After returning home from Shane's house, Steve had thanked and paid the babysitter, a young college student named Jamie who lived in an apartment down the hall. Although they had not often had to hire a babysitter since his return, given the upheaval in the Brady family, Steve had a feeling that Jamie's babysitting business was about to pick up.

He could hear the sounds of Kayla giving Stephanie her bath, an activity Steve was usually only too happy to assist with. But his emotions were still churning from the confrontations with Shane and Kim, so he figured it was better if he stayed in the living room for awhile.

As he sat on the couch, Steve tried to process everything that had happened. The past few days had been one long series of shocks. Jack's article, the revelation that Steve had been the one who talked, Shane's arrest, learning that the damned ISA had intended on leaving Steve in Alamain's hands, and last, but certainly not least, the reveal of Shane and Kim's deception about his therapy.

Steve knew his anger at Shane had kept him from appreciating what Shane had risked to rescue him. It had been easier to dismiss Shane's role in the rescue when Steve had believed that it was really an ISA mission. But Steve could not ignore the truth now. If it were not for Shane, he would likely be dead.

Yet, that didn't stop the anger he still felt. The debt he owed Shane did not make the conflict that had existed between them since Steve's return any less real. And it did not change the fact that Shane and Kayla had been in a relationship while he was gone, something that Steve was still having a hard time accepting.

But his anger was not just about the recent conflicts. He still could not believe that Shane had never told him that the ISA had threatened to take him into custody. And, even worse, Kim had kept that information from Steve as well.

And now he could not help but wonder if part of Shane's motivation for not telling Steve the full truth about the rescue mission was Shane's fear that Steve would have refused to cooperate with the ISA in any way if he knew the truth. I'm not wrong about that, Steve thought bitterly. But then he remembered the toxin he had been subjected to before his rescue. He could not have kept that information to himself, no matter how angry he was at the ISA.

Steve shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. How could an organization that was capable of doing so much good also be willing to let innocent people die or use children as pawns in its games? Shane had said that Steve could not understand him, but that was not entirely true. Steve understood Shane's commitment to making the world a safer place. What Steve would never understand was Shane's apparent belief that other people's families were more important than his own.

"Papa!" Steve turned as Kayla brought a clean and smiling Stephanie into the room. Kayla put Stephanie down and Steve smiled as she ran over to him. It always amazed Steve how much Stephanie could change in just a few days. In just the couple of months he had been back, she had gone from a somewhat-unsteady toddler to a very quick little girl.

As Stephanie reached the couch, Steve leaned down, picked her up, and swung her over his head, as had become their custom. It was a game of which Stephanie never seemed to tire and Steve enjoyed just as much.

After a moment, Kayla joined them on the couch. She stroked Stephanie's hair as their daughter cuddled up against Steve's chest.

"Are you okay?" Kayla asked quietly. "It's been kind of a crazy day."

Steve nodded. "It's just been a lot to take in."

"I know," Kayla replied. She started to say something else, then stopped. Steve looked at her, seeing a question in her eyes. "What is it, Sweetness?"

Kayla hesitated for a moment, the asked, "Did Shane tell you why he wasn't going to fight the charges? That just doesn't make any sense to me."

Steve took a deep breath to fight back the stab of jealousy he felt at hearing the concern in Kayla's voice. Then he shrugged and said, "It doesn't make any sense to me either, baby. Shane doesn't owe the ISA anything after what they've done, but I guess Shane doesn't see it that way. He says he knew the risks going in, and now he has to live with them."

"But there have to be people who know the truth," Kayla insisted. "You were on a military base and you told me about the soldiers."

"There are a lot of people who know the truth," Steve said bitterly. "But Shane won't let any of them testify because then they would be putting their lives on the line for Shane."

Kayla was quiet as she absorbed what Steve had said. Then, looking up at him, she said, "So Shane's right then. There is no way to fight those charges."

"I wouldn't go that far," Steve said. "Shane may not be interested in fighting for his life, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let him go to prison."

Kayla's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I thought you were angry at him."

"Oh, I am angry at him, Sweetness." Steve's voice rose slightly. "I'm angry at him for everything that's happened the last few weeks and I'm even angrier that he didn't tell me about the ISA's threats." Steve calmed himself and ran his hand down his face. "But this mess is still my fault, and I'm not going to let Shane spend his life in prison for my mistake."

"So what are you going to do?" Kayla asked.

Before Steve could respond, there was a knock at the door. Steve and Kayla looked at each other curiously, neither having any idea who could it could be. Kayla shrugged and got up from the couch to answer the door.

"Mrs. Johnson?" Steve heard a female voice say when the door opened. From his spot on the couch he could not see who was at the door. Steve did not recognize the voice.

"Yes," Kayla replied.

"My name is Rachel Knight, and I'm a reporter with the Boston Globe. I was hoping I could talk to your husband for a few minutes."

Steve saw Kayla glance his direction and then turn back to the woman at the door. "I'm afraid that's impossible. We aren't interesting in talking to any reporters."

"I understand your hesitance, Mrs. Johnson." The reporter maintained a polite tone. "But I met Captain Donovan in Saudi Arabia and we . . . became friendly. I'd like to help him if I can. I'm on his side."

"That's nice to know," Kayla responded, her voice growing more icy. "But, as I said, we're not interested in talking to any reporters."

