Stefano studied the figure slumped on the couch. The man’s exhaustion showed through in the slouch of his body, the droop of his eyes. At least for the moment, the tense, almost explosive energy that had made him snap at anyone around him seemed to have dissipated. The killing had achieved its dual purpose. It had eliminated the man who had dared to touch one of his own, who had dared to take his child. It had also brought back a modicum of control to his most volatile agent.

John leaned back, half reclining on the leather sofa, and rubbed tired eyes. He gave a sigh of appreciation and lit the big cigar Dimera handed him.

“So, everything went according to plan?” Dimera asked, sinking back into the chair opposite John.

“Like clockwork. The boys did a good job. That Bryce is a good kid. We should keep our eyes on him,” John replied, sipping at one of Stefano’s finest scotches. He let it roll down his tongue and sear his throat, enjoying the smokey taste. With a start, he realized he would fall asleep if he wasn’t careful. Sitting up, he concentrated on his report.

“I hit the target just like we planned, Stefano. Don’t worry Jameson knew exactly why he died. He went to hell with your name still ringing in his ears.”

“You did as we discussed? The other members of the group will understand the message?”

John gave a sharp laugh. “Oh yea. Nobody is going to doubt that Jameson’s death was a message. I left the guy’s head sitting in the middle of his damned desk a desk that resides within a secured federal building. I don’t think we have to worry we were too subtle! Now we just have to wait and see which of our little rats start scurrying around and follow them down the holes when they do. We’ll have them, Stefano. Every last one of those bastards will pay with his life.”





“Then we’ll wait,” Dimera said simply. “Now, why don’t you get some sleep. You look like you could use it.”

Standing, John crushed out the last half of his cigar. Stretching like a cat, he gave Dimera a grin. “That’s what happens when you work for a living, old man. You should try it sometime.”

Dimera grimaced. “And you should have more respect for your elders, John. I’ll expect you at breakfast?”

“I’ll be there.” As he moved toward the door, John stopped beside Dimera’s chair and gave the older man’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “He’s the one, Stefano. He’s the one that gave the order. He’s the one that had her killed. He died with my blade in his throat and your name in his ears it’s a good start.”

“She would have been a beautiful child,” Stefano replied, his voice muted.

“Yea. Yea, she would’ve.”

Dimera sat silently staring into his glass as John walked from the room, shutting the door behind him.

John fairly loped down the staircase to the main floor, feeling better than he had since well, since the explosion. A full night’s sleep, a shower and a shave, and he was a new man. His mind was clear for the first time in a long while.

He strode through the main room, heading to the porch where he and Stefano usually ate when the weather was good. Dressed in jeans, Tshirt and hiking boots, he planned to go out and enjoy the fall weather in the mountains. It would be a few weeks before their contacts would be able to positively ID all of the members of the organization and he was going to spend that time in the woods. Just let the quiet soak into his bones, wash away the blood on his hands.

This had always been his favorite retreat and he planned to make the most of the Indian Summer. He only wished he could share it with the children. Share it with her. Pushing the thoughts away, he plotted the route for his hike as he approached the porch.

He stopped short as he rounded the doors and found Carrie and Sami seated at the table with Dimera. The silence was both icy and obvious and John fleetingly wondered whose terrible idea this had been.

“Mom said we could come down if we wanted to,” Sami said defensively, noting his arrival.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” John replied, taking his seat at the table.

“John, I cannot stay lockedup in those rooms anymore. It’s driving me nuts,” Carrie said, giving him a sharp look. “Besides, Mr. Dimera did say we could have the run of the compound.” She nodded coldly in Stefano’s direction.

John gave a shrug. “Okay. Okay. I’m not arguing. I just didn’t expect you at breakfast. Where are your mom and Eric?”

When Carrie didn’t reply, Sami hesitantly said, “They thought they would rather eat in today.”

Without comment, John nodded his understanding and reached over for the blueberry muffins. Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sat back in his chair. Peering across to the distant peaks, he tried to ignore the uncomfortable silence that settled around the table. His building tension at having the two parts of his life in such close proximity was rapidly threatening to destroy his good mood.

