#305 "A Hazy Shade of Winter" GUASTI COSE
#305 "A HAZY SHADE OF WINTER"
February 22, 2009

MARQUETTE COVE FREE CLINIC

Jessica Reyes awakes in a cold, dark room. As she tries to get her bearings, she realizes that she's resting on a carpet with a blanket thrown over her. Clutching the blanket, she sit ups and tries finding something to help her climb to her feet.

She is startled as the door to the room flies open, illuminating Jessica is a fluorescent light. She squints in the sudden light and once her eyes adjust, she realizes that it is Vincent Moore in the doorway.

"Vince," Jessica says, her voice nearly breaking. "Where...where am I?"

"We're at the free clinic near St. Thomas," Vince says. "They packed a bunch of people into here to deal with minor injuries. Everyone with intense injuries was transferred to Memorial Hospital in Fordham Bay."

"I'm not in a bed."

"Yeah...you don't have an actual injuries, so we stuck you in here," Vince says.

Jessica frowns. "How's your mother?"

"She's okay," Vince says. "I was worried she was going to lose...that she was going..."

"Lose our brother?"

Vince rolls his eyes at the sound of Eric Hanley's voice. His soon to be ex-step brother stands in the doorway, resting his hand on Vince's shoulder.

"Get your hands off —"

"Thank you for helping me," Jessica interjects, rising to her feet and approaching the door. "He saved my life, Vince."

Vince bites his lip. "I know."

"So, where's Phillip?" Jessica asks. "Is he with Alec?"

Vince and Eric trade dismayed glances, obviously concerned with Jessica's mental and emotional state. Jessica, however, is oblivious.

"Guys? Where's my boy?" Jessica repeats, desperation creeping into her voice. "Where is he?"

Love is eternal. Life is forever.
Yet things shall always remain...
Guasti Cose.


MARQUETTE COVE FREE CLINIC

Simon Holden exhales deeply as he takes a look at the long line of people waiting to be checked out at the clinic. No one is here with serious burns, or deep wounds, or broken appendages. But he has smoke inhalation, minor scrapes and bruises, and...

"Denise," Simon says, approaching the cot that Denise Price is currently resting in.

Next to Denise is her father, Herald, who gently rubs his shoulder as they await news from Simon.

"Doctor Holden," Denise says. "How's my baby?"

"Your boy is just fine," Simon says. "The bleeding was actually from a scrape on your inner thigh. Nothing to be worried about."

"Oh, thank God," Herald gasps, gripping his daughter's hand. "If we had lost..."

"You're fine. I did some minor tests just in case, but everything is perfectly fine," Simon says.

"Where's Sean? He should hear the news," Herald insists. "He should be here with his wife."

Simon glances toward the other end of the clinic, where he can see Sean hovering around Leslie. He turns back to Denise before she can look in the same direction. "Denise. I don't...I don't know you well. To be honest, I've always considered Leslie a friend and so I never took the time to get to know you."

Denise nods slightly, not sure where this is going.

"But Sean...adopted or not, he's a Hanley. He proved that when he made the decision to abandon his family, even after he knew what my brother-in-law did to him."

"I...I know," Denise says softly.

"I know that he abandoned them for you initially, but...is that really the kind of man you want in your life?"

Denise opens her mouth to respond, but Herald interrupts. "You're right, Doctor Holden," Herald says. "You don't know my daughter well. So perhaps you should mind your own business."

Simon frowns, checking Denise's name off his clipboard and tucking it under his arm. "I'm sorry that I misspoke."



MARQUETTE COVE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The bullpen is abuzz with activity as phones ring off the hook, paperwork flies across desks, and a string of arrests continue to file into the Marquette Cove Police Department.

With all of the chaos at the hospital today, or rather yesterday, now that it's well past midnight, there's been an upswing in looting and domestic criminal behavior.

Joel Kincaid feels right at home, in the place where he spent every waking hour for nearly a decade. As he approaches his former desk, the desk that was handed down to Jamie Grady once Joel left the force, he is overcome with a sense of nostalgia.

"Joel."

Joel turns around, finding a stern blonde woman, no more than forty-five, staring directly at him. He recognizes her, but the name isn't immediately returning to him.

"Heather? Heather Crane?"

The blonde smiles, embracing Joel. "It's been a long time, Joel."

"Where the hell have you been? You transferred, didn't you?"

Heather nods. "To Salem."

"How was that?"

"Lackluster," Heather says. "I'm glad to be back in Marquette Cove. And I'm the one who had you called in."

"What's this all about?"

