After hanging up the telephone, Jennifer seats herself down on the couch and begins to wonder if she's doing the right thing.  She feels very uncomfortable knowing she's going behind Jack's back like this.  "But this is the only way to protect my family," she thinks.  "I have to do everything I can to help find Peter, even if it means allying with Kristen."
 

As Jennifer is sitting on the couch, she hears the sound of footsteps on the staircase.  She quickly turns around to notice Jack walking downstairs.  Jennifer remembers the argument she just had with Jack and she decides to give him a bit of the silent treatment, by ignoring his presence in the room.
 

Jack walks towards the couch and takes a seat close to Jennifer.  He has a tone of hesitancy in his voice, unsure of how Jennifer will react to him after their argument.  He places his arm behind where she's sitting on the couch and turns to look directly into her eyes.
 

"Jenn, honey, I'm sorry for what I said.  I swear, I didn't mean to imply that I thought you're naive.  Actually, I admire the fact that you always look for the best qualities in people.  No matter what anyone else thinks.  I mean, when we first fell in love, and nobody else wanted to give me a chance, you were the only person that stood by me.  I will never forget that for as long as I live."  Jack pauses and then says with a great deal of love in his voice, "I love you so much, Jennifer.  More than life itself.  Please don't be mad at me..."
 

Jennifer looks at Jack with a great deal of love and sadness in her eyes.  Jack's words are clearly affecting her.  And then, as she's about to lean over and kiss him, she remembers how she just agreed to meet Kristen behind Jack's back, at noon today.  She feels a great sense of guilt over hiding that information from Jack.
 

"Jack, I....  I love you too,"  she says, as she caresses his face.  "I understand.  And I'm not mad at you.  I'm so glad you're back home with Abby and me, where you belong."
 

Jack kisses her hand and then takes it and holds her hand in his hands.
 

"Jack, there's something I think you should know...." she says to him.
 

"What's wrong, Jenn?"  Jack says with a great deal of concern, as he senses the worry in her voice.
 

"Um... I don't know how to tell you this...  Maybe I shouldn't...."
 

"What are you talking about, Jennifer?  Why do you look so worried?  You don't have to be afraid to tell me what's on your mind.  I can handle it."
 

"I don't think you'll be able to handle this one, Jack..."
 

Jack looks at Jennifer with a great deal of surprise and confusion.  He's very anxious to know what's bothering Jennifer.
 

Jennifer takes a deep breath and begins to tell Jack about her conversation with Kristen.
 

"When I was sitting here, after our argument I ... umm... I called... I called Kristen..."
 

"You what?!"  Jack responds with anger and confusion.  He lets go of Jennifer's hand and turns around on the couch to look the other way.
 

"Jack, please don't get angry with me!  Just let me explain!"  Jennifer says as she places her hand on his shoulder, trying to turn him around to face her.
 

"Jennifer!  There's nothing for you to explain!" he replies to her as he turns around. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that I don't want us to have anything to do with that woman!  I don't trust her!  Not one bit!"
 

"Jack, please!  You're being unreasonable!!  I mean, think about what kind of danger Kristen has placed herself in because of her testifying about Peter being alive.  I'm sure Stefano is furious about what she's done."
 

Jack doesn't say anything.  But the expression on his face speaks volumes and he clearly looks furious.  His arms are folded and he's staring across the room.
 

"Jack, listen.   I know you're mad about this.  And I understand your fears about allying with Kristen and your lack of trust for her.  But we don't have any choice right now.  Peter trusts Kristen and I'm sure Kristen can find a way to get Peter to tell her where he's hiding out.  I'm sure of it."
 

"I don't know, Jenn." Jack says, as he gets up from the couch to pace the room.  "I don't know what to think anymore."
 

Jennifer gets up from the couch and walks towards Jack.  She puts her hand out to gently grab Jack by his arm, as he's pacing, and she turns him around to talk directly to his face.
 

"Jack, look.  I know this is hard for you to even consider working with any DiMera.  But I know that with Kristen helping us out, we will find a way to bring Peter back to Salem and make him pay for every horrible thing he has done to our family."
 

Jack just shakes his head to disagree, unwilling to say anything to Jennifer.  But deep within his mind, he is starting to think that maybe Jennifer is right.  Maybe Kristen can truly help them out.   Maybe it's their only hope for finding Peter and putting him behind bars.  Jennifer and Abby won't be safe, he thinks, until that jerk's behind bars.

Jennifer looks at Jack and can sense that he's beginning to change his mind.  So she makes the following suggestion, "Jack, listen.  I just told Kristen that I'd meet her at Salem Place in a few hours.  So why don't you come along and speak to her too?"
 

