Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 252,131 times)

[fluffysmom]

It's Daniel's doorway so Eric may not know Nicole is even there.

[heroicmuse]

“Nothing happened, Mom,” JJ said, crossing his arms. “I swear.”

“It didn’t sound like nothing from what Hope said.”

“Hope wasn’t there. She didn’t see the way the cops looked at me… it was like, the second they saw me, they saw that guy I used to be, that screwed up kid who did nothing but cause trouble.”

“Well, honey, you know, if you hang out with people like Rory, the police are going to be suspicious of you.”

“Rory wasn’t doing anything either, Mom. It was a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? JJ, if the police thought Rory was involved in the robberies, they had to have had a reason. That didn’t just come out of nowhere.”

“Cause someone set him up! But you know what? It doesn’t matter, cause people like you, they’re always gonna think people like Rory and me are up to no good no matter what we do.” JJ’s eyes flashed. “I get you don’t trust Rory, Mom, but I swore off all the crap I did a long time ago… aren’t you ever gonna get past it?”

“It’s not about that! Yes, I trust you, of course I do, but you don’t see what you’re doing. I’ve had life experiences you just haven’t had yet, sweetheart, and so I know, without a doubt, that if you keep hanging around people like Rory who are doing these destructive things, you’re going to become like them again. It’s already started,and you just don’t see it.” Jen shook her head. “You are spiraling out of control, JJ!”

“Mom, quit freaking out. Nothing happened. I’m fine. I’m not doing drugs, I’m not messing with people’s stuff. I’m just going to school and hanging out with my friends after. What’s so bad about that?”

“I know you aren’t going to like this,” Jen said, “but I’m going to have to lay down the law, honey. No Rory. Not here, anyway. And now I’m not just asking you to come home by 10. I’m telling you. In fact, maybe you should do your studying at home for a while.”

JJ tried hard to control himself. “Mom,” he said quietly. “You’re flipping out over nothing.”

“It’s not nothing, JJ! Don’t you realize how close we came to having this conversation from the opposite sides of a jail cell? You may be 19 years old, JJ, but you’re going to have to live by my rules from now on, and if you can’t do that, there will have to be consequences.”

JJ crossed his arms. “Like what, Mom? You’re gonna, what, kick me out of the house? Call Hope on my ass like you tried to do when Theresa OD’d?”

“Stop it, JJ.” Jen was upset and JJ was glad for it. “I’m trying to help you, honey. You just don’t see it, but someday you will.”

“Yeah?” JJ’s eyes blazed. “You mean like the way Eve helped Paige see I wasn’t good enough for her?”

“I am nothing like Eve Donovan!”

“Keep telling yourself that, Mom, but when you flip out you are!” All of JJ’s anger from everything that happened today seemed to be boiling over; he couldn’t stop himself. “You know why you and Eve hate each other? Cause you’re alike in all the worst ways and you don’t want to admit it. No wonder you and Daniel broke up. He could only take so much, Mom! He would have been with you but you screwed it up trying to control him. And all that makes you just like Eve!”

Jen gasped. As her eyes widened, JJ realized he’d gone too far. He stared down at the ground, wishing he could take back what he’d just said.


Daphne’s soda splashed, spilling all over her as she and Paige clinked glasses. “Oh my gosh!” Paige said, turning around. “I’m so sorry. I should have been paying attention. Just that guy over there - “

“He was staring at you. He’s not bad looking, but really Paige, I think T is a better choice. Or at least a less creepy one.” Daphne got up. “No biggie though. I’ll just go grab some napkins and get cleaned up a little.” She hurried off in the direction of the bathroom.

Paige didn’t see Jeff come up behind her because she was watching Daphne go. “This is probably the lamest pick up line ever,” he said, “but haven’t I seen you at Salem U?”

Paige turned around. She vaguely remembered the guy. “Music theory, right?” she said. “Though I dropped it, so you probably haven’t seen me for a while.”

