“What?” Bobby asked in disbelief.

“Oh no..” Donna said, horrified. “You weren't supposed to hear that. Oh no…..” This couldn't be happening. Bobby couldn't have just heard what she said.

“Donna, what the hell did you just say?” Bobby's initial shock had turned into anger.

“He's the father?” Ray asked, shocked.

“Bobby, you're supposed to be at the theater…” Donna said, almost paralyzed.

“Grace was sick. Her nanny called…that doesn't matter. What did you just say?” Bobby's mind was racing. HE was the father of the baby that Donna aborted all those years ago?

“You were the father,” Donna said quietly. She didn't know how else to say it.

“Donna, how? I mean, this is impossible! We were never intimate…I don't understand. There has to be some sort of mistake.” Bobby rambled, trying to calm himself.

“Donna, I think you better tell us what happened,” Ray said, trying to remain calm. It was the only thing he could do. First, the whole shocker about the abortion, now Bobby as the father? It was almost too much for him to take.

Donna wiped away the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes. She walked over to the large armchair, and stood behind it, grabbing it tightly for security. Bobby silently went over and sat on the couch next to Ray. Both never took their eyes off of her.

“Bobby, I know we never really knew each other in college. I mean, we never traveled in the same circles. I knew OF you, but…”

“Donna, if you don't mind, cut to the chase,” Bobby interrupted. Somehow she had to make sense of this.

“It was that party, at the fraternity. Phi Delta Kappa. School had just started. It was 1972.”

Bobby tried to remember. There had been so many parties in college. God, 1972…that was right around the time that Jenna ran off…

“You were drunk. I was there with a girlfriend. I didn't really go out much, but she convinced me to come to one of those fraternity parties. She said it would be fun. I should never have gone…” she trailed off for a moment, lost in thought. “She pointed you out as soon as we got there. We had already met, but she told me something I didn't know----that the girl you were going with just ran off with another man. Jenna.” Donna said softly.

Ray barely acknowledged the mention of his deceased wife. Bobby lowered his eyes a little. He remembered Jenna leaving. He loved her so much. He had never been hurt that badly before. He thought back to the year after she left---God, it was horrible. He was so depressed, all he did was drink and party. And the women! The things that some of his friends told him…..Oh God, Bobby thought.

“I had too much to drink, too. You were drunk---I'd never seen someone that drunk! Things just happened…..we spent the night together.”

“How? Donna, I don't remember this at all!”

“Bobby, you were so drunk. Everyone was. It was one of those crazy college parties that you hear about on the news. You spent the second half of the night throwing up all over one of the bathrooms.”

Ray's silence was broken as he turned to Bobby. “You mean to tell me you don't remember ANY of this?”

Bobby looked at his brother. “Ray, I swear. I don't. Donna, are you sure that it was me?”

“What do you mean 'am I sure?' Of course I do!,” she retorted, hurt. “Do you think I'd make something like this up?”

“I'm sorry, this is just such a shock. I had no idea.” Bobby tried to collect his thoughts. They were all over the place---there were so many questions. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“My parents were killed shortly after. I had to leave school, and then I found out I was pregnant. You know what happened from there,” Donna said, trying to hold back the tears. When was this all going to end? Why did the past have to rear its ugly head?

“Donna, you still could have told me. I'm not a monster…I could have helped you.” Bobby said.

Donna quickly replied. “I didn't want any help---I just wanted to forget the whole thing happened! I didn't do the kind of thing that happened that night….I was so ashamed. Then my parents died almost right afterward. I blamed myself! I thought it was my fault…I'd done this horrible thing, and then they were dead. I just wanted to forget the whole thing.”

“There was a baby though! Didn't you think I had a right to know?” Now Bobby was angry.

“You did have a right. I'm sorry. I truly am. I was going to tell you, but then all the health complications came, and I had to get the abortion…..I just wanted to leave it at that. I needed to deal with it---telling you would just bring it up all over again. I needed to deal with it and lay it to rest.”

“I appreciate that, but if I was really the father—“

Donna cut him off. “You were.”

“Well then I should have been told. Regardless. Do you know what you've just told me? This is huge. I had a right to know what was going on.”

“Bobby, I'm sorry…” Donna said, a tear going down her cheek.

“It's a little late for that now!” Bobby replied back harshly.

“Hey. Leave her alone. This is difficult enough without you yelling at her.” Ray ended his silence.

Bobby looked at his brother, who was staring intently with steely eyes. He lowered his eyes, backing down. “I'm sorry. I am, I'm sorry. But why didn't you ever tell me---we've been friends for so long? Why tell me now?”

“Because we WERE friends. Do you think I wanted to ruin that? You were my best friend in this family, Bobby. You and Miss Ellie. I respected you, and I cared about you. I didn't want to jeopardize that---our relationship, or Ray's relationship with you, or my relationship with him.”

“So why let it out now? I understand about those threats, but they're over now. They caught the guys.”

“I was never going to tell you. I don't even know if I should have told you,” she said, looking at Ray. “But things were going so well between us. I wanted to make a fresh start. Lies were what destroyed us before…I just felt guilty for not telling you. I was being a hypocrite and lying to you, when I got angry at you for doing the same thing to me.”

