Chapter 18
Fox confronts his mother. Simone returns home.
Fox opened the door to Ethan's room. He overheard his brother asking how Gwen was. Fox flinched.
Ivy looked over at him. Dr. Parks looked up as well. Fox slowly made his way over to Ethan's bedside. Ethan saw him as well. His eyes went back to Ivy's.
'Mother? Tell me! How is Gwen?'
Dr. Parks coughed.
'Ethan, you've been through a tremendous ordeal...I'm going to leave you to rest and then...'
'NO!' Ethan yelled, trying to raise up from his pillow. But he was besieged by a stab of pain in his head. Dr. Parks and Ivy, eased him back down onto the pillow. Fox looked away in disgust.
Ivy walked over to him.
'Fox, I'm glad you're here.'
'Mother, you have to tell Ethan about Gwen. C'mon! The man isn't stupid!' he whispered angrily.
'Fox, your brother is no shape to hear that his wife his dead. I do plan on telling him...just not now!' Ivy whispered back.
Dr. Parks joined them.
'Ethan is asleep now. He needs his rest. But when he awakens, he's going to want to know about his wife. We'll have to tell him.'
Ivy nodded quickly.
'Yes, Dr. Parks. Thank you.' she said, watching as the doctor left the room. Fox looked over at Ethan. He walked over to him, staring down at him, before turning back to his mother.
'Has Sam caught the driver yet?' Ivy asked.
'T.C. Russell told him that Simone did it.'
Ivy's expression changed from one of worry, to anger!
'Are you kidding me?! Where is that little bitch?!'
'Who knows? I think Chief Bennett went to pick her up. Whitney's devastated.'
'Whitney?! Pardon my French, son, but I could give a damn about your wife's feelings right now! Gwen is dead and your brother almost lost his life...no thanks to your sister-in-law! I hope Whitney isn't thinking of helping her sister get away!'
Fox eyed his mother.
'I'm going to ignore that insult you made against my wife just now....'
'Oh, Fox! It is time you began showing a little family loyalty around here! All I'm saying is that if Simone does make a run for it, Whitney may be someone she would contact, that's all!'
'Oh bull%$%$##! And if you knew anything about my wife's family at all, you'd know that Whitney would be one the last people Simone would contact. Now, I want to talk about Simon Cowell!'
Ivy sucked in a breath!
'Good God, Fox! Your brother is fighting for his life, and you're still pestering me over that?!'
'I'm aware of what's going on with my brother, Mother! And I wouldn't be bringing it up, except for this!'
Fox took out Nigel Reedy's card and flung it at her! Ivy barely managed to catch it. When she did, she stared at it. Nigel Reedy? Who the hell was that?
But when she saw that this Reedy character, was from the tabloid, The London Inquisitor, she sighed with annoyance.
'Okay, Mother! I can see that you know something, what is it?'
Ivy flung the card back at him! It dropped to the floor. Fox didn't bother to pick it up.
'This person is a tabloid reporter, Fox! I don't know him, nor do I know anyone like that!'
Fox gave Ethan a glance, before folding his arms.
'Mother, whatever you're hiding, is getting ready to come out. That Reedy guy as much as said so. You know, at first, I thought he was here about Ethan's accident. But then he made it clear that your first born's accident, is a little too low brow for his scandal rag.'
'Fox, please! Just forget that man and concentrate on Ethan! My God! It never fails to amaze me how you focus on the most insignificant things, during times of crisis!'
'Yeah, Mother, tell me, who is Amanda Leigh Cowell?'
Ivy felt herself go cold! Damnit! Why was this happening now?! She had wanted to explain this whole thing tomorrow, when she could put her own spin on the tale. But the way Fox was pushing her...
'Mother!'
'What?!'
'Who is this person? Obviously she's related to Simon in some way...'
'Fox, if you ever read a newspaper, you'd know that Amanda Cowell is Simon's niece. I believe she's getting ready to marry into the royal family or something. Why this reporter thinks she has anything to do with me, is beyond my comprehension.'
Fox smirked.
'Okay, so when this story, whatever it is, comes out, you're just going to what? Sue the tabloid?'
'No, dear, I'm going to ignore it. No one sues anymore. You just don't dignify made up stories with a response, that's all.'
Fox looked over at a sleeping Ethan again. He then looked at Ivy.
'Okay. Well, I'm going to get going now. Call me when he wakes up.'
Ivy put a hand on his arm, when he tried to move past her to leave the room.
'Fox...you could stay you know? I mean, it would probably mean a lot to your brother to know that his family was here for him.'
'Call me when he wakes up.' Fox repeated, then walked out of the room. He had left Nigel Reedy's card in Ethan's room there, but Fox could easily find out how to contact him here in Harmony.
Fox remembered the man's last words to him. He had said if his mother didn't tell him about Amanda Cowell, then he would be happy to. Fox decided to take the man up on his offer!
****
'Marlena can't be happy that you're here?' Rebecca asked softly.
John shook his head.
'Let's not worry about her.' he said gently.
'But I do worry about her, John. I know we've been through a lot. I also know you may not believe this to be true, but I do want you to be happy...even if it has to be with Marlena.'
John clasped her hands.