“That’s right. It’s a real shame. You brightened up that dreary room.” Jeff smiled at Paige and she smiled back despite herself.

“I--I had to drop it,” Paige explained, suddenly feeling nervous. “I’m pre-med and I got this internship at the hospital, so something had to go.”

“I’m an intern too. Journalism, though.”

“Yeah? Working on something interesting?”

“You might say that.” Jeff glanced at Daphne’s soda glass. “Oh, are you here with someone? I don’t want to interrupt.”

“My friend Daphne. She’ll be back soon. I spilled something… clumsy me, right?” Paige giggled. “Anyway, you were saying about your internship?”

“Well, I’m covering these robberies on campus.” Jeff leaned in close. “I know things about them that nobody else does.”

“I heard they were going to make an arrest,” Paige said, ignoring his obvious attempt to flirt with her. “Is that true?”

“I can’t really say.” Jeff deliberately looked around the room. “But between you and me, there’s a guy sitting in jail right now waiting to be charged. His name is, um…” he glanced down at his tablet. “Rory something. He’s one of those stoner kids who barely survives academically and lives for those moments in the woods, if you know what I mean.” Paige’s mouth dropped open and Jeff said, “Wait… you know him? You don’t seem the stoner type.”

“I-I’m not. I just… knew someone who knew him once.”

“Tell you what. Here’s my card. Have your friend get in touch with me. I’d love to get an exclusive on this.” Jeff glanced over Paige’s shoulder as he handed her a card. “Here comes your girl friend. Let me get out of your way so you can enjoy your evening.”

Paige played with the card as Jeff disappeared, remembering how her mother had said that JJ or his friends were involved with the robberies. Oh my God, Mom, she thought. How did you know?

“Daniel’s not here,” Nicole told Eric, starting to close the door.
“I know. Actually, he told me you would be here, so I thought this would be a good time for us to talk. Can I come in?”
“I guess.” Nicole’s eyes widened. “But I hope you aren’t here to rake me over the coals about some newly unforgiveable thing you’ve convinced yourself that I’ve done, cause I have tell you, this game of grind Nicole into the ground is getting old, and I’m getting tired of playing it.”
“Actually,” Eric said, “I came to apologize. I have been beside myself with pain and fear, Nicole, and I took it all out on you. I know that it’s more than I deserve, but can you ever forgive me?”

Snapping back to reality, Nicole realized she and Eric were staring at each other, not speaking. “Eric, hi,” she said, trying to keep her voice even. “I… I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I could say the same about you.” Eric looked off into the distance at a point beyond Nicole’s shoulder. “I just heard about Daniel’s son and I thought he might need some support. Is he here?”

“He’s at the hospital.” Nicole let irritation creep into her voice. “He’s spending every minute he can with Parker.”

“Of course.” Eric started to walk off, but as Nicole began to close the door, he turned around. “Nicole,” he said. “I know this probably doesn’t mean much considering the source, but I’m glad Daniel has you right now.”

“Me too,” Nicole said. “It wasn’t that long ago that he was firmly on the Nicole-hating side of the fence.” She pushed her hair behind her ear. “Um… Eric?”

“Yeah?”

“I know there’s no hope for you and I…” Nicole played with an invisible ring on her finger, right where her engagement ring once was,, “...but do you think we could ever at least be friends again? I mean, Daniel forgave me, and you and I are managing to be in the same space without throwing anything at each other... so...”

“I’m sorry, Nicole, but right now it seems like Daniel’s a better man than me. I wish you the best, but beyond that, there’s nothing. No feeling, no anything.” Eric shifted his weight. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I want to go see how he and Parker are doing.”

Eric walked off. Nicole watched him go. "Nothing, huh?" she said under her breath. "And supposedly I'm a liar?"

[gapeach]

GREAT chapter!! Love how JJ compared Jennifer and Eve. Sure hope Paige doesn't get involved with Jeff. He is the WORST news possible!!!

