Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 252,161 times)

[fluffysmom]

Poor Chloe needs Philip and her parents for support.

[heroicmuse]

Mar 10, 2015 10:39:02 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

Bev is in serious trouble! I don't even like the character, except that you gave her a soul, heroicmuse; she's not a cartoon character in this story and I want her to be safe.

Thank you Kpatch. I hate how one note Bev is on the show. When she was helping JJ frame Theresa she was a strong, interesting character, but then she got reduced to a stereotypical bad influence/schemer type.

Sadly for her, in this story its going to get worse for her before it gets better.

[heroicmuse]

Maggie was in the small kitchen that Victor had had built just for her when she moved in, kneading dough, when Jennifer came in. “Aunt Maggie!” Jennifer said. “It smells fantastic in here.”

“I just took the first loaf of bread out of the oven,” Maggie said. “I think I might make flatbread out of this leftover dough.” She glanced up at Jennifer. “Whenever Victor’s away, especially if I have something on my mind, getting in here and baking just makes the time fly by.”

“Anything I can do to help?” Jen asked.

“Yes, actually. As soon as I get this in the oven, you can start mixing up a batch of those famous donuts Alice taught you to make.” Maggie flipped the dough over and went on kneading it. “You sounded frantic on the phone, Jennifer Rose. Maybe baking can help you the way it helps me.”

“I’m fine, Aunt Maggie, really.” Jennifer scooped flour out with a measuring cup and poured it into a bowl.

“If I had a dollar for every time you said that when you were the opposite of fine, my fortune would rival Victor’s.” Maggie pulled her dough apart into chunks. While she was getting a rolling pin out of a drawer, she asked, “What’s really going on?”

Jennifer sighed. “Kim suggested I call you, and I went back and forth because I don’t want to push JJ away any more than I already have, but we’re already barely talking, so I have nothing to lose. He’s out of control, Aunt Maggie, and the only thing I can think of to do is stage some type of intervention.”

“I see,” Maggie said. She floured her rolling pin and began rolling out her flatbreads. “And what has that young man gotten into this time? I hope it’s not drugs again.”

“No, not drugs. At least I don’t think so.” Jennifer sighed. “Aunt Maggie, maybe this is crazy, but don’t you think that if a kid like JJ who has been in so much trouble keeps hanging around people who are still doing stupid things, it’s just going to drag him back onto the path he was on?”


“What are you gonna do to her?” Cole asked Jeff.

“It’s sweet you’re so protective of your girl, but you’d better just do what I say or I’ll start thinking things you don’t want me to think. Tie her up and then go in the bedroom and go through her purse. We might as well get something out of this.”

Cole grimaced, but he did as he was told, forcing Bev onto the couch before tying her hands behind her back.

“Now,” Jeff said after Cole had disappeared into the bedroom. “What did you hear?”

“Nothing,” Bev protested. “I swear. I - “

“Liar!” Jeff slapped Bev across the face. She winced but refused to allow herself to cry. He knelt down by her, pressing his hand over her mouth and putting the knife against her throat. “I own you now, sweetheart, understand?” he said softly. “And I want to know exactly what you heard. Got that?” Bev nodded, her eyes widening as she realized what she was going to have to do. “Now let’s try this again,” Jeff said. “What did you hear?” He took his hand off her mouth.

“Okay, you’re right.” Bev blinked back the tears she deliberately let spring into her eyes. “I heard you tell Cole how JJ took your job and how you’re going to get him and Rory. But I only listened in because I love Cole so much. I’d do anything for my man, so I wanted to know what was going on so I could help him.” Jeff looked puzzled. “I’m not going to tell anyone, I swear. In fact, I have a plan you can use.”

“Yeah, right.”

“No, really. But it’ll only work if you let me go.” Bev’s fingers were moving behind her back, trying to find the knots in the rope so she could untie herself, but so far nothing. “Look, I’m more useful to you out in the world than if you keep me tied up in Cole’s apartment. Rory’s my best friend, right? So he trusts me. And JJ… he’s like a big, dumb puppy when it comes to Rory. I don’t think he even likes Rory but he hangs around him anyway waiting for him to become a Boy Scout or something.”

“Get to the point.”

