Steve strolled along the pier as darkness fell over Salem. The crispness of the air told him that summer was nearly over and fall was rapidly descending on the town. He zipped up his jacket to ward against the chill and continued his walk.

For as long as he could remember, the pier had been a refuge for him when he needed to think. This evening was no different. He tried to figure out how he could help Shane, but he knew that it would be impossible to make any plans until Steve knew the charges. If it was just about who gave the story to Jack, Steve would march right in and turn himself in. But based on what Roman had said, Steve knew it was not going to be that easy.

No, it appeared that the government was going to make Shane its fall guy. Steve recalled how Roman called the mission "officially unofficial." Did that mean that Shane would need to prove that the ISA had authorized the mission?

Steve pondered the question. At first blush, it seemed easy. He knew the ISA had authorized it; they had put him in an army hospital and ISA doctors had taken his blood samples.

The thought had no more than crossed his mind before Steve chuckled. There was no way the ISA had not thought of that possibility and prepared for it. Still, there had to be something he could do. He just had to figure out what it was.

Steve ran a hand down his face. The effects of the lack of sleep he had gotten in the past week were definitely beginning to set in. His mind drifted back to the previous night when Kayla had refused to let him face his fears alone. As hard as he had tried to shield Kayla from his troubled mind, in that moment, he had needed her strength and she had given it without question.

Moments like those reminded Steve that, whatever had happened while he was gone, and however much they had changed, he and Kayla would make it through it all. No one else had ever been able to slip past his defenses the way that Kayla had, and he had never allowed himself to find shelter in someone's love like he could with Kayla. She truly was his life.

"Steve?"

Steve turned at the sound of Bo's voice. "Beauregard," he said, his tone guarded. "What brings you down here?"

"Just taking a walk," Bo replied as he walked up to Steve. "How about you?"

"The same, I guess." Steve stared out at the water, wondering if he was in for yet another round of accusations.

"So I guess we can stop pretending you just turned up in Cincinnati now, huh?" Bo said, casting a sideways glance at Steve.

Steve sighed. "I guess so." He looked at Bo. "I hope you know that I didn't like lying to you or the rest of the family."

"Is that why you told Jack? You didn't like lying?" Bo's tone turned colder.

Steve did not respond. He had told Shawn that he wanted to talk to Shane first, but the Brady family was not making it easy on him.

"You're just going to stand there and not say anything?" Bo asked. "Come on, Steve. Just tell me what happened."

"I've already had this conversation with your pop," Steve replied. "The only person who deserves an explanation right now is Shane, and, until I can give it to him, I won't say anything more." He took a deep breath. "So . . . if you're here to yell at me, just save your breath. I've already heard it from Roman and your father."

"I'm not here to yell at you," Bo said quietly. "Maybe I don't know exactly what happened, but I know you. You wouldn't deliberately betray Shane like that - no matter how mad you were at him."

Steve looked at Bo in surprise. He and Bo had been friends for a long time and, at times, had hated each other as only those who once were as close as brothers could. But Steve had not expected Bo to be on his side this time around. "You really mean that?"

Bo grinned at Steve. "Yeah, I do. You want to know why?"

Steve nodded.

"Because no matter how mad we were at each other, you could never really hurt me - even when you were at your worst. And when the chips were really down, you were still there for me." Bo looked out over the water. "I know you and Shane have your issues. But you were friends once, and you're still family. You couldn't betray him like that."

"Thanks for believing in me, dude," Steve said, feeling relief wash over him. "Besides Kayla, I think you're the only one who does."

"Everybody else will come around when you give them a chance," Bo replied.

"I don't know about that." Steve turned back to the water. "In the end, it doesn't really matter why or how it happened. The fact is that Shane's in serious trouble because of me. I can't expect the family to forgive or forget that."

"Maybe you can't expect it, but it will happen anyway." Bo's voice was confident. "We Brady's may be stubborn and hot-headed, but we're also big believers in forgiveness." He paused. "I should know."

Steve couldn't help but chuckle at that. Bo's hot-headedness had certainly caused the Brady family its share of headaches. "Yeah, but you're the baby of the family," Steve said with a smile. "They have to forgive you."

"Maybe so," Bo said, returning the smile. Then his expression grew more serious. "But I remember a time when I was angry and out of control and caused a lot of trouble for you. I know you didn't like it, but you didn't turn your back on me." Bo turned away, unable to look at Steve. "Turns out, you would have been much better off if you had."

Steve did not respond at first. He looked down the pier. In the darkness, he could not see it, but the spot where he had been caught in the boat explosion was not that far away. It was true that had Steve simply arrested Bo, that explosion probably would have never occurred. Yet, looking back, Steve doubted he would have done anything different. Going after Jencon had been the right thing to do, even if Bo had approached it in the wrong way. And Steve would have never left Bo to walk into a trap without warning.

"I don't think it's quite the same," Steve said softly. "You didn't know what was going to happen and neither did I. That wasn't your fault, Bo."

"And you didn't know that Shane would be arrested," Bo reminded Steve. "Maybe it's not exactly the same, but the point is that we've both made mistakes that hurt the people we care about, and we've stood by each other through the hard times."

Steve nodded. "I know. But Kayla's caught between me and her family. You shouldn't be stuck there too."

"Don't worry about me, Steve. I'm used to it." Bo smiled again. "Who do you think had to play referee for Kim and Kayla when we were kids?"

Steve chuckled, remembering some the Brady childhood stories he had heard. Then, Steve stopped laughing. "How . . . uh . . . how is Kim?" he asked hesitantly.

"She's holding her own," Bo said. "As a matter of fact, I'm staying with her at the house until Shane gets home, so I should probably be getting back."

Something in Bo's tone caught Steve's attention. He had a sneaking suspicion that Bo was not staying with Kim just to give her a shoulder to cry on.

"What's going on, Bo? Why are you staying at the house?"

Bo hesitated for a moment before answering. "The ISA pulled the protection from the house. Roman and me . . . we're keeping an eye on things for the time being."

"Andrew." Steve said quietly, feeling the guilt wash over him again. "You're worried about whoever is targeting Andrew."

Bo nodded. "The bodyguard's there too, and Roman has units at the house. We won't let anything happen to him."

"I know." Steve turned back to Bo. "Look . . . I'm sure Kim doesn't want me around, but if you need back-up or help or anything, just call me. I'll be there in a heartbeat."

"I know you will." Bo clapped Steve on the shoulder. "But don't worry. We have things under control. But I'd better get going."

"Be careful, dude," Steve said holding out his hand. "And thanks - for everything."

"That's what friends are for." Bo shook Steve's hand. "Somehow this is all going to work out."

Steve nodded and watched as Bo headed down the pier. He thought about what Bo had said about the ISA pulling the protection from Andrew. Steve had never trusted the ISA, not even when he had worked for them, and everything that was happening now just proved he was right. The ISA had written Shane off after that explosion at Saul Taylor's camp and had nearly let him die in Stockholm. Now they were going to sell Shane down the river to cover up their mess.

Come on, he said to himself. This is your mess as much as theirs.

Steve turned, stared back at the water, and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. This was his mess. And that meant he was the one who had to clean it up. He owed his family that much.