Steve entered the Spectator offices and headed straight for Jack's office, ignoring the looks from the Spectator employees. However, before he could get too far, he was intercepted by Vern Scofield.

"Steve . . . uh . . . can I help you with something?" Vern asked, casting a nervous glance at Jack's door.

"Unless you've suddenly become Jack, no. I assume he's in his office." Steve was sure that Jack was counting on Vern to run interference.

"Jack's . . . uh . . . Jack's in conference at the moment." Vern's voice betrayed his nerves. "I can tell him you stopped by if you like."

"I think we already tried that once," Steve said. He looked at Vern and gave him a slight grin. "Don't worry. I'll tell Jack that you did your best to stop me from seeing him." The grin faded. "But I am going to see your boss one way or another."

Vern sighed and stepped aside. "I told Jack that I wouldn't be able to stop you."

"You're a good man, Vern - for a newspaper dude anyway." Steve clapped Vern on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt him - too badly."

Steve stepped around Vern and resumed his journey to Jack's office. As he reached the door, he could hear voices inside.

"No, Jack . . . I am not going to go to the Donovan house to try and get more information for you," Steve heard Jennifer saying. "I've already told the station that I can't cover the story because it's a conflict of interest. I'm certainly not going to do it for you."

"Jennifer," Jack said. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. I'm banned from the premises and I need somebody I can trust to get the story. I won't even use your name."

"Yes, I'm sure you'll be more than happy to take credit for the story." Steve choked back a laugh at Jennifer's comment.

Steve could hear the rustling of papers as Jennifer asked, "What are you looking for, Jack?"

"I'm looking for my tape recorder," Jack said. "You know - the little silver one that I usually carry."

"You mean this?" Steve walked through the door holding up the mini tape recorder. He watched as Jack and Jennifer turned towards him and took momentary pleasure in the look of fear that crossed his brother's face. He also noticed the bruise on Jack's jaw.

"Steve. . . ." Jennifer's voice finally broke the silence. "It's nice to see you."

"It's nice to see you too," Steve replied, flashing Jennifer a grin. "I hate to interrupt, but do you think that I could have a word alone with Jack?" Steve's grin quickly faded as he looked at his brother.

"I don't think Jennifer needs to leave," Jack said, finally finding his voice. "After all, she's part of the family now."

Steve grinned at his brother. "You're not afraid to be alone with me now, are you, Jack?" He turned back to Jennifer. "I'd really appreciate a moment alone with Jack. I promise I won't do too much damage to your husband."

Jennifer nodded and walked towards the door. Before she left the room, she turned and gave Jack a small smile. "I'll see you at home later . . . I hope."

As Jennifer closed the door behind her, Steve turned and faced his brother again. As they stood in silence, Steve tried to keep his temper in check. Finally, Steve spoke. "You just couldn't help yourself could you, BillyJack?"

"Look Steve," Jack said in his best politician's voice. "I know you are upset, but I can explain."

"Explain?" Steve's voice rose sharply. "I was drunk. You taped our conversation and used it for a story. And a man's in jail because of that." Steve slowly approached Jack. "You really think you can explain that?"

"I didn't know the story would get Shane arrested," Jack protested. "It's not like you told me that part."

"Oh, so now this is all my fault," Steve said. "I'm assuming you told me that you were going to print the story when we were talking at the Heart, right?"

Jack looked at Steve curiously. "You don't remember?"

"No, Jack," Steve snapped. "I don't remember. So why don't you tell me exactly what happened?"

Jack sighed. "I showed up and you were pretty messed up. I asked you what was wrong and you said that Shane had caused Abe to reject your reinstatement. Then you said something about wondering why Shane brought you home if he was just going to mess with your life."

Steve strained to remember as Jack told the story. But it was all just a weird combination of a big blur and a big black hole. "Just answer one question for me, Jack." Steve paused, unsure if he really wanted to ask the question. You have to know. "Did I tell you to print the story? Was I trying to get back at Shane?"