'Never mind that. I will deal with my wife. Rebecca, I have to know about what happened here...with Stefano and Tony. You lied about that? Then you pushed Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald down the stairs? I need to know why you would do something like this?'
Rebecca stared into John Black's eyes. There was something there. Something that said that he still wanted to believe she was a good person. Gwen used to get that look every once and awhile.
She wanted to tell him the truth: that she had began an affair with Tony DiMera only as a means to get him. That while neither him or Stefano had raped her, the night had got out of hand. That she just hated Teresa's guts, and that she shoved the heifer down the stairs, because she felt like it!
But, John Black's value system couldn't take such a harsh revelations. So, Rebecca decided to lie. It was safest. For there was no way she was ever going to believe, that John Black was not in this room with her, at this time, because he wanted to give her his condolences over Gwen. That was probably true. But, Rebecca sensed deep down in her heart, that she had a tiny place in John's heart now. Only, it would be disloyal to Marlena, for him to ever admit it.
Rebecca began to speak. She coughed. John began to get up.
'Let me get you some water.' he offered.
But Rebecca shook her head. Their hands were still clasped together. She pulled him back.
'No...I have to tell you this. Please.'
John sat back down and stared at her.
'I love you, John. I love you, and I wanted to make up for my part in Marlena's kidnapping. So, I began a relationship with Tony....hoping to get information out of him about Stefano.'
John let go of her hand!
'Why, Rebecca? Good God! That was a dangerous and foolish thing to do!'
Rebecca sat up straighter.
'And I got to know you for that year that Marlena was missing, remember? I never told you this, but on many a plane ride that we went on, chasing one false Marlena lead or another, you would wake up from some nightmare...one that I know Stefano was responsible for! I thought the least I could do was make it up to you...by bringing Stefano down.'
'Rebecca, no one brings that animal down!'
Rebecca nodded.
'I know that now. I had an affair with Tony. He didn't rape me. I was lonely...anyway, when he told me he was leaving Simone for me, I freaked!'
John raised a brow.
'Tony was going to leave Simone Russell for you? And not the reverse?'
Rebecca ignored the implication, that Tony would not leave young Simone for old her. She kept her voice steady, yet firm.
'Simone was not sleeping with Tony...or so he said. He suspected she was having an affair with an old boyfriend, John Hastings. Come on, John! Simone Russell married Tony to get back at her mother or something, but it was not because she loved him.'
John sighed.
'I never did quite buy that they were a love match.'
'Exactly! Anyway, I guess he must've saw something in my face. I just blurted out that I didn't want to marry him and that he should stay with Simone. He accused me of using him...then he began to choke me.'
John sat back down.
'So he did put his hands on you?' he asked.
Rebecca nodded.
'He did. While he was doing so, Stefano slithered in. Tony stopped choking me, and together, the two began talking as if I wasn't there. That was when I got my gun and shot at them both! I didn't know what those two were capable of, once they were done talking about themselves.'
'Well, Rebecca, that's all you had to say! Why did you accuse them of rape?'
Rebecca looked away when she told the next part of her lie.
'Because I thought it might actually put the both of them in jail...finally!'
'Rebecca!'
Rebecca looked at him again.
'John, I don't regret one thing that I did there! Those two are animals! I'm just sorry that I ruined our best chance to finally them.'
John licked his lips.
'Yes...what about Teresa? What happened there?'
'We were fighting over a letter. I tried to grab it out of her hands at the top of the steps. She began to lose her balance. I tried to reach out and grab her, but it was too late. I would never purposely push another human being down a set of stairs, John! I especially wouldn't have done it, knowing that it would mess up any chance to put Tony and Stefano DiMera away!'
John exhaled.
'Stefano escaped tonight. Word has it that Tony and Simone fled as well.'
Rebecca didn't even blink.
'Well, the part about Stefano is awful...but Tony was going to get off scott free anyway and...I thought Simone had left Tony?'
John's eyes widened.
'You don't know, do you?'
'Know what?'
John could've kicked himself! He rubbed her hands.
'Rebecca, word has it, that is was Simone Russell DiMera, that ran into the back of Ethan and Gwen's car. Tony and her have fled from Harmony.'
Rebecca jerked her hands away from his!
'Is this a joke?! Tell me you're joking, John?!'
'Honey, I wouldn't tell you a joke now! Not with what you're going through!'
'Simone killed my Gwenie?! Simone? And she didn't even have the decency to call for an ambulance or anything?! She just went running to her criminal husband?!'
Rebecca began to get up! John tried to push her back into bed.
'Rebecca, where do you think you're going?! Stop it and get back into bed!'
'I don't need to be in bed, John! I'm not even a patient here! I just fainted when I heard that my only daughter was dead! I'm leaving here and I am going to find that murdering little bitch! And you know who's going to help me? Julian! Julian's going to lend me his plane, so that I can hunt down his step-daughter BITCH!'
John grabbed her, when she began to move past him.
'LET GO OF ME! LET GO OF ME!!!' she screamed at the top of her lungs. A doctor and two nurses came running in. The doctor injected her with something. Soon, she went limp in John's arms. He picked her up and put her back into bed.