“I,” Bev said slowly, trying to sound flirtatious rather than scared out of her mind, “can lure Rory or JJ to wherever you want them to be.”

Jeff nodded slowly. “Maybe we can use you,” he said. “But don’t get me wrong...I’m not letting you go.” He pulled her to her feet by the rope around her wrists. As he ran his hands through her hair, he said, softly, “You go out there and do your thing til we’re ready for you. I’ll send Cole whenever I need you and you do whatever you’re told, no questions asked.”

Bev nodded. “Following orders is my specialty. Just ask Cole.”

“Good.” Jeff tilted Bev’s head up, as if he were going to kiss her. “So hear this. We’ll let you out for now… but if you breathe one word about any of this to anybody, especially the cops or those loser friends of yours, all of you are going to get very hurt.” He cut the rope with his knife, freeing her hands. “Get the hell out of here and don’t come back til I send for you.”

Bev left the apartment. As soon as the door closed behind her, she leaned against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut and letting her shoulders shake for a second.


Paige heard someone calling her name as she pressed the elevator button in the apartment building’s lobby. She turned around to see a slightly out of breath, pregnant woman looking at her. She crossed her arms. “What do you want, Jill?”

“You must get that attitude from your mother. She acts like she’s all that too. I’m going to have to take her down a peg or two, because I just can’t live with that.”

Paige glared at her. “So,” she said. “You take my boyfriend out from under my nose. You have his baby and think I’m never going to find out about it. Now you’re taking digs at my mother?”

“Look, I didn’t take anybody. JJ, he’s just a typical little college boy, don’t be so mad at him. That’s what parties are for.”

“If you’re looking for money for your love child with him, don’t ask me. And stop asking my mom, too. She might have a soft spot for you because of her past, but I see right through you.”

“Oh, I don’t want money. Not from you, anyway.” Jill moved towards Paige. “I just wanted to tell you that I think you and I should make peace. After all, I’m going to be living with your mom, so we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other. Maybe you can get over what happened between me and JJ. It was only one night, after all.”

The elevator came. “I’m going upstairs,” Paige said, “and I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of my elevator.” She pressed the button for Eve’s floor and stepped back, crossing her arms against her chest as she watched the elevator close in Jill’s face.

Jill smirked at the closing doors. JJ’s baby, huh? she thought, giggling to herself. This could work out even better than I thought.

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Bev was able to talk her way out of Cole's apartment for now.

I hope Maggie can help Jennifer.

Paige's next conversation with Eve should be very interesting.

[Kpatch]

Jeff is so dangerous. Bev is really in a no-win.

Maggie is going through her own stuff with her grandson being so sick. Jennifer seemed to disregard that fact entirely. And I don't think JJ is out of control. Jennifer yes, JJ no. LOL.

Paige unknowingly just gave Jill even more ammunition.

[heroicmuse]

Mar 11, 2015 11:14:51 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

 Jennifer seemed to disregard that fact entirely. And I don't think JJ is out of control. Jennifer yes, JJ no. LOL.

LOL yep. Hope didn't realize what a can of crazy she was opening by giving Jen a heads-up about JJ!

[heroicmuse]

JJ sat on a park bench, strumming his guitar and trying to clear his head. Nicole wasn’t going to need him until she was ready to write up the bail hearing, he didn’t have class for a while, and he had no idea what to do next. So much for the instincts Nicole insisted he had.

There was a lot of loud noise coming from behind the bushes. JJ quickly packed his guitar up, just in case. Rory came around the corner the next second, laughing hysterically. “Dude!” Rory said between giggles. “I… good thing I ran into you man.”

JJ crossed his arms. “Rory - “

“You won’t believe Bev,” Rory said. “She… she… wow I’m so baked dude… anyway, can you believe she left the party with Cole?”

“Must have been some party, dude,” JJ said, trying to choose his words carefully. “You’ve been free an hour and you’re already stoned out of your mind.”

“Yeah, it was great. You should… you should have been there, man.” Rory noticed JJ’s guitar in its case. He tried to open the zipper but seemed to be having trouble. “The music’s a little stuck, dude,” he said.