[Kpatch]

JJ is so right about Jennifer. She's not scheming like Eve is, but she is controlling, and she is overreacting right now. I'm glad JJ said what he said to her!

Seems like Paige fell for everything Jeff said. This could be the start of something bad.

Favorite line of the chapter: "...this game of grind Nicole into the ground is getting old, and I’m getting tired of playing it.” Wish she'd said it out loud. And I wish she hadn't been the one to extend the olive brand to Eric. Stop begging Nicole!

Great chapter heroicmuse. I love this story!

[fluffysmom]

I really enjoyed this chapter. I'm glad Eric was at least civil to Nicole. Paige stay away from Jeff!

[heroicmuse]

JJ took a deep breath. “Mom, I…,” he began, his voice a lot softer. “I’m sorry. I - ”

“There are some things, JJ,” Jen said quietly, “that apologies after the fact can’t fix.”

“I… I know. But Mom, I really didn’t mean that. I…”

“Not another word, JJ. Not right now.” Jen turned her back on JJ and for one horrible moment he thought she was going to tell him he wasn’t welcome in the house anymore. Then she said, very softly, “I don’t want either of us to say one more thing that we can’t take back.”

“M-me either.”

“I know you have been hurting since you and Paige broke up,” Jen went on, “and it tears me up to see you in so much pain. But don’t you ever take Eve’s interference with the two of you out on me again, do you understand me?” JJ nodded and Jen said, ruefully, “I can’t hear you nodding, so I hope that’s what you’re doing.”

“It is.” JJ bit his lip. “Mom?” Jen turned towards him, and he could see the hurt and the sadness in her face. It made him feel worse. “Um,” JJ said, slowly, “I… I don’t want things to go back to the way they were before… you know… before I straightened up.”

“I don’t either,” Jen said, her voice soft.

“I know what this Rory thing looks like, but I swear to you, it’s not how it seems.”

“I know you don’t understand this, honey, but it’s not what Rory did or didn’t do that worries me. It’s you. I know how full of anger you’ve been since your father died, but if you don’t have the sense not to talk to the police the way you just talked to me, they could put you in jail just to teach you a lesson. And when Hope told me how close that came to happening today, JJ, my heart jumped into my throat. So please, honey, let me help you control yourself before it’s too late.”

“You’re way overreacting, Mom, I swear. Nothing’s gonna happen. Can you please just trust me?”

“Okay.” Jen sounded defeated. “If you say so. But just know this, JJ. If I get another call to pick you up at the police station and have to see you in handcuffs, or worse, on the other side of a jail cell… that will break my heart so badly that I don’t know if I can take it.”

“Understood.” JJ stood looking at his mother for a second. “It won’t happen. I promise.”



There was a long line of people checking in to the Salem Inn. Jill put her hand on her stomach, pretending she was feeling for her baby kicking, but really she just wanted to get finished and get into her room.

Finally, it was her turn. She gave the desk clerk her most winning smile and said, “I need a room for like, the next week or so.”

“Payment up front,” the clerk said. “$85 per night, or $400 for the whole week.”

Jill pulled the bills out of her blouse that Eve had given her. She counted them. “I only have $60, but if you give me an hour - “

“Sorry, we need the entire payment up front.”

Jill pouted. “Can’t you like, let me give you a deposit to hold it, and then in an hour come back with the rest?” The desk clerk shook his head and she said, “Come on, don’t you have any sympathy for a girl in my condition? God, Joseph and Mary didn’t have this much trouble when Jesus was about to be born.”

“Actually they did,” some person behind her said. “Move it, lady, none of us has all night.”

