A street in Mexico

Cliff braced himself against the back of the cab seat, but he never took his eyes off the woman standing directly ahead of them in the street. Afton screamed and grabbed Cliff around the arm in an attempt to steady herself.

Cliff watched as a man with dark-hair darted out into the street and pulled Jamie out of the way. The taxi came to a screeching halt and Cliff didn't waste a moment catching his breath. Before Afton realized it, he had thrown open the door and stepped out into the Mexican heat.

"Hey you…are you alright?"

Stefan looked up at him. "Hello Mr. Barnes. My friend is fine." Stefan helped Jamie up, making sure to keep her back facing Cliff Barnes.

Cliff looked perplexed. Had he imagined things? The woman looked an awful lot like Jamie. Afton joined him, still shaken from the near accident. "Is she alright? Angel? Is that you?"

Jamie Ewing Barnes turned around and her eyes met Afton's, but then they moved to Cliff. Cliff was dumbfounded. It was her. It was Jamie. His Jamie. "Jamie? It can't be."

Jamie looked at Stefan, confused, and then she turned back to Cliff. "Do you know me?"

Cliff wanted to nod, but did he know her? Jamie had been killed in a climbing accident years ago. Was it possible? Afton looked clueless. "Could someone please fill me in? Or, maybe we should get out of the middle of the street first."

Seconds later, they all stood on the sidewalk. Cliff had informed the cab driver to wait for them. "You didn't answer my question," Jamie asked. "Do you know me? Who are you?"

"I am Cliff Barnes. You were my wife."

Now it was Afton's turn to be dumbfounded. "Jamie Ewing Barnes? Oh my God."

Jamie looked confused. "I was married to you?" Jamie asked. She couldn't believe she was finally going to get all the answers that had evaded her over the past few months.

Cliff didn't know what to say…how to react…or anything. "Where the hell have you been?"

And then Jamie felt herself being pulled away. Stefan had her tightly by the arm and he was running through the crowd, pulling her on unwilling feet. "Come Angel. We must get away from them—they want to take you away."

Jamie struggled. "Let go of me! I'm not Angel. Didn't you hear them? I'm Jamie! Jamie Ewing Barnes…they said…"

"Never mind what they said. They are liars. Both of them."

Stefan glanced back to see Cliff running after them and he picked up his pace. Afton remained where she had been standing. Just what the hell was going on? Cliff's first wife was supposed to be dead. "Damn it," Afton cursed under her breath. Her perfect honeymoon had just bought a one-way ticket down the drain.

Cliff was yelling as he chased after Stefan and Jamie. "Hey! Somebody stop that man!" The crowd stared at Cliff blankly—most didn't speak English and the ones that did were afraid to get involved.

With a sudden burst of strength, Jamie pulled free of Stefan's grasp and she fell to the ground. The force of it sent Stefan falling in the opposite direction. Cliff had to veer to the left to avoid trampling her. He kneeled over and took her in his arms. "Jamie…oh God."

"Cliff, keep him away…"

Cliff looked ahead and saw that Stefan was lying on the ground, not moving. "Sshh. He's not gonna hurt you. Don't you remember anything? Me? Southfork, Sue Ellen, Miss Ellie, Jack? Anybody? Anything?"

"Yes…I mean no. I don't know! It's all so dark and fuzzy. But I remember your face…from my dreams. I didn't remember until I saw you just a few minutes ago. I'm so scared."

Cliff felt a tremendous flood of emotions, unlike anything he'd felt in years. He remembered how bad their marriage had deteriorated in its later stages, but right now, it didn't matter. Cliff didn't know how it happened or where Jamie had been all those years, but right now, that was the farthest thing from his mind.

Southfork Ranch

A dark cloud of emotion had settled over the ranch. No one knew how to act or what to say as the tired group of people filed into the house. J.R. held his mother's hand, but she abruptly pulled away and walked upstairs alone. He watched her go, wanting to comfort her, but Sue Ellen shook her head. Miss Ellie needed to be alone.

Donna, Ray, and Pam walked into the living room and took seats, but no one said anything. Clayton was dead. What was there to say?