"Wait a minute, Sweetness," Steve said. He got up from the couch and walked to the door, where he got his first glimpse of the reporter. She had shoulder-length brown hair, dark eyes, and was wearing a shorter skirt and lower-cut blouse than anything Jennifer Horton would ever wear on a reporting assignment. No wonder Kayla's tone had been cold. Slightly amused, Steve asked, "Did you say you met Shane in Saudi Arabia?"

"Yes," she replied, flashing him a brilliant smile. "As I was telling your wife, I'd like to help him if I can."

Steve looked at Kayla and nodded. Kayla's eyes narrowed, but she pulled the door open and allowed Rachel to enter the apartment.

"Mr. Johnson, I'm Rachel Knight." She held out her hand to Steve. "I'm with-"

"The Boston Globe," Steve said as he took the offered hand. "I heard."

"Right," Rachel replied, giving him another blinding smile. She continued to hold his hand as she said, "And who is this little one?"

"That's our daughter, Stephanie," Kayla said curtly. Steve could not help but smile at the ice in her voice. His smile grew as Kayla walked over and reached for Stephanie, forcing Rachel to let go of his hand.

"She's a beautiful little girl." Rachel seemed oblivious to Kayla's actions.

"Thanks," Steve said. He pointed to the chair. "Have a seat."

"Thank you," Rachel replied. She sat down and slowly crossed her legs, making sure Steve got a full view of them.

Steve caught a glimpse of Kayla rolling her eyes behind Rachel, and he stifled a smile. "So what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked.

"I was hoping you could give me more information about your rescue. Captain Donovan denied being in the ISA when I met him, but since he was eating dinner with a Special Forces officer, I knew there was more to the story than what he told me. And I don't believe that he was acting without ISA authorization when he rescued you. So . . . if you give me some more information, maybe I can help get the real story out."

Steve shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that." He took Kayla's hand as she joined him on the couch.

"Why not?" Rachel Knight asked, giving Steve a little pout. "Surely you don't want Captain Donovan imprisoned after what he did to rescue you."

"No, I don't want Shane to go to prison," Steve said. "But my brother owns a newspaper and he'd just never forgive me if gave some kind of exclusive to another reporter."

Rachel was silent for a moment, then she gave him a look of understanding. "Jack Deveraux's your brother."

Steve nodded. "I'm surprised you didn't know that already. For a reporter, you didn't do your homework very well." He heard Kayla's soft snort beside him.

Rachel flushed slightly at the jibe, but recovered quickly. "I've only been in town for less than 24 hours. I'll do better next time." She flashed another smile. "But if you won't talk to me for a story, why did you let me in?"

"Because I need some information and, if you're sincere about helping Shane, you'll give it to me." Steve spoke with a determined edge to his voice.

"What information is that?" Rachel asked, suddenly looking less comfortable.

"You said you met Shane in Saudi Arabia. And then you said you met him when he was having dinner with a Special Forces officer. Do you know the officer's name?"

Rachel did not answer at first and Steve wondered if she would answer at all. He had no illusions that this Rachel Knight had any real interest in helping Shane, but if Steve read her right, she might be willing to give him the information in the hopes of getting some from Steve at a later date. Just as he was about to give up hope, Rachel answered.

"Ryan Nowicki. I suspect he was the captain of the unit that rescued you."

That's it. Steve suddenly remembered the name of the officer who had visited Deakins in the base hospital. Nowicki.

"Do you happen to know if Captain Nowicki has a Sergeant Deakins in his unit? Nice guy with a really thick accent?" Steve asked nonchalantly.

Rachel nodded, smiling at how Steve had implicitly confirmed her suspicions. "Roy Deakins. I did a story on their unit a few months ago. I had to listen to my interviews with Sergeant Deakins more times than I'd like to remember to understand what he was saying."

"That's him," Steve replied with a slight smile. "Do you know where they are now? Are they still in Saudi Arabia?"

Rachel shook her head. "I don't know. They were still in Riyadh when I left, but that was a few weeks ago. They're part of the Fifth Special Forces Group, so they'd be based in Kentucky. At Fort Campbell." She paused, then continued. "I'm not supposed to know this, but one of the men did tell me they expected to be going home 'soon.'" She shrugged. "I'm just not sure what 'soon' meant and, being Special Forces, they could get sent anywhere. Sorry, that's the best I can do."

"I appreciate it," Steve said as he stood up. "Now . . . I'm sure you have stories to write and deadlines to meet, so we don't want to take up any more of your time."

Rachel seemed startled at Steve's abrupt ending of the conversation, but she stood and said, "Of course." She held out her hand to Steve again. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Johnson."

Steve shook her hand again and gave her a smile. He could feel Kayla's eyes burning a hole in his back, but he ignored it for the moment. "It was a pleasure to meet you as well, Ms. Knight."

"Please . . . call me Rachel," she said, again refusing to release his hand. "Hopefully our next conversation will be more . . . mutually beneficial."

"We'll see," Steve said noncommittally as he walked Rachel to the door.

"Goodbye, Mrs. Johnson," Rachel called as she exited the apartment without waiting for a reply. Steve figured that was just as well given the look in Kayla's eyes when he closed the door and turned back to the couch.

Without a word, he walked over and sat back down beside Kayla. He took Stephanie from Kayla's lap and lifted her over his head.

"Well, Little Sweetness," he said. smiling up at his daughter. "Your Papa still doesn't know exactly how he's going to get Uncle Shane out of this mess, but at least now he knows where to start."

Stephanie giggled at her father as Steve pulled her down to his lap. Then he leaned over and gave Kayla a kiss on the cheek. Turning back to Stephanie he said, "You want to know something else, baby girl? Your mama's really cute when she's jealous."