"My new . . .what?" Kim questioned, her green eyes searching Shane's face for an explanation. Shane, sensing Kim's incredulity, returned the walkie-talkie to the off position and grabbed both of her hands in his.
"Darling, you trust me, and you said you would do anything for us to be together." Shane gently reminded her.
"I . . . yes. . .but Shane. My husband? What is going on?" Kim couldn't fathom what he was telling her, yet it sounded eerily familiar. "I hate to remind you I've done this sham marriage thing once before. To capture Gillian," she added, as though he were the one who needed the reminding.
"Kimberly, Stefano is far cagier and lethal than Gillian ever was. We can't anticipate a quick fix this time. This situation may take years to remedy, but in the end it's the happiness and safety of the people we love that will make the sacrifices worthwhile."
"Shane Donovan. I love you, but I need to know everything. No holding back to protect the mission. If I'm going to go through with this grand plan, there are things I must know." She responded, running her hand through his curls.
"Kim, I've spent the last five months posing as Drew posing as me. I've had minimal contact with DiMera and his minions, but from what I can gather, my duty is to be the point man inside the Brady family, ready to act when he needs me. I've taken very careful lengths to meet you here tonight, so as not to jeopardize your safety or my impersonation of Drew. DiMera must continue to believe that I died in that hut on his island and that Drew is living my life as he sees fit. If I'm going to bring DiMera down and dismantle his organization, this charade has to continue." Shane sighed, fearful that he had not made clear the precariousness of the situation. He kissed her lips and with foreheads touching, he whispered, "It's so much more than just an ISA mission, Kim. DiMera is hell-bent on ruining the Bradys."
Kim's heart leapt in her chest, but for the moment, her head won out. She moved away from Shane and searched his eyes for more clarity. "So a marriage to someone who is not you will satisfy Stefano DiMera? Shane, I don't understand."
"Kim, I have to make you understand. Do you think it's merely a coincidence that Roman 'died' separating him from Marlena and the children? That a vat of acid tore Hope away from Bo and Shawn Douglas? That Steve was killed, leaving Kayla and Stephanie devastated?" The desperation in his voice punctuated each question.
"Oh, dear God, you don't know about Roman. He's alive, Shane."
"I know, my darling, I know." Shane sighed. "Drew had told me, but I was still in awe when I returned to Salem and saw Roman and John together. DiMera is the mastermind of this, and my suspicion is he was behind Hope's and Steve's deaths as well. Toscano and Alamain were merely DiMera's minions."
Suddenly as if on cue, for Shane knew Kim would deduce the inevitable, hopeful conclusion: "If that's true, that means Hope and Steve could be alive." Tears welled up in Kim's eyes. "Bo and Kayla. We have to tell them."
"No, Kim." Shane sighed.
"What do you mean, 'No, Kim.'? Do you know the unbearable pain and the anguish they have suffered?" Kim winced, cognizant from the pained expression on Shane's face that he did. Nonetheless, she continued, "Well, I do. I thought you had died in that explosion during the Jericho case, and there's nothing like that searing pain. Don't get me wrong, Shane. These past two years, thinking you no longer loved me, were terrible, but nothing compares to that pain."
"Kim, I understand, really I do. I'm not heartless. I love Hope. If I can do anything to bring her back, I'll do it. Now there's evidence that Hope may be alive; nothing at all about Steve but we're looking. But Kim, if we react now, any chance we have of bringing Hope back could be lost completely. Believe me, my real mission until we know for sure otherwise is to find Hope and return her to her family. But, if DiMera suspects that we know or that I'm not Drew, we could truly lose her for good."
Kim stared into the eyes of the man she loved and nodded her head. This simple gesture communicated her agreement; now she listened intently as Shane delineated the plan that would transform their lives.
"Your marriage to Phillip serves a few purposes. First, he's an ISA agent, so he can protect you and the children. For all intents and purposes, it will appear to everyone, including DiMera, that you have moved on and that I am obsessed with my work. DiMera will believe that I am his operative, ready to strike when needed. I will continue to uncover any details about Hope's whereabouts, and together with Peachy and Phillip, we can amass what we need to bring down DiMera once and for all."
Kim sat mesmerized by what Shane was telling her, but more by the reality of sitting here next to the man she loved and thought she had lost. "How exactly will we be together?" she probed, somewhat incredulous at the intricacy of the ruse. "Climbing through windows and clandestine meetings in hotel rooms?" Kimberly felt a twinge of guilt about her petulant response, but continued. "We're parents, Shane. Our children need something normal."
"Jeannie and Andrew need us, need their family intact. It won't be easy or normal, but yes, we can be together." Shane assured her, taking her hand in his and planting a feathery kiss on her fingers. "I've found a house that befits a movie producer. That's Phillip's cover. The house has four wings. One for the Colliers the outside world knows, one for Kayla and Stephanie, one for the ISA regalia, and one for the Donovans. Believe me, Kim. I've spent the last five months methodically and meticulously planning this. I wanted to find you as soon as I returned from the island, but I knew that for us to be together, for you and the children to be safe, great precautions and planning were essential. There's nothing more important to me than you, Andrew, and Jeannie. I only hope that the life I'm offering you now is one you can live with."
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be together, Shane. I've lived long enough without you. If you say this is what we need to do to be together, then I'll do it. I trust you." Kim kissed his hand. "I love you." She kissed his lips. "Now make love to me."