"Jenn, I don't know.  I don't know if we can trust her."  Jack says.  Then he pauses and figures that he has nothing to lose if he talks to her with Jennifer.  "Okay, alright, Jenn.  I will.  But only on one condition."
 

"What's that?"  Jennifer responds.
 

"I want you to promise me that you'll agree not to pursue this idea of working with Kristen if I sense that she can't be trusted."
 

Jennifer is about to say no.  Then she realizes that Jack hasn't left her with much choice in the matter.  If she says no, then she'll have to ally with Kristen behind Jack's back. And she doesn't want to do that.  But if she says yes, at least there's a small chance that Jack will trust Kristen's story and agree to work with Kristen to find Peter.  So she smiles and nods her head in agreement.
 

Clearly not wanting to argue anymore, Jennifer decides to change subjects.  She looks at him lovingly and says,  "Jack, I just want us to stop arguing, okay?  You've just been released from jail permanently.  We don't have to live in fear of you going back to jail anymore.  I think we should stop fighting and start celebrating the fact that you, me and Abby are a family again."
 

Jack looks back at Jennifer with complete love in his eyes.  He can't stand the fact that him and Jennifer have spent most of their time arguing with each other since the judge cleared him of those horrible murder charges.  He places his hand on Jennifer's face and gently caresses her.  Jennifer leans her face closer to his and they share a passionate kiss.  Although trouble and doom may lie ahead for them, Jennifer and Jack push all those fears to the back of their minds, as they express their love for one another...
 

Meanwhile, back at the DiMera Mansion....
 

Kristen is pacing the room and flashes back to the argument she had with her father, Stefano.  She remembers how he told her that he no longer considers her his daughter.  And she remembers how he told her that she can't be trusted anymore.  She worries if perhaps she has made a horrible mistake by angering her father and Peter like this.  But then she thinks about all the months that Jack was forced to spend apart from his family because of her lying about Peter being dead.  She takes a deep breath and says to herself, "I did the right thing.  I may love Peter but I couldn't stand keeping an innocent man apart from his family."
 

Suddenly the phone rings and Kristen gets startled.  She picks up the receiver to answer the call.
 

"Hello?" she says.
 

"Krissie.  It's Peter," Peter replies with anger in his voice.
 

"Peter.  Hi.  How are you doing?" Kristen responds, trying to pretend that she didn't betray her own brother in court.
 

"Well, Krissie, let's see.  Before today, my life was going well.  I was planning a very nice reunion with my wife and step-daughter.  And then my father called me on the telephone to tell me that my own sister ruined my life.  So yeah, my life hasn't been too great recently!"
 

"Peter... I'm sorry."
 

"Sorry, Kristen?!  Sorry just doesn't cut it, you know?  You just destroyed my life!  How could you betray me like this?!  I always thought I could count on you, my sister, my own flesh and blood, to be on my side.  But now it's more important for you to be best friends with my worst enemy, Jack Deveraux!"
 

"Peter!  Please!"  Kristen says, with tears in her eyes,  "I swear I didn't want to betray you.  You know I would never intentionally hurt you.  But it was wrong, dammit!  It was wrong to keep Jack from his family..."
 

Peter interrupts Kristen, and says in a furious tone, "HIS FAMILY?!?!  EXCUSE ME, BUT THAT'S MY FAMILY, NOT HIS!!  HOW COULD YOU EVEN SAY THAT TO ME?!!"
 

"Peter honestly!!!!  Come on!!  Don't you think it's time for you to face reality and accept the fact that Jennifer doesn't love you anymore?! Please!!!  For your own sake, it's time to stop your deluded fantasies about reuniting with Jennifer and come back to Salem to give Jennifer the divorce she wants from you."
 

Peter begins to laugh hysterically.  Kristen becomes confused and doesn't understand why he's laughing.  She gets mad and says with an angry voice,  "Why are you laughing?  What the hell is so funny?!"
 

"Well, hmm... let me see.  Did you just hear what you told me?  You, of all people, have a nerve to tell me to stop being deluded about Jennifer.  Last time I checked, I believe you were planning your  upcoming wedding with a man who thinks you're scum of the earth.  Maybe you should take your own advice."
 

Kristen is hurt.  But she realizes that Peter is right.  How can she, of all people, tell Peter to stop deluding himself about Jennifer when she can't even do the same thing regarding her own feelings for John?  So she replies, "You know what?  You're absolutely right!  I think it's time we both faced reality and admitted that we can't force the person we love to love us back.  It won't work and it won't help us out in the long run!"
 

