"We've got to get down there." Isabelle announces instinctively and runs across the bedroom quickly followed by John.

Dazed and confused, Lauren tries to follow them but she is snapped out of her trance when she feels her foot slip on something. She looks down quickly and sees the file resting invitingly on the ground…the file on Megan.

Acting as quickly as possible, she bends down to pick it up and rushes over to a chest of drawers, flinging it inside. She can see over the balcony that John and Isabelle are already on the patio and races out of the room to aid them.

"Julia!" Lauren sees her in the hallway as she hurriedly makes her way down the staircase.

"What?" Somewhat stunned, Julia turns and notices her panicked expression.

"There's been an accident. We need your help! Quickly!"

* * *

"What took you so long?" Isabelle looks round to see the two women approaching as John keeps a finger on Mindy's neck.

"Oh my God!" Julia gasps, ignoring the question. "What's happened?"

"I told you it was an accident." Lauren snaps and they both crouch down to the side of the lifeless body. Blood is trickling from Mindy's ear and mouth.

"She's got a pulse. She's alive." John announces and pulls his finger away.

Isabelle cuts in, "We're going to have to get some help to get her onto her side."

"Wait, we shouldn't move her." Lauren seems horrified. "What about her spine?"

"No she's unconscious. She could still vomit." Isabelle turns to John. "Can you manage to keep her airways clear?"

"Yeah. Julia, Lauren we're going to need some help here."

"Well tell us what to do." Julia says irritably, unbelieving that she is in this situation.

Isabelle keeps her voice calm and steady as she moves over towards Mindy's head. "We're going to have to roll her over. She needs to be comfortable because she's going to have to stay in the same position until the ambulance gets here."

"Okay." Lauren and Julia seem to reply in unison as the tension mounts.

"I'll keep her head and neck steady." Isabelle continues. "On the count of three we're going to turn her over. Are you ready?"

There are several murmurs as every member of the group focuses solely on the body and ambulance sirens begin to sound in the distance.

"One…two…three." Treating Mindy like a broken china doll, they begin to turn her onto her side slowly, Isabelle keeping her head rigid.

"Gently!" John warns as they finally get her onto her side.

"I'll go and get the paramedics." Julia volunteers, her voice softer than usual but holding a taut sense of urgency.

"Is she going to be okay?" Lauren flicks her gaze between John and Isabelle as Julia rushes around the side of the house.

"I…don't know." Isabelle tries to play the situation down but resists the urge to reach out to her daughter, knowing that she has to hold Mindy's head as steady as possible.

Before the conversation can continue further, the patio is thrown into chaos again when two male paramedics run towards the body, carrying a stretcher between them. "How's she doing?" One of them directs the question towards Isabelle, noticing that she is holding Mindy's head.

"She's still alive. We turned her over to keep her airways clear and she's only been like this for about five or ten minutes."

"Okay. Has she been responsive?" One of the paramedics asks as his partner bends down.

Isabelle shakes her head. "No."

"What's her name?" The other paramedic looks up and begins to pull on a pair of transparent gloves.

"Mindy." John responds quickly. "Mindy Stewart."

"Right. Mindy? Can you hear me? Mindy?" The paramedic places a gloved hand on her face and pulls her eyes open one at a time, flashing them with a small light. Reaching over, he pulls an tube from his bag and slowly inserts it into her mouth.

Mindy's fingers twitch slightly as the tube is inserted and her eyes flicker as she is hauled onto the stretcher, a stiff board protecting her spine.

"What did you do to her?" John spits as she is taken away.

"Me? I…" Lauren tries to protest but Isabelle cuts in.

"Now is not the time for apportioning blame. Especially when we don't know all the details."

"I'm going to the hospital." John retorts and runs across the lawn to catch up with the paramedics.

Isabelle begins to hug Lauren and Julia watches, her arms crossed. "Are you okay?" She asks, surprising both women.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just a few scratches." Lauren replies. "A whole lot better off than Mindy."

Donna's Apartment Building: San Francisco

"Move!" Michael leaps through the air, his arms held out in front of him and shoves Donna to the ground as the car narrowly misses them and swerves across the street before making a quite getaway.

"What just happened?" Donna winces, feeling a graze down the side of her arm.