Jack stood silently for a moment, as if contemplating his answer. Finally, he hung his head and said, "No. I asked you what really happened and you said you would tell me, but that it was just between you and me."

Steve's emotions alternated between relief and rage. After a few seconds, rage won. He grabbed Jack by the lapels of his suit jacket and shoved him against the desk. "I told you not to push it weeks ago. And then I told you to keep it between you and me. And instead of doing what I asked, you printed the story." Steve released Jack and looked at him with disgust. "I really thought you had changed. I guess I was wrong."

"You're not wrong," Jack insisted. "Maybe I wasn't fully honest in getting this story, but I only did it because I had no other choice."

"You had a choice, Jack," Steve said bitterly. "You could have left things alone. You just didn't want to."

"I told you the paper was in trouble, Steve." Jack stepped away from Steve and walked around to the other side of the desk. "I wasn't lying or exaggerating. Without this story, I was just a few weeks from having to close it down."

"So you decided that playing me for a fool was a better option." Steve did not feel any sympathy for his brother.

"Printing this story was my only option," Jack said. "Circulation is up, the advertisers are pouring in, and, with the national attention, the paper is on better footing than it's been in months."

"Well, that's just great, Jack." The sarcasm dripped from Steve's words. "And all it took was lying to me and getting a good man thrown in jail. You must be very proud of yourself." Steve leaned over the desk menacingly. "Do you have any idea what you've really done?"

"Come on, Steve," Jack said, taking a seat on the other side of the desk. "The feds aren't really going to go after Shane. They can't. He's a hero for saving you." He leaned back in his chair. "This will all blow over before too long."

Steve scoffed, but then remembered it wasn't that long ago that he had believed the same thing. How mad could he really be at Jack for dismissing the seriousness of the whole thing? Sighing, Steve said, "I have a hunch you'll find out in a couple of days just how serious it really is."

Jack stared at Steve. "You're not joking are you?"

"No, Jack. I'm not joking at all. Shane's in serious trouble right now because of this article."

"I never meant for that to happen," Jack said quietly.

Steve chuckled at the irony. Jack sounded just like he had when he explained it to Kayla. "Well that doesn't matter much now does it?" He paused as he looked at his brother. "I trusted you, Jack. For reasons I can't even understand, I trusted you. And it's not just me. Kayla trusted you. When she called and asked you to go and get me, she trusted you."

Jack shifted uncomfortably in his chair at the mention of Kayla's name, while Steve continued. "Now Kayla's family is upset at her because she's standing by me. Do you know how much it hurts Kayla to be in the middle of this?"

"I'm sorry," Jack said sincerely. "I really am sorry."

Steve looked down at Jack. "If you really mean that, then you'll help me now. We caused this mess, so now we need to fix it."

Jack thought for a moment. "I can run a series of articles highlighting all of the good that Shane's done over the years. We can use the paper to put public pressure on the government."

"I guess it can't hurt," Steve said, grudgingly. "But it's going to take a lot more than that for you to make up for this."

"What else do you want me to do?" Jack asked.

"Keep your eyes and ears open for now," Steve said. "I'm not sure what they're charging Shane with yet, so I'm not sure what he'll need to fight the charges. But when I know, I'm going to expect you to help me get it - is that understood?"

Jack nodded.

"Good." Steve sighed. "You're getting a second chance to do the right thing here, Jackson. Don't blow it."

Jack nodded again.

"I'll be in touch," Steve said, turning to leave. But, before he did, he could not resist asking, "So which of the Brady boys gave you that nice decoration on your jaw?"

Jack cracked a smile and ran his hand over the bruise. "Roman," he said quietly.

"I'll have to thank him for that," Steve said, walking to the door. "If he ever speaks to me again."

When he reached the door, Steve stopped and looked at Jack. "Remember what I said. If you mess this up again, you won't be getting a third chance."

"I'll remember," Jack said. "I won't let you down."

"We'll see about that," Steve said, shutting the door behind him. As he walked out of the building and back to his car, Steve hoped that Jack was sincere. Steve was going to need some help if he was going to fix the mess that he and Jack had created.