Steve paced around Shane's study waiting for Shane to join him. He chuckled silently as he recalled the look on Shane's face when he had appeared at the bedroom door. Steve felt kind of bad about interrupting, but his conversation with Shane could not wait. Steve needed to know what was going on with Lawrence Alamain. After he and Kayla had made love the previous night, she had fallen asleep in his arms and Steve had vowed to himself to find a way to deal with Alamain without hurting Kayla anymore. He had no idea how he was going to do that, but he had a hunch Shane might hold the key. That hope had caused him to leave his wife sleeping in their bed that morning. Now, he wanted to find out what Shane knew and get back home as quickly as possible.

It was closer to ten minutes before a scowling Shane walked into the study. He was now wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater, not just a robe like earlier.

"Hey, sorry about interrupting," Steve said.

Shane walked over to his desk, still scowling. "So what is so important that you had to barge right up to my bedroom to talk to me about?"

"I want in," Steve said.

Shane leaned against the desk. "In?"

"Your plan with John."

Shane shook his head. "You're imagining things, Steve. I don't have any plan with John."

"Cut the bull, Donovan. I heard you two talking on the dock last night." Steve caught a slight look of surprise on Shane's face, but it quickly disappeared. "Yeah, you didn't even know I was there, but I heard you. You're going after Lawrence."

Shane shook his head. "What we were talking about has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me," Steve barked. He forced himself to take a breath before his anger got the better of him. "Lawrence Alamain stole nine months of my life and put me and my family through hell. He tested that damn poison on me, and I'll be damned if I just sit back and do nothing while he uses that stuff in Salem."

Shane's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, yeah. . . . I know a lot more than you think." Steve walked toward the desk. "I've seen the ISA study - it's 'worst case scenario.' If he attacks a Salem U basketball game, estimated casualties 8,000. If he attacks a school, 500 dead. And I know all about how the ISA is stockpiling scorpion anti-venom in the immunology lab." When Shane did not respond, Steve added, "And I know Lawrence is in Mauritius, where he's probably perfecting the toxin."

Shane turned away and walked toward the window. "This isn't your battle, Steve. Let the ISA handle it."

"Like you are?" Steve asked. "Don't play me for a fool. If you thought the ISA could handle it, you wouldn't be working with John. Besides, you want revenge just as much as I do."

"It's not about revenge," Shane said.

Steve could not read Shane's face, because he was facing the window, his back to Steve, but there was an obvious sincerity in his voice. "Okay, then what is it about?"

"Look, I can't tell you." Shane turned his head. "But it has nothing to do with you, Steve. Just stay out of it."

"How can you tell me to 'stay out if'? After what Alamain did to me, do you honestly expect me to just sit by and do nothing."

"And then what?" Shane snapped. "You're going to let him kill you for real this time? Bloody hell, Steve. You have your life back. Why can't you just take that and be happy with Kayla and Stephanie?"

Steve shook his head and laughed. "Okay. . . . Let me see if I have this straight. I'm supposed to just go on with my happy life while you and John go after Lawrence all by yourselves. But it's okay if it happens to you? Why's that? Because your life isn't happy? I guess I'm wrong about why you didn't want to be interrupted just now."

"That's not it," Shane said, crossing back toward the desk.

Steve was losing his patience. "Then what is it? Tell me why I'm supposed to sit on the sidelines and be happy while you're risking your life!"

"I don't have a choice!" Shane shouted. He steadied himself and his voice lowered. "I just don't have a choice, Steve. I have to be the one to stop Lawrence."

Now, Steve was confused. There was something to this that he did not understand. "Why, dude? The entire ISA is after Lawrence. Why does it have to be you?"

Shane seemed to hesitate, as if debating whether to explain. Finally, he motioned to a chair in front of his desk and Steve knew he was about to hear the truth. Rather than do anything that might cause Shane to reconsider, Steve sat down.

"Okay, Donovan. What's this all about?"

Shane took a deep breath. "This is my last chance, Steve. This is the only way I'm going to stay out of prison on these treason charges."

That made no sense. "What does bringing down Lawrence have to do with the charges? I don't get it."

"And I thought you understood how the ISA works," Shane said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "If I stop Lawrence - something the ISA couldn't do - they'll have to say I'm still working for them. They can't let themselves look like they couldn't stop a madman from attacking an American city."

"So you stop Lawrence and they'll just pat you on the back and all will be forgiven?" Steve did not try hard to hide his skepticism. Before Shane could respond, Steve held up a hand. "Okay, dude, I get it. They'll welcome you back with open arms. But how the hell are you going to stop Lawrence? You just nearly got yourself killed by Winters."

Shane looked away. "I can handle it."

"Sure, you can handle it. You and John can take down Lawrence all on your own." Steve wondered for a moment if he sounded like Kayla. "You know that you and John would have a much better chance if I help you. I'll have your back on this."

"No," Shane snapped. "Damn it, Steve. I didn't bring you out of that camp just to throw you back into Lawrence's clutches."

Steve stood up and looked Shane in the eye. "That's not your choice, Shane. It's mine. Look . . . either you work with me or I'm going after Lawrence myself. And you've already seen what can happen when I do? Remember what I did to your surveillance on Lawrence's house? Who's to say I don't screw things up for you and John. You're better off knowing what I'm doing."

"Steve, please. . . ." Shane sounded like he was talking to a child, which only made Steve more annoyed

"No, Donovan." Steve was not going to be deterred. "Even if I didn't give a damn about Alamain, I still owe you. So, if this is how you're going to stay out of prison, I'm going to help."

"You owe me, you say?" Shane stepped toward Steve. "If you owe me, then the best way of paying me back is to go home and be with your wife and daughter. Make them happy, Steve. That's what I wanted when I took the assignment."

Steve shook his head. "No dice. I'm here and I know your plan. Hell, you got John involved, so let me help."

"Steve, I only got John involved as a way of helping him get through this stuff with the Bradys." Shane took another deep breath. "I don't plan on getting him hurt."

"Oh, so you're only going to let yourself get killed. Sorry, dude, I can't let you do that. You're not going after Lawrence alone."

"Lawrence?"

Steve spun around to see Kim standing in the doorway of the study. She was wearing her robe and looked like she had just gotten out of bed. But what Steve mainly saw was the look in her eyes - anger and betrayal.

"Steve, I think you should leave," Shane said quietly.

"Yes," Kim agreed. "You should. I think Shane and I have a lot to talk about."