Michael slowly pulls himself up from on top of her. "I don't know. But I can make an educated guess."

"Yeah so can I. That's why I wanted you to stay away from Julia. He warned me Michael. I tried to tell you…"

"Sshh." Michael puts a finger to her lips and grasps hold of her as she attempts to stand and regain her balance. "You don't need to explain to me. That bastard deserves what's coming to him. What kind of monster tries to murder his own daughter?"

A look of panic is visible in Donna's eyes. "No! Please, don't try getting back at him! It won't work!"

"It's alright." He places a comforting arm around her and begins to lead her back across the street to her apartment. "I'm not going to do anything."

The words placate Donna who feels a wave of relief washing over her. Nobody has ever tried to take on her father and won. It always ends in death.

Cabin: Carmel

"A cabin? You rented a god damn cabin? Why didn't you just go all out and get us a shack in outer Mongolia?"

Travis sighs and closes the sturdy wooden door behind him. He places their frugally packed luggage on the ground and looks up to find Adrienne inspecting the place. She runs a finger along one of the tables to check for dust and her chagrin is obvious when she fails to find any.

"Is it growing on you yet?" He breaks the silence.

"I'm sure something will be if we stay here for too long." Adrienne replies dryly and tentatively removes her jacket before tossing it down on the King sized bed. "Have you actually planned what we're going to do here for the whole weekend?"

"Well Danielle did suggest we try to save our marriage. Sound good to you?"

"Is it worth saving?"

"I think so. We've both made mistakes and now it's time to get past them…together."

Oh Joy! Adrienne thinks to herself before responding. "Danielle seemed a lot brighter before we left didn't she? She said she was going to go to the airport and say goodbye to Courtney. Hopefully that turned out alright."

"I'm sure it did. They make a great couple."

"My biggest worry is how she's going to cope being with Greg all weekend. I just pray to God that Isabelle can keep him in line."

Travis opens his mouth agape, mocking her. "You actually found a flaw in your precious father. I got the impression you thought he was God."

Adrienne rolls her eyes, "Let's just say if he is, then he should've been thrown out of heaven a long time ago. And don't bring that topic up."

"What topic?"

"You…you and your jealousy about my relationship with Dad. I've never been able to understand it but I think it's something you need to get through if you're really serious about making a go of things."

"Of course you couldn't be the one with the problem. Being obsessed with your father and all."

"I am not obsessed!" Adrienne is aghast as if it is the most ridiculous notion in the world. After Travis shrugs, she considers whether she should pursue it any further but decides against it and starts to unpack.

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

John steps quickly out of the ambulance and watches as the paramedics pull the stretcher out, clinking metal indicating that the wheels are in place. A swarm of doctors and nurses rush out of the hospital doors and begin to talk to each other incoherently, throwing about medical terminology which John is unable to understand.

"Can you help her?" He asks frantically and feels slightly foolish.

"I think so." One of the doctors chimes in. "We need to get her inside and see what the damage is. Quickly!" He suddenly blurts out getting the attention of the rest of the group. "She's regaining consciousness!"

The words hit John with a great force and as Mindy is wheeled into the hospital, he runs along, stuggling to keep up. "Mindy? Mindy can you hear me?"

"John." She attempts to say hoarsely, choking on the intubation tube.

"I'm right here Mindy. I'm right here."

Masters Mansion: San Francisco

"No dear, I'm fine. I can't understand why Courtney told you otherwise."

"Neither can I." Danielle tries to keep her voice above a whisper as she feels all her strength draining out of her. "I'm sorry to bother you Mrs Perkins."

"Not at all. Goodbye."

"Bye."

Danielle's arm drops down like lead as she puts the phone back into its cradle and falls back onto the bed. Her body feels as if it is being weighed down by some invisible force and her mind seems numb, a reaction to Courtney's deception. At least it prevents her from having to think things over.

She rubs her face to try and dispel the onset of weariness and makes her way out of her bedroom downstairs.

"Hello?" A male voice calls out from the drawing room, obviously startled by the realization that there is somebody else in the house.

"It's only me." Danielle replies and steps inside where Greg is reading through papers for Pacific West.

"Oh I didn't know anybody was home. We're alone are we?"

