A ray of burning sunlight creeps through the closed blinds and focuses on Tommy's head, which in his slumber has been buried in the sheets of David's bed. Slowly coming round, Tommy lifts his head groggily.

"Dad?" He whispers in the hope that David has regained consciousness during the night, but his attempt is futile. "I guess you're not ready yet then, huh?" He runs a hand through his messy hair and looks around for a mirror before he goes out into the corridor for a cup of coffee. There isn't one.

With a shrug, he quickly glances in the window to see his reflection which seems to be fine and steps out into the corridor where the noise of the hospital immediately hits him. Squinting, Tommy goes to the coffee machine near the waiting area and fumbles for some change.

"Here you go." A man sounds over his shoulder.

"Uncle Kyle?" Tommy spins round, smiling.

"Who else?" Kyle drops a few coins in his nephew's hand and puts an arm around his shoulders before stepping back. "It's been a long time hasn't it?"

"We all know why that is."

"Yeah well, David started it." Kyle offers with a lop sided grin. The machine in front of him whirs as Tommy fills his styrofoam cup with coffee.

"At least you came."

Taking off his heavy black jacket and flipping it over his arm, Kyle follows Tommy down the corridor back to David's room. "Is he still unconscious?"

Tommy nods, "It could be because he was sedated but nobody knows yet. The doctor said that the swelling is going down though."

"That's good news."

They reach David's room but whereas Tommy strides in nonchalantly, Kyle is horrified to see his brother lying there helpless. David was the strong one - or at least that's what Vivian always said. And now the tables have turned.

"I'm sorry. I should have warned you." Tommy notices his uncle's shocked expression.

Kyle waves a hand, pulled out of his momentary daze. "It doesn't matter. I've just never seen anyone like this before. I guess this is what happens when someone's run down but I can't believe anyone could do this. I thought Stephanie was better."

"We all did." Tommy sits back down in the seat by his father's bed and sips his coffee, letting the liquid warm him.

"Is she still in jail?"

"Yes. Mark said he was going to visit her so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what she has to say."

Masters Mansion: San Francisco

"Here we go." Adrienne calls out breezily as she steps onto the patio with a pitcher of orange juice. Travis is already sat at the table, scanning through the morning paper. As Adrienne comes closer, he throws it down onto the table's surface, grabbing her attention.

"It didn't take them long to find out." Travis notices her staring at the headline as she sets the pitcher down.

Wheeler lawyer mowed down

"I can see. Does it say anything about who did it?"

"Yes." Travis takes a slice of toast and spreads on a thin layer of butter. "Stephanie Elliott was arrested last night."

Adrienne nods, "At least they…caught the person responsible then."

"Uh huh. You reckon she lost the plot again?"

"There isn't really any other explanation. I would imagine that she's still as insane as she was when she was put in the institution to begin with. It just shows that the system isn't without its faults."

There is a pause before Travis replies, "I guess now that David's not around to cause trouble, we should think about our marriage…and where it's headed."

"What do you think we should do? Get counselling?"

"I don't think we need to bother. We can work at this together."

Adrienne sighs, "I don't know. Maybe Danielle was right about us. We can't live with or without each other."

"Don't say that." Travis reaches across and puts a hand on Adrienne's. "We've spent most of our lives together and that must mean something."

"But is it worth the risk of causing more pain for everybody?"

"Yes. What you did with David was a mistake."

"Very true. But you still have issues about my relationship with my father."

"No." Travis shakes his head defiantly. "Not now. That was just another example of an obstacle that we've been able to overcome. Let's make sure David is another. We can't let that bastard ruin our lives any more than he already has."

Adrienne takes in a deep breath before responding, "Alright. Let's make a go of things. As for David…I think I might visit him later just to see him suffer. Who knows...maybe if we're lucky he'll rot in hell."

On the balcony above them, Greg finishes listening to their conversation and steps back into the house, mulling over what he has heard.

