Pacific West Industries: San Francisco

Clutching her purse tightly in her hands as she steps off the elevator, Isabelle can feel a tightness in her throat.  For the past few minutes, her confidence has slowly been whittling away and now she is here to face her husband.  She doesn't want a confrontation by any means but Greg is bound to notice the reservation in her voice.

"Good morning Mrs Masters." Greg's secretary exclaims breezily as she walks past but the words almost seem foreign.  Isabelle reaches the door to Greg's office and turns around slowly.

"Hello Lydia.  Is Greg in?"

"Yes.  His meeting with Mrs Wheeler ended over an hour ago."

"Donna?" Isabelle asks, surprised.

"No.  Julia Wheeler."

Hearing the name comes as a blow to Isabelle who does not even want to think about that particular problem right now.  "Oh I see.  Well I'll just go right on in."

"Of course."

Isabelle straightens her back and opens the door where she spies Greg sitting at his desk.  Sun is shining through the glass wall behind him, making his gray hair shine for a moment.  But as he notices his wife, he jumps up from his seat, blocking the warm rays.  "Hey sweetheart.  This is a nice surprise."

"Yes but I can't stay long." Isabelle forces a nervous smile.

There is silence for a moment before Greg speaks up, "So?  Is there any reason you wanted to see me?"

"Oh yes." Isabelle delves into her purse and pulls out a piece of yellow paper.  "The gardener left this invoice with me this morning.  I won't get my new checkbook until next week so I was hoping you could take care of it for me."

"Absolutely.  How are you today anyway?  I didn't see you this morning and I was wondering if you had thought any more about Mark's book."

"Do we have to talk about that now?" Isabelle snaps.

"Not if you don't want to.  I was just attempting to show concern, that's all." Put out by her attitude, Greg signs a check and tears it out of the book, handing it over to Isabelle.

"Thank you.  I'll see you this evening."

"Wait a minute!"

"Excuse me?"

"Why are you in such a rush to get out of here?"

The question flusters Isabelle who stops dead in her tracks and runs a finger through her hair.  "I'm not.  I've just got errands to run."

"More trips to the library?"

"I've got work to do at Wheeler.  Is that a problem?"

"No.  But you never actually seem to do any work.  I thought you were at the office the other day but you weren't."

Isabelle steps forwards and places her purse down on a leather chair, "Oh?  Where was I?"

"Rustling through the attic looking for newspaper clippings according to Adrienne."

"That is simply not true."

"You weren't in the attic?"

"I was, but I wasn't rustling for anything.  Adrienne showed me those clippings of her own volition."

Greg nods, "So?

"So what?" Isabelle replies wearily.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"I wasn't looking for anything!"

"Stop lying to me Isabelle.  You've been digging for weeks to find information on Vanessa's death.  I know it, Adrienne knows it so why don't you just admit it?"

"Alright, I'm intrigued.  Is that such a crime?  It's not as if you ever tell me anything about it."

"Because it's in the past.  Where it belongs…" Greg's voice trails off and he sits back down at his desk, his face in his hands.  "Can't you just stop with this crusade?  You're hurting people.  Adrienne was completely devastated when she told me this morning."

"I am not doing this to hurt anybody.  I just want to know the truth for God's sake!  Give me the real story and I'll stop digging."

"You want the truth?" Greg roars, incandescent with rage.  "I'll give you the damn truth!  Vanessa's death was an accident blown out of all proportion by the British press.  She fell off the yacht and drowned.  There was no foul play."

"What about the drugs in her system?"

"She took them herself.  That's what the family was told and that's what I believe.  So why don't you?"

"Because I've been kept in the dark for too long." Isabelle rails in response and grabs her purse.  "I'm your wife now, not Vanessa and I'm the one to whom you owe your loyalty.  That means no secrets and no lies."

"You know what else it means?  That you are Adrienne's step mother and you need to act like it instead of going out of your way to make her life miserable."