Growing bored with the strain at what was usually his favorite meal of the day, Stefano addressed John. “You’re going hiking? Are you going to walk up to Dragon’s Tooth today or stay in the valley?”

“Think I’ll stay in the valley. Most of my old gear was gone, so I had to pick up new boots. I want to break them in slowly,” John replied, glad for Dimera’s distraction.

“That reminds me, did Jensen set you up with a new kit? Everything fit okay?”

“Like a condom, boss. Jensen’s good...” John broke off suddenly, flushing bright red as he realized the girls were at the table.

Carrie couldn’t help it, she snorted milk out her nose, half choking herself as Sami merely looked at John in shock.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry… I mean...” John jumped uncomfortably to his feet as all three of his companions burst out laughing. Embarrassed, he stalked over to the railing and looked out over the woodlands. Catching his scattered train of thought, he turned back to the table. “No, I really am sorry. And I had better not hear either of you talking like that. It is totally inappropriate.”

Stefano could not quite contain another snort at that one and John shot him a dirty look.

“Oh, come now, John. It wasn’t as bad as all that. Come eat before it gets cold,” he said, dabbing at his eyes and trying to catch his breath. As John hesitantly sat back down, Dimera could not help but comment. “I would imagine that breakfast at your house was an event!”

For a moment, there was an uncomfortable pause and then John flashed a grin. “It was that,” he said, almost wistfully.

“Of course, you weren’t this good a cook,” Carrie interjected with a halfsmile.

“Well I’m way better than your mother. You have to admit that,” John shot back, unable to prevent himself from taking the bait.

Sami merely rolled her eyes. “Everybody is way better than Mom!”

Dimera reclined in his seat, stifling a contented sigh as he let the easy banter wash over him. He had so rarely seen John relax. Even as a youngster, he had rarely let down his guard. But here, with the children, there was a gentleness that Stefano hadn’t expected. Stefano was surprised to find himself looking forward to the coming weeks. Away from the everyday business of his empire, the sound of laughter in the house, he was going to enjoy watching John in this ‘fatherly’ role. Imagine, John Black lecturing someone on ‘inappropriate language’! He smiled to himself as the meal began to wind down.

“Can I come too, Dad?” Sami was saying, as Dimera shifted his attention back to the conversation at the table.

“Sure...” John replied with a smile, before adding more hesitantly, “But… you better check with your mom first. If it is okay with her, grab a swim suit. There’s a nice lake about 3 miles out. A dip will probably feel good by the time we get out there. I’ll get Jensen to pack a lunch. Carrie, you in?”

“I think I’m going to stick around, here. Thanks anyway, John,” she replied, darting a quick look in Dimera’s direction.

“Okay, we’ll see you all later then,” he said, moving toward the kitchen.

“Dad!” Sami called out. “It’s not like I packed any clothes!”

“Don’t worry about it. I told you Jensen was good. Check the dresser in your room. There ought to be something in there that will fit. And make sure to wear good shoes. It’s a fair hike.”

As John left, Sami following quickly after, Carrie turned to face Stefano. “Well, nobody ever accused you of being unprepared.”

Raising an eyebrow, Stefano nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you”

Picking up her cup, Carrie muttered into her coffee. “It wasn’t exactly a compliment.”

Sami came flying down the stairs, pulling up as she saw John sitting on the couch in the main room, loading a shotgun.

“Hey kiddo. Your mom say it was all right for you to tag along?”

Avoiding his eyes, she replied, “Mmm… it’s fine. But, what’s that for?”

From the open doorway, Dimera silently observed the exchange, Carrie at his side.

“It’s turkey season,” John replied. “The woods around here are full of them. Thought I might get a chance to bring home dinner.” He continued loading buckshot into the modified 8 gauge. It would take six rounds, including the one in the chamber. At close range, he could cut a man in half with it. Turkey weren’t the only thing he would be watching for. Giving Sami a smile, he continued, “I used to hunt these woods all the time when I was younger.”