****
The power came back on an hour later. Eve put the twins to bed, then did some rummaging around. She found some chemicals that she knew would take the graffiti off of the walls. She wanted to start on the one that said, JULIAN CRANE SUCKS AZZ!
Eve used a step-ladder and began to scrub. Her mind was busy. First of all, she wondered where Julian was? He had said something about a surprise for her. Second, she wondered where Abe was, and had he changed back to his human form? If he had, that meant that he was out in this cold, naked somewhere.
There was a part of her, that wanted to get into her car and go and look for him. But, she and Julian were still working things out, from all of the recent chaos that had taken place in their lives. Eve just couldn't risk getting Julian upset over anything else.
Then her mind wandered to Simone. God, what was that girl thinking? She had just made her situation worse. Then again, there had been a time, when she and Julian were on the run themselves. Why couldn't she relate to her daughter's desperation?
And what about Simone's baby? What kind of life would he or she have, on the run? And with Tony DiMera for a father to boot!
Eve sighed despondently. It was as she began to scrub harder, that she felt a hand on her behind. Smiling, she dropped the scrub brush and turned around. Her smile disappeared! She then grabbed some of the chemicals in the bucket, and flung the contents into Alistair Crane's face!
'JESUS!!!' he screamed, coughing and sputtering.
'Don't you EVER, put your hands on me, or any of my children, ever again! You get out of here!'
But Alistair lurched over to a table, snatched the cloth off of it, then began to wipe his face. Eve hoped he lost his eyesight...or worse yet, maybe his skin would fall off! Either of those things, or both, wouldn't begin to make up for all the damage he had done to her!
Unfortunately, Alistair appeared be fine, as he threw the cloth down and walked back up to her.
'I can almost see what my son has always seen in you. I'm here because Julian and I made a deal. It's evening now, and I want to know why I'm not a free man yet!' he sneered.
'Father! Get the hell out of here!'
Both Alistair and Eve looked up the staircase. Alistair rolled his eyes with disgust. Eve raised a brow.
For Julian was naked, and wearing a mask...it looked to Eve like that character from 'Star Wars', Chewbacca. Eve figured he must've found it in the attic somewhere.
Julian came running down the stairs, still wearing the mask. He stood next to Eve. Eve reached over and gently pulled off the mask.
'I didn't think you would be able to breath under there.' Eve said.
'Thank you, dear. It was getting kind of stuffy.' he answered, before turning his full attention to Alistair.
'I don't suppose you'd like to put on a robe, son.' Alistair said. He hadn't meant it as a suggestion. He briefly wondered where Julian had found that absurd mask! Who was he supposed to be? The Wolfman or something?!
'No, actually, I would not, Father. But I am glad you dropped by. My wife is aware of everything, and we will not be dropping the charges against you. Goodnight and toodaloo!'
Alistair looked at Eve.
'You really don't want to know where your son is?' he asked her.
Eve smiled tolerantly at him.
'Oh, so now you're offering that deal again? No, Alistair, I don't want to know from YOU, where my son is, because I don't believe anything out of your mouth anyway.'
Alistair looked from her, back at Julian.
'Fine! Do your worst. But if I go to trial, it will be the sorriest day of not only your life, but your loved ones and the few friends you have left in Harmony, as well!'
'Could you be more specific, Father? I mean I don't quite understand how seeing you under a jail, could be such a bad thing for anyone in this town!'
Alistair just nodded calmly.
'Alright, fine. You've both been warned.' he said, before turning and walking out of the door. He didn't bother to close it behind him. Julian walked over to close and lock it. Eve felt uneasy.
Julian then came back over towards her. He noticed her expression.
'I think that went relatively well.' he said, taking the mask from her.
'A little too well.' Eve said.
'Oh come on, darling! The old man knows when he's been beaten! He was just trying to scare us with that psycho-babble about how we would be 'sorry'! Alistair is going to jail and there is nothing he can do about it, and nothing he can threaten us with.'
Eve nodded slowly.
'I suppose if he really knew where our son was, he would've pushed it a little harder for his freedom, hey?' Eve asked.
Julian's spirits dropped. Eve looked so sad. He pulled her to him.
'Darling, I told you he didn't know anything. But we will find our son someday, I promise you that. Now, please don't do this thing that you're doing here! We'll hire someone scrub off this graffiti tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to celebrate.'
Eve smiled at him.
'Celebrate what? Abe is still a Sasquatch, Simone is a fugitive, Gwen is dead....'
'But we're still here...and together. And so are our children. We can worry about all of that other stuff tomorrow. But tonight...'
Julian put on the Chewbacca mask and growled. Eve shook her head.
'Julian! What is this? Why are you wearing that mask?'
Julian took off the mask again.
'You know why.'
'No, I don't. Though I suspect this is your cute way of making fun of Abe.' she said, pushing him aside and walking up the stairs. Julian followed after her.
'I was not making fun of him, Eve! I was just trying to..to...'
Eve stopped suddenly and turned to him.
'To what? Make fun of him?' she repeated. She turned and began walking back up the stairs. She then walked down the hallway to their room. The door was already open and she walked in and towards a drawer. Eve opened it and then began looking through nightgowns. Julian stomped a foot!
