Metro Bar

At the Metro this evening, both Henry Coleman and Barbara Ryan were walking around the bar and making sure that everything was going well with the employees serving the customers. When it first opened, it got really busy to where even they had to step in to help out but after the past couple of minutes everything recorded down and things seem to be normal. There were no fights breaking out so that was a good thing, as their lives since being with each other was complete in a way. It was good that the two of them understood one another and could have a lot of fun together, whether it was at the Metro bar or even at home behind closed doors where no one could see them. Over the past ten years the two of them have enjoyed marital bliss and working together to make the Metro the best damn bar in all of Oakdale regardless of the other ones who exist still to this day or ones that are just starting. But if years of living in Oakdale has taught Barbara and Ryan along with other residents anything, nothing can be taken for granted at all. As the two of them were done checking in with employees and customers headed back to the bar hand in hand, pleased with what they had seen so far at the Metro tonight, sitting on the stool chairs.

Henry - "Well Babs, looks like we got another successful night for the Metro don't ya think?"

Barbara - "You got that right Henry, at least no drunken idiot has disruptive folks on this fine night"

Henry nodded as the two of them smiled at one another and then kissed before they separated.

Barbara - "I also got a call from Will earlier today, him and Gwen are going to come back to Oakdale with Emily for a visit.

Henry - * Smiles * "Really? I'm glad to hear that Barbara, when are they going to show up?"

Barbara - "They said in the next couple of weeks. That is if something comes up or changes but either way I am glad that they're paying a visit. I haven't seen them in a long while besides the holiday cards they ' about sent me. Not only that but the phone calls I get once a week from them "

Henry - "The good thing is they'll be here in a couple of weeks like you said Babs. And when you see Will I am sure you'll smother Will with all your kisses including your grandchildren by the way"

Henry's cell phone starts to ring as he takes it out and looks at the caller ID.

Henry - "Ah, I have been expecting this phone call. It's a friend of mine, I will be right back sweetums"

Kissing his wife on the lips, Henry blows another one towards Barbara who catches it and winks at her husband with a grin on her face. Going to the back of the Metro, someone (James Spader) dressed in slacks, suit, tie, long coat and a black hat enters the front entrance of the bar keeping his eyes on Barbara, who had her back turned against him while she was looking at a pic of Will, Gwen and their children on her cell phone. When the man was close enough to Barbara, he cleared his throat which got the woman's attention as she turned around.

Man - "Hello ma'am"

Barbara - "Hello ... can I help you? Are you here to have a drink?"

Man - "Not quite ... I came here to talk to you. I know we don't know each other and I just came to town but are you Barbara Ryan?"

Barbara - "Yes, and you are"

The man took his hat and sunglasses off as he spoke and stared at Barbara right in the eyes.

Man - "Rip ... Rip Wells. I'm James Stenbeck's brother

The last name of Stenbeck caused Barbara to gasp, feeling the chills go up and down her back causing her to back up. She felt herself feel the stool chair behind her, looking at the man with her eyes wide open in fear. This man was the brother of James Stenback? The man who made Barbara's life miserable when they were together? James did a lot of damage, not just to Barbara but also others in Oakdale over the many years before he actually took a dirt nap for good the year after he showed up at Paul and Emily's wedding. But was this man telling the truth? Was he really the brother of James Stenbeck? If so then why is he here, what's his endgame? Was he planning on killing Barbara right here and now at the Metro? Because if so then Barbara was ready and she wasn't the only one that's going to stab something in this man's eyes. She knows Henry would back her up a hundred percent. Barbara never heard from James about having another brother until now. Lars Stenbeck is dead ... unless he's alive somewhere along with their other brother James. Okay okay okay Barbara ... don't over think everything now, James is dead and rotting in hell for the rest of eternity.

