The next day RJ and Sophia are sitting on the park bench blowing bubbles and enjoying the seventy degree weather. While the birds were chirping away and the kids were at play, the dashing duo couldn't help but notice that John was leering at them as he was walking his dog, Wally. The two instantly picked up on this and Sophia made some unkind comments about it."What's up with Dickhead Tracy?" Sophia said observing John's irritating stare at them.
"Don't worry about him." RJ puts his hand around Sophia's shoulder. "He's probably never seen a colorful and cool couple like us." He Responded.
"You're damn right. Variety is the spice of life."
"That's a good way of putting it. When you combine two characters like us together, you get a recipe for romance. Just add a kiss." RJ kisses Sophia.
The two of them resumed blowing bubbles and their thoughts drifted off to other things. Sophia reflected on the night before when she saw the revealing photos of RJ and Tea. Originally, Sophia wanted to confront RJ about the pictures and tell him off, but on the suggestion of Marco she decided that it would be best if she beat him at his own game. She swallowed her pride and went ahead with Dane's sinister solution to her painful problem. Pelligrino was unaware of what she was getting herself into being involved with dangerous men like RJ and Marco. Sophia found it hard to believe that Marco was right about RJ. Nonetheless, Sophia felt so uneasy about setting RJ up for a fall that she couldn't look him in the eye.
Noticing that something was wrong with Sophia, RJ decided to find out what was upsetting her.
"Penny for your thoughts." Expressed RJ.
"My thoughts aren't that cheap." Quipped Sophia. "I was just thinking about what to do with my share of the prize money."
"We haven't even won yet, but what are you going to do with your half?" Asked RJ.
"I was thinking of giving my brother a proper burial with a tombstone to go with it."
"That's so nice of you to keep your thoughts on him."
"You want to know what's nice? Having someone special like you. After all, what good is money if you don't have a sweetheart to share it with?" Sophia passes the bubble wand to RJ.
"Well let's just win the tournament and we can have this conversation later." RJ dips the wand in the soap liquid and blows more bubbles.
RJ and Sophia continue their chat about the upcoming pool competition when Hank steps on the scene.
"Hey RJ. I'm glad I found you. You been a hard man to track down." Hank says as he shakes RJ's hand. "Hello Sophia."
"Hi Hank." Responded Sophia.
"Well afternoon, counselor. I believe you have something for me."
"You're right. I do." Hank gives RJ his house keys back. "Listen, can we talk in private?"
"Sure thing. Sophia, can you please excuse us for moment? My bro and I have to catch up on a few things." "Okay. I have to take care of a few things anyway. I'll see you around." Sophia kisses RJ on the cheek. "Bye Hank." Sophia gets up from the park bench and leaves the Gannon Brothers to talk in private.
Now that RJ and Hank are alone, the two then begin their discussion on the park bench.
"So what has your high blood pressure boiling this time?" Questioned RJ.
"I want to touch up on the home invasion that occurred at your apartment some weeks back. The police were unsuccessful finding any solid evidence linking any suspects to your apartment."
"That doesn't surprise me. And..?"
"Well the case isn't totally a dead-end. Bo believes that whoever broke into your apartment was after something specific. Do you have any idea of who would do this to your place?" asked a worried Hank.
RJ had a few ideas of who would do this to his apartment but he wasn't willing to share this information with Hank. He instead brushed the whole thing with a comedic response.
"It beats me. I'm just a magnet for danger." Joked RJ.
"Don't try to joke your way out of this one, bro. Whoever's after you might try to do this again, so I need you to level with me and tell me what they were after. Does the home invasion have anything to do with what went down between you and Max at Rodi's or the robbery attempt at the Crossroads Tavern?" Asked Hank as he was searching for answers.
"Nonsense, Henry. Those were just isolated incidents. As you can see, I'm alive and breathing. Nothing to worry about." Said RJ in a calm voice.
"Well if you still want to keep breathing, you should let me help you out. I'm concerned about your safety and I want to know who's after you and why." Persisted Hank.
"Well Hank I don't recall asking you for help, and the last time I checked this isn't a courtroom or a police station, so I'm not obligated to tell you anything." Snapped RJ. "Family comes first before my duties as a public servant, RJ. So whatever trouble you're in, I want to help you." Expressed Hank in a concerned voice.
"Henry, have you ever wondered why I continue to avoid your assistance in my problems?" Questioned RJ.
"Well since you brought it up, tell me." Hank curiously said.
"You overshadowed me. Ever since we were kids growing up in Chicago, I always took a backseat to your accomplishments, achievements and awards and I resented you for it. It didn't matter if I practiced playing a musical instrument or that I wasn't as great at sports as you were. What mattered was that my older brother was the all-star athlete and scholar. People constantly tried to shape and mold me into the next Hank "The Cannon" Gannon, but once they realized that I didn't share your talent for athletics, I was pushed into the background. When I was in jail, I decided the best way to distance myself from you was to be the ultimate antithesis to your image and reputation. That way I could be my own individual and finally get the glory and recognition that you received all your life." Revealed RJ.
Hank was stunned at RJ's answer. He couldn't believe that RJ blamed him for his shortcomings in life, so Hank immediately decided to set his brother straight about a few issues.
"Now hold on a minute. If I received anything in life, it was because I earned it. Whether it was my football scholarship to Midwestern University or my position as District Attorney of Llantano County, I worked hard for it. Nobody gave me nothing." Explained Hank.