"She's miserable because of her problems with Travis.  It's nothing to do with me."

"Bull.  She's got more than enough on her plate right now and she doesn't need the extra hassle of mulling over Vanessa's death.  Neither do I for that matter."

"Fine." Isabelle responds bitterly, feeling beaten down by Greg's harsh words.  "You're absolutely right.  I'm the wicked stepmother.  Catch you later my dear because I've got spells to cast."

With that Isabelle storms out of the office past a bemused Lydia and leaves Greg at his desk, shaking his head in disbelief.

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

It is only now as Michael sits back in the uncomfortable plastic chair that the events of the day begin to stop rushing around his mind.  What exactly happened to Donna is still a mystery but as he looks down at her lying peacefully in her hospital bed, he is just grateful that it was nothing serious.

She is lying back with her head rested on a pillow and her eyes seem to be glazed over from boredom.  "I guess it's true what they say about doctors making the worse patients."

Heartened to hear her voice, Michael leans forwards and takes her hand, "You're just anxious.  But I wish you had some idea what happened."

Donna squints and then attempts to form an answer, "I…It was too sudden to remember."

"Well you were meant to meet me at Guy and Cassie's house this morning.  Did anything happen before that?"

"Yes.  I went over to Wheeler."

"What for?"

"Julia…I needed to talk to her about my father.  She was…really hostile and kept arguing with me.  I know I was on the verge of losing my temper…"

"I should have known she was behind this."

"No." Donna is quick to interject, "She didn't do this.  We argued about my father's will but I left the office afterward.  Then when I was driving home to get changed for meeting you…and my head felt…faint.  I got to the apartment and started changing…then…I don't know…it was just black."

"Nobody else was in the apartment with you?"

"I don't think so."

"The doctor couldn't find any sign of an injury." Michael replies brightly.

"Yeah I know.  Anyhow, tell me how your visit went to Guy and Cassie.  How are they holding up?"

Michael sighs and runs a finger over the cold metal edge of the bed.  "Not good.  Cassie especially.  She's absolutely devastated.  As if they haven't both been through enough this past year."

"I honestly think Jake needs help."

"Yeah well Julia should have realized that a long time ago."

Hearing Michael mention the name makes Donna flinch underneath her bed covers.  She made no secret of her bitterness about their marriage and after all the trouble she caused by going after Greg and David, Donna can't help but wonder whether she would try the same thing again.  Don't think about it.

Thankfully before she can dwell on the thought, Dr Elby appears in the doorway clutching a clipboard in front of him.  He takes off his rimless glasses and clears his throat to announce his presence.

"Hi Bob." Donna smiles weakly and Michael turns around to see his wife's colleague.

"Donna." Bob Elby nods a little somberly.  "I've got the results of your tests back from the lab."

The words immediately grab Michael's attention and he gets up from his seat without thinking.  "What've you got?"

"Well it's not what you might think…"

"But it's not bad…" Donna coaxes him.

"No not entirely.  The cause of your fainting spell is simple Donna, my dear.  You're pregnant."

Elliott House: San Francisco

Holding steaming pasta over a saucepan, Stephanie drains the water, moving her head from side to side as it drips through.  She can hear the buzz of conversation at the kitchen table behind her and decides to enter it. 

"What are you two talking about?"

"It's none of your d…" Brooke begins to whisper under her breath but Mark hurriedly cuts her off with an annoyed expression.

"The book.  We've been discussing what my next move should be."

"Well you could cut your losses and find another project.  One that's a little less troublesome, maybe?" Stephanie knows her hint lacks subtlety but she has to make her brother see sense.

Brooke appears to be aghast at the suggestion and gets up from her seat, her feet clicking on linoleum as she steps into the main kitchen.  "Why would he want to do that?"

"Because Brooke…I think there is enough bad blood between us and the Wheelers as it is." Stephanie leaves the pasta beside her and starts to stir her Bolognese sauce.