“Donna, this is different,” Ray said calmly, reaching over for her hand.

“I'll sure as hell say it is! I can't believe this. Donna, did you really think I'd take something like this lightly?” Bobby asked, squinting his eyes in a mixture of perplexion and frustration.

“You weren't supposed to hear it.”

“But I did.” He put his hands in his head. “I can't believe this. I just can't believe this. I can't believe, all those years when you were with Ray. You never told me.”

“I told you why I didn't! I didn't want exactly what's happening now to happen!” Donna's voice had risen. Why didn't Bobby just understand? She sighed. He had every right to be feeling what he was feeling. She couldn't imagine finding this out---that they were intimate, that she had gotten pregnant, that she had an abortion. He never knew any of it. What had she done? “I never wanted to jeopardize our relationship. And part of it was selfish. I didn't want to think about it---bringing it up would just bring everything back. I wanted to put it in the past. I had learned to live with it, even have a happy life. Sam taught me that.”

“Did Sam know?” Ray asked, referring to her first husband.

“No. But he helped me to feel safe again, loved. I was pretty scarred because of the whole thing. Sam helped me to heal.”

The room was silent for a minute. “Donna, I don't know what to say. This is huge.” Bobby could just shake his head in disbelief.

“I know. Bobby, I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean for you to hear this. The last thing I want is for there to be tension between us, or an discomfort…”

“What else could there be?” Bobby responded immediately.

“Why don't you think on this, Bob. We've all got to deal with this. Sleep on it. We can talk tomorrow,” Ray said, trying to be diplomatic. Inside, he didn't know what to think. He couldn't believe what Donna had just said. He needed to be calm, though. For her sake. And for his.

Bobby got up without saying anything, and just went upstairs. Donna broke down, and Ray held her. He rubbed her back while she cried. Damn that story in the paper. It started this all. If he found out who was responsible for this story, he'd kill them.

Southfork Ranch

The three horses raced across the plain behind Southfork ranch. Finally, the black and white appaloosa pulled into the lead and won the race. The other two caught up and came to a halt.

All of the snow had melted and the temperatures had risen into the lower sixties, but the sun still hid behind the clouds, only peeking out from time to time.

Jillian laughed and took her horse for a victory run around the other two. “Jeez you guys. I just beat both of you and I'm the one that's new to all of this.”

“You just got lucky Jill.”

“Don't bet on it Margaret.”

“Hey, I haven't been at this long myself. I lived in D.C. for years. Lucas here is the one that knows his horses. Right Lucas?”

There was no answer. Margaret cast her half-brother a worried look. “Lucas? You okay?”

“What?”

“Are you okay? You seem kinda zonked out.”

“No. I'm not alright.”

Jillian and Margaret exchanged glances. Margaret spoke up. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, you can talk to us about it.”

“I said nothing!” Lucas dug his boot heels into the horse's sides and the horse galloped off toward the barn. Jill and Margaret were both bewildered at his sudden change of mood.

“I'll be right back.” Jillian took of in his direction. She found him unsaddling the horse. “Is everything okay?”

“No. I mean…I don't know. Jill…I didn't want to say anything to Margaret, because she has no idea what I'm going through.”

“What do you mean?”

“It's about my Mom.”

“What about her?”

“I think I told you that she died in 1998—it was suicide.”

“Oh my God, I knew she died, but I didn't know how…”

“Yeah. It's still hard for me and everything. But my Dad didn't even give us a chance to get over her death before he was back with Margaret's mom.”

“Whoa…”

“I know…it really sucked. They used to be married a long time ago, but they got a divorce. Donna moved off to D.C. and had Margaret. She was living with some Senator and they got married. Then I was born. We moved to Switzerland and lived there until 1998. Things got really crazy after we moved back to Dallas and not long after that, she killed herself.”

“Lucas, I totally know what you're going through. You know my Mom was killed…”

“Yeah, that's why I wanted to talk to you. I know that you don't care much for Sue Ellen either, because she stood between your Mom and Dad getting together.”

Jillian's eyes went cold. “It's not a secret that I despise the woman—it's her fault my mother is dead.”

“Sounds a lot like my situation…Donna wasn't responsible, but she sure as hell didn't waste any time moving in on my Dad. I hate her for that…”

Jillian dismounted the horse and stood beside Lucas. “I'm sorry.”

“For a while, I thought Donna and my Dad were gonna split up again. But now, everything seems to be workin' out with them.”

“You think they'll get married?”

Lucas threw the brush that he'd been using on the horse. It landed in a bucket across the stable. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“Is that all that's bothering you, or is there more?”

“I've seen my Mom a couple of times since she died.”

“Oh my God…how?”

“On Halloween night—the first anniversary of her death. Margaret and me were at the Halloween party and I'd kind of had too much to drink…but I went outside and could have sworn I saw her.”

“Maybe you were just drunk?”

“I thought so, but I saw her again one night.”

“Night?”

“Yeah, in the middle of the night.”

“Probably just a dream Lucas…I dream of my Mom all the time and the dreams seem so real. Have you seen her since then?”