“Leave my guitar alone,” JJ said, pulling it away. “This thing’s expensive, dude, and the way you are right now you’re gonna knock it to the ground.”

Rory’s eyes narrowed. “Dude! You’re so uptight when you’re sober.”

JJ got up. “I gotta go.”

“What?” Rory crossed his arms. “I’m good enough for you to spring from jail but not good enough to hang with?”

“Come on man, don’t do this. You know I don’t like being around weed, and what if I’d been hanging with Marissa? You think I want her to see you like this?”

“So I’m an embarrassment now?”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that, Rory. I just meant - “

“You know what, just go do whatever boring thing you were gonna do. You’re killing my buzz anyway.” Rory glared at JJ. “And here I thought you helped me out, got me that fancy lawyer cause you cared.” He made a face. “I’m not your charity case, dude. Go volunteer at a soup kitchen or something, you want to help the needy so bad.”

“You must be so baked you don’t know what you’re saying, man. Hit me up when you’re sober.” JJ picked up his guitar and started to walk away.

“That’ll be never,” Rory said. “You know why, JJ? Cause I’m not ashamed of who I am, and if you were really my friend, you wouldn’t be either.” JJ turned around again but Rory said, “Keep walking, dude. You did your good deed, now get away from me.”



Maggie took out a heavy pan before she answered. Putting it on the stove, she said, “Temptation can certainly be a problem. It has been for Brady. But it doesn’t have to be. With all the alcohol Victor insists on leaving out in plain sight, I have never once wanted to touch it. Well, that’s not completely true. Why do you think I stayed with you when we went through that rough patch last year?”

“That’s the thing. Ever since JJ and Paige broke up - “

“Which I still say is a good thing--do you really think having Eve Donovan in your lives is good for any of you?”

“Paige was nothing like Eve. She was so good, and so good for JJ. She was like a daughter to me. She’s the kind of girl I want for JJ, down to earth and sober and going somewhere in life.”

“But she’s not what JJ wants?”

“I don’t know. That’s all beside the point, though, Aunt Maggie. The problem is, since their breakup he’s gone back to that stupid pothead friend of his, and he thinks he’s going to change that kid for the better. But the truth is, Aunt Maggie, Rory is changing JJ for the worse again and he just refuses to see it. So, since JJ won’t listen to me, the only thing left to do is some kind of intervention.”

Maggie turned on the stove and threw a piece of flatbread dough into the pan. “If you really think that’s what JJ needs, I’ll help. But Jennifer Rose, I’m not convinced that he needs that. Some of JJ’s behaviors are just normal parts of growing up, and he’s just going to have to learn on his own that he can’t change the world.”

“You should have heard him, Aunt Maggie. My son is making some big mistakes again, and I can’t just stand by and let him.”

“You know,” Maggie said, flipping the flatbread, “I remember a wild-eyed young woman I knew once, who insisted on living on the pier and was sure she knew everything about how to live. I never would have guessed that same girl would be standing in my kitchen trying to figure out the best way to help her son.” Maggie put the flatbread on a plate and put another piece of dough in. “For that matter, if you’d told me two years ago that both Brady and JJ would be sober and productive, I don’t know that I would have believed it. But if we had given up on them, we would have cheated ourselves out of the pleasure of seeing them turn their lives around. JJ’s come a long way, Jennifer Rose. Don’t panic. No matter what missteps he’s taking now, I’m sure it’s not as bad as when he was doing drugs morning, noon and night.”


Daniel followed Chloe out into the hall next to Kayla’s office. “Listen,” he said, as Chloe pulled out her phone. “I know you gotta make some calls… I got people I need to call too. But can we… can we talk for a minute please?”

Chloe nodded.

“First of all, I know I haven’t been checking in with you or with Parker enough. I want you to know, it’s not cause I don’t care. It’s cause I care too much and I… I needed to shut down, to be by myself til I could get through some of what I was feeling.”

“I know,” Chloe said.

“The other thing, Chloe… the other thing is… at this point, in addition to all the adults we both need to tell, we gotta figure out together what to tell Parker. I mean, Maxine’s gonna be giving him medication and he might need surgery, and he’s been lying in that hospital bed not feeling 100% and not knowing why he’s here or what’s happening to him. I didn’t want to scare him unnecessarily but now that we know, I think he deserves to get an age appropriate version of the truth. And I think it has to come from us, from both of us.”

