The Ex Factor

by Ava Sinclair

For anyone catching up, this story is an E/T/G story that was written back when Ethan and Theresa finally consummated their relationship for the first time since his marriage to Gwen by making love at Crane Industries. In this story, a mystery concerning Sarah's death forces Gwen and Theresa to work together for the first time, and all three of them learn some harsh truths as they fight to find out the truth about what happened to Gwen's daughter. Menawhile, Ethan struggles with his feelings for Theresa vs. his marriage to Gwen, knowing he has the hardest decision of his life to make.

This story is long finished, but I'm archiving it here in case the fan sites close after Passions ends its run this summer. I doubt anyone's reading at this point, but if you are and you want faster updates, please let me know via review or email and I'll do a massive uploading spree. :)

I love reviews. If you're so moved, please leave me one. :)

Back in Harmony:

Gwen barely paid attention to the fact that Theresa and Pilar had joined the crowd of people in her living room. Her attention was completely focused on Eve and Geoffrey Masters.

"You said there was some news about the records? Please tell me!"

Luis began to speak for the group. "Well, it's like I told you both when I called. We got the records, and I didn't realize anything was wrong. I mean, I'm not a doctor or anything but when Eve got there, she said...well.." he broke off and looked at Eve, who picked up where he left off.

"We can't do the review. I'm sorry, but the records were incomplete. Not just incomplete-they were nearly useless. Huge chunks of information are missing, tissue samples, test results-it's completely unfathomable."

"What?" Ethan tightened the protective arm that's around his wife. "How is that possible? We had everything done by the book in L.A. No one mentioned anything about this!"

Gwen just shook her head, unable to speak as tears sprang into her eyes.

Geoffrey Masters stepped forward and began to speak. "Chief Bennett called to advise me of the situation, and I requested to come here with him to meet with you. We've sent a message back to the L.A. coroner's office advising them of the incomplete records and asking them to locate the rest immediately. But if they can't-I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop, but I'll have no choice to consider the circumstances of your daughter's death suspicious, and have the investigation re-opened. In that case, I'd need to have some samples from the two of you, so I might as well get them now."

"What kind of samples?" Gwen whispered.

"DNA samples." Mr. Masters voice was professional, but there was sympathy in his eyes. "In all likelihood, I will have to have your daughter's body exhumed."

Gwen's knees collapsed beneath her, and she fell heavily to the floor. "Oh my God." she whispered, tears streaking down her face. "This is such a nightmare. Why is this happening to us?"

Sam stepped forward, helping Ethan as he assisted his wife back to her feet and onto the couch. "I'm so sorry, you two. In all likelihood, this is just an error and all this will be is confirmation of Sarah's death by natural causes. We will definitely be lodging a strong complaint with the L.A. coroner's office for their carelessness."

"You really think that's it?" Gwen's voice was shaky. "It's just an error, nothing more?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Ethan smoothed his wife's hair. "Of course that's all it is."

"You're kidding me, right?" Theresa stepped forward. "You're not all going to try to sweep this under the rug AGAIN and pretend it's all just a mistake, right? Something is wrong! Can't you feel it? The more you dig, the more you're going to come up with things that don't make sense. Autopsy records don't just disappear or erase their own information-someone had to be behind this! Or..." she paused for a moment. "Or there was never a complete autopsy done in the first place."

Gwen stood up, anger giving her energy. "First of all, you were not invited into my home. Second of all, this is none of your business! What are you trying to imply?"

"Oh come on!" Theresa couldn't believe even Gwen could be this obtuse. "Take a deep breath, everyone! Do you know what that smell is? It's the scent of malice and trickery-it's the scent of Alistair Crane! Don't you get it? He did it with your baby, didn't he, Eve? He faked his death! Wake up, all of you! Sarah isn't dead!"

That's preposterous." Geoffrey Masters spoke before anyone else. "I agree that the records are a mess, and that level of incompetence is inexcusable, but to suggest the baby's death has been faked? Young lady, you've been watching too many soap operas."

"And you must be new in town." Theresa snapped back. "Believe me, stranger things have happened here. It would almost be more strange if Sarah really was dead."

