Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 240,912 times)

[krw627]

So Kayla had Steve watch the lab. I guess she is tired of faked results.

Nice scene with Ciara and Henderson.

I can't wait to see who owns the cats facility Eduardo is in!

[heroicmuse]

Thank you André DiMera, Kpatch, and krw627 for your comments this week!

Next week we will finally find out what Nan's DNA test says. And will Theresa get out of that dungeon? Read on for spoilers.

Coming Up on Breaking Ties...
Paul realizes what a good team he and Andrew make when he's able to get through the convoluted code on Rolf's sensor. It almost leads to a romantic moment, but first there is work to be done.

Abe tries to get Rolf to cooperate one last time but the good guys are pon their own, and as Paul begins implementing the code, something goes wrong. But can he reverse it before it's too late?

Meanwhile, Malcolm gives Nan some much-needed support after her meeting with Kayla, but it isn't long before they both rush out again so that Nan can hear what Kayla has to say about whether Chanel is her long-lost daughter.

As for Chanel, she's distracted while trying to study for her GED exam, and it doesn't help when she notices Jeremy walking by her window.

Finally, Jennifer has a talk with Ciara, Nicole learns the identity of the person who owns the coma facility, and Joy finds herself in a dangerous situation thanks to the guard's big mouth.

[André DiMera]

So glad Paul and Andrew are able to get through the code Rolf put on the sensor! Wonder what happens that goes wrong, though.

Glad Malcolm is there for Nan. Can’t wait to hear the results!

While I think they would be good together, Chanel should focus on her studies instead of Jeremy.

So glad Jennifer talks to Ciara. Can’t wait to find out who owns the facility! Wonder what happens with Joy.

Thanks for the previews, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

Sounds like a very exciting week.

I think Paul should stop thinking about romance until they rescue Theresa. It feels like he is not focused and it's a matter of life and death.

[heroicmuse]

Week 442 - 1

Malcolm was sitting at the kitchen table, reading papers, when Nan came in. She stood in the doorway, holding her keys and watching him.

He looked up. “There you are. It felt so strange to be the only one home. The children are both over at Julie Williams’, helping Vicki’s friend Claire decorate for her Sweet Sixteen.”

Nan nodded. “I guess we should do something special for Vicki too. I know, I know, she doesn’t want us making a fuss, but a girl only turns sixteen once.”

Malcolm frowned. “Are you all right?”

Nan shook her head slightly. “I’ve been to the doctor. I’m not ill, don’t you worry about that. Mmm mmm. But I just felt more comfortable having her run the DNA test than sending for a kit in the mail.”

Malcolm took off his reading glasses. “No wonder you’re so out of sorts. It stirred up all kinds of memories, didn’t it?”

“Not really. Those are always there lately.” Nan sank down into a chair in the kitchen. “Might as well have gone to the therapist early. Before she ran the DNA test, the doctor asked so many questions.. She wanted to know all about my history, why I thought this Chanel might be my Brianna. And I told her more than I wanted to.” Nan blinked hard. “I missed a whole lifetime with Brianna. Didn’t get to give her her one-year birthday party, never mind a sweet sixteen. But that’s peaches and cream compared to what Kevin missed. Vicki was just a little thing when he passed, still in a car seat cause she hadn’t started her growth yet and Kenneth hadn’t even graduated high school. Now my boy - “ Nan swallowed hard as Malcolm’s jaw tightened. “I know that he’s yours, but I raised him and I’m not gonna stop thinking of him as mine just cause he might find out what’s what when they run that DNA test.”

“He’s been your boy for 25 years, so no reason I should be upset about it now,” Malcolm said. “Anyway, what about him?”

“Just that he’s a man now, with a girl he’s serious about and everything. Kevin missed it all. He missed his children growing up, and all because he didn’t want to wait two minutes for a train to go by before he went on his way.”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “I know how heartbroken you all were. I was too. Kevin was a wonderful man, great father. I know he had his hard times but…”

“He was everything I could have asked for. But I wasn’t heartbroken when he passed. Uh uh. I was mad as hell. I TOLD that man that Vicki could learn to wait, that he didn’t have to be here at 6 on the dot just because that’s what she wanted. If he’d listened he’d still be here with us. And here Vicki’s about to be sixteen, and no father to celebrate with her.”

“She has an uncle. I know it’s not the same as having Kevin, but I also know she’s glad to have me in her life. And I’m glad to have her, and to be somewhat in Kenneth’s life.”

Nan nodded. “Give me a minute to get out of this mood. It’ll pass. It always does. But after that, maybe we can think up something for Vicki. A cake or something. She loves that coin cake you make every New Years, and it’s a New Year for her so - “ Nan’s phone rang. She frowned. “The doctor already? I thought she said it would take a couple days.”