Memorial Hospital

In the office that his father Bob Hughes worked in at Memorial Office, Chris Hughes, the new Chief Of Staff, was in his office ... well Chris's office since the first day he became the Chief Of Staff. Looking over some paperwork and signing off on it, Chris sighed and got up from his chair before walking up to the water fountain and got a cup of water. Taking a sip of water, Chris sat back and looked around the office, remembering the times where he used to sit in one of the chairs, doing his homework while Bob was on the phone having a conference or talking to someone over an issue that needed to be handled. And yes, sometimes he was in the office when his dad was having an important conversation or when Chris got himself into trouble and Bob had to scold him due to his mistakes. It took a lot for Chris to grow up so that he can look back on his mistakes, to grow from them and be a better man like he is now. Married to Katie Peretti Hughes and adopting Jacob Peretti, Chris's life was better than it has ever been before. Chris didn't want to repeat the mistakes that his parents made, but after marrying Katie eight years ago, the two of them had had a good marriage so far with no major problems. Someone knocks on the door as Chris finishes his cup of water and throws the cup in the trash.

Chris - "Come in!"

The door opens and in comes Katie who greets her husband with a kiss. Chris hugs her in return and kisses her on the lips.

Chris - "What a surprise, my favorite woman in the entire world comes to see me. What brings you here tonight?"

Katie wraps her arms around Chris's neck and smirks

Katie - "What brings me here? What do you think? I can't come by to see how my husband as the Chief Of Staff is doing so he can come home with me? Maybe I should just head back home and wait for you .

Chris - "Now Katie, you know how busy I can be since I got the job but I can always make ... time for the two of us"

Katie - * Grins * "And how can you do that? Jacob is spending the night at a friends house so that means we are all alone"

Chris - * Playfully winks * "Oh really? Sounds like we scored big time to me but since I just finished with some work maybe I can give you a full preview of what to expect"

Katie and Chris are about to kiss until Chris's pager goes off. Sighing in frustration, Chris takes the pager and looks at it before shrugging his shoulders.

Chris - "Looks like they need me. * Looks at Katie and shakes his head * I'm sorry Katie.

Katie - "It's alright Chris, go on, Memorial Hospital needs their best doctor and Chief Of Staff on duty. I'll see you tonight when you get home"

Chris - "I love you Katie"

Katie - "I love you too Chris"

Putting on his lab coat, Chris and Katie leave the office and take the elevator to the emergency section. Once the elevator stopped, the doors opened and the two of them left the elevator. Just as Katie was about to leave the hospital through the front doors of the emergency section, they opened as Katie got out of the way so that the EMT's could bring in the person on the gurney who needed help. But Katie noticed who that person was ... it was Simon Fraiser and he wasn't in good shape, more like busted open on the forehead, with bruises on his face. Katie's hand flew to her face in shock and horror as even Chris couldn't believe that Simon was actually here and back in Oakdale.

Katie - "Oh my god ... Simon"

Oakdale PD

Arriving at the Oakdale Police Department, Nikki Munson steps out of the car and parks it before closing the door behind her. Looking up at the police station that her father worked in for all of his life since day one, Nikki smiled and felt proud to be in the presence of the Oakland Police Department. Heading inside the precinct, Nikki showed her FBI badge to the officer at the front desk and let her inside. Looking around, it didn't change, everything was the same from officers multitasking, some of them escorting criminals to their cells or the interrogation room, and everything you could think of that goes in a police station. Finding Margo's office, Nikki knocks on the door and hears Margo's voice before she comes in, seeing Margo looking over some files.

Nikki - * Grins * "Agent Munson reporting for duty Lieutenant Hughes"

Margo, hearing that voice she recognizes looks up from the files, seeing Nikki with a smile on her face. Putting the files down on her desk, Margo gets up from her desk and hugs Nikki.

Margo - "Nikki Hughes! Oh it's so good to see you back again! When did you get here?"

Nikki - "Just now, I wanted it to be a surprise and not tell anyone including you Margo"

Margo - "I hate surprises but for you, I will take it any day of the week. What brings you to Oakdale?"

Nikki - "It's both good news and bad news ... which one do you want to hear first?"

Margo - "You know something ... I will actually hear the good news first but I have a bad feeling the bad news is worse ... go ahead"

Margo sits on the edge of her desk as Nikki prepares to tell Margo the good and the bad news she had to share with her.