Jill turned towards him. He was an older man, suit and tie… her favorite kind of trick. “You paying?” she said. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Why should I?” the man said. “Why should any of us pay for you? Why should this young man--” he squinted to see the clerk’s name badge--”Dustin or whatever his name is--make exceptions to the rules for you? Let me tell you something, honey. The world doesn’t owe you anything. So take yourself and your lack of self-respect somewhere else, cause there’s no real room for it in Salem.”

Jill glared at him, then turned back towards the clerk. “It’s not that I don’t have the money, it’s that I don’t have it on me. Can’t you hold a room for like, 15 minutes while I go get the rest of the cash?”

“Sorry.” The clerk pointed to a sign that said, PAYMENT IN FULL DUE UP FRONT. NO EXCEPTIONS. “If you get the cash, come back and try again, and if we’re not full we’ll do what we can. But you can’t stand here holding up my line any longer. Now if I were you, I’d go before these people behind you lose their patience and decide to call the cops.”

Jill made a point of moving slowly, but she got out of the way. She picked up her phone and stared at Eve’s number. No, she thought, I’d better not push my luck with that bitch. She pulled her purse over her shoulder and walked out, holding her head as high as she could so that all the idiots staring at her wouldn’t think they’d won.


When Maggie came to sit with Parker, Daniel took Chloe to the cafeteria for a quick cup of coffee. “You holding up okay?” he asked her.

Chloe shrugged. “When I was driving down from Chicago, I thought, it’ll be better when I get there. I couldn’t stand not knowing what was going on with him, not knowing how serious it was. So in a weird way, knowing his heart’s failing… it’s like a relief. It’s an answer. But in another way… it’s like trying to wake up from a nightmare and realizing you’re just falling deeper into it.” Chloe paused to sip her coffee. It was too hot and burned her tongue, but she didn’t care. “You’re really going to go see a patient tonight, Daniel?”

“Believe me, I don’t want to. I don’t want to be away from Parker.”

“Then don’t be.”

“This patient needs me too. I know I should prioritize Parker’s illness over all these other people’s, but I just can’t. It… it keeps me going, Chloe, so I can be there for Parker.”

“You never did meet a problem you didn’t think you could solve,” Chloe said. She half-smiled. “Tell you what. After your patient, go home and get some sleep. I’ll stay with Parker tonight.”

“I’m okay,” Daniel told her. “Sleeping on a cot next to Parker, it’s not so bad.”

“Yeah, but I want to spend some time alone with him too. Please, Daniel, if we were all at home, it’d be my turn to have him. Can you let me have tonight in the hospital with him?”

Daniel sighed. “I see your point,” he said.

“You don’t like it.”

“I missed so much of his life, Chloe, but I figured… I figured I had a chance to make up for lost time. But now? I dunno, odds are he’s gonna be fine but every second with him counts for more than it ever did before. It’s bad enough I gotta leave him to go see patients and do rounds… leaving him overnight… it’s just out of the question, Chloe.”

“And how do you think it feels for me? Look, Parker’s had a rough four years, okay, with him being bounced around from you to Philip and back again, and me not being stable for most of it… and now he might not… he might not even make it to five…” Chloe blinked back tears. “I’ve also missed so much, and I… I also deserve to spend time with him. Please, Daniel, let me just have tonight. Let him know for once that his mommy loves him too, let him have some memories of me being there for him during this awful time.”

Daniel was quiet for a long time. “Okay,” he said at last. “Tell him I’ll… I’ll call to say goodnight like I do whenever he’s with you.”

Maxine came into the cafeteria. “There you two are,” she said. “The radiologist’s ready to do Parker’s chest X-ray now, and I thought one or both of you should be there.”

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad that Chloe and Daniel were able to reach an agreement about tonight. I hope the Xray gives them some hopeful news.

I like the conversation between JJ and Jennifer.

[Kpatch]

Jennifer is just making things worse for JJ by pushing him all the time. Not smart Jennifer.

Jill thinks she's virgin Mary? Oh my. I liked the reference to there being no room at the Salem Inn. And she's still turning tricks, even in her condition.