'Oh, Eve! Come on! I was not making fun of the Shaggy Beast!' he practically cried. For Eve and him usually slept naked, in one another's arms. The only reason she reached for a nightgown, was when she was miffed at him. Or, when she used to get home late from the hospital, and he was already asleep, then she would wear one.
Eve slammed the drawer and looked at him.
'Julian, I want to start making up to the people we've hurt in this town. And turning people into Sasquatch's and pushing people down stairs, is not the way to begin.'
'Who have we hurt, Eve? I mean, really! It's not our fault that Abe is a creature. It is not our fault that Antonio is a creature. I did not push Teresa down the stairs...hell, you even gave the girl a job and believe me dear, Teresa is not employable! You've tried to make amends to the Bennett's, Simone and even that God forsaken Hastings boy! People just do not want to forgive and forget. Besides, we're rich and we have enough people that love us here. Fox and Whitney...Celeste likes you, Pilar and even Luis. Sheridan is good to us....'
'Julian, for Evan and Erin.'
'For Evan and Erin, what? We can send them to nice schools abroad, if anyone gives them any flack.'
Eve said nothing to that. Julian sighed, realizing that his wife was actually serious.
'Eve, I have no qualms about all...most of what I have done in my life. And I am aware of how sensitive you are to people's feelings and things like that. If you want to become respectable again, though darling, when you have money, that will gain you some respect, but anyway, if you want to get in good with your old crowd, then you need to stop acting so guilty.'
Eve took a deep breath.
'You're talking about my quitting the hospital, aren't you?'
Julian nodded.
'Yes. I think you should get your job back. Forget about what Grace and Sam Bennett have said about you in this town. It will only get worse before it gets better.'
Eve just nodded. Julian moved closer to her, flinging the mask onto a table.
'I will back you up, whatever you want to do. If you want to dip up hash for the poor, or work at shelters for homeless Sasquatch's, that's what we'll do.'
Eve burst into giggles! Julian was terrible! Absolutely terrible! But in a way, that was what she loved about him.
Julian took advantage of her giggling, to close the space between them.
'So...no nightgown tonight, right?' he asked, unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing.
She nodded, then looked past him at the mask.
'No Sasquatch mask?'
'Oh, Eve, that wasn't a Sasquatch mask! That was....some person Ethan and Fox liked as kids...but he's not a Sasquatch. I think he's a bear or something!'
Eve stifled a grin.
'His name is Chewbacca.'
'Who?' Julian asked. Eve did not know how he managed to get everything off of her so quickly! Then again, he had always been good with pants, snaps, bras, you name it! He could probably get a chastity belt off in 30 seconds, tops!
'By the way,' Eve whispered, just before Julian's lips swooped down on hers for a kiss, 'I don't want you wearing any masks or anything else when we're together. Because the only man I want to make love to, is Julian Crane.'
Her mouth touched his first, as they fell back onto their nearby bed.
*****
John Hastings could scarcely believe it! Simone had called him!
He waited in his car by the old Harmony Trainstation. The building had been boarded up for years.
John has still been at T.C. Russell's house with Celeste, when he had gotten the call. He told Celeste that it was friend, and that he had to go. Celeste hadn't looked as if she believed him, but she couldn't prove anything anyway.
She had asked him to meet her at the trainstation. He didn't care where they met, as long as he could see her and talk some sense into her.
He flashed his headlights, and he saw her head peek around a corner of the building. She came running over. John got out of the car and hurried over to her. He picked her up in his arms and held her for a moment. He then set her down.
'I was so afraid you'd left town.' he almost whined.
Simone sniffed. John peered at her. She looked haggard.
'What? What is it? What did that bastard do to you?'
Simone sniffed again, but held onto his hands.
'I was getting ready to leave town, John. With Tony. We were on his plane and everything...and then I couldn't stand it anymore. I couldn't stand how my life got so messed up And...'
'And?' John asked softly.
'I couldn't not tell Tony that I wasn't sure the baby was his. I couldn't not tell him that the baby could be yours. He kicked me off of the plane...no luggage, no nothing. He's gone off to God knows where.'
'He just threw you off of the plane?!' John asked, outraged.
'He did me the biggest favor of my life.' Simone said.
Tears filled John's eyes. Simone smiled up at him. That was one of the things she had always loved about him. He did cry easily. Especially at violent movies.
'Simone, we can make this work.' he said, his heart full of hope.
Simone shook her head.
'John, I came back here to tell you what I am telling you, because I'm going to prison.'
'No you're not!'
Simone nodded.
'Yes I am. I could've had Tony get me out of it, but...I killed someone I knew. And Ethan will probably hate me for the rest of my life. If this baby is yours...I want you to raise our child, while I'm in prison. And I don't want you to wait for me.'
John was speechless. Simone was not going to jail! It was an accident! She just wasn't watching where she was going!
'And if the baby is Tony's?'
Simone shrugged.
'I don't know. I can't leave him or her with Tony though! I won't!'
John pulled her into his arms again. They stood there for awhile. John then looked down at her.
'I know a place we can go, until we decide to go to the police...' John could barely say it. Now that there was a possibility that the baby was his, he wanted to take her and runaway too.
'Simone, I think we should go and talk to your mother and Julian. They've been on the run before. They can help us...'
Simone took a deep breath, then touched his face.
'We're going to the police station.' she said.