Upstairs, Ellie walked into the bedroom that she'd shared with Clayton for most of their marriage. She paused in the doorway and looked around the room at all of Clayton's things. She saw his favorite tie draped over the back of the wing-backed chair…and the pair of shoes that he refused to wear because they didn't fit right were resting in the corner of the room…and the watch that she'd given him for their tenth anniversary sat on the dresser. Now, he would never wear that tie again…or the watch…and now she'd never again hear him complain because those shoes didn't fit right.

It was all too much. Ellie made her way to the bed and collapsed on it, burying her head in the pillow, where she cried and spoke in muffled tones of grief. "Why did you take him from me! WHY!" She lifted her head from the pillow long enough to look across the room at a small framed picture of her and Clayton. "Oh Clayton…NOOO!"

Somewhere Along the Atlantic Coast

Bobby Ewing opened his eyes around 11 p.m. that night. Throughout the day, he'd been fading in and out of consciousness. Gordon, the fisherman that had found him, walked over to him. "You're awake. Are you okay?"

"Pam…"

"Who?"

"My wife. I have to…have to tell her where I am."

"There'll be time for that later. What's your name?"

"Bobby…" It was all Bobby managed to get out before he drifted back into unconsciousness.

Mexico

The sun had long since set in Mexico and Cliff, Jamie, Stefan, and Afton all sat in a tiny restaurant near the outskirts of the small town near Mexico City. Cliff had forgotten all about going back to Dallas for Pam. Instead, he was focused on Jamie.

"And then they brought her in to your clinic?" Cliff asked Stefan.

"Yes."

"Well how the hell did she get from the clinic to your cabin in the mountains?" Afton asked. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Stefan was quiet. He couldn't tell them about faking Jamie's death and whisking her away to his cabin. But was there a way around it? Then, he thought of a lie. "They were going to throw her out of the hospital. She'd been there for a year and there was no way for her to pay her medical bills—they couldn't keep her there. So I quit my job and took her away, to care for her on my own."

"Stefan…I'm grateful to you for that," Jamie said, smiling. "You don't know how grateful. But you had no right to try to keep me with you…and no right to keep me from finding out about my past."

"I know Angel…Jamie. But I cared for you so much. For over ten years, you were the only human I had any contact with."

Jamie took Stefan's hand in hers. "Thank you so much. I have to go back home now—Cliff tells me I have a family there…a brother."

"I know Jamie, I know. But promise me you will keep in touch?"

Jamie nodded. "I will Stefan. I promise. You've been a great friend to me these past few months."

Stefan smiled. He hated to see her go, but what could he do? At least right now anyway...

"Oh my God," Cliff suddenly said.

"What?" Afton and Jamie asked in unison.

"Jamie and I were still married when I thought she died."

Afton sipped her drink. What Cliff said didn't sink in. "So?"

"Jamie never died…Afton, that means our marriage is not valid. Jamie is still my wife…"

Rex Wentworth's Penthouse

Iris was furious by the time she got back to the penthouse. Rex's driver had been tremendously rude and she intended to have a talk with Rex about it. The driver dropped her suitcases inside the room and shut the door. Rex sat at a desk working on something.

"Glad you could make it," he said without even looking back.

"Save it Rex…just save it. Please tell me this place has more than one bed, because I will not give you the pleasure of sleeping with me."

"I'm so sorry. It just has one bed."

Iris was fuming. "Then you can sleep on the floor."

"That's not going to happen."

"Well I know it damned well will! You may think you have the upper hand on me Rex, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have more than enough incriminating evidence on you to put you away for life."

"But you won't use it."

"Who says I won't?"

"I do. Remember my threats. You know I always keep my word. I know exactly how much you care for J.R. Ewing."

"It's no secret. I love J.R."

"I'm touched. Really, I am."

"Then give me a divorce."

Rex didn't seem surprised at her request, but his reply surprised Iris. "Very well. If that's what you want, then that's what you shall have."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Wonderful. I'll start the process immediately and then we can both get on with our lives."

Rex grinned after Iris walked into the next room. "You'll get your divorce Iris. But it won't come at low cost—to you or to J.R. Ewing."