"I hear what you're saying sis but this is the opportunity of a life time.  My chance to really hit the big league and gain mainstream popularity.  If there is one thing people love, it's reading about the salacious dirt surrounding rich families.  Because people who aren't wealthy despise the wealthy.  It's a simple rule of life."

"You're being cynical." Stephanie exclaims, her voice almost musical.

Ha!  Brooke thinks to herself mockingly.  You're the one who tries to kill them.

Mark frowns and taps the pine table, "I'm being realistic."

"If you hate people with more money than sense, then why do you always get involved with them?" Stephanie keeps her head down but glares at Brooke through the corner of her eye.

"Because I'm a flagellant?" Mark offers sheepishly.  "No, honestly I don't know.  But Isabelle's temper tantrum this afternoon has made me even more determined to go ahead with the book."

"Great.  Stubbornness." Stephanie stops what she is doing and turns around to focus on her brother.  She leans back, clasping her hands on the granite counter surface and exhales sharply.  "I think Isabelle had every reason to lose her temper with you anyway.  You did trick the woman."

"I was doing my job.  She wouldn't have let me record her if I asked."

"Then perhaps you should have respected her right to privacy."

"Maybe she should respect my right to free speech."

"Oh for God's sake." Stephanie growls in frustration although she is not nearly as angry as she sounds.  It just might scare Mark enough into giving up his crusade if he thinks she is really becoming riled by it.

An uneasy silence falling on the room, Brooke licks her lips and instinctively turns to look at the pasta sauce.  Her acting skills lacking somewhat, she speaks, "Hmm.  That smells…so good."

"Oh thank you." Stephanie turns as if she has just remembered the sauce and starts to stir it, watching it sizzle against the sides of the pan.  "It's a recipe my mother gave to me years ago and about the only thing I can cook too well."

"Yeah I thought it smelled kind of old."

Stephanie looks up again with a raised eyebrow and Mark watches bug-eyed, taking over the conversation.  "Is it nearly ready?"

"Almost.  Brooke…" Stephanie smiles sweetly and holds out a spoon of the brown mass, "How about giving it a taste?"

"Sure.  I'm up for anything." Brooke leans forwards, cupping her hands around Stephanie's and almost burns her tongue as she swallows the deep brown sauce.

"You want extra?" Stephanie turns and asks Mark.

Barely able to conceal her grimace, Brooke shakes her head quickly behind Stephanie's back.

"Uh…no thanks." Mark replies, taking his fiancée's advice.

As Stephanie dishes the meal out onto plates and takes it over to the table, the familiar clunk of the front door closing fills the house.  Mark and Brooke begin their meal hesitantly and Stephanie waits to see Kyle heading towards the kitchen.

"I didn't expect you home until later."

"I'm sorry.  I didn't stay as long at the hospital as I'd thought." Kyle pulls off his cashmere jacket and hangs it loosely on the back of a chair.

"That's okay." Stephanie places her hands on her hips and looks round the kitchen.  "Umm…I might be able to throw some more pasta together if you're hungry."

"I'm not really feeling up to eating."

"Yeah, David can have that effect." Stephanie laughs and is about to sit down but she notices a frown creasing Kyle's brow.  For the first time all day, she begins to regret not accompanying him to the hospital.  "What's the matter?"

The question causes Kyle to look up sharply as if he hadn't realized he was displaying any signs of emotion.  All eyes are on him now and he feels his mouth go dry as he pushes out an explanation.  "David told me something.  It just took me by surprise, that's all."

"Are you going to share?" Brooke butts in and leans over to whisper to Mark.  "Have you got another Dictaphone handy?"

He ignores her and Stephanie speaks.  "You're worrying me."

Kyle assumes a reassuring tone, "Oh no, don't be worried.  It's just disturbing.  David…he…well he told me that he knows who tried to kill him."

