Carrying Jeannie, Kim walked into the house. Andrew raced ahead of her and slid down the highly polished wood floors. That had become one of his favorite games at Donovan Manor.

"Careful, Andrew," she called, picturing him sliding smack into a wall or taking out some of Shane's antiques. He had lost enough of those already.

Up ahead, Andrew disappeared into the sitting room and Kim heard him yell, "Daddy!" She reached the doorway in time to see Shane putting a pistol into his shoulder holster. He gave her an uncomfortable glance and she saw him putting a second gun into a metal box.

"Sorry . . . I was just cleaning them." Shane knew that she did not like him having weapons out in front of Andrew, but she also suspected that his discomfort had a lot more to do with their encounter a few nights earlier.

She had only seen him once since that night, a brief exchange in the kitchen when he told her that he would be leaving on a new mission. Kim had refrained from stating the obvious - that he was using a mission, once again, to run away from the mess that was his personal life.

"Shane, we need to talk."

He sighed and nodded slightly, then turned to Andrew. "Champ, why don't you see if Worthington can give you some milk and cookies. Do you remember what we call them here?"

Andrew nodded. "Biscuits."

"Right. So go ask Worthington for some biscuits," Shane said, as he ruffled Andrew's hair and then watched Andrew run out. "I'm going to turn him into a true Englishman one of these days," Shane said, before he turned away from Kim and began to fiddle with the metal box.

"Shane?"

"I'm here," he said. She could see him take a deep breath before he spoke, still with his back to her. "About the other night. . . . I was out-of-line. I should never have touched you."

Kim shook her head. He really has no clue, does he? She walked around so she could see his face and said, in a soft voice, "Shane, it's not just what happened. Do you remember what you asked me?"

"No, I'm sorry," he said, but he flushed slightly, betraying his denial.

"You just can't admit it, can you?" He can't admit he still loves me. "You might have been drunk, but that was the most honest you've been with me in the past year."

"It doesn't matter, Kim." Shane turned away again. "What we had . . . We can't get it back. There's no future for us. And what happened the other night - all of it - never should've happened and I'm sorry." He took another deep breath. "If it makes things easier for you, when this job's over, I'll . . . I'll pack up the house and move out of Salem. Or you can have the house. It doesn't really matter. There's not really anything left there for me."

Kim thought her heart had stopped. What is he talking about? "How can you even say that?" she said, angrily. "Salem's your home. Andrew's there. Our family's there-"

"Your family, Kim," Shane replied. "And they don't really seem to like me all that much these days."

"That's just an excuse, and you know it." Kim stepped in front of him again. "You're going to look at me, Shane Donovan. You're going to look at me when I say this. Your home is in Salem, with your son and the people who care about you. And if you use this as an excuse to abandon them, then you are something I never thought I'd say about you - you're a coward."

Shane seemed to bristle at the very suggestion. Good, Kim thought. I'm getting through to him.

"Now I don't know what this mission of yours is," Kim continued. "But when it's over, you had better come home to Salem. Do you hear me?"

"And if I didn't, you'd probably track me down," he said in a resigned tone.

"I do know a few cops and private investigators." Kim gave him a sympathetic smile. She knew how hard the past few weeks had been. Ever since he had found out Steve might be alive, Shane's life had been thrown into upheaval. She reached out and took his arm, grateful that he did not pull it away. "Why are you doing this mission, Shane? Can't someone else do it? You need some time at home-"

Shane looked away again. "I can't back out now. I told Tarrington I'd do it and I will."

"Should I ask what it involves?" Kim knew the answer, but she asked the question anyway. When Shane shook his head, she sighed. After all this time, she still couldn't get used to the danger. "Can I at least help you pack?"

He smiled softly. "It's all taken care of. I just have to add this-" He motioned to the box containing the gun. "-this to the bag. Worthington took care of the rest."

Before she could say anything else, Shane crossed over to the desk by the entrance to the room. "I spoke with Tarrington and told him you're making progress with Steve. I don't think you'll have any issues with the ISA coming for him while I'm gone. Tarrington said we would reassess things when I get back." Shane picked up a file that was on the desk. "I also had this sent over. It's your cover story. We wanted to come up with an easy way for you to avoid any questions about the ISA rescuing Steve. And remember, it's imperative that nobody learn about that."

Kim understood. After what Shane had told her the other night, she knew it was critical that the ISA's involvement be kept a secret.

"The gist of the cover story is that Steve was found by police in Cincinnati and his prints came through in the ISA database. He had no memory of anything since before he showed up there, so the ISA asked you and Kayla to cut your vacation short and go to Cincinnati. Kayla for obvious reasons; you to help Steve with his memory. He's now remembered everything except what happened since just before the boat explosion."

"Won't people see through that when we fly into Salem from England?"

Shane shook his head. "The ISA plane will take you all to Cincinnati. Then you'll take a commercial flight back to Salem."

"And what about you?" Kim asked. "How will we explain you not being with us?"

"You'll just tell the truth," Shane said. "I got called away on a mission. Obviously, I would have gone with you if I was in England, but I had already left by the time the ISA called about Steve. To be honest, I would have preferred that we just leave it that you all went to Cincinnati from Salem, but I think you and Kayla made a few too many calls home from here."

Kim added the obvious. "That, and we told everyone we were coming to England for a summer vacation before Andrew starts kindergarten."

"Right. . . . Kindergarten. I'd forgotten about that." Shane shoved his hands into his pockets. "Hopefully, I'll be back in time for that, but just in case, I'll say something to him tomorrow morning before I leave."

Kim was about to say how important it was that Shane be there for their son's first day of school, but Jeannie chose that moment to get fussy. Kim soothed her daughter and then looked back at Shane, who was watching Jeannie. She could see the pained expression on his face.

Bouncing Jeannie a little, Kim said, "I'd hoped that this trip would give you a chance to get to know Jeannie a little better. It wasn't that long ago that you said that's what you wanted."

"I know." Shane looked up at the ceiling. "I know that's what I said. And part of me still wants that. Like I said, I find myself drawn to Jeannie. But . . . I don't know why, but I can't put it behind me. She's a beautiful girl - I guess that's a given with you as her mother." He sighed and then looked back at her. "I'm sorry, Kim. I know it's unreasonable, and it's unfair to you . . . Maybe it's just my stupid pride. But I can't help the way I feel."

Kim knew what he was saying. He could never forgive her for moving on, especially with Cal, and Jeannie would always be a painful reminder of that mistake. It did not even matter that Cal was out of their lives, locked away in prison in Alaska. Kim fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes. This was so stupid; he was so stupid. They could have gotten past it if he could just let it go.

Shane seemed to be growing increasingly uncomfortable, so he picked up the box. "I . . . I'd better go put this away and then . . . I have some things I need to do in the communications room. I'd better do those now because the flight is quite early tomorrow." He gave her a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Kim."

Kim hugged Jeannie tightly as he walked out of the room and said to herself, "Not as sorry as I am."