Fox confronts his mother. Simone returns home.
Fox opened the door to Ethan's room. He overheard his brother asking how Gwen was. Fox flinched.
Ivy looked over at him. Dr. Parks looked up as well. Fox slowly made his way over to Ethan's bedside. Ethan saw him as well. His eyes went back to Ivy's.
'Mother? Tell me! How is Gwen?'
Dr. Parks coughed.
'Ethan, you've been through a tremendous ordeal...I'm going to leave you to rest and then...'
'NO!' Ethan yelled, trying to raise up from his pillow. But he was besieged by a stab of pain in his head. Dr. Parks and Ivy, eased him back down onto the pillow. Fox looked away in disgust.
Ivy walked over to him.
'Fox, I'm glad you're here.'
'Mother, you have to tell Ethan about Gwen. C'mon! The man isn't stupid!' he whispered angrily.
'Fox, your brother is no shape to hear that his wife his dead. I do plan on telling him...just not now!' Ivy whispered back.
Dr. Parks joined them.
'Ethan is asleep now. He needs his rest. But when he awakens, he's going to want to know about his wife. We'll have to tell him.'
Ivy nodded quickly.
'Yes, Dr. Parks. Thank you.' she said, watching as the doctor left the room. Fox looked over at Ethan. He walked over to him, staring down at him, before turning back to his mother.
'Has Sam caught the driver yet?' Ivy asked.
'T.C. Russell told him that Simone did it.'
Ivy's expression changed from one of worry, to anger!
'Are you kidding me?! Where is that little bitch?!'
'Who knows? I think Chief Bennett went to pick her up. Whitney's devastated.'
'Whitney?! Pardon my French, son, but I could give a damn about your wife's feelings right now! Gwen is dead and your brother almost lost his life...no thanks to your sister-in-law! I hope Whitney isn't thinking of helping her sister get away!'
Fox eyed his mother.
'I'm going to ignore that insult you made against my wife just now....'
'Oh, Fox! It is time you began showing a little family loyalty around here! All I'm saying is that if Simone does make a run for it, Whitney may be someone she would contact, that's all!'
'Oh bull%$%$##! And if you knew anything about my wife's family at all, you'd know that Whitney would be one the last people Simone would contact. Now, I want to talk about Simon Cowell!'
Ivy sucked in a breath!
'Good God, Fox! Your brother is fighting for his life, and you're still pestering me over that?!'
'I'm aware of what's going on with my brother, Mother! And I wouldn't be bringing it up, except for this!'
Fox took out Nigel Reedy's card and flung it at her! Ivy barely managed to catch it. When she did, she stared at it. Nigel Reedy? Who the hell was that?
But when she saw that this Reedy character, was from the tabloid, The London Inquisitor, she sighed with annoyance.
'Okay, Mother! I can see that you know something, what is it?'
Ivy flung the card back at him! It dropped to the floor. Fox didn't bother to pick it up.
'This person is a tabloid reporter, Fox! I don't know him, nor do I know anyone like that!'
Fox gave Ethan a glance, before folding his arms.
'Mother, whatever you're hiding, is getting ready to come out. That Reedy guy as much as said so. You know, at first, I thought he was here about Ethan's accident. But then he made it clear that your first born's accident, is a little too low brow for his scandal rag.'
'Fox, please! Just forget that man and concentrate on Ethan! My God! It never fails to amaze me how you focus on the most insignificant things, during times of crisis!'
'Yeah, Mother, tell me, who is Amanda Leigh Cowell?'
Ivy felt herself go cold! Damnit! Why was this happening now?! She had wanted to explain this whole thing tomorrow, when she could put her own spin on the tale. But the way Fox was pushing her...
'Mother!'
'What?!'
'Who is this person? Obviously she's related to Simon in some way...'
'Fox, if you ever read a newspaper, you'd know that Amanda Cowell is Simon's niece. I believe she's getting ready to marry into the royal family or something. Why this reporter thinks she has anything to do with me, is beyond my comprehension.'
Fox smirked.
'Okay, so when this story, whatever it is, comes out, you're just going to what? Sue the tabloid?'
'No, dear, I'm going to ignore it. No one sues anymore. You just don't dignify made up stories with a response, that's all.'
Fox looked over at a sleeping Ethan again. He then looked at Ivy.
'Okay. Well, I'm going to get going now. Call me when he wakes up.'
Ivy put a hand on his arm, when he tried to move past her to leave the room.
'Fox...you could stay you know? I mean, it would probably mean a lot to your brother to know that his family was here for him.'
'Call me when he wakes up.' Fox repeated, then walked out of the room. He had left Nigel Reedy's card in Ethan's room there, but Fox could easily find out how to contact him here in Harmony.
Fox remembered the man's last words to him. He had said if his mother didn't tell him about Amanda Cowell, then he would be happy to. Fox decided to take the man up on his offer!
****
'Marlena can't be happy that you're here?' Rebecca asked softly.
John shook his head.
'Let's not worry about her.' he said gently.
'But I do worry about her, John. I know we've been through a lot. I also know you may not believe this to be true, but I do want you to be happy...even if it has to be with Marlena.'
John clasped her hands.
