Kayla looked up from her paperwork as she heard a knock on her office door. "Come in," she called, then smiled as Steve walked in the door.

"Hi, baby," he said as he entered the room. "Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Of course not." Kayla got up from behind her desk and walked to him. "I'm always glad to see you." She leaned up, kissed him, and then looked closely at his face. "How was your appointment with Dr. Friedman?"

Steve gave a wan smile. "I'm not gonna lie, Sweetness. It was pretty intense." He shook his head slightly. "I feel like I've run a marathon or something. But I think it's working."

"Really?" Kayla asked. "Already?"

"Yeah." Steve looked and sounded exhausted. "I still don't understand exactly how it works, but we went through a memory - the one about being given the toxin - and I was able to remember some more details."

"That's great." Kayla breathed a sigh of relief. She knew Steve had committed to trying the therapy, but she had spent the morning worrying that his instinctive resistance to opening up to anybody would derail the therapy before it really got started.

Again seeing the exhaustion on his face, Kayla stroked his cheek softly and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," Steve replied, giving her another tired smile. "It's not easy remembering that stuff over and over again, but if it will help me get past it, then I'll keep doing it for as long as I have to." He reached over and brushed a stray lock of hair from Kayla's face. "I owe you and Stephanie that much."

"You don't owe us anything," Kayla said quietly. "We just want you to be happy and home with us."

"I know, baby." Steve pulled her close and held her. "But I owe it to you and Stephanie to be the best husband and father I can be. And if this therapy will help me to that, then that's all that matters."

Kayla snuggled into Steve's chest and held him quietly for a few moments. Finally she pulled away, saying, "As much as I'm enjoying just being here with you, I really should get back to work."

Steve loosened his hold, but did not release her from his arms. "I must be losing my touch if you're choosing that stack of paperwork over there over being in my arms."

Kayla smirked and lightly smacked Steve's arm. "You know I would never choose paperwork over being snuggled up with you. But, I have several reports I have to finish before my meetings this afternoon."

"I guess that means I won't be able to persuade you to join me in a supply closet today," Steve said with the sexy smile that always made Kayla's pulse quicken. She glanced at her paperwork and then back at Steve. For a moment, she was tempted to take him up on his offer, but she sighed regretfully and stepped away again.

"I'm sorry . . . you don't know how sorry . . . but I really need to get those reports done." She gave him sexy smile of her own. "How about a rain check for later this evening . . . at home?"

Steve groaned in mock frustration and raised his hands in surrender. "All right, Sweetness. I'll put the engine in neutral for the time being." Then he smiled and said, "I've got an idea. How about I see if Jamie can babysit tonight, and we can have a dinner out, just the two of us?"

"I'd like that," Kayla replied. "Just tell me where and when and I'll be there."

"How about Wings at 6:30. That should give you time if your meetings run long."

"Perfect." Kayla stepped forward and gave Steve a soft, lingering kiss. When they broke away, she said, "That's to tide you over until later."

Steve grinned. "Now I definitely have something to look forward to." He kissed her again.

Kayla felt herself getting lost in Steve's kiss, but she forced herself to end it and push him towards the door. "Go," she said with determination.

"I'm going. I'm going." Steve walked backwards towards the door. "See you tonight, Sweetness," he said, giving her one last look before walking out the door.

Kayla shook her head and walked back towards her desk and her reports. She worked steadily for about an hour, but then she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Knowing it was unlikely to be her husband again, she sighed in slight frustration at the interruption. "Come in," she called.

She immediately regretted her welcome when she saw who walked in the door.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson," Rachel Knight said, walking towards Kayla's desk. She was dressed in another low cut blouse and very tight jeans. Something about her immediately set Kayla on edge.

"Hello, Ms. Knight," Kayla replied, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Actually, there is." Without invitation, Rachel sat down in the chair on the other side of Kayla's desk. "I'm working on an article and had some questions I wanted to ask."

"If this is about Shane and the charges against him, then I have no comment," Kayla replied. "As my husband and I told you last week, we're not talking to reporters."

"You mean you aren't talking to reporters other than Jack Deveraux," Rachel replied tersely. "I've seen the articles in the paper and some of that information clearly came from your husband."

