Dr. Wilhelm Rolf had no illusions about the type of man Stefano Dimera was, nor had he had any when he had met him years ago. Back then, though, given the choice between remaining in Austria, where he was shunned as a crazy scientist and watching his family survive on a meager amount and working for Stefano, he had chosen the lesser of two evils. Stefano had offered him the opportunity to continue his experiments far away from the prying eyes of traditional science and a way to keep his family fed. He knew then that they would be used as leverage, but what choice did he have, after the University had found out about his 'off-books' experiments, he had lost tenure and as the only one making a decent income it had been a hard blow.

With Stefano's seemingly endless resources he had experimented freely and his loyalty had never been in question, but he was no longer that man, for Rolf had found an odd but satisfying home with John Black. Despite his complaints and his new master's eccentricities, he liked the freedom he had. He appreciated knowing his family was and never would be in any danger from John Black. The man himself had released his captive family and given them enough to retire for the rest of their lives. So despite what Stefano thought, he had a new master.

Stefano, the arrogant man he was, had taken Rolf from the Dimera mansion hours before the explosion and proceeded to explain his entire diabolical plan with relish. Since then he had left Rolf to his own devices after telling him the reason he had absconded with him. He wanted his son, he wanted Elvis, but not the man that was in love with Samntha. He wanted a soldier, susceptible to his words and who took Stefano's will as law. He also wanted Samantha. Seeing the immeasurable strength they had together had led the old man to dream of a world where the Dimera Enterprises was ruled by these powerhouses. Samantha's pregnancy with another heir delayed her own reprogramming, so she would simply be imprisoned for the duration of her pregnancy and when the heir was born she too would be programmed.

It was a decent plan if Rolf had any intention of doing that, but he didn't. He wouldn't harm Samantha or Elvis, now would he betray John. However, he would make sure Stefano got what he deserved. The potion Marlena had given to him, Rolf had taken the time to perfect it and the Phoenix would find himself trapped inside his own mind. He knew Stefano would never see it coming.

Arsenic? Bugger and blast!

EJ honestly couldn't wrap his head around it. After he had seen the note, he knew his father had a hand in poisoning Nicole, but… Arsenic?

It didn't make sense. Why would his father want to blow up and then poison the woman who carried his child?

He backed away from his sister for a moment as she told him they would need to call the police and that she had been trying to reach Nicole's doctor, but the man now had seemed to disappear off the face of the earth.

It was just another puzzle piece to add to the mystery.

When his phone rang, he thought it might be Samantha. In their conversation earlier, he hadn't really told her anything, but he knew she was safe. Between his own men and those who followed John she was as well protected as the Queen. He also knew that his Uncle would not rest until whomever had planted that bomb was found. Looking at his phone, he was surprised to see Marco's name flashing across the screen.

"What do you have for me and there better be a damn good reason you left Samantha's side!"

"It was per Mrs. Dimera's orders, sir."

If the matter wasn't so dire, he would have smiled at hearing Marco refer to Samnatha as Mrs. Dimera. It never got old and it was a sign of respect all his people afforded her. They knew she was his one and only choice.

"What is it?"

"I'm at the Dr. Baker's office where I followed Ms. Walker yesterday."

"Is he there?"

"He just came in sir, nearly caught me going through his…"

"Marco, listen to me! Whatever you do, don't let him leave! I think he is working for Stefano."

"He is, sir, and I've got the proof, but there's a young girl with him and she's pregnant." His guard and loyal friend informed him.

"At this time of night? Hold them both, I'll be there."

"Very well, sir."

Knowing Marco would get the job, he motioned to his sister. She sat down next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"You and I both know father is behind this Alexandra." EJ heard her sigh, but when she didn't speak, he continued, "There is no way I'm sitting here and waiting for him to strike at my children or Samantha next, so I need my discharge papers."

Alexandra raised her head, brown eyes meeting his own. With a kiss to the cheek, she answered simply, "Do what you have to do, little brother."

By the time he arrived at the Fertility Center, hobbling aggravatingly slowly on crutches, he was in a mood for murder. The day had been a clusterfuck and he had spent it two steps behind Stefano and EJ really didn't plan on continuing that way. The doctor had better have some answers or his wrath would know no bounds.

EJ entered the dimly lit office to see Dr. Baker tied securely to a chair. Marco had been, as always, thorough and had worked over the man.

"Is he ready to talk?"

"Of course," he answered with a nod.

EJ moved forward, cursing his blasted crutches to hell. The one eye that wasn't swollen shut looked up at him in alarm.

"Where's the girl?" He was still talking to Marco.

"I locked her in the supply closet so she wouldn't hurt herself. She was becoming hysterical."

"Make sure she's okay while I have a chat with this ol' chap."

He nodded as Bruno stepped forward, ready as needed.

Taking his time, he sat in the office chair, making himself comfortable, before speaking.

"Now, tell me Dr. Baker, what exactly is it you do for my father?"

The truth was far more sinister that EJ probably would ever have imagined, though why he should be surprised at what Stefano Dimera was capable of, he didn't know. EJ punched the man for posterity, his head snapping back. Ignoring the pain in his fist, he took a deep breath before he did anything more permanent, his rage at the point of overflowing. The sick bastard sold children to the highest bidder, including to known human traffickers. His father not only condoned it, but made sure to take his cut.

