After Rex gave his statement to John, he said,
"Thanks, McBain. I'm sorry." Before he left, John responded.
"No, you're not. I wouldn't be sorry either if some son of a bitch tried to do that to my girlfriend. Be careful, Balsom. And keep her safe. He's still out there." He said. Rex nodded and left. Outside, he ran into Stacy and some bimbo girl, just as they were about to enter the café.
"Rex!" She said, delighted. "Join us for dinner? This is Kim, by the way." Stacy said, as Kim smiled and waved suggestively.
"I need to get home to Gigi." Before Rex could walk away, McBain and the other two officers left toward their cars, nodding to Rex.
"Woh, did something happen?" Stacy asked him. Rex sighed.
"For once something in our family goes wrong and it's not your fault." He said, laughing humorlessly. "You're gonna find out one way or another, so I might as well tell you; I got in a fight with Schuyler in there but he got away."
"Why were you and Schuy fighting?" Stacy asked, hoping it was over her.
"Because earlier today he tried to rape Gigi, and when Shane intervened, he hit him and then ran. Okay? Got it?" He said, rushing out his words out of annoyance. Stacy and Kim were both appalled.
"I knew he was into her, but why would he go that far?" Stacy asked, more to herself than Rex.
"Gigi thinks he's back on drugs; he acted high today. If you see him, call the cops, okay?" Stacy nodded, and before she could ask anymore questions, he left. Kim pulled Stacy aside hastily and looked to ensure now was could hear what they were saying.
"Oh, my God, Stace, we are so screwed! When you slipped Schuyler that mickey I gave you last night, his addiction must've returned! And then he went and tried to force himself on your sister. I hate the bitch, but she doesn't deserve that!"
"Don't worry! No one knows about this but us! Even if the cops catch him and blood test him, they still won't know the mickey came from us! We're fine as long as we keep our mouths shut and stay out of this. Okay?" Stacy stage-whispered. "I do feel kind of bad, Schuy being a druggie again and all…"
"But you're right, it doesn't matter. We aren't in any trouble." Kim said. Still, they both paused.
"I still feel bad, though, why do I feel bad?" Stacy said, shaking her head.
"You'll get over it. And so will Rex and Gigi, and Schuyler's probably gonna leave town and things will go back to normal." Kim said reassuringly.
"You're right. Let's go." Stacy said, hooking arms as they entered the Buenos Dias.
Schuyler walked the twilight streets of downtown Llanview with his hood up, eyes down. Luckily, most were on their way home from work, so the streets weren't completely empty and it would be harder for him to be spotted. After walking for a little bit longer, he came to his destination; the bank. He needed to get some money before the cops had his accounts frozen. He was running low on drugs and luckily he had his mother's inheritance; that's how it goes when your mom was a wealthy doctor.
After he got his money, he found a seedy motel a few blocks down. Once he got his room, a dimly lit one with only a bed, bathroom, two lamps and a TV, he took the drugs out of his pocket.
"Damn!" he said, seeing only four pills left. He grabbed two and popped them back, already feeling better. He had $25,000, enough for a gun, which he needed if he was going to keep 25 grand on his person, and a supply of drugs for a while, until he could find a way to get more. He wanted to get out of Godforsaken Llanview, but he knew he could not leave without Gigi. He knew he was in trouble with the police, and would be for a while. As much as he wanted Rex dead and Gigi in his arms, who knew in able to get there he would need something he did not have: Patience.
Rex came home to find Gigi on the couch, surrounded by Llanfair owner Viki Lord and her daughter Natalie talking to her in soft tones, and Jessica, her other daughter, with her boyfriend Brody by the stairs with Shane. They all looked up to see him come in.
"Rex!" Gigi said. "You're okay, oh, my God I'm so relieved. John called and said you on your way home, but I had to see for myself." She got up and hugged him. After the quick reunion, he motioned to the living room full of people questioningly. Before he could say anything, Natalie got up.
"Woh! What happened to your face?" She asked, moving closer to examine the bruise.
"It's a long story." He said, in a tone that made them understand it was time to leave.
"Right, well I'll get that later." Natalie assured him. "Anyway, sorry about this." She said, as she moved to the door along with Viki, Jessica and Brody. "John told us what happened and we wanted to come over and make sure you all were okay." She said.