"Well, as Steve said the other night, Jack is his brother. It would be inappropriate to help the competition." Kayla knew she probably sounded rather pleased about denying the reporter, but she could not stop herself.

"Yes. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be inappropriate." Rachel's words were tinged with sarcasm. "In any case, the article is not about Captain Donovan."

"Then what is it about, and why would you think I have any information that could help you?" Kayla asked, suspiciously.

"I should say the article is not entirely about Captain Donovan." Rachel gave Kayla a fake smile. "It's primarily about the former Mrs. Donovan - your sister."

"Kimmie?" Kayla said incredulously. "Why would you be writing an article about Kim?"

"It's a human interest piece," Rachel replied with another fake smile. "Captain Donovan is big news and people want to know all about his life. Kimberly Brady is part of that story."

Kayla knew there was more to it than that. She could tell that Rachel Knight was not the kind of reporter who would care about a human interest story. She wanted a story that would get her noticed and, as had been made clear the last time they had met, she was not shy about using any means necessary to get it. Kayla did not know what was going on, but she was sure it was not good for Kim.

"I'm sorry." Kayla responded with her own fake smile. "I'm not interested in answering questions about my sister. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm -"

"I understand your reluctance," Rachel interrupted, ignoring Kayla's attempt to shut down the conversation. "With your sister's history, it can't be easy to talk about her."

Kayla flushed with anger and Rachel's comment. Now she knew without a doubt that Rachel was preparing some kind of hatchet job on Kim.

"You don't know anything about my sister," Kayla replied through clenched teeth.

"Oh, I know plenty about her," Rachel replied with a knowing look. "I know about her 'professional experience' in Europe, her association with a Leopold Bronski during one of Captain Donovan's missions, her history with Victor Kiriakis, and her brief relationship with Cal Winters. By my count, that's a Russian spy, a notorious crime figure, and a convicted felon." Rachel leaned across the desk. "Of course, it appears there should be two in that last category. I was hoping you could give me more information about her relationship with Lawrence Alamain."

"Get out." Kayla's voice was even, but firm.

Rachel did not move. "Come on, Mrs. Johnson. I've learned enough to know that you and your sister were very much at odds over her relationship with Mr. Alamain." She gave Kayla a sideways glance. "And I'm sure your relationship with Captain Donovan did not help matters."

"I told you to get out of my office," Kayla repeated, her voice rising. "You can either leave on your own, or I can call security and have you thrown out. It's your choice."

"There's no need to get upset." Rachel rose from the chair. "I just wanted to give you an opportunity to give your side of the story." She paused and wrote something on a sheet of paper and then placed it on Kayla's desk. "That's my contact information if you should change your mind."

"I can promise you, I won't be changing my mind." Kayla's anger was reaching its boiling point.

"Maybe," Rachel conceded. "But I can promise you something, Mrs. Johnson. It's much better to have me as a friend than an enemy. We all have our skeletons. I mean, look at you. First, you married brothers and then you went after your sister's ex-husband. You're very family-oriented, aren't you? That sounds like a headline - 'Kayla Brady - Keeping it in the Family.'" Rachel's eyes narrowed. "You should really think about that."

Kayla fought to keep her cool. She knew the worst thing she could do would be to lose her temper and say something that the woman would undoubtedly use in her article. Reaching for the phone, Kayla said, "You have ten seconds to get out of my office before I call security."

"Very well." Rachel walked towards the door. "It's your choice. I just hope you don't find a reason to regret it. . . ."

Before Kayla could respond, Rachel left the office, making a point to smile as she closed the door behind her. Kayla stared at the door for a long moment, then put down the phone and sank back in her chair, letting out a deep breath.

Kimmie, she thought suddenly. She need to tell Kim what Rachel Knight was up to. Kayla reached for her phone and dialed the abuse clinic. Kim's assistant answered and told Kayla that Kim had already left for the afternoon. Kayla thanked her and hung up.

"Damn," she said out loud and she looked at the clock. Her meeting was in ten minutes and she still had to finish the report she was working on. She put down the phone and picked up her report. She would get through her meeting and then stop by Shane's house before she met Steve at Wings. She was not looking forward to facing her sister, but Kim needed to know what was going on. Whatever else was going on, Kim deserved that much.