This is a really hard time for both Chloe and Daniel. They appear to be facing it with few illusions.

[heroicmuse]

Coming up next week...

-Jennifer gets some advice from an old friend
-Rory gets a visitor he could do without.
-Paige hears a rumor that JJ has a new girlfriend.
-The counselor tries to help Parker.
-Marissa and Jill cross paths.
-JJ reaches out to Aiden about Rory.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the previews heroicmuse. Looks like an interesting week ahead.

[unavitasegreta]

I loved Jill's interaction with the other patron. The Mary reference(s) were quite amusing!

And I'm glad Daniel realized that Chloe needs some time alone with her son, just like he does!

Bring on next week!!!!

[André DiMera]

I'm very glad that Daniel came to the realization that his son needs to spend time with just his mother as well as just his father.

That virgin Mary reference was awesome! I like Jill in this story!

Thank you so much for the previews, heroicmuse! It looks like a great week ahead!

[heroicmuse]

As JJ disappeared up the steps, Abigail came back from the kitchen, holding a bowl of pasta. “JJ!” she said. “Don’t you want something to eat? It’s my homemade tomato sauce.”

“Maybe later, Abs,” JJ said. “I gotta…” He ran up the steps without explaining what he had to do.

Abigail looked at her mother. “What just happened?”

Jen sank into the couch. “Believe me, honey, you don’t want to know.”

“Well, I heard you yelling at each other, and then...nothing. So everything is definitely not okay.”

“I really don’t want to talk about it, sweetheart.” Jen tried to smile at her daughter. “Let’s talk about you instead. Things seem to be getting serious between you and Ben.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Abigail shrugged. “I mean, yeah, we’re spending a lot of time together and I’m, like, practically living there, but if you’re hinting that you want to attend a wedding any time soon, I hate to disappoint you. We’re just dating, that’s all.”

“Abigail Deveraux!” Jen feigned shock. “Me, hinting? No, honey, not at all. I just love that you’re so happy, and honestly, I could use some happy news right about now. So tell me, what’s Ben like? I mean, he seems sweet, but I really haven’t had the chance to get to know him.”

“He is sweet,” Abigail said. “And protective. And loyal. And Mom, he just decided to go back to school. He and JJ might even end up in the same classes.”

“That’s great, honey. What’s he going to study?”

“I’m not exactly sure.” Abigail glanced at the steps. “Don’t you think I should go try to talk to JJ? Sometimes when you can’t get through to him, I have better luck, and if he’s really headed down a bad path…”

“No, Abigail, don’t. Your brother’s fine. He’s just… he has some things he has to figure out for himself, that’s all.”

“If you say so.” Abigail sighed. “I just feel so useless, knowing that something’s up with JJ and not being able to do anything about it.”

“No,” Jen said firmly. “No, we are not going to do that. Not this time. Think about the positives in your life. Do you have plans with Ben tonight?”

“I did but I’m thinking maybe I should cancel. You need me. JJ needs me.”

“Honey,” Jen said, “listen to me. I have learned the hard way that if you push someone away every time something in your life is less than perfect, after a while they’ll stop coming back.”

“Is that what happened between you and Daniel?”

“A… a lot of things happened there, and it’s too complicated to go into, but yes, Abigail, I was afraid that if he saw that I wasn’t this strong superwoman, I wouldn’t be good enough for him. And I don’t want to see that happen to you and Ben. So go. Be with Ben, have a good time if you can, and if you can’t...let him hold you, sweetheart. Give him the chance to be there for you, don’t cheat him out of it because of some stupid need to be perfect. Take it from me, Abigail, pretending you don’t need him is just not worth it.”

“Okay, Mom.” Abby seemed stunned. “I guess I’ll go then. You’re sure you’re all right?”

“Positive.”