Chloe sighed. “I… I can’t think… I mean, yes, you’re right, he needs to know something, but I’m afraid. Daniel, what do I do if he looks at me with those big eyes of his and says, ‘Mommy am I going to die?’”

“He is not going to die!” Chloe flinched and Daniel said, more softly, “He’s not dying, Chloe. I promise. And that is what you tell him. You tell him, he is going to get better and that we are working with the best doctors there are to make sure of that.”

“And are you going to be there for this conversation or did you really mean, Chloe tell our son he’s very sick while I hide in my office?”

“Of course I am going to be there. Didn’t I say it has to come from both of us?” Daniel tapped his phone. “I’m just making a phone call or two and then I will be right in his room with you. I promise.”

“I’m going to make a call too.”

“All right, then we’re agreed? Meet in Parker’s room in 20?”

Chloe nodded.

Daniel started to walk off. Chloe started dialing Philip’s number. Daniel turned around again. “Oh, and Chloe?” She looked up, hoping she didn’t have a look on her face that would make him question anything. “When you tell your parents, if you want to ask your dad what he thinks of what’s going on… I won’t be upset.”

“Um...okay, maybe, if he offers.”

Daniel left. Chloe called Philip and said, “You know how I said we should wait until Parker comes home for me to reintroduce the two of you? I’m kind of rethinking that. No, he’s not any worse. It’s just, he’s on medication and we’ll see… but they said he has fluid in his lungs and I don’t know, I just thought… Philip, maybe we should do this before it’s too late.”

[fluffysmom]

It looks like Philip may be headed to Salem. I hope so. Chloe needs him.

I'm glad Daniel and Chloe are going to talk to Parker together.

Go Maggie! I like everything she said to Jennifer.

I'm glad JJ is trying to stay away from Rory when he's partying.

[Kpatch]

Great chapter!

First of all, I love how you keep the musician in JJ alive!

Second, I love that you brought up the fact that Victor always has booze around, even with addicts in the house. That has always bothered me. Maggie gave Jennifer some great advice. I hope Jenn takes it!

It's very telling that Chloe's first phonecall was to Philip.

[unavitasegreta]

I'm so excited by these chapters that I can't even express all my thoughts. It's kinda like this ... 'OMG, Bev, girl! Jennifer going to Maggie for baking and bonding! Jill is having 'JJ's' baby!!! Chloe called Philip!!! I wish this were happening on my screen!!!' (Its kinda crazy up in my head right now.)

[heroicmuse]

Bev could hear Rory and JJ arguing from the other side of the bushes. JJ was saying, loudly, “I’m not walking away, dude. 24 hours ago you were singing a different tune, but the second you get out of jail the only thing that’s important to you is where your next high’s coming from.”

“Time was when you used to worry about that too. But now you’re so high and mighty, too good for a stoner like me.” Rory shook his head. “I’m not like you, man. I don’t have a stuck up mommy to please. Me getting high’s good enough for Kurt, and if you were being yourself it would be good enough for you.”

“I don’t care that you get high,” JJ said. “I’m just saying, man, you were high when you got robbed, the cops threw you in jail cause you had weed on you, what’s gonna happen next?”

“I know!” Rory giggled. “That’s the fun of it, man. The cops or whoever can only do so much to me, and then when I get free I go right back to doing what I want to do.” JJ frowned and Rory said, “Dude, didn’t you break up with Paige? What’re you carrying her face around with you for?”

“You know what?” JJ said. “I’m tired of having this same conversation over and over.”

“You’re not the only one.” Rory crossed his arms, but then he seemed to relent, saying softly, “Dude, stop worrying about me. No matter what happens, I’ll still be standing at the end of it. You got that hot new Marissa to take your mind off everything, don’t mess it up giving me a lecture when you could be hanging with her.”

Rory walked off. Bev let the branches of the bushes go so she could follow him. She had to find some way to warn him without it getting back to Jeff.