City Jail: San Francisco

"Where are you taking me?" Stephanie squirms, demanding an answer from younger male police officer. He ignores her as they head towards the front desk and tightens his grip on her arm.

"Here we go." He releases her and guides her through a security coded door into the lobby. "Bail's been posted. You must have a lot of spare cash hanging around."

Confused, Stephanie sweeps her lank hair behind her ears and spots Mark waiting for her. He is whistling but stops when she moves towards him. "Mark!"

"Hey." He removes his hands from his pockets and hugs his sister but she is keen to move on.

"I want to get out of here." She looks behind her to see more officers watching.

"I guessed you would." Mark opens the door of the lobby and Stephanie takes a gulp of fresh air as they walk down concrete steps to the street where Mark's convertible is waiting.

"Where did you get the money from?" She stops dead in her tracks, her mind buzzing with questions.

"I organized a loan."

"No Mark you shouldn't have done that. You can't afford it."

"I know. That's why I got the loan from Brooke who can."

"Oh." Stephanie frowns, surprised that the woman would help her. Their past conversations have been icy to say the least and Stephanie never got the impression that Brooke Abbott was the philanthropic type. "I suppose I'm in the papers again." She adds.

Mark waits until he is at the other side of the car before replying, "You suppose right. And the picture ain't all that flattering I'm afraid."

Stephanie rolls her eyes, "A bad picture I could manage. It's the reason I'm in the paper that bothers me."

"Well." Mark begins to respond as he unlocks the car and gets inside, followed by Stephanie. "A little birdie told me that Julia Wheeler got arrested last night in New York for murder. So you're in good company."

"Who would have thought we'd have so much in common." Stephanie retorts dryly and settles into her seat. "But she's probably guilty…I'm not."

Mark remains silent as he starts the car engine.

"You believe me don't you? You don't honestly think I did this…"

"Of course not." Mark puts on a fake smile as he pulls away from the sidewalk. I hope you're telling me the truth.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

The gleaming limousine pulls up on the driveway but almost before it has come to a halt, Cassie springs out of the back followed by Lauren who is calmer. As the chauffeur goes around the car to retrieve the bags, they are greeted by Isabelle and Guy on the front steps.

"Is there any news? Have you found Lucas?" Cassie asks desperately and rushes to be with Guy. Unable to spend time on her appearance, her hair has been pulled back into a ponytail and a lack of makeup shows dark bags under her eyes.

"No. The police are on the case and there are a couple of them inside."

"Tell me how it happened." Cassie walks into the hallway with Guy. Following the couple, Isabelle resists the urge to interrogate Lauren over her trip to Cleveland, knowing that now is not the right time.

"Jake tried to take Lucas last night when I was on the phone to you. They got into a car accident and…Lucas went to hospital where he had a blood transfusion. Jake took him from the hospital nursery."

"Oh God." Cassie stops suddenly and tears well up in her eyes. She pulls a tissue out of her pocket to dab at them but seems to forget what she is doing half way through the act and begins to wring the tissue in her hands.

"I'm sure Lucas is alright." Isabelle interjects comfortingly. "The doctors got to him in time and as long as Jake looks after him, nothing should go wrong."

"Of course he'll look after him." Cassie assures herself and exhales sharply. "Jake is his father. He wouldn't deliberately do anything to put him at risk."

Isabelle exchanges a knowing glance with Guy which Cassie immediately picks up on. Her tone changes and her voice breaks, "What? What is it?"

"When Jake donated blood to Lucas, the doctors picked up on something…" Guy falters.

"Picked up on what? Does Lucas have a disease or something?" Nobody replies. "Tell me please! I've got a right to know!"

"I'm Lucas's father…not Jake. It looks like someone tampered with the paternity test."

Isabelle continues, trying to alleviate some of the strain from her son, "The police think that Jake realized his secret would be out…and that's why he took the baby."

Beside the group Lauren puts a hand to her mouth in shock but all eyes are on Cassie to see how she will react. "So he's got…our child. Yours and mine."