Southfork Ranch

Christopher's private phone rang that morning around 8 a.m. He awakened with a hangover, like he had so many times before, and reached over to answer the phone. "Hello?" he answered groggily.

"Christopher…it's Karen."

It took a second for it to sink in to Christopher's cluttered mind. "Karen? What the hell do you think you're doing!" he almost screamed.

"I'm doing what I have to do for my son."

"Your son? Why didn't you ever tell me! I feel so stupid. The family is going to find out about this…and for your information, Clayton died last night."

"WHAT?" Karen asked. "How?"

"He was shot here at Southfork a few nights ago. He died. Now Clayton is dead and your face is plastered all over the news. If Grandma sees this…"

"I'm sorry. God, I can't believe Clayton is dead."

"I can't believe what you've done. Tell me…and you better not lie to me. Is Eric Stone with you?"

"Yes he is."

"Good grief…you know what Karen?"

"What?" she asked.

"You are on your own with this. You can just get yourself out of trouble. I'm not going to be there for you to bail you out and save the day like I did with your drug addiction."

"I got myself into this. I'm a grown woman—I know what the consequences of my actions will be. But I wanted to call and let you know that I won't be coming back to Dallas."

Christopher didn't seem surprised. "Maybe that's just the best thing. You can run off with Eric Stone—I know you always wanted to. Go away and live your life like some fairy tale dream that wasn't meant to be. I don't care. I really don't care anymore."

"Then I guess there's nothing else to say…other than I love you."

"I…love you too." The words escaped Christopher's mouth before he could stop them. As mad and as hurt as he was, he did love her.

"But I also love my son, Austin."

"I don't want to lose you Karen. Tell me where you are…I'll be there as soon as I can. We can go away together…with your son. I need you. We need each other."

Karen wanted so bad to take him up on his offer, but she knew she couldn't drag him into this. "No Chris. I don't want to get you in trouble."

"Then come back to Dallas and turn yourself in. I didn't mean what I said before…I want to help you. I will help you. I'll get you the best lawyers money can buy."

"I can't risk losing my son. I can't come back to Dallas. Please understand."

"I guess I do understand. I understand that you're choosing Austin and Eric Stone over me. Bye Karen." He hung up the phone and looked longingly at the bottle of vodka sitting by the bed. But he wouldn't drink from it—not today.

Ewing Oil

J.R. worked because he had to, and it was what he knew how to do. He didn't know what to do for Momma. She had been in her room all day and hadn't once come out. Theresa brought her food but she didn't eat any of it. Pam and Ray had alternated sitting with her, but none of it helped. It was like she was catatonic. She wasn't even crying. There was an emptiness in her eyes--like there was no one there.

It was at these times that J.R. felt more blessed to have Ewing Oil. It was always a place he could come too. There was always work to be done.

He walked briskly by Sly and Janice's desks, both of whom looked uneasy and unsure of how to approach their boss. He entered his office and shut his door with an aggressive force.

A moment later, Janice lifted her head from her computer screen when she heard the shrill "ding" indicating that the elevator had arrived at the executive office level of Ewing Oil. Todd was the last person she expected to see walk through the doorway.

Sly's jaw dropped as Todd briskly walked over towards Janice. "There you are…."

"What are you doing here?" Janice recoiled a bit.

"We need to talk. Can you take a break or something?" He seemed tense, stressed.

"We can talk right here. Sly doesn't mind," Janice looked over at Sly, who quickly nodded her head in confused response.

Todd seemed to ignore Janice's discomfort. "I just got back into town. I can't believe about Clayton. How is everyone?"

"Really? Where have you been?" Now Janice started to get a little terse herself. "Out of town." Todd looked at her for a minute. Something was in her eyes. "Why?" "There just have been a lot of things going on around here…"

"What did you mean by that Janice?" Todd raised his voice a little.

A second later, the door to J.R.'s office swung open. "Well, you got some damn nerve showing your face here Foster."

"Put a sock in it. I'm not here to see you." Todd rolled his eyes.

"You better get out of here right now boy, or I'll have you arrested for trespassing and murder."

"WHAT?" Todd jerked his head around. He looked at Janice. "What is he talking about?"

"You were out of town. You threatened J.R….."