“No. It's been a while.”

“Maybe it was just your way of dealing with her death, since you said your dad didn't give you a chance.”

“Maybe. All I know is that I miss her really bad—so bad sometimes it hurts. I'd do anything to get her back.”

Jillian hugged her cousin. “I'd give anything to have my Mom back too…”

The Clifford Group

“Hi!” Sue Ellen said, surprising Jack at his desk.

“Sue Ellen!” Jack said surprised, thrilled to see her. He got up and walked over to her, giving her a kiss. “When did you get back?”

“Just got in. The meeting went great,” she said as she moved over towards the couch, tossing her purse on it. “I'm pooped though. Any chance of you taking the rest of the day off?”

Jack was about to respond but was interrupted by his cell phone going off. “Hold on one second,” he said, pulling it out of his pocket. “Hello?”

“Jake. Hello. This is Dominique. You remember me?”

Oh God, not now. Not while Sue Ellen was here. “Of course. How are you?” He had called her an hour earlier, and left his cell phone number, but he wasn't expecting a response this quickly. Maybe it was better like this---lonely women tended to have loose lips.

“I am well. I have just listened to your message. It was very nice to hear you on my machine. Please, can we have dinner?”

“When were you thinking?” Jack looked over at Sue Ellen, who didn't seem particularly interested in the conversation.

“Tonight...I would love to have dinner tonight. I have heard about a new restaurant in Dallas that is supposed to be very good. French food, which I can judge for you. It will be fun.”

“Sure…” Jack said, a little distracted. “That would be fun. Let me give you a call back in a while with details. I'm a little caught up with something right now,” he said as he smiled toward Sue Ellen.

“I would like that. Yes, call me. Please.”

“I will. Talk to you later.” Jack hung up the phone quickly.

“Who was that?” Sue Ellen asked.

“Just some contractor that is doing some work for one of our wells. I need to have dinner with him tonight.”

“Anything I can help with?” Sue Ellen asked quickly.

“No, No.” Jack said, trying to change the subject. “You get some rest---go visit John Ross and Megan. I'll be fine. But,” he emphasized, “I can take the rest of the day off.”

“Hmmm….” Sue Ellen's smile was full of mischief.

Jack just laughed in response. “Let me tell my secretary to forward any calls to my voicemail.” He walked over towards his desk and began to organize some papers together.

“Jack, did you know about the preliminary custody hearing?”

“What?”

“You know that J.R. is suing Cally for custody of Justin.” Sue Ellen had told Jack earlier, when Cally was originally served. “The preliminary hearing is tomorrow—you know, when the lawyers are going to meet with each party and try to work something out—or present their witnesses.”

“Oh My God. How come it's so soon?”

“It's Dallas. J.R. has probably bought off every judge in the town.”

“I can't believe that. Does Justin know about it?”

“Cally's keeping everything from him. I feel so bad for her. You should have seen when she came into J.R.'s office—it was like she was possessed. I'm so scared for her. I hired the lawyer that's going to be defending her, because she didn't have the funds to hire a decent one….”

Jack walked over to her and put his hand to her face, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. “That's what I love about you.”

“I'm just scared. She could really lose Justin. I know that J.R. is behind everything---I know it. I just need to prove it.” Sue Ellen looked off onto the Dallas skyline.

“We will,” Jack said in response. Quietly, he whispered, “I promise.”

Dallas Memorial Hospital

“Hey there Kiddo.”

“Karen! Hey!”

Karen smiled at the little boy that she had become so fond of. Lately, he was becoming the only source of joy in her life. Christopher seemed to be growing more distant by the day.

“I brought a surprise for ya…”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but you can't tell the other kids because I only got one for you…”

Cole's face turned sad. “Their parents bring them surprises though. My parents are dead.”

Karen felt sad for Cole. She knew how it felt to lose a parent, but she couldn't imagine losing both of them at the same time. “Hey now…cheer up. You like Pokemon don't you?”

Cole's face lit up. “Yeah! Pokemon is cool!”

Karen handed him a small bag and Cole ripped into it, his cheek's turning a bright shade of pink. She hadn't seen him quite so excited since the Christmas tree mysteriously showed up at the hospital. “This is so cool!”

“Ah, so you like Pikachu then?”

“Yeah, how do you know so much about these things?”

Karen laughed. “Would you believe I don't? I asked the lady at the store what a little boy your age might like and she took me right to this stuff. Glad to see she was right on target!”

Cole smiled and sat up in bed. “Karen, come here.” Karen walked toward him and he stretched out his arms and gave her a hug. “You're the greatest.”

For the first time in a long time, Karen felt needed—like she actually had reason to be doing what she was doing. “No…you are the greatest. Thank you Cole.”

“Thank me? For what?”

Karen almost laughed at the look of pure confusion on the boy's face. “For being my friend. Now…it's time you got some sleep.”

“Aww.”

“Don't aww me, Kiddo. Tell you what…after you take a little nap, I'll see if I can take you down to the park next to the hospital. Last time I was there, the place was full of ducks.”

“Cool! I'll try to get some sleep then.”