Margo - "Good news, Oakdale will have its own FBI Office of Special Projects so you'll be seeing more of me around here. I'm staying for good"

Margo - "That's wonderful news Nikki! It will be good seeing you around more often but hopefully the FBI here in Oakdale stands in our way from doing its job"

Nikki - "I'm sure they won't be stepping into the OPD's way when it comes to cases since the criminals will be heading towards your direction."

Margo - * Smirks * Glad to hear ... but now it's time for the bad news right? "

Before Nikki could say anything, there's a knock on the door to which Margo can see.

Margo - "Hold on Nikki ... come in!"

The door opens and in comes some a man (Clayne Crawford) dressed in jeans, button blue shirt and shoes, along with a jacket. Immediately Nikki recognized the man as her eyes went wide at first and then they started to narrow into a glare at the man, who saw Nikki and sighed a little bit, recognizing how she was and looked down. It's obvious the two of them knew one another but where though? Margo could sense that there was something between these two but now wasn't the time for them to

Margo - "Ah, Detective Jack Bradford, it's good to see your transfer from the Dallas Police Department to Oakdale went well. I'm Lieutenant Hughes, your boss and this is Nikki Munson, FBI agent but the daughter of her father who was a good friend of mine "

Margo stood up from the desk and shaking Jack's hand as the man looked away from Nikki, facing his new boss.

Jack - "It's nice to meet you too Lieutenant. I heard a lot about you, the OPD and Oakdale himself ... it's my kind of town you know? I'm looking forward to getting ready to work my butt off to make a difference "

Margo's cell phone vibrates before she takes it out and see's Katie's ID on the front of the screen.

Margo - "I gotta go take this, but I will let you two talk and get to know one another. I'll be right back"

She leaves the office to take the phone call, but Jack and Nikki are still standing in Margo's office, not saying anything to one another. Both of them have mixed reactions from the look on their faces, some of it is sad, anger, confusion, maybe some happiness here and there, but it's obvious the two of them have a lot of unresolved feelings for one another. But the question is, how do these two know one another? Where did they meet? Did they ever work on a case together in the past? One thing is for sure, something told them that they would see one another more in Oakdale. Whether it's good or bad, who knows really?

The Metro

The man who said that he's James Stenbeck's brother stands there still in the bar looking at Barbara Ryan. He was waiting to see her reaction to what he has told her so far, but obviously Rip could see that the woman was startled and almost terrified despite her trying to stand straight, to keep her composure, to be strong too. Of course, Rip knew the damage James caused to the citizens of Oakdale, from reading information about the crimes that James did over the years. The people of this decent and warm town didn't deserve the wrath of James's reign of destruction including the woman who married him in the first place back then. Barbara on the other hand didn't know what to think or even do at this point, but she wasn't going to run or scamper off home.

Barbara - "I'm sorry ... but did you say your ... J ... James Stenbeck's brother?"

Rip - * Nods * "Yes miss Ryan ... I am his brother and before you ask how is that possible. Here, let me show you"

Rip takes out a piece of paper that has information on it, more like DNA evidence in numbers and words. Handing that to Barbara, the woman slowly takes it from Rip and looks it over, seeing everything on it as she looks up to Rip

Barbara - "When did you find out about this? That you were his brother?"

Rip - "I found out five years ago when I sent a letter by James Stenbeck, a lost letter actually as he told me that I was his brother. My father was a deadbeat father who was never there in my life, but he and our mother in Greta were together at one point in their knew how much of a bad person he was from what people told her, so once she found out she was pregnant, she gave me away to two people she knew. as I didn't know anything about James, his family, no one until the day I received the letter "

Barbara - "I'm so sorry to hear about that"

Rip - "Well I was robbed out of your life but I know Greta did it to protect me from being a victim of James mind games and manipulations. What he did to you, Paul and so many others was uncalled for ... Oakdale is better off without James Stenbeck "

Barbara - * Mumbles and briefly looks away * "You can say that again"

Rip notices her husband Henry coming back from answering his phone call before he looks at Barbara

Rip - "I know the pain that was caused by my brother towards you was uncalled for as well. But I must be going, it was nice to meet you miss Ryan"

Rip smiles and leaves the Metro bar as Henry puts his arm around Barbara's waste, clearly almost startled but snapped out of staring at Rip.