Guy nods, "Yes."

"I can't take this all in. It's too much."

Thinking that she might faint, Guy and Isabelle move to her side and begin to lead her through the hallway. "Let's go and talk to the police again. See if they've found anything." Isabelle suggests but as she walks away, she turns back to look at Lauren for a brief moment. If only I could talk to you.

Lauren does not notice her mother's gaze piercing through her and rubbing her forehead in disbelief, she shakily steps into the living room, deciding to pour herself a drink. As she reaches the bar, the door to the living room slams swiftly shut and startled she stops what she is doing to look up. It's John.

"Hey." She greets him and attempts to put ice in a glass but her husband's cold stare distracts her.

"Did you have a good trip?" He asks.

"It was okay until we had to come home. Poor Cassie. I'll go through in a minute to see if there is anything more I can do. Come and sit down with me. I've missed you."

John doesn't move, "You should have invited me to come with you."

"I know but it was just a business thing. I thought that you'd find it boring."

"Really? Or was there something in Cleveland you didn't want me to know about?"

Oh my God. "What do you mean?"

"I know everything Lauren." John's voice becomes deeper. "And I want answers…now."

Elliott House: San Francisco

"Are you going to the hospital?" Stephanie asks as Mark pulls onto the driveway. She looks through her black purse for her keys as she awaits a reply.

"I think so. We shouldn't leave Tommy there on his own. What are you going to do?"

"I've got to talk to him, I mean he must be so confused at the moment. But how am I supposed to explain this to a son who's seen me hauled off in a straitjacket, rambling about murdering people?"

Mark isn't sure what to say but struggles with an answer, "Let him ask you his questions and answer them as honestly as possible."

Stephanie nods and opens the car door. "I'm going to freshen up. He can't see me like this. I'll meet you at the hospital."

As Mark's car reverses back onto the street and zooms away, Stephanie strides across the rapidly growing lawn to the front door. A wilting rose bush reminds her just how much has changed around here whilst she was in the institution.

Frowning at her aching joints, she steps into the house and firmly closes the door behind her. For a brief moment, she thinks she can hear whistling from upstairs but dismisses it with a shrug.

"Time to wash up." She says aloud and makes her way up the stairs, unbuttoning her blouse as she does so. The further up the stairs she gets, the more she can hear a sound. Running water? "Hello? Tommy?"

No it's not Tommy, he's at the hospital. So who the hell is it?

Instinctively refastening the buttons of her cream colored blouse, Stephanie moves cautiously to the bathroom where the noise is coming from. The door isn't locked and she tip toes in, seeing a figure moving behind the mottled glass of the shower.

Ignoring the steam in the room she keeps walking forwards but suddenly the shower door opens causing her to scream. "Kyle?" She cries, almost hyperventilating.

"Jesus Stephanie, you scared the shit out of me." He rubs his face to shake off some of the water and turns off the shower. "Are you going to hand me a towel?"

"Um…yes." Stephanie replies flustered and turning her back, she passes a towel over to him. "I didn't know you were in town. I…I'm sorry."

"Yeah so am I." Disturbed, Kyle steps out of the shower and brushes past his former sister-in-law. By the time she plucks up the courage to follow him into the guest bedroom he is half dressed and reaching for a sweatshirt.

"Am I right in assuming you've come because of David?"

"Yes." Kyle replies curtly as he pulls the gray sweatshirt over his head.

"Right. Good." Stephanie can't think of anything else she can say. "I'll uh…go and take a shower myself then."

"Actually I think you should leave."

"What?"

"You heard me. You ran down my brother and you're acting as if nothing has happened."

Stephanie flings her arms in the air, "It wasn't me!"

"So why were you arrested?"

"Oh come on Kyle, you're not stupid! It wouldn't be difficult for whoever did it to frame me…especially with recent history being what it is."

"That all sounds a little too convenient though doesn't it?"