"I presume so. Mom and Dad have gone up to Carmel for the weekend and the maid seems to have taken the day off."

"Oh…I see. Perhaps I should go back to the office." The discomfort is apparent on Greg's face about having to spend time alone with his granddaughter and he hurriedly begins to shove files back into his attache case.

Danielle meanwhile rolls her eyes in frustration. "You don't have to leave on my account."

"I'm not…I'm…"

"Oh for God's sake!" Danielle screams, tears beginning to fall down her reddening cheeks. She storms towards her grandfather and snaps his attache case shut. "I'm a lesbian not a leper! Quit trying to avoid me!"

"Why are you crying?" Greg seems stunned by the reaction but his voice holds a hint of concern.

"It doesn't matter."

"No tell me." He rests his hands on the teenager's shoulders to stop her from leaving.

"Courtney left me for another woman!" Danielle hollers, shaking Greg's hands off her. "And I hope you're happy!"

Before Greg has the chance to reply, Danielle races out of the room and leaves the house.

Abbott House: Los Angeles

"What are you doing this morning?" Mark asks as he seats himself at a wrought iron table on the patio and begins to delve into the grapefruit in front of him.

"I'm not sure." Brooke Abbott tosses her morning paper down on the table and removes her sun glasses. "Charity work, charity work or…charity work."

"I'd go for charity work."

"Hmm." Brooke smiles. "Good choice. And you? Do you still have that meeting with your publisher?"

"Uh huh. They've got a new offer for me. I'm not sure what the book's going to be about exactly."

"A rollercoaster blockbuster with lashings of sex to keep your middle aged housewife fans happy. I'd read it."

"I don't doubt that." Mark grins. As soon as he finishes speaking, the phone can be heard ringing from inside the house and groaning with annoyance, Brooke jumps up to go and answer it.

She strides across the white marble flooring and picks up the phone in one quick sweep. "Hello? Brooke Abbott speaking."

There is a pause, "Brooke. It's Stephanie."

"Oh." Brooke is surprised. "I didn't know you were allowed to use the phone in the…um…where you are."

"Yes I am." Stephanie replies, becoming bored with the conversation. "Look, could you just put me through to Mark please?"

"Okay! God, don't get your panties in a knot." Resting the receiver on the table, Brooke steps back out onto the patio. "It's your sister."

"What does she want?"

"To get that loose screw fixed?"

Mark chooses to ignore the remark and goes to the phone quickly, knowing that Stephanie's time is probably limited. "Hey sis, what's up?"

"I've got about thirty seconds left." Stephanie comments in an obvious dig at Brooke. "But I need to tell you my parole hearing is coming up in a matter of days and I thought you might come to San Francisco for it."

"Um." Mark mentally scans through his upcoming appointments to try and make a decision. "Yeah, that should be fine. Will Dr Bryce still let you accept incoming calls?"

"Yes. I think Dr Bryce will let me do just about anything."

"Good. I'll call you in a few days." Mark puts the phone down and pivots round to find Brooke standing right behind him. "Jesus, you made me jump!"

"What was that all about?"

"What?"

"The phonecall."

"Stephanie's parole hearing's coming up and she wants me to go back to San Francisco. It looks like she'll be getting out pretty soon." Mark turns to go back to the patio and Brooke follows.

"That sounds interesting. I'd love to see Julia Wheeler choke when she gets the news."

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

Holding Adam in his arms, John peers through the darkened window into Mindy's room. She is lying asleep on the bed, her head bandaged, covering all of her hair and a tube is connected to her hand.

John grimaces at the cuts on her face and considers not letting Adam see her but that would be too confusing for him. He's seen too little of his parents already.

Opening the door softly, John enters the room and sets Adam down on the floor. Confused, he waddles silently to Mindy's bedside and climbs up onto a plastic chair.

"Mindy. Are you awake?" John coaxes her.

"Uhh…" A sounds escapes from Mindy's lips and her eyes flicker open. They dart around the room and thankfully the drapes have been drawn to stop her from being startled by the daylight.

"It's me John. I've got Adam with me." He moves tentatively towards the bed, worried that the slightest wrong movement might cause distress. "Have the police been in to see you yet?"