“That’s sick, Dad. I don’t want you to shoot a turkey!” Sami trailed behind John, following him to the kitchen door where a pack lay waiting.

“Samantha Brady! I have seen you hoarding the drumsticks at every single Thanksgiving since you were two years old. Where did you think they came from? It’s not like those birds committed suicide or died of old age or something!”

“Well still...” the sound of her voice died out as she and John headed for the backdoor. As silence once again descended on the house, Stefano was startled by a soft voice at his side.





“Why did you do this? Why did you do this to him? Why did you have to destroy him like this?”

He studied the young woman, so like her mother it was hard to believe the two did not share the same blood. As she looked him steadily in the eye, Dimera shook his head. “I don’t know what you mean, Carrie. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him more at ease. He remembers who he is and he accepts it. I didn’t destroy anything. I just brought him back to himself, to who and what he is.”

“I saw what you did to him. At the trial I was there. You tortured him. You drugged him. Finally, you broke something. You took away the man who was my father and I want to know why.”





“You’re mistaken. If John is… damaged, I’m not the one who did it. When he came to me, he was already ‘broken’,” Dimera said dryly. “I gave him a place. A purpose. But I didn’t create him. I didn’t make him what he is. He came that way.”

The doubt showed clearly on her face and despite his better judgement, he wanted her to believe that it was the truth. Giving a sigh of frustration, he gestured toward the house. “If you really wish to know how John came to work for me, I’ll tell you. But we might as well get comfortable, because it’s a long story.”

John lay back on the flat boulder, soaking in the sun. He felt at peace for the first time in a long while. He’d been right a swim had been the perfect thing after the long walk out to the lake. The noon day sun sparkled down out of crisp clear skies, the temperature in the high 70’s. He enjoyed the sensation of the water drying on his skin as he lay baking on the rock. Looking over to where Sami was similarly laid out, he wondered if she was dozing.

“Hey, peanut. You up for some lunch?” he called softly, not wanting to wake her if she was asleep.

Barely opening her eyes, she replied lazily. “Sure, Dad. What’d you bring?”

Levering himself upright, John rummaged through the pack. “Well, Jensen came through again. Looks like we have a choice of ham, roast beef or chicken salad. You have a preference?”

“Mm. Chicken salad sounds great. Not a lot of vegetarians out here, I guess?”

“Come on, now. We’ve got apples, oranges. Must be tea in the thermoses. Jeesh, no wonder this pack was so heavy! Score we have chocolate chip cookies!” he exclaimed, holding the bag aloft triumphantly.

“Oh, like you made them yourself!” Sami said with heavy sarcasm. Coming over to dig through the pack, she realized that she really was quite hungry. “You know, I think this whole servant thing is making you lazy! When’s the last time you actually cooked something?”

“I never knew you thought so highly of my culinary skills. Just for that remark, I might have to make dinner tonight!”

“No… no. That’s okay. Forget I said anything!” Leaning back against the rock, she bit into the chicken salad. “You’re right this really was good.”

“I’m always right. Heads up!” he called, tossing her an orange.

With a grin, she caught it. “Thanks Dad.”

Leaning back against the sun warmed rock, he stared up at the sky. Closing his eyes, he allowed the motes of light to spark across his vision, dance through his mind. “Why do you still call me that?” he asked softly.

“Hm?” Sami mumbled through a mouth full of chicken. “Call you what?”

“Dad.”

“Uh, cause you are,” she replied, clearly uncomfortable with the change in topic.

“Sami, you know I’m not Roman. The DNA tests left no doubt. I’m not your dad.” Opening his eyes, he looked at her. For so long he had thought she was his his and Marlena’s. So much of her mother showed through. That long blond hair, almost dry from the sun’s rays; the clear skin that so quickly blushed pink when she was embarrassed; her eyes, the blue of her eyes that almost matched his own. He gave a wistful sigh. “I wish I was, but I’m not. Roman was your real dad.”

