Kayla was seething. A few minutes ago, she had been so happy for Kim and Shane. It had seemed like everything Shane had planned had worked, and soon the charges would be dropped. In that moment, Kayla had seen the same look in Shane's eyes that she had seen that day in the hospital when he had first held Jeannie after learning she was his daughter.
Then Tarrington had walked in. At first, Kayla had been most concerned about making sure Steve did not do anything crazy. There were a few moments when she had feared he would try to attack Tarrington and, honestly, she would have liked to join him. But she also knew that they couldn't risk trouble with the ISA right now. And then despite everyone's protests, Shane had made it clear that his mind was made up. And as Kayla had stood there, she had been forced to watch Kim's heart break.
It was so wrong, Kayla thought. Kim and Shane had been through so much. They did not deserve this.
"You have more important priorities," Shane was saying to John. Then he turned to Kayla and Steve and his eyes met hers. Kayla could see the pain in them, but she also could see that he was determined. In his mind, this was the right decision. "So does Steve," he said.
Kayla had to look away as her face flushed. Only Shane, Kim, and Steve actually knew about her pregnancy, but at this point, that was the least of her worries. If anything, it angered her a little bit that Shane was using her family as an excuse to give up his. In any case, nobody seemed to pay any attention; everyone was too focused on Shane.
Studying him, it hit her how much had changed in the past few months. Less than six months earlier, she and Shane had been - how had Steve put it - "practically engaged." They had both been willing to settle for just a small amount of happiness amidst the enormous pain that had engulfed their lives.
Now, Kayla had her life back and could only envision her happiness continuing. She and Steve were about to become parents again. Six months ago, that thought was unimaginable.
It was all because of what Shane had done. He had put everything on the line so she and Steve could have their lives back, and it was wrong that Shane and Kim were going to suffer because of it.
Her heart aching for her sister and her family, Kayla had looked at Kim. The pain was visible in her face, but, behind her tears, her eyes reflected a grim resignation. Kim had accepted Shane's decision. Kayla could read her sister well, and could tell that Kim was determined to hold it together.
Roman and Shane had shaken hands, but Kayla kept watching Kim as she looked up at Shane. He whispered something to her, and Kim nodded back.
Kim turned to the rest of them and said, "We're going to go."
Kayla could feel the tears filling her own eyes. Her sister was ever the survivor. Unable to stop herself, Kayla rushed forward. Kim stepped away from Shane and her arms enveloped Kayla in a tight embrace.
"You'll get through this, Kimmie," Kayla said, the tears now running down her cheeks. "We'll be right here for you."
Kim held fast. "I know, Kay," she answered. "I'll get through this, and I know I can count on you." Kim pulled away and sniffed back some tears. Sounding almost apologetic, she said, "Now. . . . We need to go see the children."
Kayla gave her sister and then Shane a sad, regretful smile. She knew how hard it was going to be for them to tell Andrew about the decision and, even more, how hard it was to say goodbye to your child for several years. She thought of the day she had given up Stephanie while in prison for Marina's murder. It had nearly killed her to give that baby to Steve, knowing it could be years before she could hold her again. She put that thought behind her and tried to come up with something to say. Unable to think of anything else, Kayla said the only comforting thing she could, the one thought that she had held onto in that prison cell.
"Your children love you, and they will keep loving you, no matter what."
Shane responded by giving her a small nod, but he didn't say anything. He just wrapped his arm back around Kim and led her out of the staff lounge.
When the door closed behind them, Bo cursed and slammed his fist down on the counter holding the coffee set-up. Styrofoam cups went flying all over the floor. Carly, John, and Isabella tried to calm him.
"It's not right," Bo growled. "This is bull-"
Roman kicked at a few of the cups. He was scowling. "This may be the first time we agree on anything since I got back, little brother."
"Don't encourage him," Kayla snapped at Roman. She spun around toward her younger brother. "Bo. . . you blowing your top isn't helping any." Her own anger had returned and she probably wanted to break something just as much as Bo, but they had to remain calm. Bo's eyes met hers and he shook his head angrily, but seemed to regain control.
"It's just not right."
"Since when has anything about the ISA been right," Steve muttered. Kayla turned quickly toward him. He had been silent for a long time and she suddenly worried that he might react as angrily as Bo. But Steve seemed surprisingly calm. "But Kayla's right," Steve said. "We're not going to do Shane one lick of good if we're sitting here losing our cool."
There was something in Steve's tone that made Kayla pause. The others must have heard it too. Everyone fell silent.
John spoke first. With a raised eyebrow, he asked, "And how exactly do you plan on doing Shane any good?"
"Let's just say I think I have an idea." As Steve spoke, Kayla could see a gleam in Steve's eye.
Feeling a nervous flutter in her stomach, Kayla asked, "What are you thinking?"
Steve's lips started to form a sly grin that Kayla knew well. "Just a little way to throw a monkeywrench into that bastard Tarrington's plans," he said. Steve looked at Roman.
"But it's going to need your help, Commander. . . and your's," he said, switching his attention to Carly. When they both nodded, making it clear that they were willing to take part, Steve paused for a moment. He seemed to fall deep into thought, before he continued. "And Jack. We're going to need Jack."
Kayla looked at Steve. He seemed so confident and certain. He will do anything to make this right. Kayla's own desire to help her sister and Shane stopped any thoughts that might have made another person hesitate. But she had to wonder at involving Jack after everything he had done to cause this mess. "Jack?" she asked. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, baby," he said. "We're all in this together. Shane's not going down until we've done everything we can to help him."
John stepped forward. "So what can I do?"
"You can go find Jack," Steve said. Then he stopped, thought for a second, and broke into a wide, laughing grin. "And, while you're at it, I have one more little thing I want you to do."