Stephanie's mouth opens wide and she firmly asks the question in everybody's mind.  "Who was it?"

"That's the thing.  He wouldn't tell me.  But one thing he did say was that he's got plans.  Whoever ran him down had better watch their back."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"No!" The scream is piercing and Jessica flings her head off the pillows of her bed, facing the window.  Through a gap in the drapes, she can see the moon shining down on her.  It was a dream.  Only a dream.

Coming back to full consciousness, Jessica grimaces at the soreness of her throat and reaches to her nightstand for her glass of water but inadvertently knocks it to the floor.  "Damn." She whispers and tears start to fall down her cheeks from the seemingly trivial incident.  But it's not the water that's making her cry and she knows it.

"Honey?" There is a knock at the door as Julia's concerned voice sounds through.  Before Jessica can answer, her mother enters the room and switches on the overhead light.

"Mom, it's okay…"

"Have you been crying?  I heard the scream and thought something had happened."

"Just a nightmare." Jessica wipes her eyes with the back of her hand and attempts a smile.

"What about?" Julia moves forwards and perches on the bed beside her daughter, reaching out to touch her.  With her other hand, she picks the glass up off the floor.

"It was…the rape." Hearing herself say that word for the first time in so long comes as shock to Jessica.

The look of bemusement on Julia's face fades away, "I knew it had been a year but I didn't want to mention anything in case…"

"In case something like this happened?"

Julia nods.

"Don't worry Mom.  You can mention it around me you know."

"Yes of course I do but I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.  Has it been on your mind a lot lately?"

"No.  That's the weird thing." Jessica's voice is weak.  "I thought I'd managed to put it behind me."

"You're not going to be able to do that yet sweetheart.  It's too soon." Julia strokes her daughter's cheek.  "But I think it would be best if we arranged to get you some more counseling."

"No, Mom…"

"You have to do something."

"I will…in my own time.  Do you think you could go now?  I want to try and get back to sleep."

"Sure." Julia is a little surprised.  "Come get me if you need anything."

"I will." As the light is turned off and the door clicks shut, Jessica crawls back into bed, pulling the covers tightly around her body and stares back up at the moon.

Guy and Cassie's House: Napa Valley

To an outsider's eye, the house might seem to be empty.  The only sound to fill the rooms is that of silence and closed curtains create darkness, providing a fitting likeness to the emotions of those that live there.  But as Guy stands in the bathroom, he has neither the energy nor inclination to do anything about it.

A large metal framed mirror above the sink does nothing to flatter Guy who is staring into it.  He is unshaven with dark blond stubble developing on his face but although his razor is only a few feet away, it does not even occur to him to use it.  No.  The cold water splashed over his face is enough and he clutches the edge of the sink, continuing to stare into the mirror.

In the nursery, Cassie's gaze is similarly piercing but it is fixed instead on the crib beneath her, taunting her with its emptiness.  Pushing her disheveled hair behind her ears, Cassie turns slowly to see Guy standing in the doorway.

Both remain silent as Guy steps forwards and puts his arms tightly around his wife, the only way of comforting her that he can think of.

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

"I think the nurse has a crush on me." David mutters with a smile and looks up to the ceiling.

"In your dreams.  I seriously doubt fitting your catheter filled her with uncontrollable lust." Julia crosses her arms and attempts to appear disinterested as she glances around the sparsely decorated room.

"You're only jealous."

"I don't have anything to be jealous off sweetheart.  At least I've had a bed partner in the past few weeks.  Admittedly he tried to kill me but, you know…let's not remember him too negatively."

David is clearly interested in finding out more about the mysterious Bobby Santadio and ignoring a twinge of pain, he pulls himself up into a sitting position, fluffing up pillows to support his back.  "You really landed yourself a bad one, huh?"

"Quite." Julia smiles sweetly.

"Dare I even go so far as to suggest that you got a little out of your depth?"

