The Next Move

"What are you doing?"

"I'm getting out of this bed and out of this hospital."

"EJ you're not well. You need to stay here for observation. I heard the doctor", Sami protested trying to push EJ back to his bed. He took her hands in his and said:

"I just took little stumble down the stairs. Few cuts and bruises but nothing serious. I'm fine as long as I don't fall asleep. Besides those questions of yours can't wait."

"Yes they can. Your health is more important than that."

"You almost sound like you care Samantha. There's nothing for you to worry about I'm the one putting my life in your hands. now lets go."

"Just wait. EJ, wait here I've got an idea."

"Samantha Brady has an idea. Sounds devilishly brilliant. I'll wait, but only five minutes." EJ sat back on the bed grinning. He didn't plan to give in to any schemes Sami might have to make him stay in the hospital. Fortunately she had other kind of plans for him. Sami twirled back to him with a wheelchair. Her sincere expression made him laugh and surrender. EJ sat on the chair.

"Where are we going?" Sami asked.

"To meet my father. He knows the answers or at least he knows where to look for them."

"What's next? The first thing I'm going to do is to take you and the boys to a safe place. Now that my plan has failed I need to make new ones and I can't do that if I'm worrying about you." Sophia stopped Benji with a passionate kiss and took his face in her hands. She made sure he could read her lips as she said:

"Nice try my love but it's not going to work. I'm not about to let you fight this battle alone. James and Joseph are my children too. Yes, you might know more about the DiMeras but they don't know me nor my tricks."

"I knew there was a reason why I married you."

"Yes there was", Sophia agreed with him.

"Do you want to share any of those tricks of yours with me?" Benji asked.

"Yes, yes I do. But first we need to clean up our bedroom", she promised.

"Why? I thought everything was in perfect order."

"I know. Lets go and make a mess."

"Alexandra you cannot be serious!"

"About what mother?" Lexies beautiful eyes were filled with hate and determination. Celeste had trouble seeing her this way. Reasoning with Lexie was doomed:

"This plan of yours is pure madness. Darling, come and see Theo. Your son misses you and so does Abe. He still still loves you." Lexie reacted fiercely:

"And that bothers you. I know mother and a part of me still loves him too but it's too late. Too much has happened and I've changed. I can't pretend to be the good girl any longer."

"Darling, what happened to you was awful but this revenge you are planning wont help. It wont erase what was done to you."

"I know mother, that's why it's called revenge."

"But these are children we are talking about", Celeste cried.

"No harm will come to them. I just want him to know what it feels like to lose what he loves the most", Lexie assured Celeste gathering the pictures back to the envelope.

"Bart!" Tony shouted.

"Yes?" Bart replied quickly but not fast enough for Tony. He was getting irritated.

"Did you do what I told you to do?"

"Oh, I was just about to put a tray together for you, it will take just a minute."

"I wasn't talking about food you imbecile. Did you find out what EJ was hiding?"

"Oh that. No. Well I did find something in his room."

"Well", Tony stretched the word waiting in vain for Bart to continue, " What did you find?"

"A painting", Bart replied.

"A painting of what?" Tony was getting more and more anxious.

"A painting of a veiled woman", Bart revealed finally.

"Who is the woman? Let me see it", Tony demanded.

"I don't have it with me. I left it in his room."

"What are you waiting for? Go and get it for me!" Tony shouted.

"Sure thing boss", Bart assented and walked out of the room. Few seconds later he stopped and returned to make one thing sure:

"You were talking about the tray weren't you?"

"No! I was talking about the painting. Now go!" Tony replied and rolled his eyes before shouting after him, "And bring that tray too!"

"Hi Caroline."

"Hello Marlena. What can I get for you?"

"Do you have some of that delicious pie of yours?"

"Yes of course."

"Would you bring some to that table where John and I are sitting? And some coffee too. We are expecting Hope and Bo to arrive and we have lots to talk about."

"Yes of course. Just go ahead and I'll bring that pie right over." Marlena thanked Caroline before returning to her husband. John was worried about Sami and wanted to talk about the DiMera party with Bo. Marlena had tried to convince him that the toast Stefano had made was just a cruel joke. Besides EJ had explained the true purpose of the party and even if that had been just a sham he was now leaving Salem for good. That was something worth celebrating: One DiMera less in town. And Marlena planned on making others agree with her and forget this silly nonsense of Sami being in danger. She was happy and planning for an environmentally friendly wedding with Lucas of all things.