'Never mind that. I will deal with my wife. Rebecca, I have to know about what happened here...with Stefano and Tony. You lied about that? Then you pushed Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald down the stairs? I need to know why you would do something like this?'
Rebecca stared into John Black's eyes. There was something there. Something that said that he still wanted to believe she was a good person. Gwen used to get that look every once and awhile.
She wanted to tell him the truth: that she had began an affair with Tony DiMera only as a means to get him. That while neither him or Stefano had raped her, the night had got out of hand. That she just hated Teresa's guts, and that she shoved the heifer down the stairs, because she felt like it!
But, John Black's value system couldn't take such a harsh revelations. So, Rebecca decided to lie. It was safest. For there was no way she was ever going to believe, that John Black was not in this room with her, at this time, because he wanted to give her his condolences over Gwen. That was probably true. But, Rebecca sensed deep down in her heart, that she had a tiny place in John's heart now. Only, it would be disloyal to Marlena, for him to ever admit it.
Rebecca began to speak. She coughed. John began to get up.
'Let me get you some water.' he offered.
But Rebecca shook her head. Their hands were still clasped together. She pulled him back.
'No...I have to tell you this. Please.'
John sat back down and stared at her.
'I love you, John. I love you, and I wanted to make up for my part in Marlena's kidnapping. So, I began a relationship with Tony....hoping to get information out of him about Stefano.'
John let go of her hand!
'Why, Rebecca? Good God! That was a dangerous and foolish thing to do!'
Rebecca sat up straighter.
'And I got to know you for that year that Marlena was missing, remember? I never told you this, but on many a plane ride that we went on, chasing one false Marlena lead or another, you would wake up from some nightmare...one that I know Stefano was responsible for! I thought the least I could do was make it up to you...by bringing Stefano down.'
'Rebecca, no one brings that animal down!'
Rebecca nodded.
'I know that now. I had an affair with Tony. He didn't rape me. I was lonely...anyway, when he told me he was leaving Simone for me, I freaked!'
John raised a brow.
'Tony was going to leave Simone Russell for you? And not the reverse?'
Rebecca ignored the implication, that Tony would not leave young Simone for old her. She kept her voice steady, yet firm.
'Simone was not sleeping with Tony...or so he said. He suspected she was having an affair with an old boyfriend, John Hastings. Come on, John! Simone Russell married Tony to get back at her mother or something, but it was not because she loved him.'
John sighed.
'I never did quite buy that they were a love match.'
'Exactly! Anyway, I guess he must've saw something in my face. I just blurted out that I didn't want to marry him and that he should stay with Simone. He accused me of using him...then he began to choke me.'
John sat back down.
'So he did put his hands on you?' he asked.
Rebecca nodded.
'He did. While he was doing so, Stefano slithered in. Tony stopped choking me, and together, the two began talking as if I wasn't there. That was when I got my gun and shot at them both! I didn't know what those two were capable of, once they were done talking about themselves.'
'Well, Rebecca, that's all you had to say! Why did you accuse them of rape?'
Rebecca looked away when she told the next part of her lie.
'Because I thought it might actually put the both of them in jail...finally!'
'Rebecca!'
Rebecca looked at him again.
'John, I don't regret one thing that I did there! Those two are animals! I'm just sorry that I ruined our best chance to finally them.'
John licked his lips.
'Yes...what about Teresa? What happened there?'
'We were fighting over a letter. I tried to grab it out of her hands at the top of the steps. She began to lose her balance. I tried to reach out and grab her, but it was too late. I would never purposely push another human being down a set of stairs, John! I especially wouldn't have done it, knowing that it would mess up any chance to put Tony and Stefano DiMera away!'
John exhaled.
'Stefano escaped tonight. Word has it that Tony and Simone fled as well.'
Rebecca didn't even blink.
'Well, the part about Stefano is awful...but Tony was going to get off scott free anyway and...I thought Simone had left Tony?'
John's eyes widened.
'You don't know, do you?'
'Know what?'
John could've kicked himself! He rubbed her hands.
'Rebecca, word has it, that is was Simone Russell DiMera, that ran into the back of Ethan and Gwen's car. Tony and her have fled from Harmony.'
Rebecca jerked her hands away from his!
'Is this a joke?! Tell me you're joking, John?!'
'Honey, I wouldn't tell you a joke now! Not with what you're going through!'
'Simone killed my Gwenie?! Simone? And she didn't even have the decency to call for an ambulance or anything?! She just went running to her criminal husband?!'
Rebecca began to get up! John tried to push her back into bed.
'Rebecca, where do you think you're going?! Stop it and get back into bed!'
'I don't need to be in bed, John! I'm not even a patient here! I just fainted when I heard that my only daughter was dead! I'm leaving here and I am going to find that murdering little bitch! And you know who's going to help me? Julian! Julian's going to lend me his plane, so that I can hunt down his step-daughter BITCH!'
John grabbed her, when she began to move past him.
'LET GO OF ME! LET GO OF ME!!!' she screamed at the top of her lungs. A doctor and two nurses came running in. The doctor injected her with something. Soon, she went limp in John's arms. He picked her up and put her back into bed.
****
The power came back on an hour later. Eve put the twins to bed, then did some rummaging around. She found some chemicals that she knew would take the graffiti off of the walls. She wanted to start on the one that said, JULIAN CRANE SUCKS AZZ!