"That's it!" Ethan stepped forward and took Theresa by the arm. "Get out, Theresa, right now." He dragged her towards the door. Pilar stopped for a moment to pat Gwen on the arm. "Gwen...maybe Theresa has a point." she whispered softly before following Ethan and her daughter out the door.

Gwen just stood paralyzed to the spot, watching the three of them leave. Eve looked at her worriedly. "Gwen, sit down. You look as if you're about to collapse again."

"Eve.." Gwen stared at her with haunted eyes as Eve sat next to her. "Do you think it's possible? Do you think Alistair could have faked Sarah's death?"

Eve sighed heavily, her own eyes filling with tears as the memories came back. "He's capable of anything. We all know that. But why would he do that to you and Ethan? Even Alistair does nothing without a motive. He faked my child's death because he didn't an illegitimate, black Crane heir. I just don't see why he would have done that to the two of you."

Gwen sighed. "I don't know, Eve. But I have to find out the truth."

Outside, Theresa yanked herself from Ethan's grip. "Stop treating me like a child!"

"Well, then stop acting like one! Stop playing games with Gwen's head-she's been through enough."

"I'm not playing games! Ethan, please, for once, listen to me. I am trying to help you. If Sarah's alive, you need to find her. Don't let her be a pawn of Alistair's-fight for her, for God's sakes!"

"Theresa, stop! You know what you're saying is crazy! Sarah is dead, and so is Alistair. No matter how much you scream, that won't change. Let it go."

Pilar stepped in between them. "Theresa, let's just go."

"Wait." Ethan stopped her. "Let me take Theresa home, please, Pilar. There are some things I need to say to her."

Both Pilar and Theresa began to protest but Ethan cut them off. "Please."

Pilar sighed. "Fine. Theresa, I expect you'll be home very soon." She shot them both a warning glance before going to her car.

Theresa dragged her feet as she slowly got into Ethan's car. She didn't want to be alone with him, didn't want to hear what he had to say. Whatever it was, it would just be another tiny dagger in her heart. She had given up hope that Ethan would ever look at her the way he once had, with love in his eyes and trust in his face. She had blown that once, but he'd blown it ever since. Sometimes she wondered if she could ever forgive him for that, but other times her heart screamed out to forget it all and just throw herself into him. She had to be stronger than that.

For a moment Ethan was silent as they drove, then he turned his head to look at her.

"Whatever game you're playing with Gwen, it needs to stop, Theresa."

"Ethan..." Sure enough, at his words her heart tore open and bled a little. "I already told you I didn't have anything to do with it. Why can't you believe in me, for once?"

"Because you've lied to me before."

"And you've lied to me!" Theresa exploded. "And everyone around you! And you lie to Gwen every single day! Why do you hold yourself so high above me? I've made some mistakes, Ethan-a lot of mistakes and I regret them. But at least I have the guts to acknowledge where I went wrong. You, on the other hand, are a coward."

Ethan looked stung at her words. They were pulling into her driveway now. He switched off the engine and turned to her. "How can you say that to me?"

"How can I not?" Theresa asked wearily. "Ethan.." Her voice turned gentle. "Look at me. Look into my eyes."

He looked-he couldn't help himself. It was like falling and falling down an endless tunnel and he never wanted it to stop.

Theresa gently caressed his cheek. "I promise you, I had nothing to do with that phone call, Ethan. I promise you, I didn't sell you out to the tabloids. There are so many things I've done that have been so wrong, but I never would do that to you, and believe it or not, I wouldn't do that to Gwen. If you ever loved me, if you know me at all, you'll believe me. Look into my eyes and tell me you believe me, Ethan, please."

Ethan looked, and his heart wanted to scream 'Yes, Theresa, yes..I believe you. I've always believed in you.' But if he said it, he would have to admit so much more...

Slowly he shook his head. "I can't, Theresa. I'm sorry. I just don't know whether you're-"

"Stop, Ethan, just stop!" Theresa felt her heart shatter in her chest and she couldn't stop the tears that begin to trickle down her face. "I know what this is, so you don't have to say another word. If you believe the worst of me, it makes it easier for you to hurt me, doesn't it? It makes it OK for you to play with my emotions, tell me you love me and you want me, then pull away and leave me broken. It makes it OK for you to walk away from me over and over, because you've convinced yourself I don't deserve better. Damn you to hell, Ethan Winthrope." She began to get out of the car but Ethan caught at her arm.