"The p…police?" She is breathless. "I don't know what happened. I told them I don't remember anything."

John inhales sharply, not believing what she is saying. "What do you mean you don't remember anything?"

"The doctors think I have amnesia because of the head injury." She winces as the words have brought her attention to the dull throbbing pain. "I just don't remember any of it. What has Lauren said?"

"She says you got into an argument and things got a little out of hand."

"Huh." Mindy snorts. "You think?"

"It must have been an accident." John assures himself. "It must have been…"

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

The whole house is silent as Lauren closes her bedroom door and she looks over at the french windows which have been boarded up until more glass can be put in this afternoon. Luckily she escaped with only a few scratches on her arms but the mental trauma is not something she is going to escape easily. Especially if Mindy decides to press charges.

Pushing the thought to the farthest reaches of her mind, Lauren focuses on what she came here to do and goes to the dresser where she hid the file. Opening one of the drawers she pulls it out and closes her eyes, willing herself not to look inside. It doesn't work.

She flips the file open and is immediately met with paperwork detailing the adoption. The signature she signed with a shaky hand fifteen years ago stares back at her boldly. The signature which signed my child away.

Lauren flicks through the pages until one thing catches her eye. A picture of Megan. She is strikingly beautiful with long dark hair and piercing eyes. Nothing like your father. Lauren notes to herself thankfully before slipping the photo back inside the file.

The pain of seeing her daughter starts to increase and she pulls out a lighter from her pocket, holding it against a corner of the file. She increases her pressure on the lighter and prepares to set the file alight, removing any trace of Megan.

But it doesn't work. She can't do it. Her hand begins to shake and accepting defeat, Lauren slides the file back into the bottom of the drawer.

Cabin: Carmel

"You've got to admit this is nice." Travis enthuses as he leads Adrienne out of the woods which ensconce the cabin.

She takes a deep breath of the salty sea air and grimaces as it begins to burn her lungs. Glancing to her right she looks over the cliff and marvels at the roaring ocean below. "It's okay." She replies nonchalantly.

"It's okay." Travis repeats to himself annoyed by his wife's attitude.

"Yep." Drawing away from her husband, Adrienne moves closer to the cliff edge and stands solidly on the grass, admiring the view.

"Don't get too close." Travis warns.

"Stop mollycoddling me. I'm actually enjoying something and you have to try and spoil it for me."

"I'm not trying to spoil it!"

"Like hell!" Adrienne sighs. "Why don't you just go back to the cabin if you're going to be in such a disagreeable mood."

"I'm in a disagreeable mood?" Travis chuckles at the irony. "You're the one who's been bitching and whining since the moment we got here."

"It's nice to know you enjoy spending time with me." Adrienne knows that she is twisting things around and enjoys the look of frustration on her husband's face. It serves him right for making me come on this god forsaken weekend.

"I'm going inside."

"Fine." Adrienne spins round in a defiant attempt to ignore him and feels a rock slipping underneath her foot. She tries to stumble backwards but more rocks begin to slip and she screams as she feels her body falling forwards. "Travis!"

He turns and gasps as he sees Adrienne fall over the side of the cliff and surges forwards as fast as he can. She is clutching at the grass, precariously hanging over the cliff and screaming as crumbling rocks fall to the water below.

"Give me your hand!" Travis grabs her right arm but as he does so, she loses her grip on the rocks she has been holding and lets out another shrill, terrifying scream.

"Help me! Travis please!"

Four Seasons Resort: Santa Barbara

"Have you told the porter to bring our bags down?" Cassie asks as she walks through the foyer towards the hotel exit with Lucas and Guy.

"Yes!" Guy replies exasperated. "Ask me a hundred times why don't you?"

"Don't you get snappy with me Guy Wheeler."

"Or else?"

Cassie puts her hands over Lucas's ears, "Or else I'll put you on sex rations for the next week."

"You're a master manipulator Cassie."

"Of course I am." She agrees. "I'm a woman."

Guy chuckles and Cassie adjusts Lucas's position in her arms as the automatic doors open but they stop abruptly when they hear someone calling their names from the foyer.

"Mr Wheeler! Mrs Wheeler!" A frantic receptionist rushes towards them holding a piece of paper in her hands.

"What is it?" Cassie asks.

