Shane cursed himself for being unable to rush to Kim's side when she stumbled in shock at the sight of Roman 2. Marlena reached her quickly and helped her to the couch, while both Romans tried to get close.

"This can't be happening," Kim looked at Roman 1, and then back at Roman 2. "This can't be happening."

"It is, Sis," Roman 2 said. "It's me and I'm finally home."

Roman 1 put a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Not so fast, pal. I'm not buying your story. . . ." He turned his head in Shane's direction. "And I bet Shane doesn't either."

Marlena turned too and looked at him anxiously. "Shane?"

Taking some slow steps across the room, Shane made his way to an empty chair. He was drained already, and this whole bizarre twist appeared to just be getting started. Sinking into the cushion, Shane rested both hands on the handle of his cane.

"I wish I could tell you something, but I don't have an answer. . . ."

Roman 1 cut Shane off. "But I answered all your questions - even the trick ones."

"Yes . . . you did," Shane replied. Roman 1 had displayed a perfect recollection of every matter Shane had raised. He looked at Roman 2. "But so did he. Every question. I don't understand it - and I certainly can't explain it - but you both have Roman Brady's memories, including things no imposter could possibly know."

"That's obviously not true," Roman 2 said, eyeing his counterpart suspiciously. "There can't be two of us." He glared at Shane. "Or has your time away from ISA made you forget basic detective work?"

"Roman!" That came from Marlena, and seemed to have the effect she wanted. Roman 2 turned away and stomped over to the window alcove.

Shane took the momentary silence as a chance to check on Kim. "Are you okay?" he asked. "I know this must be a shock. It was for me as well."

"I'm okay," she said evenly. "Confused, but okay. How did this-"

"How did this happen?" Roman 1 interrupted. "Me and Doc were in San Cristobal and we got lost in a jungle. Next thing we know-" He pointed at Roman 2. "He was shooting at us."

"I was shooting at the guy who was impersonating me," Roman 2 snapped.

Marlena raised her hands. "Enough, both of you. Would you please stop sniping at each other while we figure out what we to do? Shane . . . do you have any ideas?"

"Yes . . . but I'm not sure you're going to like it. . . ." Shane personally hated the idea, but it seemed to be the only way to get the answers they needed secretly. "You should call the ISA and have them run DNA tests."

Roman 1 jerked his head back and shook it violently. "Oh, no, partner. There's no way I'm trusting the ISA."

"I knew you'd feel that way, but I can't think of any other way to get a DNA test done on the sly," Shane explained. "University Hospital is out of the question. You walk in there and the rest of Salem will know in a matter of hours. The ISA can have a specialist come to you, take what he needs, and then the ISA lab in Washington can run the test."

"So there is some aspect of detective work he remembers," Roman 2 grumbled. He rolled his eyes in response to Marlena's sharp look. "Let's do it."

Shane looked at Roman 1. "I wish I had another idea, Roman, but if it helps, I don't see any reason why the ISA would be involved with this." Shane stopped short. He was about to point out that the ISA had never harbored ill-will to Roman; Vaughn had used him in Stockholm, but not to hurt Roman directly.

Roman 1 did not seem mollified. "I can see a reason - you. Having the Police Commander as your friend could be inconvenient with your trial coming up. With me out of the picture and an imposter in my place-"

"Hey, who are you calling an imposter, pal," Roman 2 snarled.

Roman 1 ignored the comment. "Look at what Tarrington's already done to you. Taking out your best friend so he can't help could be part of his plan to put you away."

Shane had to chuckle a little. "Contrary to what I might sometimes think, the world does not revolve around me, Roman. Besides, Tarrington doesn't need to take you out of the picture to get what he wants. He already has the judge in his pocket." Shane squeezed the cane handle. "It's really your best option."

"Fine," Roman 1 muttered.

Roman 2 walked over to the phone. "So let's call the chief. Who is it?"

"Tarrington," Shane said. Tarrington, who betrayed me, used my family, and doesn't deserve an ounce of trust.

Obviously, Roman 2 had a completely different opinion. "Ol' Captain Tarrington? That's great. He was my first ISA contact. Good for him to make it to the top."