“Answer it,” Malcolm said. “Maybe she needs to ask you something.”

“I am, I am, don’t worry.” Nan pulled her phone out of her purse. “Dr. Johnson? Yes, it’s me, Nan. What’s wrong? Did you need something - oh. That was real fast. You sure it’s accurate, now? They didn’t rush to get it done and stick someone else’s results under my name, did they? Well, okay then. I’ll head back out right now.”

She hung up and said to Malcolm, “Test is in and she says she’s sure it’s the right result.”

“I’ll drive,” Malcolm said. “You shouldn’t be alone on the road with your fears about this.”

“I don’t get afraid,” Nan said. “But I could use the company, so all right.”

She grabbed her keys off the table and she and Malcolm left.


Meanwhile, Chanel was in her room at the Second Chance Home, studying. It was hard for her to focus for some reason; she kept putting her pencil down and staring into space.

“Why am I so restless?” she said to herself as she got up for the ninth time and grabbed her water bottle off her desk. “I’m this close to getting my GED so I can get a decent job or even go to college if I want. This is no time for my brain to crap out on me.”

She sighed deeply as she drank the water. A movement outside her window caught her eye. She turned and saw Jeremy walking across the street. He stopped and tilted his head up.

“What is he looking at?” Chanel said to herself. “Is he hoping to catch a glimpse of me?”

She threw herself into her chair and picked up her pencil again, trying to force herself to study.


“Okay,” Paul said. “This last bit of code should lead us right where we want to go.” He pressed some keys.

“You’re sure?” Andrew asked.

“Honestly? No.” Paul reached behind him for Andrew’s hand. “But if our logic is right, we’ve moved through all the conditional loops and when we run this edited code, it should execute all 27 of the required commands so that we turn off the sensor.”

“I sure hope so.” Andrew squeezed Paul’s hand. “I gotta say, I’m impressed with how well you navigate these things. Me, I’m terrible with computers.”

“You’re good with logic, though,” Paul said. “All you needed was me to implement the specifics.”

“I guess we make a good team,” Andrew agreed.

Paul turned his head toward Andrew like he was going to kiss him. Andrew started to lean in, but Paul’s walkie-talkie went off.

“It’s Abe Carver. I don’t want to become an additional source of stress, but since we are stuck here… how soon will you have the code ready?”

Paul jerked away. He grabbed his walkie-talkie so quickly he almost dropped it. “Sorry, sir. We actually just finished.”


In the dungeon, Abe turned toward Rolf. “You heard him,” he said. “It’s your last chance, Dr. Rolf. In 30 seconds I’m going to give my man permission to execute the code. Now, I have every confidence that he knows what he’s doing - “

“He doesn’t,” Rolf said. “I told you, it is very complicated and no one but me can successfully outmanuever the traps within traps that I have created.”

“So you keep saying.” Abe kept his voice even. “So, if you’re right and we’re all about to be blown to kingdom come, that will be the end of you as well as us. So the safest thing to do would be for you to talk to my man and check his work against your own.” He held out the walkie-talkie.

“I don’t think so,” Rolf said. “It is like I said. I am inoculated against death. You are not. Therefore, I will take my chances, and when you all, as they say, go KABOOM, as soon as I awaken I will laugh and laugh.”

“If that’s your decision, nothing I can do about it.” Abe turned his walkie-talkie back on. “All right, Paul. Go ahead.”

[André DiMera]

It makes sense that Nan is nervous. Her late husband missed out on so much. I’m glad she’s got Malcolm.

I hope Chanel doesn’t become too distracted by Jeremy.

Andrew and Paul definitely make a good team! Hopefully the code will work! Especially since Abe just gave Paul the green light.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

I love that you included Mr. Woods and his extended family in this story. I'm glad he's going to be there for his sister when she hears the news.

[lumiforeverandalways]

so sonyas pregant

glad malcolm can support nan

[heroicmuse]

Week 442 - 2
Andrew started reading out the commands he and Paul had come up with and Paul began typing.

“You know what?” Paul said. “We need to do this one at a time. Otherwise there’s too high a potential for mistakes. Read the first one off and then when I execute it, read the next one and so on.”

“All right,” Andrew said. “1. Ifonly j, asterik e, squiggly bracket…”

Paul began typing as Andrew read.

At first, everything was fine. About six commands in, a high pitched beeping began and green smoke came out of the sensor.

Theresa squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh God, oh God!”

Abe said into his walkie-talkie, “Paul! We’re seeing smoke. Please tell me you can fix this!”