"As if you care anyway." Stephanie snaps. "When was the last time you even talked to David? Two years ago? Five? Probably the last time Vivian forced you to."

"He's my brother, no matter how I feel about him. And he was your husband."

"Yes well we all make mistakes don't we?"

"True but I'm not going to make one now by hanging around and thrashing this out. I'm going back to the hospital." Kyle makes his way across the bedroom but Stephanie grabs hold of his arm in desperation.

"Kyle wait! I can't let you just leave. You have got to believe I didn't do this. You know me. We were friends before I married your brother. Do I really seem that different now?"

"A whole lot's happened since then. You being put into an institution for instance?" He glares at her angrily.

"I'm better now." Stephanie's voice is almost a whisper. "I love my brother, I love my son and you know what? I've even started liking myself again. I was never going to jeopardize all of that for some petty revenge against David."

Kyle's expression softens as he looks into her eyes, "I could almost believe you."

"Then do it. This is going to be bad enough for Tommy. You showing that you support me even a little will make his life more stable. Then when David wakes up, he can clear my name permanently."

"Maybe you didn't do it. But who did?"

Stephanie stares past him and bites her lip, "Believe me the list is long. Very long. Now I'm going to freshen up and we can go to the hospital together."

"Won't that go against your bail conditions?"

"No. Not as long as someone else is with me. Like you for example."

Kyle can't help but smile despite himself. She really is the same as she used to be all those years ago, "Okay then. Hurry up and get ready."

Turner Motel: Near Los Angeles

As the sun begins to set in the horizon above the dusty road, a black Mercedes slowly drives into a vacant space by the motel's reception. The driver pulls out a pair of sunglasses and slides them on. Let's just hope nobody recognizes me. Jake thinks to himself as he gets out of the car and walks round to retrieve Lucas from the passenger seat.

Holding the baby in one arm, he locks the car and goes to the reception area. If only he had had time to get a hire car. Then he wouldn't look so conspicuous.

"Evening." A short rotund woman greets him behind the counter. She places down the bag of chips she has been eating from and smiles when she sees Lucas. "What a cutie. Too early to tell whether he looks like you I suppose."

"Yeah probably. I'm after a room for the night. I take it you're not…full?"

"No we've got plenty of vacancies."

"I'd never have guessed." Jake mutters to himself before pulling out a wad of cash and handing it over to her.

"You on your way somewhere? Home perhaps?"

"No not home. I don't think I'll ever be going back there again."

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

"I'm not sure I want to see him." Stephanie wrings her hands, anticipating the moment they reach David's room.

"Who? Tommy?" Kyle is surprised.

"No David. It'll be weird."

"Yeah it was for me too but…you just have to ignore the machines."

They stop as soon as they are at the door to David's room but before they enter, Mark calls out to them from the waiting area. "Hey there."

"Oh." Stephanie quickly introduces the two men. "Kyle this is my brother Mark. Mark this is David's brother, Kyle Elliott."

"Nice to meet you Mark."

"Yeah." Mark shakes his hand. The possibility of him being like David is too great for Mark to attempt being sincere.

"So where's Tommy?" Stephanie uses a gloved finger to push her hair away from her face.

"I don't exactly know. He…decided to leave for a while. Maybe he went to see Jessica."

"Does he have a cell phone you can call?"

"Yes he does. Mark, can I have the keys to your car so I can go look for him? I'll call him from your car phone."

"Sure." Mark frowns slightly and hands them over.

"Kyle'll give you a ride home if you need it."

"Of course I will." He concedes.

"Call me in the car if Tommy comes here. Catch you later."

Jail: New York

The cell is the most disgusting place Julia has been in her entire life and as much as she tries to hold her breath so as not to inhale the stale stench, she is unable to manage it for long. She is surrounded by women ranging from hookers to alcoholics but has been sitting quietly in the corner hoping that nobody will notice her.