"Yeah," Kim said, the sarcasm plain. "Good for him."

Shane exchanged a look with her, but she stood up and walked toward window. Meanwhile, Roman 2 was trying to explain the situation to someone over the phone.

"Yes, I know it sounds crazy," Roman 2 said. "Tarrington, I'm telling you that I'm Roman Brady and this guy you've let into the ISA is not Roman Brady." As he spoke. Roman 1 stalked angrily back-and-forth across the library, obviously annoyed with what Roman 2 was saying. "Yes, Chief, that's it exactly. DNA tests, but we need them secret - not until we know what we're dealing with."

Roman 1 reached the limits of his patience. "What we're dealing with is some sick game by I don't know who. . . ." He ran both hands through his hair as Marlena walked over to him and said something that Shane could not hear. He watched as she whispered softly to Roman 1, who looked up momentarily, then nodded. It was obvious to Shane that, whatever was happening around them, they still cared about one another. Plainly, no matter how this whole situation turned out, someone would be hurt.

Taking a deep breath, Shane looked toward the window where Kim was standing. She was watching Marlena and Roman 1 closely, a sad, crooked smile on her face. Then she turned her head toward Shane, their eyes locked momentarily, and she looked down at the floor.

"Done," Roman 2 announced. "The doctor will be in Salem first thing in the morning to get samples."

"Wait," Kim said. "What about Mama and Papa? Won't you need their samples?"

Roman 2 seemed nonplused. "Sure. We'll get them. I say we go over there right now."

Roman 1 shook his head. "Whoa, pal."

For an instant, Shane feared the two men would come to blows, so he spoke quickly. "Hey, wait a minute . . . Both of you." Shane knew it was a bad idea to go to the Bradys, so he said to Roman 2, "Look, Shawn and Caroline have been through a lot these past few years." In his mind, he tried to think of everything the Bradys had been through since Roman's "death" on the island. That seemed like a lifetime ago. When that happened, everyone still believed Bo was Shawn's son. Victor Kiriakis had not even appeared in Salem. "This will be a huge shock to them-"

"So, what? I just sit on my hands when my folks think I'm dead?" Roman 2's face was turning red.

"They don't think you're - I mean me. They know I'm not dead," Roman 1 pointed out.

Shane raised a hand from his cane. "I'm saying maybe we should try something a little more discrete. DNA can be taken different ways. Maybe someone could take Caroline's brush or Shawn's toothbrush . . . something like that. That way they won't have to go through this . . . uncertainty until we know the results of a DNA test."

"Sounds good to me," Roman 1 said.

Marlena nodded. "I agree."

Roman 2 crossed his arms defiantly. "Well, I think it stinks."

Kim stood up and walked over to him. Time for Kim to play peacemaker, Shane thought. They talked in hushed tones for a few minutes. Meanwhile, Roman 1 paced around the other side of the library, repeatedly running his hands through his head. Marlena stood behind the sofa; her eyes kept darting between the two Romans. Shane felt completely helpless.

Finally, Kim appeared to get through to Roman 2. Gruffly, he announced, "Okay, I'll wait. Kimmie says she'll get something we can use for testing from Ma and Pop."

"You sure you want to do this, Sis?" Roman 1 asked.

Kim nodded. "It'll be easy. I'll say I wanted to bring Jeannie over so she could spend the afternoon with her grandparents." She hesitated and turned to Shane. "I mean, if that's okay with you? I . . . I don't want to take Jeannie away from you."

"It's all right," Shane said. "She's with Simmons. I asked him to put her down for a nap when I finished. . . ." Quizzing? Testing? ". . . talking to them." Actually, taking Jeannie to her grandparents made sense. Shane was feeling so tired, he doubted he could watch her. As it was, he doubted he had the strength to climb the stairs to his bedroom. He would probably fall asleep on the couch after Marlena and the Romans left.

Kim frowned slightly as she watched him. "Are you sure you're okay, Shane?"

"Sure," he lied. At her dubious expression, he shrugged. "Just a little tired. It's been a long morning."

"Oh!" Marlena gasped. "I'm so sorry, Shane. We weren't thinking."

Shane shook his head. "It's fine, Marlena. I just wish there was more I could do."