"I know you tried to shoot me. Well, you're a damn lousy shot because Clayton's dead and my momma's heart is broken, and it's all thanks to you. So you better kiss your sweet freedom goodbye, boy, because I'm making sure you spend the rest of your life looking out from between two iron bars."

Todd moved towards J.R. "Look, J.R., I am VERY sorry about Clayton but I did not shoot him or even attempt to shoot you…"

"Save it. Get out." J.R. stared at Todd for another moment, and then turned around. Before slamming his door, he demanded Sly get him the Dallas Police Department.

Southfork Ranch

"Miss Ellie? How are you doing?" Donna gave a slight knock on her bedroom door.

Miss Ellie was sitting up in her bed, the small television on her bureau on. It was on a game show, but Miss Ellie seemed neither amused nor interested. She was just staring at the screen. Had Dr. Danvers sedated her again?

Ellie turned her head towards Donna and attempted to smile. She looked tired, her eyes puffy. "Donna. Hi."

"Hey."

"Why aren't you at your office?"

"I came to see how you were doing," Donna sat next to her on the bed and took her hand.

"I will be alright. I think I just need to get rest. Dr. Danvers was here earlier…"

Donna knew that meant she had been sedated. She'd been nearly catatonic earlier, but Miss Ellie had snapped out of it and now she'd been crying, repeating Clayton's name over and over. Donna didn't know what to say. What did you say to someone that just lost her husband? When she lost Sam, and Andrew, she was devastated. But she had Ray, both times, to help her. Who did Ellie have?

"Clayton left with a lot of love. He knew that he was loved by his whole family, but most especially you."

"I know," Ellie said quietly.

"Please, PLEASE talk about this. Don't keep it inside." Donna looked directly at her.

Ellie looked away, at the wall. "I'll be fine….I just need to get some rest." She looked like she was going to cry again.

Donna squeezed her hand. "Everything will be alright. I promise."

"Please Donna. I think I just need to be alone for a little while."

Donna nodded her head. She gave Ellie's hand another squeeze, then walked out of the room and closed the door on the way out.

Donna sighed as she walked downstairs. She could hear Ray and Pam talking in the living room.

"Pam, what's going on? Where's Bobby?" Ray asked just as Donna entered the room.

"He'll be back soon," Pam responded quietly, almost as if to convince herself.

"Is everything alright? Has he called?" Donna asked.

"What happened? Clayton is dead for God sakes and Bobby is no where to be found!" Ray's voice was rising.

"I don't know where he is!" Pam finally screamed back.

"Pam, what happened?"

"J.R. happened, and that abortion!" Pam wiped away tears. "I don't know where Bobby is! We got into a fight about it.."

"So you knew." Ray's suspicions were correct. She knew the baby was Bobby's.

"Yes I knew. Of course I knew. And I wasn't too happy about it."

Donna looked to the ground, uncomfortable. Finally, she looked at Pam. "Pam, you know that was a long time ago."

Pam didn't respond.

"This doesn't mean anything," Donna continued. "Bobby loves YOU. You know that."

"I knew that then, but I was just so shocked that I blew up at him, and I'm sorry. None of it matters now. I don't know where he is. I'm not angry anymore. I just wish he'd come home…"

"You were pretty angry a few nights ago. Bobby took off the night Clayton was shot," Ray piped in.

"What are you implying?" Pam asked.

"The shooter was gunning for J.R., Pam. I remember how you slapped him."

"I don't believe this!" Pam shouted in response. "You really think I'd try to shoot J.R.?"

"Everyone in this family's been tempted before."

"I wouldn't talk Ray," Pam blasted back. "You were just as upset as I was. And it's not like you're a loose cannon, right?" she said sarcastically. "Southfork nearly burned to the ground before because of your beef with J.R."

"And you think that if I had done that, tried to shoot him, but hit Clayton and killed him, I wouldn't have said anything?"

"Guilt makes people do strange things," Pam said quietly, almost to herself.

"Well you certainly have been acting out of the ordinary lately!" Ray bounced back.

"Stop it!" Donna shouted. "This isn't helping anyone!"