Ciara sat on a stool at the counter in Maggie’s kitchen. Her legs were so long they barely fit underneath the metal; she had to hunch over to drink her milk and eat her lemon bars.

There was a knock on the doorframe. Ciara turned her head to see Jennifer standing there. “Oh. Jennifer.” She looked away. “I’m sorry I was rude to you before.”

Jennifer shrugged. “I’ve heard worse, trust me. Can I come in, sweetie?”

“It’s not like it’s my kitchen to say yes or no to.” Ciara sighed. “Nothing’s mine, not even the money Grandpa Victor left me. Mom told him not to leave me an allowance out of my trust fund so that’s that.” She sighed deeply.

Jennifer sat down on the stool next to her. “I don’t know how you sit on these things without any back,” she said, rubbing hers. “But I’ll put up with it so I can talk to you.”

“Thanks for the sacrifice?” Ciara said, confused.

“I’d sacrifice anything for you, sweetheart,” Jennifer said. “And so would your mom.” She put her hand on Ciara’s shoulder. “Did she ever tell you what spitfires she and I were when we were at boarding school?”

Ciara shook her head slightly. “Mom doesn’t talk to me. She’s always working unless she has to yell at me.”

Jennifer sighed. “Is that why you do things you know are going to annoy her? To get her attention?”

“No! I don’t want that kind of attention! You should hear how she talks to me. You’d think I was the girl who got arrested for all those robberies, not one of the victims!”

Jennifer reached over to take a lemon bar. “May I?” Ciara shrugged. Jennifer took one and said, “You know, it’s not any easier to be a parent of a kid who gets into trouble than it is to be a kid who wants her mom to think the best of her.”

“Here it comes,” Ciara said. “The Hallmark lecture.”

“You’re being rude,” Jennifer said, “but I’m going to let it go because I know you’re upset. JJ was even worse toward me when he was your age, believe me.” She took a bite of the lemon bar, thinking. “When I was a teenager, your great-grandma Alice would take me into the kitchen and give me a donut hot out of the oven and a big glass of milk, bigger even than the one you’re drinking, and then we’d sit and talk. So when I became a parent, I thought that’s all I had to do. Bake donuts like Gram and talk to my kids and everything would be fine. Boy, was I wrong. When JJ was a little boy, he was so full of energy that he’d run around the kitchen screaming and I seemed to be perpetually cleaning up spilled milk. And then he got older and his father died and he was so angry he knocked things over on purpose.”

“I’m not JJ,” Ciara said, her eyes narrow. “You used to have to get him from the police station every other day. I’ve never been arrested, not once, but my mom still treats me like a criminal.”

“My point was,” Jennifer said, breaking off a piece of the lemon bar, “sometimes a parent can have the very best of intentions and not know the right things to say and do for their child. And no, you’re not JJ. Thank God you have never been arrested, and I hope you never are. That day he broke that store window and your mom said she had to put him in a holding cell was the scariest day of my life. I won’t bore you with what it did to me to see this child that I loved so much be so out of control that even being put in a cell the size of a closet didn’t get him to calm down. But what I will say is that even though you’ve never been arrested, your mom is feeling the same terror and anguish that I felt, and I bet you anything she feels the same guilt and shame.”

“She’s ashamed of me. Great.”

“No. She’s ashamed of herself. She thinks that the way you act out is her fault, that if she was a better mother she’d have a better-behaved daughter.”

Ciara stared down at her plate. “Really? I thought she works so many hours because she doesn’t want to be around me.”

“Of course not. I don’t know where you got that idea, but wherever it is, you better send it right back to where it came from. Your mother loves you with her whole heart and then some. She might not know how to express it, but everything she does, she does it for you, to give you the best possible start in life. And sometimes she gets it wrong, but you have to understand, sweetheart… she’s hard on you because she loves you, not because she doesn’t.”

Ciara blinked back tears. “I don’t know why she wouldn’t be ashamed of me,” she said, her voice shaking. “I’m ashamed of myself every minute of every day. Before I was robbed, I was horrible, and I try to be better now but I can’t do it.” She began to cry.

Jennifer rubbed her back. “You can, sweetheart. You can. Look how far you’ve come. You’re friends with Claire and Allie again and you have a boyfriend who you love and who loves you.”

“But I fight with Mom all the time and I say the most horrible things. “

“So stop doing that.” Jennifer’s voice was soft but firm. “You have the power, sweetheart. You can’t change your mom, but you can change how you behave when you get mad at her.”

“I’ll try,” Ciara sniffed, “but I’m terrible at it.”