"If that's what you believe.  But I'm not the one in a coffin…or even a hospital bed."

"Point taken.  You were still lucky to get back to California alive."

Julia stares down at the floor reflectively, "Maybe I shouldn't have bothered coming back at all."

"What do you mean?" David is surprised.

"Jessica seems to have been influenced by the rest of the family.  It's as if I can't put a foot right anymore.  And Jake hasn't even called me to tell me where he is."

"He might.  Give him a few more days."

"I'm going to…but I've got Isabelle breathing down my neck twenty-four seven and…" Almost breaking down, Julia lets out a frustrated groan.  She closes her eyes and pushes her hands through her hair.

"Move out if the old woman is such a problem."

"I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.  I let Martin push me around once and try to break me down.  I'm not going to back away from a fight with Isabelle if that's what she really wants."

"You sound pretty serious."

"I am.  There have been times in my life when I was at my lowest ebb.  The first time I turned to Isabelle and the second I turned to Bobby.  Both of whom screwed me over.  Now I know I can't depend on anybody if I want to survive in this town."

David stares at Julia as if for the first time, he is seeing just how much bitterness she possesses.  She is watching the window, a flash of anger in her eyes and wringing her hands which are placed in her lap.  "You've got me, you know."

"Yeah of course I do.  But throwing yourself in front of moving vehicles isn't going to keep you around for long is it?"

"Changing the subject?"

"You could say so.  I still don't know the full story."

"I was in the parking lot at the office.  Someone ran me down.  I took a breather from life for a couple of weeks and now I'm getting better.  That's it really."

"But you don't know who did it?"

"Oh yes, I know who did it."

Julia's eyes widen in shock and she leans forwards, "Well?  Come on!  Was it Stephanie?  I bet it was wasn't it…"

"Hey." David lifts a hand.  "I can't tell you."

"What do you mean you can't tell me?  Since when did we start keeping secrets from each other?"

"This is just too important.  If it slips out, everything I'm planning will be a waste."

"Just who the hell do you think I'm going to tell?  Isabelle?  Yeah, I'll do that next time we're having a heart to heart."

"Okay, I see your point.  But when I've told you, you have to promise to keep it to yourself.  That's the only way the person who did this is truly going to get what they deserve."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"So…" Lauren speaks as she drizzles a small amount of citrus dressing over her salad.  She places the bottle back down on the kitchen table and continues with caution.  "Peter Kingsley called me."

"Oh?" John looks up from his lunch, his fork poised in mid air.

"Yes.  It wasn't very pleasant actually.  He was just as bitter as when I was in Cleveland."

"He's afraid.  Just give him time."

"Yeah but afraid of what?  Megan's old enough to make her own decisions.  The way he and Sheila seem to coddle her…well frankly I find it kind of creepy."

John rises to fetch himself another piece of bread from the kitchen counter and speaks over his shoulder.  "I don't think they're coddling her.  They just don't want to lose her before they have to.  They've probably spent their whole lives preparing for her to leave when she goes to college or something.  I doubt it even crossed their minds that something like this would happen."

"Surely the Kingsleys must have expected Megan to come looking for me someday." Lauren pushes her plate forwards and watches her husband with a frown.  She is pleased he is acting so calmly about the whole thing after his hostility of late but the things he is saying are niggling at her.

"Perhaps they did…when she became an adult."

"What are you saying?"

"They haven't had the chance to go through all the things with Megan that parents should.  Graduation, leaving for college, first fulltime job…you know…the regular stuff."

"Not in my family." Lauren comments wryly.

"Ah but your family have never lived in suburban Cleveland.  Peter and Sheila aren't quite as…as wordly as you or your parents.  They must live for Megan." John sits back down and brushes a crumb off the sleeve of his black sweater.

"Then how can I convince them I'm not trying to muscle in on their territory?"

"No idea." Throwing his hands in the air, John admits defeat.

"Of course, we can't forget the other problem…"

"What's that?"

