"It's Trey," Leo responded. "He's dead."

Leo's eyes were blood red, even though no tears were falling. David put his arm around his little brother's shoulder, being careful not to put any pressure on his injured left arm. "I'll never understand where you get this from," David told him.

"What?" Leo asked.

"Caring," David answered. "After all the stuff Vanessa pulled on you and Greenlee, you always gave her chance after chance. We both know I haven't been much good for you either, but you always put your neck out on the line for me anyway. And now Trey almost cost you and Greenlee your lives, and you're sitting here actually upset that he's gone. I know I may sound cold but… I just don't know where you find it in you to care so deeply."

Leo ran his hands through his hair and stared into space.

"I wouldn't wish the family you got on anyone," David continued. "Trey isn't worth your tears."

"No, David, it's not that."

"Then what?"

Leo took a deep breath. "It's just that I've always wanted a real family more than anything. I wanted so badly for Guy to be my father, and that went to hell in a hurry. Then lately, we finally had this dysfunctional family thing going with me, you, Trey, Anna, Maggie. We were dysfunctional, but we were a family, and that meant the world to me. I had the world's greatest wife, two brothers who I felt connected to – life was really, really good."

"Okay," David pressed on.

"But I finally get it now. As much as I thought I could have that dream, it just wasn't us. I think that's what Trey's death means, you know? That real family that I thought I could be a part of doesn't really exit. Trey turns out to be the psycho Greenlee warned me he was; you and Anna are having your issues. It just wasn't meant to be. We're all just a bunch of screw-ups."

"At least one of us turned out okay," David patted his brother on the knee.

"Come on, David."

"No, I mean it, Leo," David told him confidently. "You're our moral light – well, at least mine. I'm just glad you're back, even if it means Trey really was a psycho. The world is better off getting you back in exchange for him."

"Well the blinders are off now," Leo assured his brother, cutting his hand through the air. "That dream is dead. Greenlee is my real family; she's the one that will always be there for me and never let me down. And you better believe I'm going to treat her like a queen for the rest of our lives."

"You're still upset that she's in the hospital," David realized.

"I should have done things differently, David," Leo explained, his eyes still a dry red. "I wanted to protect her and instead she took a bullet because of me." Leo covered his eyes with his right hand and then brushed it down his face.

"You did the right thing, Leo," David reassured him. "You did protect Greenlee and the rest of us too. You just forgot that that wife of yours never does what you think she will, and it's a damn good thing too because otherwise you wouldn't be here right now."

Leo nodded, half a smile appearing on his tired face.

"Now your brother wants to give you some advice from an advanced medical perspective."

"What's that?" Leo asked.

"Get some sleep!" David ordered, a smile on his face. "You look terrible."

"Yeah, yeah," Leo agreed. "I'll go sit by Greenlee and see if I can fall asleep in that chair."

"Why don't you go home to your bed, Leo? My shift is over in ten minutes, I can give you a ride if you want."

Leo shook his head assertively. "No. As long as Greenlee's here, I'm here. I'll see you tomorrow, David."

"Alright, just make sure you get some sleep," David conceded defeat and stood up to walk away.

"David," Leo called after him, his older brother turning around at his call. "Thanks. At least I hit it big with one brother." David smiled at his little brother before walking off.

After taking a couple moments to collect himself, Leo soon turned around and made his way back to Greenlee's room. He was surprised to see her eyes wide open, staring into space, as he entered.

"Greenlee, sweetie," Leo sat down next to her. "I thought I told you to rest."

"Huh? Oh right, sorry. I'm just a little shell-shocked… never mind."

"Is something wrong, Greens?" Leo asked his wife.

She smiled at him. "You're here with me; what could be wrong?"

Her smile faded as she looked at her husband. "But something is wrong with you, Leo. What is it? What did Jackson talk to you about?"

"Greenlee, it's nothing you need to worry about right now," Leo told her. "All you need to worry about is getting some rest so we can get out of here tomorrow."

"No, Leo," she pushed on. "Come on, I'd like to think I can read you pretty well. I know when something is bothering you." Leo cleared his throat to stall but Greenlee would have none of it. "Let it out, Leo. You know I'm not going to get any rest until I know everything that's going on."

She was right. Leo would have preferred to wait until the morning to tell her that their dreams would have to be put on hold again, but that was impossible now. "It's about Trey," he told her softly. "He's dead and the diamonds are missing, and guess who is probably going to end up on the suspect list even though you can vouch for me."

"Oh Leo, I'm sorry," Greenlee offered. "I know how much you wanted him to be a real part of your family."

"I know," Leo stated. "But that's not the only dream that's come to a screeching halt. Jackson says we're stuck here until they find out what happened to Trey, so Paris is going to have to wait a little longer, Greens, I'm sorry."

Greenlee sighed in disappointment.

"But I'm going to do whatever I can to get this thing settled," Leo continued. "I'm thinking Trey must have had a partner that turned on him – to keep the diamonds for himself. If we can figure out who, then we're free again."