Eve held the key she’d made for Jill in the palm of her hand, staring at it. There has to be another way to get rid of that Jill besides making her think she’s crazy, she thought, making a face. Paige’s key turned in the lock just then, so she quickly hid the one she was holding in a desk drawer.

“Hi sweetheart,” Eve said, putting on her best smile. “It is so good to see you. How was your breakfast with your friend?”

Paige glared at her mother. “Is it true that you’re letting that girl move in with you?”

“What girl, baby? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The one that was here yesterday. The one who’s pregnant, and who you didn’t want to let in here because you don’t want to take care of her baby.”

“Oh, her. Well… tell you what, sweetheart, come sit down and let’s talk about it.” Eve patted the couch next to her. “Now I didn’t mention this on the phone because I thought we should discuss it in person, but apparently she was so excited she beat me to it.”

“How could you let her move in here, Mom? She helped JJ break my heart.”

“JJ would have done that sooner or later, Jill or no Jill,” Eve snapped. “For all you know, she had no idea he had a girlfriend. Now come on now, you saw what that girl’s like. She’s about to have a baby, Paige, and she’s all on her own. Now, if I hadn’t had your Grandpa Shane and Grandma Kim’s help when I was pregnant with you, I might have had to bang on some stranger’s door begging for a place to stay too.”

“I doubt she begged.”

“Now look, where’s your heart, Paige? Aren’t you the same girl who used to cry if I stepped on a bug or tell me I was being too close minded if I said something thoughtless about those who aren’t as fortunate as we are? Come on, Paige, you know better than to be so mean, sweetheart, especially knowing what you know about me. You know that before I reconnected with Grandpa Shane I did some things I wasn’t proud of. Now how could I turn my back on a girl your age who’s all caught up in the same situation I was in? I thought about what you said, but sweetheart, it just wouldn’t be right.”

“Helping girls get off the streets is fine, Mom, but what about me? Why is this girl more important to you than your own daughter?” Paige blinked hard. “Mom, she’s having JJ’s baby! How do you think it feels, knowing she’s in my room, sleeping in my bed?”

“How do you know the baby’s even JJ’s? Come on now, Paige, aren’t you jumping to conclusions just a little?”

“No, Mom. I know because she told me.” Paige turned her back on Eve.

“She did? Did she say anything else?”

“Just that she thought we should get along since she’s moving in here.” Paige shook her head. “I told you before, Mom, I can’t be here if she’s going to be.”

“Okay fine. I’ll make sure she stays out of your way, even though I think you’re being very coldhearted, and that’s just not like you, Paige.” Eve rubbed her temples. “Get me my purse, baby. I think I feel a headache coming on.”

Paige rolled her eyes but she handed Eve her purse. Eve searched through it. “Now where is… damn it, I must be out. Paige, sweetheart, can you run to the pharmacy real quick and get me another bottle of ibuprofen? I forgot, I used the last of it last night.”

“I guess,” Paige said, sighing. “But I’m not staying long. I’m just getting the last of these boxes so Jill can have my room.” She picked up her purse and walked out, slamming the door behind her.


Chloe was singing to Parker when Daniel walked into the room.

That little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.

Parker giggled. “More, Mommy!”

“Maybe later, angel. Daddy’s here.”

“Don’t go away,” Parker begged.

Chloe smiled at him. “I’m not going anywhere. Actually, Daddy and I want to talk to you together. Don’t worry, we’re not mad at you, and you’re not in trouble.”

Daniel pulled up an extra chair and sat down next to Parker. “How you feeling buddy?”

“I dunno,” Parker said. “I like when Mommy sings.”

“I bet you do.” Daniel sighed. “The thing is, Parker, the reason you’ve been in the hospital is cause, uh, well your heart, it’s a little sick.”

“My heart’s sick?” Parker sounded surprised. “But I love you and Mommy and Nicole and Jennifer and both Grandpas and Grandmas.”

“My sweet angel,” Chloe said. “It’s not the part of your heart that loves that isn’t working right. That part is just fine. But did you know there’s another part of your heart that goes boom boom boom and sends blood all over your body to do the things your body needs it to do?”

“Boom boom boom. Boom boom boom,” Parker said, giggling.