"I was called back in after Grady was killed," Heather explains. "And the report says you found the body? And then you were attacked by Quentin Blood, that son of a bitch we all thought was dead?"

Joel nods. "I told the police everything I know."

"I know," Heather says. "I also know you've been doing a bang-up job as head of security at Fordham Bay University. But that's a piss-poor job for a detective of your caliber. They offered me Grady's job, but I want you back. Working as my partner. It's the only way I'd take the job."

"Are you...are you serious?" Joel asks.

"Of course," Heather says. "Besides, there's no one else I'd want tackling this first case with me. These are your people, not mine."

Joel is confused. "What people?"

Heather gestures toward the interrogation rooms, where there are two people set up in adjoining rooms, both staring off into the distance. There's no need to search for names. He recognizes them immediately.

"Ryan Phillips," Joel gasps. "And... Alexis Lopez? What in the hell are they doing here?"



MARQUETTE COVE FREE CLINIC

Michael Hanley dusts the light snowflakes from his black pea coat as he hurries into the clinic. He looks around wildly, hoping to see Leslie. Finally find her near the back of the clinic on a cot, surrounded by her family and friends, Michael begins to approach.

"Michael."

He recognizes the voice instantly and turns to find his stepdaughter, Akilah Moore, staring at him, arms folded. "Akilah! How are you?"

"I'm fine," Akilah says, lowering her voice to a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm checking on your mother," Michael says. "And our child. Your new brother or sister."

Akilah doesn't flinch. "You shouldn't be here."

"I have every right to be here, Akilah."

"Michael...I still care about you, almost like a father," Akilah says. "I can't help that. I can't turn it off after so many years. But what you did was pure evil. What you did to my mother? You lied to us. Every single damn day."

Michael has no response for this. Akilah's words sting deeply, she's never spoken to him like this.

"If you really care about us as much as you say, you'll leave."

"I won't stay away from my child. Your mother has to know that."

Akilah almost laughs. "You never cared about shipping Ariel and Eric off to boarding school. And you practically ignored Matt as soon as my brother moved in with you."

"I care about all of my children."

"Then show it. Let us grieve," Akilah says. "Let us grieve for the man we thought you were."

"You're a wise young lady," Michael says.

"That was a line from The Blackthornes," Akilah admits.

Nodding, Michael reaches into his pocket and removes a locket, dangling from an elegant gold chain. He hands it off to Akilah, who opens it and finds one half with a small photograph of herself and Vince. The other half is empty, clearly meant for a photograph of her new sibling.

"Give to this your mother," Michael says, turning and exiting the clinic.



MARQUETTE COVE FREE CLINIC

"Try to calm down," Vince says, attempting to grab Jessica as she storms toward the door. "You don't need to get overworked."

Jessica ignores Vince and barrels out the room. "I need to know where my son is! Where's Doctor Holden?"

Jessica's cries catch the attention of everyone else in the clinic. From a seat near Leslie's bedside, Felicia Bale looks up and notices Jessica. Robert also enters the room, anxiously gripping a cup of coffee in his hands.

"Jessica...what can I do for you?" Simon says, appearing with his clipboard in hand. He turns toward Vince. "I thought you were keeping her in the other room."

"Keeping me there?" Jessica demands. "What the hell is going on?"

"We're still waiting for news," Robert says, speaking up.

"What do you mean news? Just tell me where Phillip is! Is he with Alec?"

"We don't know if they...if they made it."

"No," Jessica whispers, wringing her hands. "He has to...he has to have Phillip with him. He has to..."

"Jessica, try to shut up," Felicia says, cutting her off. "We're all waiting for the same news."

Jessica glares at Felicia. "I wasn't talking to you."

"Ladies, cut it out," Simon says, turning a disappointed gaze on Felicia. "We can —"

"Doctor Holden."

Simon turns to find an EMT approaching him. He excuses himself and steps away from the group, leaving Jessica to stand with a forced confidence, all the while trying not to look in Felicia's direction. She understands what Felicia is going through too, but there's no need for her to be so spiteful.

Especially when they both want the same thing. For Alec and Phillip to be safe and sound, right in the same room with them.

When Simon returns to the group, he wears a cold, weary expression. Without even speaking, everyone knows the truth.

"No, we have to keep...we have to keep looking," Jessica insists. "We have to keep looking!"

"Jessica, I'm so sorry," Simon begins.

He is unable to finish his words, however, as an almost animalistic sounding scream erupts from Jessica lips. She crumples to her knees, supported only by Vince and Eric who stand beside her.

But they don't move. They don't say anything.

There's nothing anyone can do now.

END OF EPISODE #305

| Previous Episode | Next Episode |