“You do that.” Karen smiled and kissed Cole on the forehead, before turning off the lights and leaving.

Outside, she walked to phone and dialed. A few seconds later, Afton Cooper picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Afton, is that you?”

“Who is this?”

“This is Karen Ewing. Is Eric there?”

Afton rolled her eyes. Here was one of her not-so-favorite people asking for another of her not-so-favorite people. “I suppose so. He's definitely not out working or anything.” A few minutes later, Eric picked up.

“Yeah?”

“Eric, it's Karen.”

Eric was surprised. “Karen? What's up?”

“I need your help with something.”

Eric smiled. This might be his chance. “Sure…what is it?” Eric listened and his smile grew larger as Karen began to make her request.

Southfork Ranch

Bobby sat on his bed, and held his head in his hands. He still couldn't believe what Donna had told him. My God, they had been intimate? He was the father of that aborted baby? And she lived here all those years, and never mentioned anything. Bobby was so confused. He was infuriated at Donna for never telling him---he felt like he had a right to know. Maybe it was the experience of struggling to HAVE children—Christopher, then Grace---that brought this on, but he felt like even back in his “crazy days” he'd want to know if he sired a child.

Part of him felt for Donna, though. Imagine living with that secret for all those years? He couldn't fathom it---she must have had to call upon strength that he didn't know if he could even muster. And how did Ray fit into all this? How was he feeling?

Bobby didn't know anything. He needed to get things straight, but he had no idea how. He had spent the day working the ranch and just driving---those were the best ways for him to think, but nothing was cleared up. What was he going to tell Pam? How would she take this?

Pam had just come out of the bathroom, where she was changing Grace. Bobby looked at his baby girl and smiled. What if he had another daughter—or son—with Donna? He couldn't believe it.

“What's wrong?” Pam asked, putting Grace in the crib that she and Bobby kept in their bedroom.

Bobby smiled at her. It was a quiet smile, not full of life like his usual ones. “Nothing. I'm just tired.”

“Well wake up,” Pam said, kneeling behind him. She started to give him a massage.

“What brought this about?” Bobby asked. It felt great.

“Nothing. Just because I love you,” she said gleefully, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

As much as it made him feel better, he actually felt worse.

Scalini Restaurant

“Jake, you are a very strange man. This place is so dark,” Dominique said, looking at Jack over the candlelit table.

Jack stealthily checked the tape recorder in his jacket pocket to make sure that it was recording. “I know, but I like the dark. This is one of my favorite restaurants---and the food's great.” Not to mention that it was dark, out of the way and there was virtually no chance he'd be recognized.

Jack struggled to make intriguing, non-pertinent chitchat over drinks and appetizers. Once the main course came, he realized it was time to take action. “So how's business?” He asked casually.

“It is fine,” Dominique replied non-commitently. “I told you this. I am in the construction industry. I am working on a project to tear something down.”

“What though? I feel like I've told you a lot of stuff about me, but you've been pretty quiet about anything about yourself. You've told me you're from France. That's it.”

Dominique looked at him. Of course she couldn't be honest with him---there was no way she could reveal her past as an espionage agent, let alone what she was doing in Dallas. Her position with J.R., working to gaslight his ex-wife, was very lucrative. She was not about to risk that for this man that she just met. But she supposed she could placate him, for now. “I will tell you about my past then—you will get my life story.”

And Jack did, for about an hour. He feigned extreme interest, with hopes that her story would end with why exactly she was in Dallas---and the real truth. He knew that she was in cahoots with J.R. It was obvious in the way she grew uncomfortable whenever he brought up the reason she was in Dallas. Unfortunately, after an hour, the only highlight he got was her father's career in waste management.

“Are you happy now? You know my whole history.” Dominique said.

“You bet I am.” Jack said.

As Jack sipped his coffee, Dominique looked at him. He was a very attractive man. Boring, but strikingly handsome. And it had been so long since she had been with a man…. “Jake.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to spend the night with me?”

“Excuse me?” Jack said, almost spitting out his coffee.

“Would you like to spend the night with me? I am very attracted to you. You are a very handsome man.”

Was this the way all European women were? “Er….”

“Are you not attracted to me? Do you not think I am beautiful?” Dominique asked innocently.

Was she joking? “Dominique, I hardly know you….”

“What is the problem? We are both two mature adults. We are not married. I do not understand.”

“This is our first date….I guess…Well, I guess I'm just not that kind of guy.”

And with that, things fizzled from there. As Dominique went to the bathroom, and Jack grabbed the check, he heard the play button on the tape recorder click off. Nothing. He got nothing.

The Krebbs Ranch

“Ray?” Donna asked, pouring her ex-husband some brandy. “You've been awful quiet.”

“Sorry. Just thinking,” Ray smiled, accepting the brandy. Thinking had been all he had been doing since yesterday.

“Anything I can help with?” Donna asked, a little uneasy.

“No, don't worry about it.”

Donna sat down. “You've hardly talked about what happened yesterday.”

“What's there to say?”

“A lot. Ray, you can't tell me that what happened isn't upsetting you.”

“It happened over twenty-five years ago.” Ray said tersely.