"I just received a message from Mrs Masters in San Francisco. She says not to panic if you see the story in the papers but there's been an accident."

"Accident?" Cassie is horrified. "Did she leave any details?"

"Apparently a woman named Mindy Stewart fell from a balcony at the Wheeler estate. I'm afraid to say it's been in most of the papers."

Cassie turns and mouths silently to Guy who is just as bemused as she is. "Mindy?"

"Um, we better hurry up and get home then. The family might need us for something."

"I don't think so." Jake's voice chimes in as he approaches the group. He is looking as smug as ever, his hands in his pockets and a wide grin spread across his face. "This is my day to spend with Lucas. Remember?"

Cassie rolls her eyes, "Damn it he's right."

"So what are you going to do about it?" Jake asks.

"Well I assumed that you would want to come home too!" Cassie is infuriated. "But if you insist on lingering here, you can keep Lucas for the day. Just make sure you have him back to us at the house by six. Do you understand?" She enunciates the last words carefully as she hands Lucas over to her ex-husband.

"Don't patronize me." He snaps and rests a finger on Lucas's cheek. "You go. I'll have him back by this evening."

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

Mindy turns over in her bed and begins to open her eyes slowly but they suddenly widen in shock. "What are you doing in here? Do you want me to call security?"

"I'm sorry." Lauren puts a hand to her heart, surprised that Mindy has awoken so suddenly. "I just came in and you were asleep…"

"So?" Mindy snaps irritably. "What have you come here for?"

"I just thought I should let you know that John has taken Adam back to our house."

"Well your generosity amazes me." Mindy almost cuts across her.

"I didn't come here for another argument. I came here to get to the bottom of everything. John told me that you have…amnesia." Mindy remains silent and Lauren feels her temper beginning to flare. "What do you remember?"

"It's hard for me to recall…"

"Well try!"

"Okay I remember…everything. Yes I most definitely remember you pushing me over the balcony." Mindy smiles.

"You remember?" Lauren rails and puts a hand to her mouth, knowing that causing a scene will not work to her advantage. "What kind of game are you playing now?"

"It's not a game. This is serious. Just like the consequences for you if I went to the police and told them that you pushed me over the balcony. You called 911 yourself and said you thought you killed me. How's that going to look in court?"

"But that was different." Lauren begins to clutch at straws. "I hit you with the phone. That was before…"

Mindy raises a hand and shakes her head, "They don't know that."

Lauren absorbs the realization for a moment before responding. "So why haven't you told the police already? What are you waiting for?"

"You to finally cut loose and let me have John. If you leave him…I'll keep quiet."

"No! Do you really believe I'll do that?"

Mindy shrugs and rests her head back down on the pillow as though she is not concerned. "Think about it. I don't see you have much choice."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

"Michael! To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"I've got some foundation contracts for you to sign. Seeing as Lauren's not here and Cassie's still in Santa Barbara, I thought you should see to it." Michael hands the papers to his mother and sits down opposite her at her desk.

"I'm surprised you were concerned enough to come in on a weekend."

Michael remains silent and stares ahead of him pensively. "I needed something to occupy me. Things aren't going so well."

"Would that have anything to do with the graze you've got across your cheek?" Isabelle frowns. "It's not Donna is it?"

"No it's not Donna…really." Michael puts a hand to his cheek self-consciously. "It's her father."

"Julia's newest victim? The Santadio man?"

Michael scoffs, "I don't think Bobby Santadio is anybody's victim."

"Is there something about him you haven't told me? If something's troubling you Michael then you can confide in me. You know that."

"You want me to be blunt?"

"If you think that's best."

"Bobby Santadio is…he's the head of an organized crime family."

Isabelle's expression not only shows the signs of shock which Michael had expected but there is also a glint of anger in her eyes. "And Donna's part of this family?"

"Yes."

"I can't believe you're still involved with her! Don't you see the danger you're putting yourself in?"

"I won't be in danger. If we stay away from Bobby, we'll be fine."

"You mean to say Donna's relationship with her father isn't exactly close."

"Thankfully no."

Isabelle places her head in her hands and sighs, "What about Julia? Does she realize what she's getting herself into?"

"No. But I just pray that she does before it's too late."