"I've got to find a time and a way to tell my family about Megan whoever's included nowadays.  There are so many outsiders, it's difficult to keep track.  And Mom, well she's barely said a civil word to me since…"

"Outsiders?"

"Yes." Lauren replies hesitantly and immediately regrets her choice of words.

"You mean outsiders like Adam?"

Lauren rolls her eyes as John springs up from his seat, "Oh please, that's not what I meant at all.  I thought we were getting somewhere here…"

"I think that's exactly what you meant.  Mindy's son's bound to be an outsider right?"

"If you must know…" Lauren yanks her chair out from behind her and stands to face John.  "I was talking about Julia.  I am so sick of walking on egg shells…"

"You want to talk about egg shells?" John yells in response.

"Ahem!" The pair look to the doorway where Pilar is standing.  "If you two finish, Cassie is here."

"Oh, um…send her in." A flustered Lauren instructs the maid and she steps aside to allow Cassie entrance.  She looks just as she has for days with not even a hint of vanity evident.  Tears are already welling in her eyes.

"Is Michael here?" Her voice is almost a whisper.

"I'm afraid not.  I haven't seen him since yesterday actually.  I'm guessing he stayed in the city with Donna."

"I need to see him."

"Can I help you at all?  I'll pass on a message if you like."

"It's just that the detective couldn't find Jake in Oakland.  He's not there."

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." Lauren moves forwards to comfort Cassie but the younger woman pulls back violently.

"No, don't touch me.  Don't you dare touch me." She spits.

"What?" Lauren's arms drop slowly to her sides as she takes in the rejection.  "Cassie, what's wrong?"

"You've done enough already.  I wouldn't even be in this situation if it wasn't for you."

"That's not fair." Lauren exclaims, angered that John shows no sign of defending her against the attack.

"Neither is having my son stolen from me."

"Surely…surely you don't blame me for what happened?"

"If you hadn't dragged me to Cleveland…if you hadn't involved me in your whole sordid business I would have been here to protect my son!" Cassie chokes on her words and begins to sob.

"Jake is sick!  He would have found a way to get Lucas even if you had been here."

"But I could have stopped him!  I could have stopped him…" Unsteady as her body shakes with sobbing, Cassie falls forwards to Lauren who puts her arms around her.

Lauren glances round at a sympathetic John before kissing Cassie's head.  "It's okay.  We'll find him.  We'll find him."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Julia's eyes search around her large office trying to find something which will occupy her mind but it is certainly an arduous task.  Nothing, not the Wheeler Corporation or even David's revelation can manage to hold her attention and stop her from mulling over the past few weeks.

As she sits silently in a large leather chair, it occurs to Julia that she has never been as isolated from the rest of the Wheeler family as she is right now.  Jake is missing and Jessica is in pain yet the entire family is still more interested in what Guy and Cassie are going through.  Typical.

But there is only one member of that damn family that she really cares about even if she does have to keep him at the back of her mind…

"Mrs Wheeler?"

Disturbed by the buzz of her intercom, Julia leans forwards and speaks.  "What is it Flo?"

"There's a call for you on line one.  Giorgio Beretti."

"Oh God." Julia lets out the words in an exaggerated sigh and rolls her eyes.  "Thanks.  I'll take it.  Giorgio, what are you doing calling me here?"

"Finally getting hold of you it seems.  You haven't contacted me for days and there is a lot of business that needs doing."

"Yeah, well you know what?  I'm not in the mood to do it right now.  Goodbye." As Julia reaches to push the disconnect button on her phone, she is startled by Giorgio's response.

"Wait!"

"I told you I'm not prepared to talk to you…"

"This is urgent.  There are things happening around here that you really need to know about.  And I'm not talking trivialities either."

"So what is it?"

"Can anyone hear this conversation?"

"No." Julia frowns.  "Get on with it already."

"There was a shooting outside Bobby's offices last night.  One of his employees got hit."