"Still, we should go so you can get your rest." She motioned toward the Romans and they quickly made their exit, leaving Kim and Shane behind.

Shane watched as Kim fixed a cup of tea. Her hands shook as she lifted it to her lips. She walked to the sofa, took a seat, and muttered, "I don't believe this."

"I wish I could offer an explanation," he said. "But I'm as befuddled as all of you."

"When we found Roman - or who we thought was Roman. . . . That was right after Andrew was born." Kim seemed to pause. "Didn't the ISA verify it?"

Shane had to admit that he had not been personally involved, but he knew enough about ISA protocol to answer. "They had to. They would have never tried to get Roman involved in that Stockholm mess over the treasury bonds if they hadn't verified his identity." Still, Shane had some doubts. "The thing is . . . Vaughn was in control of the ISA back then. That man was so corrupt that it's hard to know what he might have done."

"Not much different than Chief Tarrington," Kim mused.

No, in retrospect, probably not, Shane had to admit. "Look, I'm not thrilled about using the ISA for these tests, but I really don't know how else to get them done in secret. We both know what can happen with test results at University Hospital." Kim snorted derisively, as Shane added, "The one thing is that the truth always comes out. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Kim nodded slightly, then turned pensive. "Shane . . . what if Roman - I mean, the man we've thought of as Roman for the past five years - isn't Roman? Who is he? Why. . . ." Her voice trailed off, the last question unfinished, but Shane understood what she was about to ask.

Why would someone get Roman's memories and pose as him? Shane looked away and thought. The logical answer was not a pleasant thought. If Roman 1 was not really Roman Brady, he was some type of plant who had been brainwashed. That was consistent with what Shane had managed to discern about the Pawn, but they had always thought that Petrov had just wiped the man's memory.

And, yet, it was completely absurd to think that the man Shane considered his best friend was a plant who was placed in Salem for some nefarious purpose. Roman 1 was a good man, someone you could trust to always have your back. Shane had known that when he was just John Black and had been willing to let Shane eavesdrop on Victor.

"It doesn't matter," Shane said. "If he's not Roman, however this shakes out, he's still a good man. I know this will be hard on your parents . . . and on you, but I just don't think the kind of love he has for you and your family can be faked. Whatever the reason, that's genuine."

He felt Kim watching him, and knew she had her doubts.

"I wish I could do more to help you through this," Shane said quietly, turning his head so their eyes met. "You know I'd do whatever I could to help you avoid being hurt."

For a moment, neither of them said a thing. Shane could see the longing in Kim's eyes, and he smiled softly. Kim started to smile back, but then looked away. "I . . . I'd better be going." She set her cup down on an end table. "I have to get back to work, and I don't have much time to get Jeannie to my folks. I'll find some things and take them over to Marlena's."

"Put a few plastic bags in the purse and put whatever you take in the bags quickly. Try to touch them as little as possible," Shane said. "You don't want to contaminate them with your DNA."

Kim nodded. "I'd . . . I'd better go."

"Kim, wait. . . ." Something had just dawned on him. "Why did you come home? I mean, you don't normally come home during the middle of the day when you're working."

"No. . . ." Kim looked sheepishly at the floor. Then she looked up. "I . . . I was going to keep you company during lunch."

Shane thought his heart started beating a little faster.

"Guess that's kind of silly," she said.

"Not to me," he replied, then silently warned himself, Don't push. You're not supposed to be pushing her. Still, he smiled. "I'm sorry about all this . . . That would have been nice."

"What would have?" Kim asked.

Shane chuckled. "Lunch. Having lunch with you would have been nice."

"Um . . . yeah. . . ." Kim appeared to be growing a little uncomfortable, and Shane suspected he might have overstepped. "Look. . . ." She motioned for the door. "I really should go." She did not wait for his response, before she almost fled through the door.

Now alone in the library, Shane rose slowly from the chair and, using the cane, carefully moved to the couch. Reaching it, he sat down, turned, pulled his legs up, and tried to clear his mind so he could rest. But as he did, he could not stop himself from grinning. Kim had started to take the first step. Maybe it had been interrupted, but it was a step forward nonetheless. The rest would follow in time. He would make sure of it.