"Mother gave you a lot of praise and appreciation." Added RJ.
"Look at all the trouble you caused, RJ. Ma tried her best with you but you kept creating problems for yourself and other people."
"This is exactly what I'm talking about. When I got into trouble or didn't, I was always catergorized with you. I couldn't have my own identity and be myself."
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to make it on your own merits, RJ. Besides, we all have a skill that we can do better than others. Take myself for instance, I may have been a good athlete, but I'm a lousy dancer. I can't dance to save my soul."
"You hit the hammer right on the nail, Mister Two-Left Feet. You dance like Raj from What's Happening. Bo has more pep in his step than you and that's saying something."
"Okay. Well anyway, you're great with money and have excellent entrepreural skills. I'm confident that the problem you're going through with Indigo is just a temporary setback. The question is, are you going to beat the odds or are you going to let the odds beat you?"
"I took a big gamble going straight and being a law-abiding citizen and look where it got me. I lost my business, I have large debts to creditors and the police are on my case all the time. I'm not cut out for your way of life."
"Interesting. I see that Indigo wasn't the only thing that was destroyed in the fire."
"And what do you mean by that?"
"You haven't been the same since the fire, RJ. It's like you just given up on yourself, and became more withdrawn, bitter, spiteful and cynical."
"Thanks for noticing my new and improved attitude, Henry. The fire has brought me a fresh and profound outlook on life and I learned to deal with the hand that I was dealt with. Club Indigo going to blazes was a blessing in disguise."
"I know what it's like to put your heart into something and..."
"Will you can the sympathy act, Henry!" Exclaimed RJ. "I'm tired of you picking and pulling at me like you're a vulture and I'm some deteriorating carcass."
"I have just been wanting to find out what's been eating at you lately. I must admit this is the first time you really opened up to me seeing as there's always been a wall between us."
"And there still is one. You see, I still can't stand you."
"I thought we put all this sibling rivalry aside and reconciled our differences."
"Not by a longshot. There's never been any closure between us. I just learned to tolerate you more after all these years. You think I haven't forgotten how you never visited me in prison? The half-assed defense you and Nora put up for me in court? The countless letters I had written to you and never answered?"
"You was being unreasonable and hateful at that time. It's like you gave up on life. Just like now."
"What has life ever done for me?! You talk a good game about breaking down barriers and building bridges but the truth is you can't even follow your own advice. Whenever we speak, it's like I'm on the witness stand in court being cross-examined. You prefer to dictate to me what I should do and add a feather in your nobility cap. As for facing your problems head-on, you like to hide behind your work instead of solving your troubles. So don't tell me how I should cope with my dilemma!" RJ answered in a loud tone.
"How wrong I was to think that we made amends with each other. The grass isn't greener on the other side, bro. Since you came into town, I had my hands full with you when you were hellbent on being a troublemaker and carrying out your vendetta against Nora and myself. When you helped Rachel out with her drug problem and went into a legitimate business venture, you showed me another side of you that I had never seen before. From that point on, I decided to be more supportive of you and defend you whenever someone accused you of commiting a crime, but when those same people who made those accusations were right, I was devastated."
"Would a band-aid help your broken heart? We all have flaws."
"From the time you were born, Ma pushed me to excel in my studies and sports and set a good example for you. The first time you went to prison, I felt like I let her down. To this day, whenever, you get into trouble all I can think of is Momma and what she wanted me to do on the account that I'm the oldest."
"But it wasn't your place to be a role model. That's what Pop was for."
"I guess Momma didn't see Pop as being the ideal role model since he didn't have a stable job and wanted to pursue his dream as a musician."
"Well he was a damn good man. Very talented musician. You shouldn't have to carry that burden or mine for that matter. By the way, I thought you were a prosecutor. What are you doing going around defending me?" Cracked RJ.
"Because I'm your brother. We share the same blood, parents and last name." Answered Hank.
"And the similarity ends there. So does this conversation." Smirked RJ.
"I can take a hint, RJ. I hear you talk about people in Llanview not giving you a second chance, but let me ask you this: can you forgive yourself? Can you forgive all the dirt that you did in the past? Remember, there's two people that you're accountable for. Yourself and your maker. I'll see you around."
Hank gets up from the bench and walks away. RJ makes himself comfortable on the bench and contemplates the events that transpired thus far. He really didn't want to drag his brother into his personal problems, which is why he gave Hank the brush off. RJ really didn't think that his talk with Hank would drag out too far. He begins to reconsider his mistreatment of Hank. RJ thinks to himself that Hank was being sincere in wanting to help him. After having second thoughts, RJ runs and tries to stop Hank from leaving the park.
"Hank, wait! I have something I want to tell you. He yells as he's trying to catch up to him"
Without warning, a car drives by and opens fire. Hank is hit and falls to the ground. The car quickly vanishes without a trace.
RJ immediately rushed to his brother's side to see if he was alright.
"Hank! Please be alive! Don't die on me!" RJ said frantically.
He held Hank in his arms and didn't pay attention to the blood that was all over his designer suit. RJ looked up and saw a billboard that contained a quote that applied to his latest predicament. It read:
"I sought my soul, but my soul could not see. To Be Continued
I sought my God, but my God eluded me.
I sought my brother and I found all three."----------- Martin Luther King Jr.
....