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from you, Kristen.  You are nothing but a quitter!  Plain and simple!  And frankly, I think you should be ashamed.  We Blakes have never been quitters!  Never!"
 

"I'm not a quitter, Peter.  I'm just trying to accept reality, for a change.  Listen, I know you're afraid to come back to Salem because you think they'll put you in jail for obstructing justice by faking your own death and for attempted kidnapping.  But I'm sure if I spoke to Abe, I could convince him to give you a fair deal if you returned to Salem and told him you were willing to grant Jennifer a divorce.  What do you say?"
 

"I say you're crazy, Kristen!!!!  Don't you understand?  My life is meaningless and empty without Jennifer in it.  I may as well be dead if I don't have her!  I will never grant her the divorce for as long as I live.  Never!"
 

"Peter, don't say that.  Underneath all that DiMera upbringing, you're still the same sweet brother I have always known and loved.  Please don't ruin your life, Peter.  Please come back to Salem so we can plea bargain with the Salem Police."

"I said forget it, Kristen!  I told you I wasn't going to do that.  And I meant it!  End of story!  By the way, I don't think I'll be speaking to you anymore now that I know you're on Jack's side.  Have a nice life, Kristen."
 

Peter hangs up the phone.  Kristen is stunned.  She can't believe how impossible Peter is being.  Then she wonders what help she'll be to Jack and Jennifer if Peter no longer trusts her to confide in her.  She looks at her watch and notices it's 10:30 am.  She remembers the 11:00 am meeting she planned with Jennifer and runs upstairs to get dressed.
 

It's 11:15 am and Jack and Jennifer are now sitting at Johnny Angel's waiting for Kristen to arrive....
 

Jack is nervously tapping his fingers on the table and looking at his watch.  Jennifer is getting nervous because of Jack's impatience.
 

"So where is she, Jennifer?  Huh?  I thought you said she'd be here at 11:00 am.  Well, look at the time now.   It's quarter past eleven and she's nowhere to be seen!  Like I told you.  We can't trust that woman!"
 

"Jack, come on already!  Maybe she's stuck in traffic or something.  She hasn't even arrived yet and you're already unwilling to trust her."
 

Jennifer looks across and notices Kristen walking quickly towards the table.  She motions her hand towards Kristen to let her know where she's sitting.  As Kristen arrives at the table, she becomes startled when she sees Jack sitting there.  She remembers Jennifer telling her she didn't want Jack to know about her meeting with Kristen.  Jennifer notices Kristen's worry and tells her that it's alright.  She tells her that Jack knows everything about this meeting and that he's willing to be open-minded about her.  Kristen is relieved and apologizes for being late.  She begins to make up a fake excuse about being late, but then decides to tell Jack and Jennifer the real reason why she was running late.
 

"... well, the truth is that I got an unexpected phone call before I was about to get ready to meet you, Jennifer."
 

"From who?"  Jennnifer inquires.
 

"From Peter," Kristen replies matter-of-factly.
 

"Peter?  You can't be serious?" Jack exclaims.  He is stunned Kristen would be so honest about something like that.
 

"Believe you me, Jack, I am serious.  Dead serious."
 

"Well, what did he want?" Jennifer asks.
 

"He basically told me he was furious at me for admitting that he was alive.  And then I told him to give himself up to the authorities.  I told him maybe the police would go easy on him if he granted you the divorce."
 

"Go easy on him?!  I want nothing less than to have that jerk behind bars, Kristen!  I don't trust him to walk around Salem with my family around!" Jack says with a great deal of anger.
 

"I hate to say it, Kristen.  But Jack's right.  Peter doesn't deserve to have any plea bargains after every horrible thing he has done.  It's because of him that Jack spent almost a year apart from me and Abby.  And let's not forget how he tried to kidnap me too, before Jack shot him.  He needs to be punished.  Besides, Uncle Mickey already told me that a judge would probably automatically grant me a divorce once Peter's captured by the authorities, given my circumstances with him."
 

"Yeah, I suppose you're probably right.  I just.... I just don't like the idea of my brother going to prison.  I just wish things could be different for him," Kristen says sadly.
 

"I know you do, Kristen.  I know.  But how can Peter ever learn from his mistakes unless he gets punished for them?  Maybe a little time behind bars will allow him to think about his horrible actions.   And maybe he will finally learn to move on with his life and stop obsessing over me."
 