“You can do it,” Jennifer said firmly. “It’s up to you to decide to, that’s all.”

Ciara stared into space, thinking.


In her cell, Joy knelt by her bunk. She had a chest with a cheap padlock where she had been allowed to store the few possessions that were legal for prisoners to possess, mostly candy bars and chips with a few cheap magazines thrown in.

It was free time, which meant the cell door was open and she was allowed to come and go as she pleased. She was digging through the box, trying to decide what she would take with her when she left tomorrow, when a shadow fell over her.

Joy looked up to see Ruby standing in the doorway.

“Hey,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d get to - “

“Is it true?” Ruby said, her voice shaking.

“Is what true?”

Ruby took a step closer. “The guard said you’re a cop,” she said. “Please tell me it’s not true, Jess, cause if it is…” She showed Joy her fist. A homemade knife blade gleamed in two of her fingers. “Please tell me that you’re my friend so I don’t have to kill you.”

[André DiMera]

I really hope Andrew and Paul can get out of this! The green smoke is not a good sign.

I’m so glad Jennifer and Ciara talked! I hope it helps!

I highly doubt Ruby will actually try to kill Joy.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

I wish Joy had left already. This is going to get ugly.

Jennifer was great with Ciara.

[heroicmuse]

Week 442 - 3
Joy put her hands up. “You don’t want to do this, Ruby.”

“Answer me!” Ruby advanced. “I thought you were my friend, and more than that. I… I liked you. I was hoping we could be girlfriends. I even asked my sister to put herself on your visitor’s list so you wouldn’t be lonely. And the whole time you wanted to trick me so that you could put me in jail and now I’m in it and you’re still tricking me.”

“Listen to me,” Joy said. “I am your friend, Ruby. I am. You don’t have to do this, okay? You don’t have to - “

“TELL ME THE TRUTH!” Ruby snapped. “Are you a cop or not?”

She lunged toward Joy before Joy could answer. Joy grabbed her by the wrist and twisted, forcing Ruby’s hand open so that she dropped the shank. Ruby struggled but Joy forced her onto her knees.

“Stop!” Ruby said. “You’re hurting me.”

“I’m only defending myself,” Joy said. “And protecting you, believe it or not.” She kicked the shank; it slid deep under her bunk where it would be impossible to get. “If the guards hear you, they’ll come in to see what’s going on and we’ll both spend tonight in padded cells. I’m getting out tomorrow, so I don’t want that, and just as important, I don’t want it for you either.”

Ruby whimpered. “Liar.”

Joy looked around, desperate for something she could use to tie Ruby’s hands behind her back. She had nothing; prisoners weren’t allowed any type of rope or twine because they could hurt themselves or someone else with it. She had to settle for holding Ruby’s wrists tight behind her and throwing her other arm around her, hugging her to her as she pulled her to her feet. “You want to know the truth? I’ll give it to you. But I’m not letting you hurt me.”

Ruby struggled, but Joy had her hands pinned and was holding her too tightly for her to escape.

Ruby sniffed, “Is it bad this turns me on a little?”

“No, but I can’t be your girlfriend. You’re 15 and I’m an adult.” Joy helped Ruby to the bed. “I don’t want to hurt you but I can’t let you hurt me. So I can’t let go of you until I know you’re not going to fight. Can you sit still for me? Please? And just listen quietly to what I have to tell you?”

“I guess,” Ruby said.

“Okay,” Joy said. “I’ll trust you but if you make one false move I’m going to have to pin your arms again.” She helped Ruby sit down and told her, “Put your hands in your lap and don’t move them.”

Ruby rolled her eyes but she did as she was told.

Joy said, “The truth is I am a cop.” Ruby gasped. Joy went on, “But I’m also your friend. I could have snitched on you a thousand times when we were in school together but I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want you to get in trouble and I was hoping I could help you turn your life around before it was too late. When you were arrested, it was supposed to be over. They made it look like I’d been caught with weed so no one would question why I wasn’t in school anymore. But I begged them not to. I begged them to send me to juvie with you so that I could keep an eye on you and make sure the Fire Lions weren’t forcing you to join them again.”

“They weren’t,” Ruby said flatly. “I wanted - “

“No, you didn’t.” Joy’s voice was soft. “You got into a bad situation on the outside. Your dad was hurting you and your sister was in jail so she couldn’t protect you. And you ended up running around with the Fire Lions, robbing people at gunpoint. But that wasn’t really you. You didn’t want to do those things, did you? I could tell when we were together how guilty you felt, how much in over your head you were. And then you got shot trying to stop them from hurting two innocent girls, two girls your age who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You jumped in front of that gun on purpose, didn’t you?”

