to call the boys too. They're big enough to be on their own for a few days, as long as the housekeeper checks in on them."

Without another word, Jo hurried into the bedroom to pack enough things for several days. While she was doing that, Justin called his oldest son, Alexander, to let him know what was going on and issued a stern behavior warning. Next, he called the housekeeper to request that she look in on the boys. Then he called the pilot, and was informed that the plane would be ready by the time he got there, and that the flight would be a little over two hours on the jet.

He was still on the phone relaying the information to Bo when Jo entered the living room pulling her rolling suitcase behind her.

Seeing her son in law on the telephone, her expression became anxious. "Is that Bo? Is Steve with him?"

Justin nodded to let her know that he had heard, then said, "Bo, Jo is here with me, and she is very anxious to talk to Steve."

"Hang on a minute," Bo said. Covering the mouthpiece, he turned to Steve. "You mother is with Justin and she wants to talk to you."

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I'd like to talk to her too."

Removing his hand from the mouthpiece, Bo said, "Justin, put her on."

Justin handed her the cell phone, and she lifted it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Mrs. Johnson, this is Bo Brady. Hang on a second. I'm putting Steve on." He passed the phone to Steve, who lifted it to his ear.

"Momma?"

He sounded exactly as he always had, the familiar voice she never thought she would hear again, and she burst into tears of joy. "Steve! Stevie!"

She had not called him by his childhood name since she had first come back into his life, and he knew it was an emotional reaction. "I know, Momma. It's okay. Don't cry."

Kayla, who understood exactly what Jo was experiencing, placing a loving hand against his back, just to be touching him in a way that Jo could not at that moment.

"I can't help it," Jo wept. "I never thought I'd ever hear your voice again. All these years, we thought you were dead! What happened? How did they do this?"

"We don't have all the answers yet, but I'll tell you everything I know when you get here. So much has happened while I was gone. Stephanie is almost grown up!"

Jo's heart constricted in sorrow at the thought of how much Steve had missed of his daughter's life. "Oh, Steve. I just can't believe they could get away with this for so long."

"Makes two of us."

"Have you seen Jack?"

"No, not yet, but once this is over, we'll have a reunion or something."

Justin tapped his watch, indicating that they needed to get going.

"Steve, Justin says we need to leave now. You'll be waiting when I get there?"

"I'll be here, Momma."

"Okay. I'll see you then."

Jo handed the phone back to Justin, who raised it to his ear. "Steve, you still there?"

"Dimples!" Steve said in a joking voice.

Justin cringed at the nickname that Steve had always called him by, but ignored it. "We're on our way out the door. Tell Bo we'll be at Salem International in a little over two hours."

"Will do. Have a safe flight, Justin," he said. The teasing nickname had been shelved temporarily, a fact that Justin noticed and appreciated.

"Thanks, Steve. We'll see you soon."