Thank you for the reviews and feedback. The comments are appreciated and have been very helpful.
A couple of people have asked about Eve. It has been a while since she was mentioned, but she is with Frankie in Africa. (On the show, she left Salem with Frankie in the summer of 1991, so the story sticks to that.) She has not appeared in the story, but there was some discussion of her leaving Salem during the Donovan Manor sequence and Shane saw her and Frankie in London. In fact, her leaving was part of Shane's impetus for getting drunk on the day he returned home and had his encounter with Kim in the Donovan Manor sitting room.
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Steve had nearly reached his car in the Spectator parking lot when he heard a shout behind him.
"Johnson!"
Steve turned to find Roman walking briskly towards him. He stopped at his car, wondering what Roman was doing there. Probably looking for Jack, just like I am, Steve thought guiltily.
Before Steve could speak, Roman shoved Steve against the door of the car. "You just couldn't resist could you?"
"What the hell is your problem, Roman?" Steve choked, trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of him.
"Right now, you're my problem, Johnson," Roman yelled. "You gave the story to Jack, didn't you? Did you come back to see if you could get a proper byline or something?"
Steve shoved Roman away from him. "Get away from me." Roman's attack was causing Steve's guilt to be rapidly replaced with anger.
"Are you going to deny that you talked to Jack?" Roman snapped.
"Even if I did, what the hell business is it of yours?" Steve snapped right back. "Since when is it a crime for the ISA to rescue somebody?"
Roman glared at Steve. "It became my business when federal agents hauled Shane Donovan into my jail."
"What?" Steve was shocked. "Why the hell would they arrest Donovan?"
Roman scoffed. "Gee, I don't know. Maybe because a secret ISA mission is now front-page news. Thanks to you and your brother."
"You mean the ISA thinks Donovan is the one who talked?" Steve choked back a laugh at that idea. "What's the big deal, Roman? Shane didn't talk and they won't be able to prove he did. Mickey Horton will have this whole thing cleared up in no time."
"You really think it's that simple, don't you, Johnson?" Roman's words dripped with condescension.
"Why not?" Steve asked, genuinely confused. "Jack's article makes Shane out to be some kind of hero. Hell . . . he'll probably get a medal when all is said and done."
Once again Steve found himself shoved up against the side of his car. "You have no idea what you're talking about - as usual," Roman growled. "Thanks to you, Shane might be looking at a long prison sentence."
Steve had had about enough of Roman's accusations and insults. "Why the hell would Shane be going to prison? He went on an ISA mission. They might not like it being publicized, but so what? I don't like a lot of things the ISA does either."
"You really don't know, do you?" Roman's voice was a bit calmer now. "I know Shane never told Kayla, but I thought he must have told you."
"Told me what?" Steve demanded to know.
Roman took a deep breath. "Shane didn't go on an 'ISA mission' when he rescued you."
Steve looked at Roman like he was crazy. "You don't know what you're talking about, Roman. I was there. There were a bunch of soldiers and helicopters. Shane sure as hell didn't rustle up those on his own."
"Just because he had support doesn't mean it was an official ISA mission." Roman raised his brow. "You understand what I'm telling you?"
Do I understand? For a moment, Steve thought the answer was no. But then it began to sink in. Steve sagged against the car. "You're saying that, as far as the ISA is concerned, my rescue never happened."
"Good, Johnson. It's finally getting through." Roman shook his head. "Shane told me before he left that this whole thing was - how did he put it - 'officially unofficial.' And, if word got out, he could get into a lot of trouble, including going to jail."
Why the hell didn't he ever bother to tell me that? Steve asked himself. Then another thought struck Steve.
"Wait. . . . So Mr. 'by-the-book' ISA man risked going to jail to do this 'unofficial' mission? That doesn't sound like Donovan. Maybe some of his ISA cronies, but not Shane."
"You don't get it, Johnson." Roman looked at him as if in disbelief. "The mission was Shane's. Nobody else's."
Steve thought he was starting to understand what Roman was not saying. "So what would have happened if Shane didn't agree to go in under those terms?" he asked quietly, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"There would've been no rescue." Roman put his hand on Steve's shoulder. "The only reason you got out is because Shane chose to take the risk."
Steve felt the air catch in his throat, almost as if he had been punched in the gut. It took a moment for it all to process, before he could nod and what Roman had said. A million thoughts ran through Steve's head right now, but one dominated - the ISA was going to leave him in that hellhole. If not for Shane, Steve would have died in that place without the ISA lifting a finger.
"I . . . I didn't know, Roman." Steve said quietly. "I swear I didn't know. Shane didn't tell me anything except that it needed to be kept secret."
"That should have been enough," Roman said, the anger returning to his voice. "But you told Jack anyway. I know you and Shane have had your share of run-ins lately, but I never thought you'd break your word like that. Hell, even Shane thinks it wasn't you because you promised him you wouldn't say anything."
Steve started to explain to Roman. He was drunk; he didn't know Jack was recording the conversation. But he knew it didn't matter. Roman wouldn't understand why. All that mattered is that Steve had screwed up - again.
"I guess you were both wrong." Steve said. His words were flat and emotionless. There was no explaining this.
"Not just us, partner," Roman replied harshly. "Kayla was down at the police station defending you to Shane not that long ago." He glared at Steve again. "How's it feel to make a fool of your own wife?"
Steve did not respond. He just opened the car door, got in, and drove away. As he drove back to the apartment, he wondered if his worst fear had finally come true. Maybe this would be the mistake that Kayla wouldn't understand.