Greenlee stayed motionless in thought, absorbing Leo's words. "You know what, Leo?" Greenlee finally said. "I really want Paris. I dream of the two of us sitting outside on our balcony, listening to the street musicians, and making love without a care in the world. But after these past few weeks, I realize more than ever that it doesn't matter where I am as long as it's with you. So if Paris has to wait, it has to wait. Home is wherever we're together."

"Even if it's this hospital for one more night," Leo smirked.

"Even then," Greenlee laughed. "So you said I need to rest to get strong enough to bust this joint, right?"

"Right," Leo nodded.

"Well you look like you need some rest too," Greenlee smiled widely. "And I know that chair isn't the most comfortable thing in the world and that I'll be able to rest much better in your arms, so why don't you climb up here and hold me?"

"Your wish is my command, my queen," Leo all too eagerly climbed onto her bed, finding just enough room for the two of them to fit. Her giggle when he put his arms around her was the most beautiful music he had ever heard. While lying in that bed with the woman he loved, life made sense again.

----------

Vanessa sat in the middle of a large, empty warehouse, shifting the bag of diamonds between her fingers. Bruno stood by the door, looking through a makeshift peephole for signs of trouble. Vanessa was growing impatient being forced to hide out in holes like a mouse. She wanted out, but needed help to do it.

"He's coming," Bruno announced, opening the door ajar to allow the approaching man to enter unobstructed.

An evil smile curled onto Vanessa's face. It was about damn time he showed up. Jackson Montgomery pushed the door the rest of the way open and uncomfortably entered the warehouse. He hated everything about this: helping Vanessa, lying to everyone, and putting his career on the line. But then again, it was trying to save his career that got him here in the first place.

Feeling composed again, Vanessa sat back in her chair. Bruno showed Jackson the gun tucked underneath his belt and motioned for the DA to walk towards her. Jackson walked up slowly, holding tightly onto a small bag in his right hand. "You're late," Vanessa chided.

"I should turn you in right now you cold hearted witch," Jackson softly, but angrily, told her through his visible white teeth. "No one was supposed to die!"

"Oooo, I'm shaking," Vanessa confidently mocked him. "I don't remember making any promises how I was going to conduct my business."

Jackson bit his tongue and put down the bag.

"Is that everything I asked for?" Vanessa inquired, leaning over for a closer look.

"Just the passport," Jackson answered. "You get the rest if you can somehow honor your part of the deal. And if you don't, I'll make sure they catch you and lock you up for life."

"Oh please, Jackson," Vanessa laughed. "I own you. If I go down you're going down with me. You don't want people knowing exactly how the Paolo charges got mysteriously dropped, do you? It took your kind of connections – with Palmer's money of course – to get me off the hook on that one. Ha. I wonder how long you can hold onto your job and your political aspirations when everyone finds out who it was that helped Proteus bribe her way out prison. Your career would be over, Jackson. So drop the tough guy routine."

Jackson lowered his head in defeat. He had regretted that mistake ever since the day he made it. The only bright spot to this was that getting Vanessa out of the country would at least protect Leo and Greenlee from her, but keeping them in Pine Valley long term was going to be difficult without telling them why they had to stay.

"Now then," Vanessa clapped her hands. "I need my new identity, Jackson, and I need it soon. I need to get somewhere that's safe for me, and unfortunately Leo has shown that he's not ready to make the right choice yet and be with his mother."

"Leo will never want anything to do with you again, Vanessa," Jackson stated, his eyes still on the floor. "You made sure of that yourself."

"No, no," Vanessa angrily denied the claim. "He just needs some more time to see the truth. Soon he'll see that that tramp can't make him happy, not like I can. And then I'll be there for him. And if he is taking too long, well, there are ways I can force him to live without her." Vanessa paused and realized how she had let the DA unnerve her. Leo was the one way to get under her skin, but she would show Leo that she was right all along. Somehow, she was going to get him back.

Vanessa regained herself and once again sat back calmly. "Besides, I did keep my end of the deal after all."

Jackson curiously raised his head wondering where Vanessa was going with this. "What do you mean, Vanessa? You told me you were going to feed me Trey for something; never told me what. But how can you do that with Trey dead?"

Vanessa smirked, her eyes glowing in triumph. "You wanted an arrest, correct? Something to make your office look legitimate instead of the fools you are? I was going to feed you Trey for Greenlee's murder but I assume this will do nicely."

"What did you do, Vanessa?" Jackson asked, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"You found Trey's body, yes?"

Jackson nodded in the affirmative.

"And I venture to guess that your department isn't so incompetent as to not find the murder weapon stashed in the bushes?"

"We found it," Jackson uneasily answered.

"Did your band of morons bother to check who that gun is registered to?"

"That's not so easy to do, Vanessa," Jackson wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "A lot of people own that same model."

"Here's a hint, Jackson," Vanessa glared at him. "Think of someone who would have motive to steal my diamonds, who always needs some extra money around, who knew me and Trey, and who just happened to report a gun of the same model missing not to long ago. I think you'll be very happy with this."

Jackson whipped out his phone to call the police station.

"Good, I see the wheels turning," Vanessa commented. "You make the call and then you get me my new identity so I can get the hell out of this blasted town."

Vanessa licked her lips and whispered, "And Greenlee will get what's coming to her eventually."