Eve used a step-ladder and began to scrub. Her mind was busy. First of all, she wondered where Julian was? He had said something about a surprise for her. Second, she wondered where Abe was, and had he changed back to his human form? If he had, that meant that he was out in this cold, naked somewhere.
There was a part of her, that wanted to get into her car and go and look for him. But, she and Julian were still working things out, from all of the recent chaos that had taken place in their lives. Eve just couldn't risk getting Julian upset over anything else.
Then her mind wandered to Simone. God, what was that girl thinking? She had just made her situation worse. Then again, there had been a time, when she and Julian were on the run themselves. Why couldn't she relate to her daughter's desperation?
And what about Simone's baby? What kind of life would he or she have, on the run? And with Tony DiMera for a father to boot!
Eve sighed despondently. It was as she began to scrub harder, that she felt a hand on her behind. Smiling, she dropped the scrub brush and turned around. Her smile disappeared! She then grabbed some of the chemicals in the bucket, and flung the contents into Alistair Crane's face!
'JESUS!!!' he screamed, coughing and sputtering.
'Don't you EVER, put your hands on me, or any of my children, ever again! You get out of here!'
But Alistair lurched over to a table, snatched the cloth off of it, then began to wipe his face. Eve hoped he lost his eyesight...or worse yet, maybe his skin would fall off! Either of those things, or both, wouldn't begin to make up for all the damage he had done to her!
Unfortunately, Alistair appeared be fine, as he threw the cloth down and walked back up to her.
'I can almost see what my son has always seen in you. I'm here because Julian and I made a deal. It's evening now, and I want to know why I'm not a free man yet!' he sneered.
'Father! Get the hell out of here!'
Both Alistair and Eve looked up the staircase. Alistair rolled his eyes with disgust. Eve raised a brow.
For Julian was naked, and wearing a mask...it looked to Eve like that character from 'Star Wars', Chewbacca. Eve figured he must've found it in the attic somewhere.
Julian came running down the stairs, still wearing the mask. He stood next to Eve. Eve reached over and gently pulled off the mask.
'I didn't think you would be able to breath under there.' Eve said.
'Thank you, dear. It was getting kind of stuffy.' he answered, before turning his full attention to Alistair.
'I don't suppose you'd like to put on a robe, son.' Alistair said. He hadn't meant it as a suggestion. He briefly wondered where Julian had found that absurd mask! Who was he supposed to be? The Wolfman or something?!
'No, actually, I would not, Father. But I am glad you dropped by. My wife is aware of everything, and we will not be dropping the charges against you. Goodnight and toodaloo!'
Alistair looked at Eve.
'You really don't want to know where your son is?' he asked her.
Eve smiled tolerantly at him.
'Oh, so now you're offering that deal again? No, Alistair, I don't want to know from YOU, where my son is, because I don't believe anything out of your mouth anyway.'
Alistair looked from her, back at Julian.
'Fine! Do your worst. But if I go to trial, it will be the sorriest day of not only your life, but your loved ones and the few friends you have left in Harmony, as well!'
'Could you be more specific, Father? I mean I don't quite understand how seeing you under a jail, could be such a bad thing for anyone in this town!'
Alistair just nodded calmly.
'Alright, fine. You've both been warned.' he said, before turning and walking out of the door. He didn't bother to close it behind him. Julian walked over to close and lock it. Eve felt uneasy.
Julian then came back over towards her. He noticed her expression.
'I think that went relatively well.' he said, taking the mask from her.
'A little too well.' Eve said.
'Oh come on, darling! The old man knows when he's been beaten! He was just trying to scare us with that psycho-babble about how we would be 'sorry'! Alistair is going to jail and there is nothing he can do about it, and nothing he can threaten us with.'
Eve nodded slowly.
'I suppose if he really knew where our son was, he would've pushed it a little harder for his freedom, hey?' Eve asked.
Julian's spirits dropped. Eve looked so sad. He pulled her to him.
'Darling, I told you he didn't know anything. But we will find our son someday, I promise you that. Now, please don't do this thing that you're doing here! We'll hire someone scrub off this graffiti tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to celebrate.'
Eve smiled at him.
'Celebrate what? Abe is still a Sasquatch, Simone is a fugitive, Gwen is dead....'
'But we're still here...and together. And so are our children. We can worry about all of that other stuff tomorrow. But tonight...'
Julian put on the Chewbacca mask and growled. Eve shook her head.
'Julian! What is this? Why are you wearing that mask?'
Julian took off the mask again.
'You know why.'
'No, I don't. Though I suspect this is your cute way of making fun of Abe.' she said, pushing him aside and walking up the stairs. Julian followed after her.
'I was not making fun of him, Eve! I was just trying to..to...'
Eve stopped suddenly and turned to him.
'To what? Make fun of him?' she repeated. She turned and began walking back up the stairs. She then walked down the hallway to their room. The door was already open and she walked in and towards a drawer. Eve opened it and then began looking through nightgowns. Julian stomped a foot!