“And it all came out last night. Listen, Bobby's mad enough. I don't want you to shut down on me too.”

“I'm not going to shut down on you.” He took a sip of his drink. “I guess….I just don't like this. It makes me feel uneasy.”

“Why? Are you mad at me?”

Ray looked at her. His eyes were wide, almost with innocence. “No. No, I'm not mad at you at all. Everything you said makes sense. I can't believe you did all that Donna.”

“Are you mad at Bobby? Is that it?”

“No. I don't know. I know he didn't do anything. This just doesn't sit well with me.”

“Ray, tell me what you're feeling. I told you this for a reason. Granted, I didn't expect Bobby to hear it…” she gave a short breath that doubled as a sarcastic laugh. “If there is ever going to be anything between us again, there needed to be complete honesty. On both ends---you need to tell me how you're feeling.”

“Can there be something between us again?”

“That's really up to you.”

“What does that mean?”

“I've done a lot of thinking. I love you. I'm willing to give things---give us---another try.”

Ray had been waiting for this—it was his turn to say what he'd been feeling for months, and he finally had Donna's full attention. His lips opened, but his mind went blank. All that he could manage to muster was “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Donna, I made a stupid mistake. I'm so sorry.”

Donna put a finger to his lips. “Ray, I know. You don't have to explain yourself. You don't have to prove yourself. Even if you did, these last few weeks have shown me how you feel. You've been my rock, and I love you even more for it.” She took his hand in hers and kissed it. “But I need to know, and you need to be honest with me. Can you accept what happened---not only about the abortion, but about Bobby too? The last thing I want to happen is for you two to have a falling out.”

Ray gripped her hand tight. “None of it matters. I love you.”

They kissed, and in that moment, nothing mattered to Ray—the abortion, Bobby, any of it. All that mattered was that Donna was back.

What Ray wouldn't acknowledge is that it DID bother him.

The Oil Baron's Club

J.R. watched with a sly grin as Dora Mae led the beautiful blonde to his table. He stood up and Iris Wentworth took a seat.

“You were always the gentleman J.R…the things I hear about you in Dallas must be totally fabricated.”

J.R. laughed. “Well, you know what they say. The truth has a way of getting stretched into a lie. Don't believe anything you hear—only what you see.”

“Sue Ellen might beg to differ.”

“Yes…” J.R. took a sip of his drink. “I'm sure she would. Now, what was this meeting all about?”

“That's another thing I like about you—you always cut to the chase. I needed to talk to you, but I didn't want to do it at Southfork, not with Rex there.”

“Oh? What about?”

“Now it's my time to cut to the chase. And I'm warning you…I'm about to be direct.”

“Well go right ahead,” J.R. laughed.

“My feelings for you are still very strong.”

“Iris…we've had this same basic conversation before.”

“You never gave me any sort of answer.”

“As much as I'd love to continue what we had together in Europe, I can't do that.”

“Why? Because you're afraid of my husband? This is Dallas—this is your town. Last I heard, J.R. Ewing wasn't afraid of anything.”

J.R. was quiet.

Iris continued. “I want to see you tonight.”

“We eat right across from each other every night at Southfork.”

“No. Not like that.” Iris reached into her purse and took out a card. “I'll be there in room #406. We need to talk more about this—in private.”

“Iris…I…”

“Just be there J.R.”

Iris smiled and left him alone at the table. Several tables away; Rex's right hand man Gregor, watched.

Southfork Ranch

Christopher had been passed out on the bed for nearly ten minutes before he finally came to. At first, he didn't remember where he was or what he had been doing, but he soon caught a glimpse of the empty liquor bottles. He picked one up and finished out what was left, before staggering out into the hallway and heading toward the stairs.

Christopher didn't notice Sue Ellen coming out of her room as he walked by. Concerned, she approached him. Christopher continued to walk. He began to walk down the stairs, but he soon lost his balance and went tumbling—he landed at the base.

“Oh my God!” Pam ran over to her son as Sue Ellen joined them. “Sue Ellen! What happened?”

“I don't know…I think he was drunk.”

Pam smelled the alcohol on him. “Oh no…Christopher…Christopher, wake up.”

Christopher opened his eyes. “Lemme alone.”

“I'll call an ambulance,” Sue Ellen said. She walked over to the phone.

Christopher sat up. “No damn it. I don't need an ambulance.”

Pam was in shock. Since when did Christopher ever drink? She hadn't even known him to have an occasional drink…but it was obvious he was now drunk. Had this been going on all along and had she just been too busy to realize it? “Christopher, are you drunk?” It was a totally stupid question, but she couldn't think of what else to say.

Sue Ellen returned to him. “Christopher, do you need an ambulance?”

“No…I just need for you both to leave me alone!”

He stood up and staggered back upstairs.

Pam was crying and Sue Ellen embraced her. “Sue Ellen…did you know anything about this? Surely you must have seen the signs…”

Sue Ellen felt tremendously guilty. She had known that Christopher had been drinking, but both she and Kaitlin thought they'd talked sense into him. She should have known that wasn't the case—she went through it all herself one time. “Pam…I…”

“What?”