"Well I'm here now, so you can all go, thank you." He said irritably. Brody and Jessica hugged Shane goodbye and left with Natalie.
"Security has been told to be alert about Mr. Joplin." Viki said. "I'm sure you'll be safe here." She said.
"Thank you so much, Viki," Gigi said, giving her a hug. "I'm just glad you didn't kick us out after all this trouble."
"I would never." She said, returning the hug. "You all stay safe, okay?" They nodded and she left. Gigi, Rex, and Shane all took deep breaths.
"Come here," Rex said to both of them. They held one another for a moment, and then Shane pulled back.
"I think I'll go to bed." Shane said.
"So early?" Gigi asked. He nodded.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about anything?" Rex asked.
"I'm sure, Dad. I did enough talking with Brody." He chuckled.
"Goodnight, honey." Gigi said, hugging him and kissing him on his forehead.
"'Night Mom, 'night Dad." Shane replied as he disappeared around up staircase. Gigi and Rex looked at each other a moment before he thrust forward and wrapped his arms around her eagerly. She returned the hug, snuggling her face into his chest.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Morasco. I don't even want to think about what I would do without you."
"I'm okay. I'm here." He tilted her chin up, wiping the dry tears of her cheeks with his finger. Then they kissed passionately, but softly.
"Wait," she said, pulling back, "Where did you go earlier? Did you find Schuyler?" she asked. He took her hand and led her to a lounge chair, where he sat down and she sat on his lap, her arm around his shoulder.
"I went to the Angel Square and he wasn't there, Roxy told me he was at the Buenos Dias café." He explained. "I was still really upset, of course, and when I got there I ran up to him and punched him, twice, then he got me back and it was about to go further when John and two other cops came in. Schuyler ran out the back, and the cops chased him, but I think he got away. John said he'd call if they find him." He said.
"Wow. That's quite a bruise." She said, moving his face to where she could examine it. "Schuyler did that?"
"Yes. It'll be okay. You've had a long day." He said.
"I'll get you some ice." She said, getting up. Rex got up, but pulled her back.
"Morasco," he said. "It's okay. I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about. You've been through hell." He pulled her close to him once again. She turned away, the tears flowing once again.
"I just can't believe I trusted him! I knew he was into drugs in the past, and you warned me all those times…I feel so stupid." She said, shaking her head. Rex took her hands into his and looked into her eyes.
"It's not your fault, in any way." He said.
"I know that. But the thing is…" she was afraid to admit it. She looked away from him and took her hands back, crossing her arms. "I feel really stupid because, after everything that happened today, I still care about him." Rex stepped back, looking at her incredulously.
"Are you saying you're not disgusted by him?" he asked.
"I'm disgusted by what he did." She said. "I….I can't stop worrying about him. Thinking of him, out there, crawling in the streets, high…it scares me."
"Gigi." Rex said, still looking appalled. Gigi knew it was serious when he didn't call her Morasco or babe. "Not only did he try to…to have his way with you," He said, his fists becoming tight balls again, "But he hit our son. I personally don't care what condition he's in right now. I'm still angry enough to kill him." Rex said, the rage in his voice returning.
"The thing is, Rex, that Schuyler would've never done what he did if he wasn't high. It was the drugs working." She said.
"Yes, that's true. But it was his decision to get back on drugs." Rex said, trying now to reason with her.
"That's what I don't get. It was always important to Schuyler to stay clean. He worked in a drug rehab center! Of course he had easy access to drugs, but why would he take them?" She asked.
"Gigi, do you hear yourself? How can you not want to kill him for what he did? And right now, he's still out there, dangerous. What would you do if he came back here? Try to reason with him?" Rex asked. Gigi looked down guiltily, as if she'd actually do it.
"Oh, my God. You would." He said, frustrated. Seeing her weary eyes, he softened. "Okay, Morasco, I guess it really has been a long day." He said, sitting in defeat. "I say we follow Shane's example and go to bed early. I'll call McBain and tell him we'll go to the station tomorrow to wrap up what happened today."
"Okay, let's go." She said, getting up. After Rex made the call, they were upstairs, and after getting ready, they laid down. They held each other for a moment, each silently realizing the many obstacles there had been and always would be there in their relationship, and immediately looked into each other's eyes.
"I love you, you know that?" Rex nearly whispered. "Nothing will ever change that."
"Not anyone or anything." She said, continuing it as if the sentence was also her own.