So far she's been lucky but it appears her luck has run out. Three brightly dressed woman are murmuring and staring at her with smiles on their faces. Eventually one of them speaks, "We don't get women like you around here. You're quiet aren't you?"

"You want to have a conversation with me?" Julia asks wearily.

"Uh huh." The overly made up blonde haired woman sneers and turns back to her friends. "What do you think she's in here for?"

"DUI. She's probably some rich bitch being taught a lesson."

Julia breathes deeply and eyes them with disdain, "Wrong. I suppose I needn't ask what you lot are in here for. Although I would imagine the only people who would want to pick you up would be the fashion police."

An outbreak of shocked murmuring breaks out but the cell falls into silence as the blonde steps forwards. "You think you're clever dontcha?"

Julia stands up to face her, "Beyond your wildest dreams sweetie."

"You want a piece of me lady?"

"Not likely. It's been a good few years since I had my rabies shot and I'd rather not risk it."

The woman raises a fist to punch her but Julia grabs her arm and speaks softly in her ear. "You probably won't be so desperate to take a piece of me when I tell you that I'm being charged with first degree murder."

"Alright, break it up ladies." A guard calls through the bars of the cell and starts to unlock it. "Julia Santadio. It's your lucky day."

"I can go?"

"Yeah, you're free as a bird. There's a man waiting for you before you leave."

"Who?" Keeping an eye on her aggressive cellmate, Julia brushes herself down dramatically before the cell is locked again.

The guard shrugs, "He wouldn't say."

Julia keeps one step ahead of him and recoils in shock when she sees the man in question waiting in the strip lit lobby. He is dressed in a suit as always and smiles when he sees her. "Julia you poor thing."

"Giorgio…you bastard." Julia smiles sweetly.

"I can see why you might be upset…"

"Can you really? The fact that you were plotting with my not so loving husband to murder me doesn't put you in my good books. Why are you here anyway? And who posted bail? Did Jessica get hold of Donna or something?"

"No, no, Donella wasn't involved."

"Then what's going on here?" Julia spits. "Who posted bail?"

"No one. The charges have been dropped."

"You have got to be kidding me. How?"

"Because you're a Santadio. The Santadio. And members of the family don't get charged with crimes in New York."

"What do you mean the Santadio?"

"One of two I suppose if I want to be pedantic because along with Donella…you are the new head of the family."

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

The darkly dressed figure waits around the corner, spying on Mark and Kyle. They are chatting to each other but without warning, Mark stands up and points in the direction of the elevator. The voices are muffled and incoherent from where the figure is standing but what they are doing is unmistakable. Continuing to talk, they go to the elevator and step inside causing the area to fall into silence.

Perfect. A grin breaks out on the person's face as it becomes apparent that there is nobody else around. The overhead lights have been dimmed because of the late hour and the figure is almost camouflaged amongst shadows whilst slowly moving to the goal…David's room.

Placing a gloved hand on the door, the figure quietly enters the darkened hospital room and stares momentarily at David from the foot of his bed. How pathetic you are. The pain you've caused so many people but now it's your turn to suffer.

Pulling out a long syringe and vial of clear liquid, the intruder fills up the syringe and depresses the plunger, allowing a stream of poison to spray out. "Bye byeDavid."

A black hood covers most of the intruder's face and the gloved hand slowly reaches across, placing the syringe ever closer to David's IV tube.

Suddenly, the door opens and a horrified Kyle stares at the unfolding scene.

"No!" He yells and lunges for the intruder knocking the syringe to the ground. A crashing sound fills the room as the pair begin to struggle and Kyle is ready to overpower the would be killer.

But before he is successful, a piece of metal comes crashing down on his head sending him into darkness and the last thing he sees is the intruder picking the syringe up from the ground.

Next on Power and Deception

-Donna discovers her father's legacy...

-Stephanie takes drastic action...

-Lauren struggles to explain her past...

-Mark has another meeting with Isabelle...

-The circumstances of Vanessa's death begin to hang over the Masters family...

-Jake has an intriguing encounter...