Chapter 27

The short drive to the police station had been full of purpose, but now Bo was honestly a little hesitant as he got to Hope's office. He had not seen her since the day of picnic and things had not been great there… but that had had nothing to do with what was or wasn't going on between them.

He remembered the last time he had been here. Things had not been great between them but he was sure they were on the up now. They were talking civilly, which was a vast improvement. He wanted more but when he had left… well, he had given that up. Civil was more than he could hope for and he was getting that.

He had to be grateful.

Besides, he had to go in there. He thought about what Steve had said about finding new place to start. It had been good advice. He knocked on the door and only opened it up when he was called in.

"Hey…" he said stopping short. If he had carried on he would have called her 'Fancy Face'. But if he was honest, he was not sure if he had the night to any more.

"Bo, hi," Hope said as she sat back in her chair.

"How are you?"

She was not sure if she was honest. Not after the night before. The date night had got no less awkward as the evening had gone on and Aiden and she had ended up in their separate homes before ten.

But he was not the one who she should be confiding all of this in.

"I am ok, how are you?" she returned.

"I am - I am doing better. Um… I actually came here to see my brother but I was told he was out."

"Yeah, he had to go out to a conference today. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yeah, can you just please give these to him?" he said as he passed her some forms in an envelope.

"Of course, can I know what is inside?" She asked raising her eyebrow.

He nodded. "I am applying for reinstatement."

"On the Salem PD?" she said as she raised her eye brows.

Hope smiled. "Of course, it is. That is great, Brady."

So there were some roots he was setting down. Proof positive he was staying.

They were never going to be together personally again but that did not go to say she did not want to work with him professionally again. He was a damn good cop and she would be honoured to be his partner in the Police department again.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "The streets are going to be a lot safer if you are here."

He smiled – both of them had always wanted that. "If I am taken back on…"

"How does it feel to know you are at Roman's mercy?"

"You know…. Well, it pretty much sucks."

Hope burst out laughing before she remembered she was not meant to find him funny anymore.

X x x

Justin felt as if he could breathe easier with Elsa gone. He felt that as soon as she left the house, but especially as he did the day after.

It had been with just a small bit of sadness he had watched her go. The two of them had had some good times but what they were had got way out of hand and he was well aware that he was an idiot for even letting it begin in the first place. Never mind letting it get out of hand.

But now she was gone and he felt as if he was going to be able to begin the rebuild now. To rebuild his life and to somehow get Adrienne back.

The night she had left he had found himself heart sick to be without her. They had just passed one of the most pleasant evenings together they had had in a long time. When they were together he could remember why they had started up in the first place.

There was a fire and there was a passion and he could remember the young Adrienne Johnson who had come to town looking for her big brother to insist he help her and her mother. She had been so plucky and she had had so much courage. That had turned out to be handy once she had moved in with Victor. The two of them had gone toe to toe over the years and she had lived to tell the tale, which not everyone would have.

He wanted her back. He wanted their family back. He wanted the boys to know just how much he loved and respected their mother. And he knew all of that sounded very cheap just then as he had given none of them any reason to believe that.

But he did love her and he did respect her.

And he was going to get her back.

He left the hospital board meeting he had attended morning with that thought in his head. He had been distracted throughout so he was not too sure what had gone on…

But at least he had his objective.

Now he just had to work out how he was going to achieve his aim.

He arrived at the elevator, pushed the button and waited.

The door to the lift opened and he was about to get ride in and head down to the bottom floor when Adrienne came out with Steve and Kayla… but she was the one who mattered. She was always the one who had mattered.

"Adrienne, what are you doing here?" he asked surprised.

X x x

"Oh I – I am just here for Kayla's check-up -"

"Yeah and if we do not get going soon then we are going to be late," said Steve as he swept his two girls away from Dimples.

Kayla looked at Adrienne knowingly for she knew better than ever how over protective Steve could be when it came to those he loved. But a look at Adrienne and she knew the other women was grateful for her brother's protection just then. Telling Justin she was pregnant was something which she knew she had to do but she was not at all ready to do.

Breaking it off with Lucas had been a lot easier. He had sweet and kind to her and a very good friend when she had needed him but what the two of them shared was not even on the same level as what she had with Justin.

"Thank you," she said to Steve once they were far enough away from the elevator.

"You do not have to thank me, baby."

She nodded. She knew he would say something like that… "I am going to have to tell him in the end though, aren't I?"

Then it was his turn to nod.

Her brother was a moral man for all the fact he would love others to believe otherwise.

And she knew deep down Steve would know Justin had to know.

But not yet.

"Are you sure you are going to be ok on your own?"

"Yes Steve, I am going to be fine. It is just a couple of tests. Go on, you, get Kayla to her appointment," she said as she gave her sister in law a kiss for luck.

It was a big day for both of them.

And besides, Adrienne was aware that her brother was not going to want to come with her even if he would have if she'd ask. Kayla needed him and he was only too aware of that.

"I'll be fine alone. I will see you guys back in the waiting room."

Justin, at that moment, was heading back to his own car, determinedness having given way to concern.

If there was one thing Justin was sure of it was that Adrienne was not here for Kayla, Steve could have brought here on his own. They had been lying.

He was not sure why but the one thing he was sure of was that he was going to get to the bottom of it.

X x x

Steve held Kayla's hand as they sat before Marcus in Doctor Jonas's office. Daniel stood to the side of the desk.

It was the last time they would met here: Homey would soon have his own office.

Marcus had worked fast when he had seen a position open up at University Hospital. He had applied and fast and got on the staff once more, not due to any nepotism but due to his genuine skill as a doctor. And as soon as he had got the job, Marcus had taken the lead on Kayla case, through the patient's choice.

Though his specialism was plastic surgery, Kayla was sure as he had been there to witness it all he was going to get a quick, firm grasp on her medical history. That was what she needed right then.

Steve knew it was still no guarantee that everything was going to be ok but it did make him feel better. He trusted Marcus implicitly, even and especially with that which was most precious to him. He would put Kayla's health above everything.

Still he could not help but feel as if he was edge, the entire time Kayla was being examined. All he wanted to do was protect her.

"Well from what I see Kayla is soon going to be ready for the op. I would say very soon," Marcus said he turned to the two of them, once he was finished.

Steve signed the good news in turn to Kayla.

"This is great!" said Steve. Yes, it meant she had to go in to theatre but the results were going to be worth it.

He remembered the last time he had signed those words to her. She had been so afraid. She had turned and ran from him for a while but once more he was reminded this time was very different to the one before.

She knew she had everything to gain.

He turned to see she was nodding with a look of determination in her face. There was no need to talk her in to the operation this time.

"I propose we get a theatre slot booked for some time next week," Marcus continued and Jonas agreed. While they had not followed his advice he wanted his chief of staff back at full strength. That was going to be a fine day indeed.

Kayla smiled as she held on to Steve's hand. She could only concur with them, as Steve continued to translate for her. It was high time.

As far as she was concerned, the sooner she had it, the sooner she had would hear her babies voices... and the sooner she could tell Steve the way she felt.

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