"Well, you know, it doesn't really matter anyway because Peter was not interested at all in my idea.  Actually, he sounded more determined than ever to get you, Jennifer.  He said his life is meaningless without you and that he'd rather die than grant you a divorce.  I'm honestly worried about you, Jenn.  I think Peter is seriously going to attempt to kidnap you and Abby.  Especially now that Jack is out of jail and reunited with you."
 

"Kristen's right, Jenn,"  Jack says with fear in his voice.  "You know as well as I do that Peter won't stop until he takes you and Abby away for good."
 

Jennifer is filled with terror.  She never realized just how desperate Peter truly was to be with her, until she heard what Kristen said.  Her sense of fear keeps her from saying anything.
 

"Listen, Jennifer.  I don't want you to be mad at me," Kristen continues. "But I think it would be better if you didn't go with Jack to search for Peter.  I can help Jack find Peter on one of Stefano's islands.  I think it's safer for you to stay in Salem."
 

"She's right, Jenn.  Now, more than ever, you need to stay as far away from Peter as possible.  And umm.. yeah... I guess after hearing Kristen being honest with us about her conversation with Peter, I suppose I can trust her.  A little.  But I'll still be watching you carefully, Kristen.  So if you're working for Peter, I'll find out."
 

"Jack, please!  Do you really think Peter would trust me enough to help him after everything that I've done to him?  He trusts me now about as much as he trusts you.  But anyway, I know I can still help you find him because I have sources.  I can call these sources who work on Stefano's islands so they can give me tips on how to track down Peter.  There's people there that would be willing to help me out if I promised to give them financial rewards.  You know the old saying, money talks.."
 

"Yeah.  Yeah.  I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have someone on the inside to help me out in my mission to find Peter,"  Jack says to Kristen.
 

"I can't believe this!  Do I even have a say in this?!  I'm not a little girl, for heaven's sakes.  I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself!"  Jennifer shouts.  "And I don't think it's up to both of  you to tell me if I can or can't go to that island!!!!!"
 

Jennifer gets up from the table and walks away.  Jack gets up quickly and runs to catch up to her.  He is now standing in front of her and says, "Look, Jenn.  You know I don't want to be separated from you.  But it's too dangerous for you to be so close to Peter.  You heard what Kristen told you.  He said he won't stop until he takes you and Abby away for good."
 

"But so what if I stay in Salem?!  What's to stop him from showing up here while you're gone and kidnapping me?!"
 

"Well, it's different, Jenn.  We'll make sure that Abe gets the police to protect you and Abby twenty-four hours a day.  We'll have a guard stand outside our house all day and night to make sure you're okay.  You'll be a lot safer here with Abby than roaming around the world with me and Kristen."
 

"Well, maybe.  But what about you, Jack?  I'm so worried about your safety.  I don't like the thought of you venturing off onto one of Stefano's islands.  You never know what kind of plans Peter might have for you if you start searching for him on one of his island hideaways.  I'm so scared for you, Jack,"  she says with terror in her voice, as she puts her arms tightly around him to embrace him.  "I don't know what I'd do if you... " Jennifer can't finish her sentence.  The thought of Jack being separated from her permanently is too much for her to bear.
 

"Don't worry, Jenn," he says as he caresses her back.  "I'll stay safe.  I'm not travelling alone either.  I'll have the police there to help me find Peter. And I'll come back to Salem before you know it and then we'll get married.  Just believe that, Jenn."
 

He releases himself from his embrace with her, to look directly into her eyes.  Jennifer looks back at him with complete and total love.  He leans over towards her face and they kiss each other passionately.....
 

Meanwhile, back at Peter's island hideaway...
 

Peter is on his cellphone speaking to one of Stefano's henchmen.....
 

"Listen.  I want you to do something for me."
 

"Whatever, you say, Mr. Blake."
 

"I have every reason to believe that Deveraux is going to end up on this island very soon.  In fact, I'm going to make it very easy for him to track me down.  Or at least, let him think he's about to find me."
 

"So what is it that you want me to do, Mr. Blake?"
 

"When Deveraux arrives here, I want you to shoot to kill.  Understand?  I want Deveraux dead!  In fact, let the word spread around that whoever shoots and kills him first will get a hefty financial reward.  Got it?"
 

"But Mr. Blake, I... "
 

"Don't 'Mr. Blake' me!!  I'm your boss and what I say goes.  Understand?!"
 

"Yeah, sure.  Whatever you say.  I'll be sure to spread the word around."
 

"Great!  Because I won't be happy until I have my family back.  And until I make sure that Jack Deveraux is out of our lives -- PERMANENTLY!!"
 

To be continued....

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