Henry - "I'm back ... something wrong babe?"

Barbara - "Uh ... when we leave here we need to go to Paul and Emily's house. I have something to tell them and to you as well Henry"

Henry - "What's wrong? Did someone give you a hard time while I was away?"

Barbara - * Puts her arms around Henry * "Just trust me on this one Henry. You, Paul and Emily will not believe what I have to tell you all. I promise"

Kissing Henry on the lips, she walks away from her husband to go to the bathroom. Henry didn't know what was going on, he didn't know that his wife came face to face with some guy related to his father in James Stenbeck, as he looked confused and worried. Reaching the women's restroom, Barbara opens the door and comes inside before she goes to one of the fountains. She splashes water all over her face, looking up in the mirror as she looked horrified from her conversation with Rip, if it was a conversation. It was almost like she saw James which was strange as Rip looked like his brother, and now all the bad memories of James hurting Barbara, taunting him come back in her mind. But after drying her face off with a paper towel, she leaves the bathroom confident and forgetting about Rip as she continues to work and help others at the bar.

Oakdale PD

In the office of Margo Hughes at the OPD, Jack and Nikki continue to stare at each other still with unresolved feelings until Nikki looks away. It was like Nikki wished Jack didn't show up in town after the last time they saw one another and for Jack, he looked away too but with embarrassment. He wasn't expecting Nikki to be here at the station, because all he wanted to do was just get a tour of the OPD and then go right to work on whatever cases Margo needed him to work on or even work on some cold cases. Anything to just do something and here he is, face to face with Nikki Munson, a woman that he knew best. He could tell Nikki didn't want to talk or deal with him right now, but one of them had to say something to break the silence and the tension between both of them.

Jack - "So ... how have you been?"

Nikki looked up and glared at Jack with anger and hurt in her eyes.

Nikki - "Seriously? After everything we've been through in Texas together, you ask me how I've been?"

Jack rolled his eyes and sighed.

Jack - "Let's not pretend that I wasn't the only one who made a mistake in our little union Nikki. Im not going to stand here and make excuses"

Nikki looks at Jack, astounded by what he said.

Nikki - "Are you that serious Jack? It takes two to tango in relationships and we both ... we both messed up. I made mistakes I can't take back ... ones that I wish I didn't make in the first place "

Jack - * Mumbles * "That's an understatement"

Nikki - "The point is ... none of us were perfect back then. I rather not go through our old issues because it's draining and stressful Jack"

Jack slowly nods his head.

Jack - "And neither do I Nikki. I came here for a new beginning and new life after everything I have been through when you left me"

Nikki - "New life?"

Jack - "It's better that you don't know for the time being Nikki. Like you said, none of us are perfect and we both messed up but at least we are here now"

Nikki - "Yeah ... what you said"

Jack - "Can we at least ... be friends?"

Nikki - "Yeah ... sure ... of course"

The two of them obviously could've just sat down and talked about what went wrong but was it worth it? They didn't want bad blood with one another, and for Nikki, if she had to work with Jack on a case, Nikki is going to do it. Jack is not going to let his personal feelings for Nikki cloud his judgment as a detective and most important as a cop. The sound of the door to Margo's office is opened and Margo comes back in after her phone call with Katie was just about to be done.

Margo - "Okay okay Katie ... calm down I will be there in a couple of minutes okay? I love you Katie ... bye"

Margo sighed heavily and shook his head.

Nikki - "What's wrong Margo? Is everything okay?"

Margo - "It's Katie ... she saw Simon Fraiser taken to the hospital and it looks like he was hurt pretty badly. I'm going to go down there right now, I just need to grab a couple of things. Jack, I need you to come with me so we can see how Simon is holding up. Katie also said Simon is unconscious at the moment but stabilized. When he wakes up Jack I need you to get a statement from him "

Jack - "You got it Lieutenant. I'll get my things and meet you at the hospital right now"

Jack looks at Nikki.