“So I guess Marlena isn’t Carrie’s mom?”

“Sami, it’s not the same,” John replied with a grimace. “I’m not the same man I was when I raised you. You and Eric and Carrie. What I remember, what I have done… It’s not the same.”

“You don’t seem that different to me.”

“What, you mean aside from the trail of bodies? Aside from the fact that I work for Stefano Dimera? Sami, I’m not the same. There is no point in pretending otherwise. Who I was when I raised you guys is not the same man I am now.”

“You aren’t different in ways that matter,” she snapped, her eyes narrowing. “After you remembered, you still brought Mom home. And the explosion I never thought you did that. I knew you wouldn’t hurt Mom like that. I was right about that. And now bringing us out here. You did that to protect us, right? How is it any different? You’re still doing what you always have. Protecting the family. None of that has changed. The only thing that has changed is that now you say you aren’t our dad anymore. You try and pretend it’s true. You try and stay way. But as soon as we need you, there you are. I wish you would stop pretending you don’t care about us anymore!”

He was startled by the anger in her voice. “Sami,” he said gently, “It’s not that I don’t care. I will always care. About you. Your brother and sister… Marlena. I stay away because I do care. Because I put you at risk. I can’t protect you from that, so I stay away. I can’t be the father you want.”

“You can, you just won’t. If you wanted it bad enough, you’d find a way,” she stated flatly.

“You are very stubborn, you know.”

“I get it from you,” she replied, a dangerous glint in her eye.

“Yes, you do,” he said with a grimace, scooting over so that he crouched at her side. “How about this. I can’t tell you what is going to happen in the future. I can’t even say where I’ll be. But what if we both agree, just between us You will always be a daughter to me. If you call, I will be there. If you need me, I will come. How about it?”

She refused to meet his eyes, so he took her into his arms and pulled her close. She stiffened at his touch, but finally relaxed and hugged him tight.

“I want you to come home. I want you to come home to stay,” she almost whispered.

Gently, he kissed the top of her head. “Sami, if anything happened, if any of you got hurt… I don’t think I could live with it. I know I wouldn’t want to. We can’t go back to what we had, Sami. I won’t risk it.”

“I know you would never hurt me, Dad,” she sobbed against his shoulder.

Stroking her back in a gesture from her childhood he held her close and cursed the blind Fates. Pulling back slightly, he looked down and caught her eye. “I will always watch over you. That much I can promise. Okay?”

“Okay, I guess,” she replied, wiping at her eyes. “It’s still all right for me to call you ‘dad’, right?”

Letting her go, he chuckled. “I don’t mind at all. Believe me, I’ve been called a lot worse.”

“I can imagine,” she replied with half a grin.

“Oh, nice. We get this fatherdaughter thing worked out and two seconds later, you’re already disrespecting me. I tell you, ungrateful children!” Moving quickly, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms.

“I should have been stricter when you were young!” he shouted above her shrieks as he splashed out into the lake and dropped her in the cold water.

As they walked silently back through the fields, John saw three huge birds winging their way in from the distant treeline. Two hens and a giant gobbler settled into the thick grass 50 yards to their fore. Grabbing Sami’s arm, he whispered, “Stay here. I see dinner up ahead.” As he started to creep forward through the tall grass, he felt a small hand clutch his shoulder.

“Don’t, Dad. I don’t want to see you kill anything. Please?”

Startled, he stopped and looked down at her. “Even if it meant no dinner?” he asked, breaking into a sudden grin.

“I could stand to miss one meal,” she replied with an answering smile.

Rolling his eyes, he laid the shotgun back against his shoulder. “I’m going to remind you of this come Thanksgiving! But, okay. Nothing dies today. Now, let’s go flush those birds up anyway. I love to see them on the wing.”

“Bet I get there first!” she cried as she took off running through the high grass.

Their laughter echoing back from the soaring hills, they sprinted through the grasslands. With a roar of angry feathers, the big birds took flight, soaring up into the blue of the Virginia skies. 

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