“I knew that Christopher had been drinking.”

Pam pulled away from her embrace. “You knew? And didn't tell me?”

Sue Ellen put her hand to her face; then dropped it back to her side. “Kaitlin and I talked to Christopher back when he stepped out of West Star. He seemed to agree that drinking wasn't for him—and we both thought he'd stopped.”

Pam was angry. “I am his mother. Don't you think I had the right to know about this? Instead, you go and confide in Kaitlin, who we really don't even know anything about! Bobby and I could have helped him before it got to this point!”

Sue Ellen wasn't sure what to say, but she knew Pam was right. She should have been told all along. “I'm sorry.”

“Not half as sorry as I am Sue Ellen. You were gambling with my son's life! What if he'd decided to go out for a drive? He could have been killed!”

Karen walked into the room before the conversation could progress. “Pam, Sue Ellen, is everything okay? I'm not interrupting anything am I?”

Pam shook her head. “No, we were just finished.” She forcefully left the room.

Sue Ellen noticed Karen's concerned expression. “Everything's fine Karen.”

Feeling like she'd walked into the middle of a heated argument of some sort, Karen was happy to reach the safety of the Southfork upstairs. She hesitated before going into Christopher's room. She didn't like lying to her husband, but she couldn't tell him the truth—not now.

Karen found him lying on the bed. He was turned away from her, toward the window. “Christopher?”

A closer look confirmed that he was asleep. Opting not to wake him, Karen thought it best to leave a note describing her intentions. At least that way, she wouldn't have to look him in the eye while she lied to him.

She walked over to the desk in the corner and took out a piece of paper and a pen, then scrawled out a note:

Christopher,

I didn't want to wake you, you seemed to be sleeping so soundly and I know you haven't been resting all that well lately. I just found out this morning that my sister, Kimberly, is having surgery. I'm flying out there to be with her and the family, but I should be back in a couple of days. Sorry this is so sudden and I didn't really get to say goodbye to you, but I need to get out there a.s.a.p. I'll see you soon!

Love,
Karen

The Barnes Residence

Afton watched Eric carry the suitcase into the living room, with a bit of amusement. “Well, finally decided to stop leeching off of dear old 'Dad' and get your own place?”

“Sorry Afton. No such luck for you. I'm just going on a little trip, that's all. Let me stress the word little, because I'll be back here in a couple of days.”

“That's too bad, because Cliff and I are getting married tomorrow and I just hate that you won't be able to make it to the wedding.”

Eric grinned. “Oh yeah, I meant to tell you. I told Dad I was going out of town on some important business and he's decided to postpone the wedding until I get back.”

Afton sat bolt upright. “What?!”

“Really Af…don't get so upset about everything. I was kidding. But, if by some miracle, this wedding does actually happen, then congratulations.”

“Get the hell out of my house.”

“Sorry Babe, but this ain't your house yet.”

Eric flashed her a smile, picked up the suitcase, and left the house.

The Braddock County Courthouse

Sue Ellen tried to relax in her chair, but it was difficult with Cally sitting at the conference table, looking both ferocious and scared. J.R. had just arrived with Grant Starr, his lawyer, and they were now awaiting the judge's arrival. Cally had requested that Sue Ellen be there for the preliminary meeting between J.R. and Cally's lawyers and the judge. Sue Ellen had asked if Jack could come along, and Cally agreed---both Jack and Sue Ellen had agreed if the issue came to trial, they would testify for Cally. Although Sue Ellen did not want to admit that she knew it would not do any good. Cally did not have a very strong case, whereas J.R. did.

“You okay?” Jack said, rubbing the back of Sue Ellen's neck.

“It's just been a rough few days. Pam was really hurt this morning. I just can't believe I never told her. It really seemed that Christopher had everything under control.” Sue Ellen rubbed her temple with her left hand. She had told Jack about what happened after the big confrontation with Pam over Christopher's drinking. “Now this. Look at her,” she was whispering now, indicating Cally. “She looks so lost.”

“We'll get her out of this.” Jack tried to be reassuring.

“How?”

Before Jack could answer, Judge Sarah O'Connor entered the courtroom. The proceedings began, and the judge instructed each lawyer that they were to present their argument before her. Grant Starr began his summation. It almost pained Sue Ellen to hear about all the incidents he brought up: her near accident with Miss Ellie and Justin; Her negligence in picking up Justin from his school nurse, Susan Grant, who had agreed to testify; Her failure to respond to Justin in the hospital, with another guaranteed testimony from the nurse that spoke with her on the phone. Sue Ellen almost lost it when Grant Starr brought up the time that Cally went hysterical, claiming that someone had sabotaged her paintings in the middle of the night. How did J.R. know about that? Miss Ellie, of course. She must have told J.R. It was hard not to be a little upset at her former mother-in-law, but she knew that she was just trying to help Cally. Unfortunately, Miss Ellie didn't see that it was J.R. that was causing Cally's problems.

When it was time for Cally's lawyer to present his argument, he tried to refute each point that J.R. made. But J.R. had witnesses on his side---the school nurse, the emergency room nurse. When Ellie and Clayton Farlow were announced as witnesses, Cally nearly broke down. She looked defeated. How could she not?