"My God!  Who was it?  Did they die?" Julia is visibly aghast.

"Oh he died alright.  And so will more the way things are going at the moment."

"What do you mean?" This kind of drama is something Julia foolishly never envisioned when she agreed to inherit all.  The Santadio is one of the most respected crime families in New York and the idea that anyone would attempt to undermine its position comes as a shock.

"I mean that since Bobby's…untimely demise, there are many enemies popping out of the woodwork who think the Santadio is vulnerable enough to crumble.  And who wouldn't think that?  Bobby's dead, you and Donna are both in California…There is no active head of the family."

"You're the head of the damn family!  What the hell do you think I pay you for?  To turn Bobby's employees into sitting ducks?"

"I'm a lawyer Julia!  I don't command the kind of power around here that we need if the Santadio is going to survive."

"So come up with a solution.  You're intelligent and resourceful.  You managed to get me off a murder rap after all."

"It's slightly more difficult dealing with associates than it is with the police."

"Ugh!" Julia slams a hand to her forehead in frustration.  "What do you expect to get out of calling me over this?"

"If you had any sense, you'd come back to New York and take some of the heat off me.  I can't handle it for much longer."

"Do you want more money, is that it?  If you do, I'll transfer it to your account.  Anything…"

"This isn't about me!  Don't you understand?" Giorgio rages in an uncharacteristic outburst that leaves Julia stunned.  "If you don't act quickly, we're all going to be in danger.  Bobby didn't have many friends but his enemies respected him enough when he was alive.  Now that he's dead everything is going down the tubes.  The other families resent the Santadio holding so much power and they're lashing out, I mean protection rackets are springing up all over the place…"

"Yes I get the picture."

"Then do something about it.  Like getting yourself to New York, pronto."

Julia's mind wanders for a moment to think of Donna's words of warning.  She was adamant that there be no violence.  And what about my children?  I can't leave them right now… "No.  It's absolutely out of the question.  You have got more experience with this sort of thing than I have."

"Yes, so I know the consequences."

"I never wanted this.  I never wanted to get involved in anything shady or anything that would endanger lives.  Now you fix this situation and you do it quickly or so help me, I'll cut you off without a penny." Not wanting to hear Giorgio's response, Julia slams the phone down and stares at the receiver for a moment.

I've got bigger things to worry about.  She thinks to herself dismissively as her hand brushes over a framed photo of Jake and Jessica.  Much bigger things.

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

Sitting up in his bed, David puts a hand to his face and grimaces as he rubs over stubble.  One of the downsides of being out of it for weeks.  In front of him, cards are placed methodically over a table and it is clear that he is playing Patience.

"Red nine…" He turns over a card but fails to find what he is looking for.  Damn that do-gooding nurse and her infernal motor exercise activities.  David grumbles to himself inwardly.  Patience my ass.

Looking around, he checks to see whether anyone is watching and when he is sure the coast is clear he turns all the cards over until he finds the one that has eluded him.  Sliding it under the correct pile, he places the rest back as they should be and continues with the game.

"Who are you trying to beat this time?"

Startled, David flips his head up to see Stephanie watching cross-armed from the doorway.  She looks different from the last time he saw her.  She's taken time to have her auburn hair cut and styled and her outfit of a white shirt and black slacks is much smarter than the khaki jumpsuit she previously wore.

"What the hell do you want?  The therapists are on the other side of the building." David uses a thumb to point behind him.

"Cute.  But I'm not here for therapy." Stephanie slides the strap of her purse from her shoulder and shuts the door, placing her back against it.

"What are you here for then?"

"Kyle told me you know who ran you down.  So I think we need to talk.  Don't you?"

Next on Power and Deception

-Cassie and Julia face off.
-Jessica makes a move to exorcise her demons.
-Jake has an encounter with Amanda in LA.
-All hell breaks loose as David's attacker is revealed.