Jack - "It was nice to see you again Nikki ... see you next time"

Nikki - "Yeah ... see you next time"

Jack reluctantly left the office while Margo got what she needed before her and Nikki hugged. Leaving the office, Nikki watched Margo walk out of the OPD along with Jack but stood behind Margo's office, still thinking about what just happened between him and the man she used to love in Jack Bradford. Nikki was still conflicted on how to feel about the man after all the time they shared in Dallas, Texas, the hometown he was born and raised in. It was the town that made Jack into a real man who became an officer for the DPD, and then a detective, so she knew how much Jack loved making a difference in the people's lives. Jack was a good man, just flawed but it hurt so much when they broke things off. But with both Jack and Nikki both in Oakdale, can they resist temptations of old feelings?

Memorial Hospital

Putting her phone away after talking to Margo, Katie sat in the waiting room and looked over to see Chris and the nurse in a hospital checking all the statistics of Simon's conditions. Her hands were on her knees, just looking at Simon Frasier face, still seeing the bruises on his face and the nurse patching up his forehead with a band aid but he was still unconscious. Katie was shocked to see the man she once loved in Simon Caldwell after everything they've been through together. Katie didn't care at the time of what Simon did as a thief and a con jewel artist, there was a lot of good in that man and he always was in Katie's heart ... she hated to see Simon heart like this .. .but she needed to speak to him. Seeing Chris and the nurse leave the room to go over the results on what they found, Katie gets up and walks over to Simon's room before she comes in. Slowly sitting down in a chair, concerned and almost scared, Katie places her hand on top of Simon's own hand.

Katie - "Hey Simon ... you gave me quite a scare when they brought you in. I literally freaked out when I saw you hurt and banged up like a government mule, at least you're still with us ... but why ? Why Simon? Why are you here? Why are you back in Oakdale? Are you in trouble? "

Katie softly squeezes Simon's hand before leaning her head on her hand, looking at Simon with adoring eyes.

Katie - "Just say something Simon, anything ... wake up ... please? You're too stubborn and too strong to quit, to die like some coward, you're better than that."

Simon - "Ka ... Kat ... Katieeee?"

Katie - * Gasps * Simon?

Simon's eyes slowly start to open slowly as he moves his head around, trying to move.

Katie - "Simon hey ... it's me Katie. I'm here, everything is okay?"

Simon slowly sits up and starts to remove the small plastic mask covering his mouth.

Katie - "Simon don't do that! Keep that on!"

Simon takes it off and starts breathing in and out heavily before laying back down and groaning in pain.

Simon - "Where ... where am I Katie? Why am I here in this ... hospital?"

Katie - "You're in Memorial Hospital Simon. You looked rough when they brought you in but what happened to you Simon and why didn't you give me a heads up?

Simone sighed and shook his head, rubbing the forehead of it.

Katie - "Simon ... just tell me what's going on and I will leave, I promise you that"

Simon - "Katie ... I was on my way here to Oakdale to warn you about someone. Just as I was about to call you I was attacked but I don't know who ... but they're working for .. .for him.

Katie - "Working for who?"

Simon - "You're in danger Katie ... were both in danger ... Donovan is alive"

The name of Donovan sent shock waves to Katie who couldn't believe that Donovan's name was brought up once again. After everything Donovan did to take over Simon's life and destroy it, Donovan is alive after all of this time. What made things worse was that Margo came in the room with not just Jack Bradford but also Chris who was surprised to see Katie here with Simon. Margo on the other hand was surprised but then not pleased, remembering all the drama Simon brought to Oakdale and to Katie's life. Katie rolled her eyes as she didn't like what was about to happen though she knew despite the past, Simon was and still to this day is a good man. He would never hurt Katie on purpose but Margo, being the big sister didn't care about how good Simon was or how he changed in the past. Simon knew he had a lot of explaining to do but he hoped later on everyone including Katie understood what was going on though this time ... the stakes may be too high to topple.

END OF EPISODE 1