Despite his best efforts, Cally's lawyer's claims that J.R. was exaggerating were a little farfetched---he had so many concrete instances and witnesses. It didn't take a moment for the judge to announce that she felt this was worthy of going to court, unless of course some sort of arrangement could be worked out that both Mr. Ewing and Ms. Harper would be happy with.

“Tell her if she gives me my boy, full and clean, none of this has to see the light of day,” J.R. said, ignoring Cally.

“You're not going to get him J.R. I know you were behind this, J.R.” Cally turned to the judge. “This is just like him. Did you know that when we were married he paid off a marriage counselor to convince me to divorce him?”

“Ms. Harper, please. We can settle this all in the courtroom.”

With that, the judge told them that the lawyers would be contacted soon regarding a court date. She thanked all, and walked out of the room. Sue Ellen swore she got the slightest trace of a glance shot to J.R. by the judge.

“Well, you happy woman? Now we gotta bring this thing to court, thanks to you.” J.R. said spitefully.

Cally just ignored him. It was obvious that she was going to explode any second.

“J.R., shut up.” Sue Ellen said.

“And you're cheering section ain't gonna do much good either. Hate to break it to you darlin',” he said, turning towards Cally once again, “but a drifter loser and a drunk don't make for great character witnesses.”

Jack couldn't even form a fist before Grant Starr and J.R. left the office. As soon as the door shut, Cally started to cry.

“What am I gonna tell Justin?” she said, as Sue Ellen walked over and gave her a hug.

“Don't tell him anything yet. Everything will be alright, I promise.” She rubbed Cally's back soothingly.

Sue Ellen gave Jack a look that communicated just how worried she was. Jack knew he had to get everything out of Dominique, and quickly. He was going to confront her. For Sue Ellen.

Southfork Ranch

Pam had been lying on the bed for the past hour, deep in thought. She'd wanted to go talk to her son—to hold and comfort him, but she knew it was best to let him sober up first.

Her eyes were reddened from crying. How could this be happening to him? Over and over, she kept telling herself what a bad mother she really was. She'd been so tied up with proving that Katherine wasn't faking her amnesia; then she ran off to Paris and got involved with Rex… And what little time she did have free, she devoted to Grace. She realized Christopher must have been feeling like an abandoned child.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Bobby walked in. “Hey Pam. I need to talk to you about something…” He flipped on the lights and could immediately tell that she'd been crying. “Pam? What's wrong?”

She walked to him and hugged him. “I need to tell you something too…it's about Christopher.”

“Is he okay?”

“No, he's not okay.”

“Oh my God. What happened? Was there an accident?”

“No! Nothing like that. Bobby, I don't know how to say this, but our son is an alcoholic.”

Those words took Bobby by total surprise. “What?”

“Apparently he's been drinking for some time now. Sue Ellen knew about it, but didn't say anything to me. He fell down the stairs this afternoon. When I went to him, I saw that he was drunk.”

“Oh no. Sue Ellen knew? Why in hell didn't she tell us?”

“That's a good question.”

“He could have been killed. Where is he? Is he okay now?”

“In his room. He's fine—but probably still drunk. We need to talk with him in the morning Bobby. We need to let him know we love him and that from now on, we'll always be there for him. My God, he just found out that Megan wasn't his daughter—he must be devastated. We haven't given him the support that he needs—no wonder he turned to drinking.”

Bobby wiped the tears from Pam's face. “Okay. In the morning we'll talk to him and see what our next step should be. Maybe he needs counseling…maybe things haven't gotten so out of hand that he needs rehab or anything.”

“We can only hope he doesn't need rehab…I think that with our support and prayers, he can get through this. Now that we know about this…we can help him.”

Pam and Bobby held each other tightly, both vowing to help their son get through his alcoholism.

Ewing Oil

The phones seemed to be ringing off the hook, and the Ewing Oil offices were in a general mode of craziness. Janice cradled the phone between her cheek and shoulder while finishing up a dictation.

“So what time do you want me to meet you?” She asked Todd, who was on the other line.

“Nine's good. Do you want me to pick you up? Is that easier?”

“Janice, did you send out that fax?” Phyllis asked as she nearly flew by her daughter's desk, dropping a pile of mail on her way.

“I'll do it in a minute,” Janice replied annoyed, her eyes rolling.

“J.R. needs that sent out ASAP and Sly's out sick today,” Phyllis said, her voice indicating that the matter was final.

“Whatever,” Janice whispered to herself as her mother walked away.

“What?” Todd asked on the other end of the line.

“Nothing.” She began to pick through the mail that Phyllis had dropped on her desk. “Listen, I gotta go. I'll call you later. Oooh! I got mail!” She looked at the large envelope that was marked JANICE KELLY C/O OF EWING OIL.

Todd laughed. “Alright, talk to you later.”

“Yep, love you bye,” Janice said, preoccupied. She hung up the phone and got out her letter opener. Even though mail was always coming with her name on it---usually some catalog for office supplies—she still got excited whenever she saw something with her name on it. She tore open the envelope.

