The four men sat at the table looking from one another and into their cups of coffee. Evening was quickly approaching Pine Valley. It had been nearly 24 hours since tragedy had be fallen them.
If you knew these four men it would be strange to see them drinking coffee together. Only a place like Pine Valley could bring the town bad boys, the former D.A., and the white knight together.
"I don't get it David what do you have to do with Roger Smythe? Why would you do anything to save him? Jackson fought his desire to deck the man. Jackson had known for eight years that he had a daughter but as hard as he tried he couldn't break through that tuff exterior she put up. She had learned at a young age to protect herself and not depend on anyone. It was Roger that had broken her trust in other people and the last person Jackson wanted around her was that joke of a father.
"The first time I met Roger I had no clue who he was. He introduced himself as Roger Smith. Leo and Greenlee weren't together. Not to mention I didn't even like Greenlee back then." David's mind wandered back to the time when he was in trouble for the Libidozine fiasco.
"That's true the only time David and I ever got into a fight was when he talked bad about Greens," Leo to began to reminisce about the time when he and Greenlee danced around their love for each other.
"But when we all thought that Roger died you knew who he was and how he treated my daughter," Jack still didn't see why David choose to save that man.
"When Roger came to town he told me his Cardiologist in San Diego had recommended me. Roger's drinking habits had gotten him in some trouble. I don't know how Roger found out about Orpheus but he did and he wanted in. When he was shot I figured it was my way to get him out of my life and Greenlee's ."
"So what happened then Hayward?" Ryan spoke up as he gave David a look that could have killed.
"I saw the look on Greenlee's face and the hurt in her eyes when Roger was shot. It took me back to the night that my own father shot and killed himself. And then Jack you showed no empathy for her and pulled Leo from her. I had to sit with her the night of Roger's funeral and hear her cry out for her Daddy. So I did what I thought was right for her and so I used Orpheus. I like you guys had no clue he wasn't really her father."
"So what did you do when you learned I was her father?" Jack interrupted not wanting to think of the way he treated her when Roger died.
"When Roger recovered I paid him to stay away from her. I sent him off to Europe with a large sum of money. I don't want him anywhere near her or anyone else for that matter. About a year ago he got in some trouble again with his heart and I had to bring him back here. I took an oath when I became a doctor and I couldn't knowingly let him die when I knew Orpheus would work."
"And now?" Leo looked at his brother.
"Last I heard from my crew he had taken the ticket back to Europe and left town." David finished.
"You better hope he stays away from Pine Valley David." Ryan once again tried to assert his toughness to David which only lead to a roll of David's eyes.
Upstairs Adam watched as the sun set over Pine Valley. Life in this place was anything but normal. Coming to this town had changed his life. Had he never come here he would never have known love nor had his amazing children. Now he stood to lose it all because he let his son spiral out of control. Colby had called him over and over again begging for him to return and help JR but he stayed away and now, now his selfishness could cost him his son, grandson, the woman he loved, not to mention the innocent by standards who were caught in the crossfire of the Chandler's life.
He turned back to Brooke and watched as her chest slowly moved up and down. She'd been asleep ever since she was taken into surgery. The damn doctors couldn't tell him when she would wake up or even if she would wake up.
He sat back in the chair next to her and pulled her hand into hers.
"Alright Brooke you've had enough time to rest. It's time for you to wake up and get back to your life." He begged her.
"Do you remember that trip we took to San Francisco? We had been in Chicago with Laura for a few weeks and you told me how you had always wanted to watch fireworks over the Golden Gate Bridge.
So we left Chicago and flew to San Francisco and spent the Fourth of July weekend there. We sat on the balcony of our hotel room and watched the fireworks go off. You know I've seen many a fireworks shows but none compare to watching you stare at those explosions in the sky. It was like I was watching them for the first time.
Then we spent the whole weekend being tourists. Doing every wacky tour the city had to offer. China Town on the back of the bike. The ferry to Alcatraz. Visiting Alcatraz. The wax museum. Buying those ridiculous fanny packs and the I Love S.F. sweaters. No matter what silly thing we did it was like I was experiencing life for the first time and it was because of you Brooke. And when I was ready to come back here to our home you were right by my side. You've always been by my side Brooke." He felt the tears well up in his eyes.
"You've made all my dreams come true Brooke and I want to be the one to make yours. You've got to wake up now. There's still so much left to do for us in San Francisco. Remember we did that ridiculous Karaoke song at the bar our last night. We sang about leaving our hearts there. We promised to go back there together every year and do all those silly things all over again. I can't do anything unless your there by my side."
"You forgot eating the Clam Chowder in those bread bowls." A soft voice reached out to him.
Adam looked up at the top of the bed and saw her looking back at him. She reached her hand up to his faced and caressed it.
"I'm not going anywhere Adam. We have a lifetime of silly and ridiculous adventures ahead of us. And I can't wait to spend my life with you."
Adam climbed into the bed and lay next to Brooke holding her close to him protecting her.
The sun fell over Pine Valley. All over people prayed for the one's the love. 24 hours after shots rang out through the town people held their loved ones just a little bit tighter.
Kendall and Zach walked into their home arms reached out for their little boys who ran into their arms. Bianca tucked her little girls into their beds kissing them gently on their heads. She stood in the door way of their rooms watching them sleep. Angie sat in the doctors lounge praying for the people of this town. Jesse walked in behind her laying down a bag of take out. He stood behind her massaging her shoulders. Ryan entered his own home and clung tightly to Emma thankful that his little girl was safe. Krystal sat in the chair next to AJ's bed praying the little boy could fight the infection that had taken over his body after the accident. Tad and Dixie left JR's room broken hearted at the pain their son had caused. Jackson knocked lightly on the familiar door that stood before him. Erica opened the door to him and pulled him into a deep apologetic embrace.
The lights all over the hospital slowly dimmed as the patients rested. The blonde man crept quietly down the hallway hoping no one would see him. He entered the room in the ICU. The only sound he could her was the soft beeping monitoring every beat of her heart. The machine that helped her breath hummed each time her chest raised or fell. He leaned closely into her and whispered softly, "Hey Greens."
This town knew tragedy but with tragedy came triumph and joy. While now it sat in the midst of tragedy and sorrow the light of triumph and joy would surely come again because they were all the children of this town and they made it the greatest town in America.