Song is "Just Once" by James Ingram.

I did my best,
But, I guess my best wasn't good enough
'Cause here we are back where we were before.
Seems nothing ever changes,
We're back to being strangers,
Wondering if we oughta stay
Or head on out the door.

It had only been a half hour since Sami left the DiMera mansion, but, to EJ it felt like a lifetime. He hadn't moved from his position on the floor against the stairs. He just sat there, not moving, staring into space. He refused to let the reality of what had just happened overcome him.

EJ sighed heavily, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. It certainly felt like it did. He couldn't even summon up the strength to get up off the floor.

He had tried his hardest to get Samantha to stay there with him. He hadn't know what else to do, aside from chaining her to the banister. That would have been in typical DiMera fashion, though, and EJ vowed he'd never return to those dark depths again.

He felt as if they were on some continuous merry-go-round, doomed to never stop. They would keep going in circles like this forever. It was the same thing over and over again. The two would finally realize they belonged together, only to have some new fiasco rip them apart.

Just once, can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong?
Why we never last for very long?
What are we doing wrong?
Just once, can't we find a way to finally make it right,
Make the magic last for more than just one night?
If we could just get to it,
I know we could break through it.

EJ ran his hands over his face, wondering just what the problem was. Why couldn't they just get through everything life threw at them before one of them wound up storming out? Why did this always happen?

He heard footsteps approaching. He looked up to see Tony standing above him.

Tony sighed and shook his head. He didn't even have to ask what happened. He knew. Even if he hadn't overheard most of Sami and EJ's conversation, he would have known.

He looked down at his younger brother. "I don't understand it, either."

EJ squeezed his eyes shut, trying so hard not to let the pain wash over him. "What am I doing wrong?"

"Get up off the floor, EJ," Tony said. When EJ didn't budge, he sank down to the floor in front of him. "What makes you think you did anything wrong? Why are you taking the blame?"

I gave my all,
But, I think my all may have been too much
'Cause Lord knows we're not getting anywhere.
Seems we're always blowing whatever we got going
And seems at times with all we've got,
We haven't got a prayer.
Just once, can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong,
Why the good times never last for very long?
Seems we're always blowing
Whatever we got going.

"Samantha is not to blame in this, either," EJ said.

"I didn't say she was. But, why do you feel obligated to shoulder it all?"

EJ sat silent for a moment. "Because it was my fault," he finally said. "I tried so hard to protect her but, obviously, I went too far. If only I had told her…"

"It's too late for 'if only', EJ."

EJ brushed off Tony's comment and shook his head. "It's always falling apart. If we were fated to be together, why does this keep happening? Why can't we stop it?"

"That, I can't answer. Maybe…maybe all this is just a test to see if you two really are strong enough survive the odds."

Just once, can't we find a way to finally make it right,
Make the magic last for more than just one night?
I know we could break through it,
If we could just get to it.

"Haven't we been through enough of a test? Look at the grueling exam life put us through before this. Wasn't that enough?"

"Apparently not," Tony said.

"I just don't understand it," EJ bit out. "I love her and she still loves me. She told me she still loves me. Tony, we can't live without each other. What am I supposed to do?"

"Go after her."

"I can't. She said she needed to get away and sort things out. I need to give her space."

Just once, I want to understand
Why it always comes back to good-bye.
Why can't we get ourselves in hand
And admit to one another
That we're no good with out the other,
Take the best and make it better,
Find a way to stay together?

Suddenly, the sound of the doorbell ringing went off. It was almost one o'clock in the morning and the sound echoed in the silent, almost-empty house. Tony and EJ looked at each other in confusion.

The bell chimed a second time and Tony stood up to answer it. A look of surprise passed over his face when Bo stepped into the front hall.

This prompted EJ to finally get up off the floor. From the look on Bo's face, he knew something was wrong.

"How's Roman?" he asked.

Bo shook his head. "Not good. He lost a lot of blood. The doctors say the bullet is still stuck in there somewhere. They're just hoping it doesn't move before they can get it out."

"Bo, I am so sorry –" EJ began.

"Hey." Bo held up his hand. "This isn't your fault, EJ. I understand. Normally, we'd have to press charges for keeping an escaped convict in your house, but…these are abnormal circumstances."

Just once, can't we find a way to finally make it right,
Make the magic last for more than just one night?
I know we can break through it,
If we could just get to it.

EJ could tell there was something else Bo needed to say. Tearing his thoughts away from Sami, he asked Bo what else there was.

Bo hesitated a second. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news…"

Just once.
If we could get to it.

Just once...