She slid out what looked to be the backs of photographs. She turned them over. Janice almost screamed. It was Todd, in bed with another woman. She was much older. There was another one.

Janice threw the pictures in her desk and ran into the bathroom. She had to cover her mouth to muffle her sobbing.

Dominique's Hotel

Dominique waited for Jack's arrival. He had called her earlier and told her that he needed to see her. His voice sounded urgent, and Dominique agreed. After all, with the custody issue going to trial, Dominique really did not have much to do anymore. J.R. had told her to stick around for a few more weeks, but to lay low. She did not like that, but the money was too good to pass up. She thought that Jack would be ample distraction, but the strange man did not seem to be interested in her at all, sexually that is. He wanted to just talk, talk, talk. Dominique was sick of talking. She wanted to make a new friend, in all senses of the word.

That was why she decided to take advantage of that lovely stash of pills that her old espionage friend had given her. There were so many different kinds of pills! One kind she had used on J.R.'s ex-wife to cause her such confusion and sleepiness. Then there was the other pill, a little larger, that her friend had told her was called a “roofie,” or something like that, in American speak. He had told Dominique to use it on Jake, when she had revealed what she REALLY wanted. Now she just waited.

Jack came in about ten minutes later, looking very handsome. Dominique told him. “You look very handsome, Jake.”

It still offset Jack for a moment whenever she called him that. Still, he wanted to be safe and not be traceable to J.R. at all. “Thanks.” He sat down next to her.

“What drink would you like? Tonight I am buying them.”

“A gin and tonic would be great, thanks.”

Dominique placed the order, then turned her attention back to Jack and smiled. “So, I am very happy that you called.”

“Dominique, I need to level with you. I mean, we need to talk. And I want you to be completely honest with me.” Jack tried to make his voice sound authoritative.

The drinks came. “I do not want to talk about serious things. We will talk about that later. For now, we enjoy our drink. I have had a long day.”

Jack supposed that was fair enough. He took a sip of his drink. Dominique never took her eyes off of him. As soon as he put the drink down, she spoke. “I am so stupid. Can you shut my mobile phone off. It is in my jacket pocket. On the seat next to you---do you see it?”

“Hold on,” Jack said, twisting his seat to orient himself more towards her coat. He started to fish through her pockets, and did not see Dominique break open the small pill over his drink. The powder fell into the drink, and Dominique quickly mixed it in. Thirty seconds later, Jack turned around. “Mission accomplished.”

“Thank you,” she said seductively.

An hour later, Jack was almost incoherent. Dominique smiled. Everything was going to plan. “Jake, come. We will go up to my room and you can tell me there everything you want to tell me before.”

Jack was too dazed to not be complacent. He knew that something was wrong, but he felt like he had no control over anything that he did. He just followed Dominique. She almost had to guide him. He felt like he could hardly see. He was fully aware, but wasn't in control of anything.

Dominique led him into an elevator. She pressed a button, and they were going upstairs. She was just smiling at Jack. What was he doing? He couldn't even move. What had she done to him---she must have done something to his drink. He tried to say something, but nothing could come out of his mouth.

She led him down the hall, where she opened a doorway. In one fell swoop she slammed it and began laying kisses on him. She began to lead him over towards the bed, not taking her lips off him for a second.

Jack wanted to stop, but he couldn't. He was so confused. Did he want to stop? It felt good….Dominique was beautiful….nothing made sense and he couldn't speak. But it felt good. That's all he knew.

That was the only coherent thought that was running through Jack's head as Dominique ripped off his shirt and pushed him onto the bed.

The SingleTree

J.R. stepped out of the elevator and walked through the carpeted hallway, dodging a cleaning lady pushing a cart. He found the room and double-checked to make sure it was the same one Iris had written on the card. After confirming it, he knocked on the door. When there was no answer, he tried the knob. It turned and the door opened.

“Iris, you in here?”

J.R. was surprised to find that there was a man inside, cleaning the room. “I was just finishing up,” Gregor said. He glanced back into the corner of the room to make sure the equipment was in place and then he walked to the door. Have a nice stay.”

J.R. thanked him and closed the door. He wasn't even sure why he was here. A few minutes later, Iris walked in. “Well, J.R., you beat me here.”

“You never were the punctual one Iris.”

She smiled. “I never like to be kept waiting. So, I always arrive late.”

“Now what exactly is all this about?”

“Let me show you…” Iris wrapped her arms around J.R.'s neck and pulled him to her, then proceeded to kiss him.

“Iris…wait.”

“No J.R. No more. I've been waiting for almost five years and I do not intend to wait anymore—not even for a second.”

Finally, J.R. gave up his argument. To hell with Rex Wentworth. Now he and Iris would continue what they had years ago…

Across town in the penthouse that he had rented, Rex watched them through the surveillance cameras that Gregor had installed. When he couldn't stand to watch anymore, he took his gun and fit the silencer on the end. Rex carefully aimed it at the television screen—right at J.R. With a squeeze of the trigger and a barely audible sound from the gun, the television exploded into shards of glass and lightning blue sparks. The image was no more…and soon, J.R. Ewing would be no more.

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