“And you’ll call me if anything changes with…” Abby looked up at the stairs again.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

Jen and Abby hugged. “I guess I’ll see you later,” Abigail said, pulling her purse over her shoulder. She turned back at the door, and waved to her mother. “I love you.”

“Love you too.” Jen tried to smile.

The door closed behind Abby. Jen sighed. She picked up her phone and flipped through the contacts, then made a phone call. “Kim? It’s Jennifer. How are you? No, everything’s fine, as far as I know. I don’t think Theresa’s been bothering JJ recently, though I know as much as you do. Anyway, the reason I called is I have a question for you that just can’t wait.”


Hope was on her phone when someone knocked on her office door. “Marissa,” she said into the phone. “This is Detective Hope Brady again. I know you’re frustrated with the progress on your case, but please call me back. I want to talk to you about something you can do to help us catch this guy. This is my personal cell, so you can call anytime. Even if you can’t get to the phone til 11, 12 at night, it’s okay. Just please, give me a call.”

Whoever it was knocked again as Hope hung up. I hope that girl’s all right, she thought, sighing, before calling, “Come in.”

Eve Donovan came into the office, clutching her purse. Hope could feel her head beginning to pound as Eve came further in. “Eve,” Hope said. “Are you here to report a crime?”

“What? Oh, goodness, no, not yet anyway. I’m sure though that that’s coming any day now though, now that my daughter’s moved right into the center of where all those violent attacks are taking place. Now the front desk sergeant tells me he can’t say anything about the case, but he’s sure my little girl is safe. Is he telling me the truth or do I have to get my lawyer on the phone to find out my options if anything happens to her?”

“I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk to Paige. I’ve been busy trying to catch this guy so that you--and she--don’t have to worry about her safety. So if that’s what you’ve come to check on, I’m going to have to ask you to excuse me.”

“Wait just one minute,” Eve said. “There’s something else that’s come up that I need to ask you about.”

Hope rubbed her temples. “What is it, Eve?”

Eve played with the clasp on her purse. “This is kind of embarrassing,” she said, “but a while ago I tried to do a good deed for a working girl… you know, try to give her a chance to avoid that kind of life… anyway, the poor girl is out of her mind and now that Paige’s moving out, she’s got this crazy notion she’s gonna move into that room. Now, I’d like to do it, of course I would. If anyone knows what it’s like out there on the streets for those kinds of girls, it’s me. But I just can’t…”

“Of course not,” Hope said. “Nobody should just let a stranger move in with them just because the person seems to have fallen on hard times. Especially not if you know she’s engaging in criminal activity.”

“I just knew you’d understand.”

“If she’s bothering you, one of the uniforms can take a report, and then if she comes around again we have a basis for arresting her. That is, if we don’t bust her for prostitution first.”

“Arresting her? Oh no, that’s not what I want at all. I guess I just have too big a heart, but I know how tough it is for this girl, especially now that she’s… well, in the family way, you know? Now I talked to her about getting into a homeless shelter but she wasn’t interested. So what I’m wondering is, can you dispatch some of those handsome men in blue to take her to the St. Lukes shelter anyway, whether she wants to or not?”

[heroicmuse]

Jan 30, 2015 22:14:46 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

Jill thinks she's virgin Mary? Oh my. I liked the reference to there being no room at the Salem Inn. And she's still turning tricks, even in her condition.

Feb 1, 2015 10:31:45 GMT -5 unavitasegreta said:

I loved Jill's interaction with the other patron. The Mary reference(s) were quite amusing!

Feb 1, 2015 22:46:21 GMT -5 André DiMera said:

That virgin Mary reference was awesome! I like Jill in this story!

I had a lot of fun with these scenes. Jill is fun to write, and we will definitely be seeing more of her in the coming weeks

[Kpatch]

Kimberly sighting! Yay.

That is so funny that all Ben talks about is going back to school, but no one knows what he's studying.

Eve's scheme to get Jill out of her hair seems a little crazy, but it might work.