"No, Theresa, wait!"

"I'm done waiting, Ethan. Done forever. If I had my way, I'd never see you again." Pulling away, she turned and ran up the steps and disappeared into her home.

"Damn it!" Ethan smacked the steering wheel in frustration. 'You handled that brilliantly, Winthrop.' He cursed himself. 'Once again, you manage to say exactly the wrong thing. Maybe Theresa's right-all I do is cause her pain. I should just stay away-but God forgive me, I don't think I can.'

Inside...

Pilar gasped in alarm as Theresa burst into the room, tears streaking down her face. "Oh, Teresita, what did he say to you?"

"I can't...just leave me alone, please, Mama. Just for now." Theresa ran into her old bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Throwing herself on the bed, she sobbed into the pillow for several minutes, then standing up, she looked around the room with wet eyes. She'd destroyed Ethan's pictures in her office, but here they still decorated the dresser, the walls, the nightstand...picking one up she flung it into the wall, then another, then another...

Glass smashed all around her as the pictures continued to hit the wall. Theresa was sobbing hysterically. "Damn you, Ethan, you coward...how could you do this to me!" Then finally she collapsed, crying desperately, in a heap on the floor.

One Month Later:

Gwen's heart pounded almost through her chest as she and Ethan walked through the door of the coroner's office. It seemed like it had been an eternity of waiting over the past month. First they had found out that not only did the L.A. coroner's office seem completely unable to find Sarah's missing records, but the coroner who'd done her autopsy supposedly 'retired' and mysteriously could not be located. So finally they had had no choice but to agree to re open the investigation. Once she had gotten over the initial shock, Gwen was resigned to having Sarah's autopsy redone by Geoffrey Masters. Ethan, however, was another story. He'd been beyond furious at the idea of his daughter's body being exhumed, even going so far as to obtain a court order to prevent it. It took all of Gwen's best efforts to talk him into dropping the injunction, and Gwen knew he felt betrayed when she didn't side with him. He'd barely spoken to her for weeks. Now though, she needed him more than ever, and she knew he needed her too. It was time to put an end to all of the anger between them.

Stopping short of the door, Gwen took Ethan's hand in hers. "Ethan, please..talk to me. We're about to find out the results of Sarah's second autopsy, and we need to be together on this. I can't stand thinking that you feel I wanted our daughter to be defiled. I just want us to know the truth!"

Ethan sighed heavily as he looked into his wife's eyes. "I know you didn't, Gwen, and I shouldn't have taken out my anger on you. It's just...Gwen, that's my baby." His eyes were damp as he looked at her. "She's mine too. I know how badly you grieved, and I couldn't fall apart, because I had to be strong for you. But when Sarah died, part of me died too, and I've never forgotten. I've never been able to fill that emptiness. I miss her so much. I just wanted her to rest. I didn't want her to be dug up and..." He couldn't finish.

"I know, Ethan. I know." Gwen wrapped her arms around Ethan and pressed her face into his jacket.

"Come on-let's get this over with." Ethan pulled back and gestured for Gwen to walk into the office. Once again, Gwen felt the distance between them and it chilled her. There were only inches between them, yet it might as well have been an ocean.

When they walked in, Ethan felt his heart sink. Sam and Luis were there as well, expressions grim as they waited with Geoffrey Masters. This couldn't be good.

"Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop, please sit down." Geoffrey gestured at the chairs in front of them. He had a file folder on the desk in front of him.

"Sam, Luis.." Gwen looked at their solemn faces. "Why are you two here? What's going on?"

"Unfortunately, Gwen, it looks like this is now a possible criminal investigation. I'm very sorry." Sam said quietly.

Gwen's face turned white. "Are you saying...Sarah was murdered!?"

"No, no." Geoffrey Masters hastily interjected. "The problem is...well, I'm afraid we can't confirm a cause of death at all. We can't even confirm that Sarah Winthrop is legally dead. There's no easy way to say this, but the body in the grave...it wasn't your daughter."

To Be Continued...