Chloe looked at Daniel. “Hey Parker, look at us for a second,” he said. “The thing is, buddy, your heart...it’s not beating the way it’s supposed to and that’s why you’ve been so dizzy and why you need that tube in your nose to help you breathe. But the good news is, now that we know that, starting tonight, Maxine is gonna give you some medicine to help your heart. So when she gives it to you, you need to take it, even if you don’t like it, okay?”

“Is it gonna be yucky?” Parker asked.

“Yucky? No way! Cause you know what, even if you have to get used to how it tastes, it’s gonna make you feel so much better that after a few times, you won’t even notice.”

“And then we going home?”

“In a few days, Parker, maybe,” Chloe said. “The doctors have to make sure your heart is better first.”

“And then I can go to your house and see trains with your friend?”

“What friend?” Daniel asked.

Chloe said, “I’ll tell you later.” She ran her hands through Parker’s hair and said, “As soon as you get better, we’ll go see the trains first thing, okay angel? So do what the doctors tell you, and if you’re scared just tell me or Daddy, and one of us will be right here next to you.”


Marissa stood in line at the pharmacy, looking at the prescription Marlena had given her. She wasn’t sure why she needed an anti-depressant, since she wasn’t depressed, but Marlena wouldn’t prescribe a straight sleeping pill, so she took what she could get.

It wasn’t that long ago that she’d stood up in the back of the huge auditorium where Introduction to Psychology was being held and said, loudly, “I think these psychological medications are a cop-out. I mean, if someone’s anxious or depressed, they don’t need medicine. They need to deal with whatever it is that’s making them feel that way. If you’re going to dope them up, you might as well send them to the streets to try out illicit drugs.” There were gasps from her fellow classmates.

The professor glared at her; she could feel his anger without looking at the video monitors set up around the room so that students in the back could see and hear properly. “Young lady,” he said, “I would love to introduce you to some of the patients whose lives have been changed by these medications, but unfortunately I’m not legally allowed to. So I will just say this. I hope that you never find yourself in a situation where you need this type of medicine, and that if you do I hope the mental health professionals you’re dealing with are not as judgmental as you are being right now. Now please do not disrupt my class further with these opinions.”

The professor’s words cut deep now, and so did her own. Marissa almost crumpled the prescription, but she had to face the fact that she wasn’t functioning well enough on her own, and that she had to listen to what her doctor was telling her to do. She sighed deeply as the pharmacist called her to the counter. She stepped forward, slowly, and handed in her prescription.

The pharmacy clerk smiled at her sympathetically as she put the prescription info in the computer. “We’ll text you when it’s ready. About 20 minutes, okay?” Marissa nodded and walked off.

She sat down in the waiting area and stared at her phone, then dialed a number. “Hey,” she said when JJ picked up. “I hope I’m not bothering you. I just… look, when I finish running some errands, do you think we could meet up? I’d really like to get through a conversation without the cops interrupting us. Cool, thanks, JJ.”

The door to the pharmacy opened as Marissa hung up her phone. She turned to see who had come in…

...and found herself face to face with Paige. JJ’s ex-girlfriend had a hard, angry look in her eye as she stared at Marissa.

[fluffysmom]

It's definitely not a good day for Paige.

I'm glad Marissa is filling her prescription.

I liked the conversation with Chloe, Daniel and Parker.

I hope Bev can help Rory without Jeff finding out.

[André DiMera]

I really hope Bev is able to help Rory!

Ouch! This is just not Paige's day, is it?

[Kpatch]

I think maybe a child psychologist should have been there when Chloe and Daniel explained to Parker about his heart. At least he doesn't seem scared. I love the little touches you add, like Chloe singing to Parker.

Eve's dialogue is fantastic. I can hear her talking.

Rory is so clueless. How is he even in college?

I loved Marissa's flashback. Seems like she used to be a little more brazen then she is now.

Great Friday chapter. Can't wait to see what Marissa and Paige are going to say to each other, if anything. Previews please?

[heroicmuse]

Mar 13, 2015 9:31:57 GMT -5 fluffysmom said:

It's definitely not a good day for Paige.

Mar 13, 2015 9:46:14 GMT -5 André DiMera said:

Ouch! This is just not Paige's day, is it?

Nope. And it's going to get worse...