Pam and Ray both looked at her. She continued. "We need to stick together. This fighting isn't getting anyone anywhere." She paced a few steps forward. "Miss Ellie has just lost her husband, and we have all just lost a friend and family member. We need to be strong, and we need to be a family. Even J.R. can see that. This isn't helping."

Ray sighed, and put his head in his hands. "I just can't believe he's gone."

"You're right Donna," Pam said.

"We need to find Bobby, and get him back to Southfork," Donna continued. "We don't need to be accusing anyone of shooting anyone else."

"It could have been anyone, though" Pam said, almost automatically.

Donna didn't want to admit that she was right.

Todd Foster's Apartment

Todd stubbed out his cigarette as the doorbell rang. Who was it? He was not in the mood for visitors.

He opened the door and found a strikingly tall woman standing there. She had two police officers with her.

"Can I help you?" Todd asked.

"Todd Foster?" The woman questioned.

"Yes."

"You have the right to remain silent….."

A Hotel in Mexico City

Cliff awakened that afternoon in almost a dreamlike state. It had been after midnight when they'd finally caught a bus back to Mexico City and hadn't arrived there until later on in the morning. Even though no one managed to sleep, the ride back had been quiet. No one had spoken a word.

Afton hadn't said anything to him before turning in for bed that morning and now she was lying beside him, asleep. What to do now? He'd found Jamie a separate room in the hotel, but they weren't leaving for Dallas until around noon the next day. Evidently, there had been some problems with Cliff's jet and it wouldn't be ready until around noon the next day.

Being careful not to wake Afton, Cliff tiptoed to the phone and dialed Pam's cell phone. After several rings, there was no answer and he dialed Southfork. Theresa answered. "Southfork Ranch?"

"Theresa, this is Cliff Barnes. Can I speak with my sister?"

"Yes Mr. Barnes, just a moment."

After what seemed longer than a moment, Pam picked up the phone. "Oh Cliff…Clayton died last night," she said in a flood of words.

"Oh my God. Pam, I'm sorry." Cliff didn't know what else to say. "When is the funeral?"

"I'm not sure."

"How's Miss Ellie? Is she okay?"

"She's trying to be, but I'm worried about her."

"Look Pam…I know I said I'd be back today, but we've had some problems with the fuel tanks on my jet and it won't be ready to fly until midday tomorrow. We're hoping to be back in Dallas by around three."

"Okay."

"Any word on Bobby?"

"No, nothing yet, but I haven't given up. I'm just afraid he can't call for some reason. Surely he would have heard about Clayton's murder by now—it's making national news."

"He'll call, don't worry. I'm just sorry I can't get back to you any sooner Pam."

"It's okay. There's nothing much you can do anyway."

"I'll check in on you again later. Take care of yourself Pam. I'll be thinking of you." Pam said goodbye and Cliff hung up the phone. It never dawned on him to tell her about Jamie.

Afton had been awake for the past few minutes. "Good morning Cliff."

"Afton?"

"Oh, were you expecting Jamie, your wife?" Afton's face was full of hurt and anger.

"As far as I'm concerned, you are my wife. As soon as we get back to Dallas, I'll have my marriage to Jamie annulled and you and I can get remarried…in the biggest ceremony Dallas ever saw."

Afton forced a smile. "Okay…"

Cliff glanced at his watch. "I'm going out to grab us a bite to eat. I'll be back soon."

He left the hotel room and not five minutes later, there was a knock at the door. "Back so soon Cliff?" Afton said, getting up to answer it. She swung open the door, only to find Jamie standing there.

Jamie smiled. "Hi Afton."

"Jamie." Afton greeted her coldly.

Jamie frowned. "Mind if I come in? I'd like to talk to you about all of this."

"Sure, why not."

"Look, I'm so sorry about how I'm affecting your marriage to Cliff. I really am…"

Afton turned away and directed her attention out the window. "You know what? It doesn't matter. Because as soon as we get back to Dallas, your marriage to Cliff will cease to exist and then he and I will be free to be together."

Jamie touched her on the shoulder and she turned around. "What?" Jamie questioned. "I'm sorry Afton, but I don't plan to divorce my husband."

Afton was dumbfounded. She stared at Jamie with her mouth gaping open.