'Oh, Eve! Come on! I was not making fun of the Shaggy Beast!' he practically cried. For Eve and him usually slept naked, in one another's arms. The only reason she reached for a nightgown, was when she was miffed at him. Or, when she used to get home late from the hospital, and he was already asleep, then she would wear one.
Eve slammed the drawer and looked at him.
'Julian, I want to start making up to the people we've hurt in this town. And turning people into Sasquatch's and pushing people down stairs, is not the way to begin.'
'Who have we hurt, Eve? I mean, really! It's not our fault that Abe is a creature. It is not our fault that Antonio is a creature. I did not push Teresa down the stairs...hell, you even gave the girl a job and believe me dear, Teresa is not employable! You've tried to make amends to the Bennett's, Simone and even that God forsaken Hastings boy! People just do not want to forgive and forget. Besides, we're rich and we have enough people that love us here. Fox and Whitney...Celeste likes you, Pilar and even Luis. Sheridan is good to us....'
'Julian, for Evan and Erin.'
'For Evan and Erin, what? We can send them to nice schools abroad, if anyone gives them any flack.'
Eve said nothing to that. Julian sighed, realizing that his wife was actually serious.
'Eve, I have no qualms about all...most of what I have done in my life. And I am aware of how sensitive you are to people's feelings and things like that. If you want to become respectable again, though darling, when you have money, that will gain you some respect, but anyway, if you want to get in good with your old crowd, then you need to stop acting so guilty.'
Eve took a deep breath.
'You're talking about my quitting the hospital, aren't you?'
Julian nodded.
'Yes. I think you should get your job back. Forget about what Grace and Sam Bennett have said about you in this town. It will only get worse before it gets better.'
Eve just nodded. Julian moved closer to her, flinging the mask onto a table.
'I will back you up, whatever you want to do. If you want to dip up hash for the poor, or work at shelters for homeless Sasquatch's, that's what we'll do.'
Eve burst into giggles! Julian was terrible! Absolutely terrible! But in a way, that was what she loved about him.
Julian took advantage of her giggling, to close the space between them.
'So...no nightgown tonight, right?' he asked, unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing.
She nodded, then looked past him at the mask.
'No Sasquatch mask?'
'Oh, Eve, that wasn't a Sasquatch mask! That was....some person Ethan and Fox liked as kids...but he's not a Sasquatch. I think he's a bear or something!'
Eve stifled a grin.
'His name is Chewbacca.'
'Who?' Julian asked. Eve did not know how he managed to get everything off of her so quickly! Then again, he had always been good with pants, snaps, bras, you name it! He could probably get a chastity belt off in 30 seconds, tops!
'By the way,' Eve whispered, just before Julian's lips swooped down on hers for a kiss, 'I don't want you wearing any masks or anything else when we're together. Because the only man I want to make love to, is Julian Crane.'
Her mouth touched his first, as they fell back onto their nearby bed.
*****
John Hastings could scarcely believe it! Simone had called him!
He waited in his car by the old Harmony Trainstation. The building had been boarded up for years.
John has still been at T.C. Russell's house with Celeste, when he had gotten the call. He told Celeste that it was friend, and that he had to go. Celeste hadn't looked as if she believed him, but she couldn't prove anything anyway.
She had asked him to meet her at the trainstation. He didn't care where they met, as long as he could see her and talk some sense into her.
He flashed his headlights, and he saw her head peek around a corner of the building. She came running over. John got out of the car and hurried over to her. He picked her up in his arms and held her for a moment. He then set her down.
'I was so afraid you'd left town.' he almost whined.
Simone sniffed. John peered at her. She looked haggard.
'What? What is it? What did that bastard do to you?'
Simone sniffed again, but held onto his hands.
'I was getting ready to leave town, John. With Tony. We were on his plane and everything...and then I couldn't stand it anymore. I couldn't stand how my life got so messed up And...'
'And?' John asked softly.
'I couldn't not tell Tony that I wasn't sure the baby was his. I couldn't not tell him that the baby could be yours. He kicked me off of the plane...no luggage, no nothing. He's gone off to God knows where.'
'He just threw you off of the plane?!' John asked, outraged.
'He did me the biggest favor of my life.' Simone said.
Tears filled John's eyes. Simone smiled up at him. That was one of the things she had always loved about him. He did cry easily. Especially at violent movies.
'Simone, we can make this work.' he said, his heart full of hope.
Simone shook her head.
'John, I came back here to tell you what I am telling you, because I'm going to prison.'
'No you're not!'
Simone nodded.
'Yes I am. I could've had Tony get me out of it, but...I killed someone I knew. And Ethan will probably hate me for the rest of my life. If this baby is yours...I want you to raise our child, while I'm in prison. And I don't want you to wait for me.'
John was speechless. Simone was not going to jail! It was an accident! She just wasn't watching where she was going!
'And if the baby is Tony's?'
Simone shrugged.
'I don't know. I can't leave him or her with Tony though! I won't!'
John pulled her into his arms again. They stood there for awhile. John then looked down at her.
'I know a place we can go, until we decide to go to the police...' John could barely say it. Now that there was a possibility that the baby was his, he wanted to take her and runaway too.
'Simone, I think we should go and talk to your mother and Julian. They've been on the run before. They can help us...'
Simone took a deep breath, then touched his face.
'We're going to the police station.' she said.