Ruby nodded slightly. “I was only sorry that girl didn’t kill me. I thought it would solve everything if I was dead.”

“Oh, Ruby.” Joy’s voice was very soft. “You have so much to offer the world. You just don’t see it because your whole life you’ve been treated like all you’re good for is a punching bag for someone else’s frustrations.” She sat down on the bed next to Ruby. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you belong behind bars. I think you need help. You need to get away from that father of yours and learn how to be something other than a criminal. That’s why I never snitched on you. Because I do love you, Ruby, and I’m sorry that I had to lie to you all these months.”

“Why are you going home, then?” Ruby asked. “Why not continue to pretend to be one of us?”

Joy sighed. “It’s not actually my choice. I know it sounds crazy, not jumping at the chance to get out of this hellhole. But after your sister got out, my boss decided it was too dangerous for me to stay here. She would recognize me if she ever saw me and she wouldn’t be above telling everyone and then what just happened would happen only they might have sent someone else who was more used to stabbing people.”

Ruby swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I was mad but not that mad.”

Joy squeezed her shoulder. “Did someone put you up to this?”

Ruby stared into space, thinking.

The guard rolled up his sleeve and showed her his Fire Lion tattoo. “I’m one of you,” he said, “and I have a job for you to do. Kill the snitch.”

Ruby gasped. “K-kill? No!”

“Yes.” The guard took a step toward her. “I have a lot of power, little girl. You’re going to do what I say or you’ll be sorry.”

Ruby nodded b ut she whispered, “Please. He’ll kill me.”

“Who?” Joy said. “You have to tell me, Ruby. I know people who can help but I can’t do anything unless you tell me the truth.”

Ruby looked nervously over her shoulder. A guard was passing by and she couldn’t tell if it was the one who threatened her or a different one. She shook her head slightly.

The guard stuck his head in. “Everything all right in here?” He locked eyes with Ruby and hers got very wide.

“Fine,” she stammered. “I’m almost done, I swear.”

The guard left.

Joy said under her breath, “Him?”

Ruby nodded and added, “If you’re still alive when I leave…”

“It’ll be okay,” Joy said. “We can fake it. I’m just trying to think how you can get a message to my boss after.”

Ruby frowned. “You don’t have a secret cell phone? Like if you need him in an emergency?”

Joyh shook her head. “Just a code word, but that won’t do us any good if there’s a compromised guard hanging around. Um, okay, how about this? We fake it and then you go right to the warden and say, ‘Jessica Webb is as good as dead. I’ll confess to Shawn Brady.’” You’ll have to put up with being in solitary til he gets here, but if anyone can get us out of this, it’s him.”

“K,” Ruby said nervously. Joy lay down on the floor and said, “Put the blanket over me like you’re covering up a dead body and then get to the warden fast as you can. Do not get caught.”

Ruby swallowed hard as Joy lay facedown on the floor and let Ruby throw the blanket over her. Then Ruby ran out of Joy’s cell as fast as she could while Joy lay still, praying this worked.


Abe had thrown himself to the floor and covered his mouth with his handkerchief to try to get underneath the smoke.

Rolf laughed. “This is even more amusing than I expected. Soon you will - “

“Shut up!” Abe hissed. He grabbed his walkie talkie. “Paul. What are you doing?”

“I’m trying!” Paul said. “Andrew’s reading me the commands one at a time.”

“Hurry up!” Abe said. “I was able to duck and cover but Theresa…”

Paul typed furiously. All of a sudden the smoke disappeared, but the sensor started spitting out water, flooding the room.

“Faster!” Abe said, sitting up. “I have no desire to drown.” He glanced at Rolf, who was chuckling to himself. “Although it will be no great loss if this so-called scientist succumbs to his own traps.”

“Here!” Andrew said. “Let me type instead of reading them out, it’ll be faster.”

“Do it!” Abe said, overriding Paul’s objection. He squeezed his eyes shut as Andrew began typing.

[André DiMera]

I’m glad Joy told Ruby the truth, and that she really didn’t want to hurt Joy. Hopefully this plan will work.

Hopefully Andrew can get Abe and Theresa out of this quickly!

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

I'm glad Joy got Ruby to calm down long enough to listen to her.

[sevenna92]

Good thing Joy was able to calm Ruby down and they're able to come up with a plan to keep Ruby safe. Also I did not realize that Ruby was a lesbian. Maybe that's one of the main reasons why she's having such a hard time at home?

I really hope that Theresa's okay but I have an awful feeling that she may be in really bad shape. For all I know that smoke could've been poisonous and potentially deadly.