It wasn't the only thing the doctor had done. Nicole had unknowingly walked straight into Stefano's hands. She hadn't lost the baby, there never had been one, according to Dr. Baker and while he wanted to call the man every swear, under heaven, it explained his father's behavior; why he didn't care that Nicole was in the house, but had let Samantha and the children leave before getting his man to detonate the bomb. It was why he had sought revenge on her. Nicole had lied and he had consoled her while she deliberately broke his heart.

EJ pushed all thoughts of that woman out of his head, not wanting to examine her lies too closely for fear he would really lose his cool. It seemed through her own machinations, Nicole had gotten what she deserved and more. It was funny that Stefano thought nothing of selling children into slavery, but God forbid anyone sully the Dimera name.

"I should kill you right now."

"No!" Dr. Baker sniveled and EJ hated him all the more. The man was a coward. "I know where you can find Stefano. I know where he is!"

"Tell me."

"He's in a safehouse, in the old Dimera shipbuilding factory that has been closed down for years."

"If you're lying…"

"I'm not, just please let me go."

EJ sat back, watching the little man squirm under his gaze, before he spoke, "Cut him loose, and send all this," he motioned to the papers Marco had dug up, "to the cops. He might get lucky and the police department will find him before my father does."

EJ sighed deeply as he finally climbed into the back of the car and sat. He had forgone the painkillers at the hospital and spent far too much time on his broken leg even fixed as it was in a cast. He had sent Marco away with the sixteen year old, Mia, taking her back to her house.

It was a difficult conversation, letting her know what she had been about to give her baby up to. Dr. Baker had been playing many teenage girls, taking on their cases for free in his clinic and then preying on their complicated situations to get what he wanted. Mia was no different. Her parents had thrown her out, refusing to support her with a baby and she was staying with her sister who was little better. EJ didn't know what to do about her, but he had thought about Samantha at that age, pregnant and alone with William and he wanted to help. He just didn't know how, yet. He knew that Samantha would know what to do and it was something he would bring to her later.

Then there was Stefano. Asking Bruno to give him a few minutes alone, he dialed his Uncle.

"Nephew," John greeted and EJ could hear a definite note of grumpiness in the man's tone.

"I know where Stefano is," he skipped the preamble, "Meet me at the Fertility Clinic."

"Very well, I'm guessing you have no intention of telling 'little blondie'."

"No. Once we have my father, she can have a crack at him."

"Your funeral," he heard his uncle mumble as he ended the call.

EJ couldn't help agreeing with him, because he knew how fiery and fiercely independent Samantha was, and while he loved that about her, he wasn't taking any chances with her or their baby.

Sitting there in the car, wanting to hear her voice became an almost tangible thing, so he called, remembering that their night together, though unforgettable, hadn't revealed all the surprises he had for her.

"Hello, darling," EJ spoke when she finally answered the phone.

"Hi," Her sleep roughened voice sent shivers down his spine and the Dimera heir wondered if there was a time, he wouldn't react quite so strongly to her. "How are you? How are the children?"

"Our kids are angels, EJ, you know that." Samantha teased.

"I wonder where they get that from, eh darling?"

"Hey! I can be angelic - if I want to be."

"If by angelic, you're counting yourself as one of the fallen ones, definitely." He shot back on jest.

"I'll have you know, EJ Dimera…" She began, in mock defense against his words.

"I have a surprise for you,"EJ interrupted, grinning as she sputtered.

"Don't think that lets you off the hook, you know."

"I think it might."

"You do, huh?"

"I do," he asserted, and it would. "Go to the garden darling, to the far wall to the right, but make sure to carry a blanket with you."

"Is it something dirty?"

"Samantha Brady," he laughed loudly at her unexpected quip. "Get your mind out of the gutter!" Her giggle warmed him. "Do you see the Honeysuckle?"

"I do! Why is the whole wall covered with Wisteria except for that part?"

"Pull it back and take it look." EJ directed, sorry he couldn't be there to see the look on her face as she realized what his surprise was.

"EJ! It's a door." Samantha screamed and he could just see the excited little bounce she always gave in his head. "It's a secret garden. How did you know?"

"You told me." He chuckled, glad she enjoyed her surprise.

"I did?" She asked, confused, and then he heard her gasp of realization as the memory came back, "The night before my disastrous wedding to Austin!"

"I prefer to think of that night as a date for us, 'Dallas' does not factor in at all. But yes. That night you told me about your favorite book as a child so I wanted you to have your very own secret garden."

"EJ," Samantha said his name, this time her voice choked up, "If you don't stop being so amazing, I'm going to keep expecting it, you know."

"I want you to, darling and I will make it my mission to exceed your expectations. Samantha Brady there is nothing and no one I would rather be with. I love you more than the words I have can express and I will spend my life proving to you that you are worth every moment of happiness I can give to you."

"EJ…" She breathed his name.

"I wish I was there with you."

"I wish you were too."

"Samantha, lay down on the blanket and close your eyes." EJ smiled as he heard her sigh. He followed, closing his own and in that moment felt her with him.

"What are you wearing?"

"EJ!" Her laugh was one of surprise, but still she answered teasingly, "The sexiest thing I own, my plaid flannel pajamas."

"You're so sexy, darling. You work that country-trucker-wear like a pro."

She giggled, "You're silly."

"And so in love with you. Now keep your eyes closed. Are they closed?"

"Yes."

"I want you to imagine I'm there, we're curled in bed together, nothing but us. You're in my arms, and I can feel your warmth, as you can feel mine. Can you feel me?"

"Yes, EJ," She answered, "I want your arms around me."

"Touch your lips, darling. Those are my lips kissing yours, my hands moving all over your body. Can you feel my fingers as they touch you?"

"I feel you EJ and I love you."