Cliff's Guesthouse

"I just can't believe that he's gone," Cally said as she poured Lucy a cup of coffee.

"I know. I'm worried about grandma."

"How is she doing?"

"Well, I think she's still in shock," Lucy said, sipping her coffee. "But I don't know. I thought she'd never recover when Granddaddy died, but she was so much younger. Clayton was always her support."

Cally sipped her coffee. "I know."

"At least the family is all coming together. Bobby was out of town, but he should be back today…..Pam mentioned something, but I really didn't ask. I don't know, at least J.R. is behaving."

"Ugh. Don't mention him," Cally said.

"Aren't you happy though? The custody suit is dropped."

"I will never forgive him for what he did to me. HE is the one that should have died last night. Not Clayton."

"That's awful harsh, don't you think? I'm not a fan of J.R.'s either, but he is Justin's father." What was all this hostility? Lucy could understand Cally being upset, but this was taking things to a new level.

"That man is poison. He kills everything he touches. It was time that he got his.." Cally couldn't continue because the doorbell rang.

As she walked over to the door to get it, Lucy couldn't help but feel a little disturbed. Cally seemed almost possessed when she talked about her hatred for J.R. The custody suit had just been dropped when Clayton was shot. And she had been acting so strangely….

"Hey Lucy," John Ross said.

"I'll just get Justin's stuff," Cally disappeared into Justin's room, where he was practicing his drums.

"I thought I'd take Justin to a movie. Maybe talk about what happened with Clayton. I think he's confused," John Ross said. "I don't even know what to think." Lucy just stared at him. "What?" He asked.

"Thank you for telling me that you sold out to your mother. I had the privilege of being embarrassed by J.R. yesterday when I went into Ewing Oil."

John Ross's eyes bulged. Oh God. He forgot about the 25%. With the activity of the last few days, Clayton's shooting and Melissa. Oh God…

"Lucy, I'm sorry, I should have told you."

"You're damn right you should have told me! How could you do that? If you wanted to get back at J.R. so bad why didn't you just sell it to me? Sue Ellen and I could have used our percentages together!"

"It was so spur of the moment. I didn't even think. I'm so sorry.."

"You didn't even think to tell the person that was controlling your percentage of the company for the last few months? Gosh John Ross, that sounds real realistic."

"I sold it to mom, and Clayton was shot that night! It's been the last thing on my mind!"

"Seems like I'm always the last thing on everyone's mind in this family. Daddy, now you. Is there something about me that seems to make everyone forget I exist? Or at least that I control a chunk of their company?"

"I know that mom would let you keep your job at Ewing Oil. It was just some stupid thing for her to get revenge on my dad."

"Yeah, it was stupid, because neither of you thought about anyone else, like, say me. And forget it. I don't want anything to do with Ewing Oil. You can take that stupid job and just let Sue Ellen have it." Lucy's tone was harsh.

"Hey don't forget that I owned that 25%. It was mine."

"But you had basically given it over to me and you had trusted me. Well, I guess I should take that back because you obviously didn't trust me enough to keep it. I shouldn't be surprised though," Lucy gathered up her purse and coat. "You are J.R.'s son."

"Lucy wait…"

Lucy ignored him and walked out the door, just as Cally entered the room with Justin. "What happened?" she asked.

"Just another day in the life of a Ewing," John Ross sighed as he tried to smile for his little brother.

A Hotel in Mexico City

"Excuse me?" Afton said in a raspy voice. She cleared her throat. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that Cliff and I are married and I don't want to give that up. I know that I don't exactly remember our love, but I can feel it. And I think it'll all come back to me when I get back home to Dallas…I don't want to throw away our marriage. That's what I'm saying. Please understand."

"Understand? How the hell am I supposed to understand when my husband's dead wife suddenly shows back up and I find out that my marriage to him is a sham? I'd like to see you understand that if the roles were reversed."

"Please don't be mad," Jamie said, trying to smooth things over. "This is a really really complicated thing and somebody is going to be hurt by it."

"If you loved Cliff so much, then why the hell did you run away to Mexico in the first place?" Afton retorted. "Care to answer that?"

"I sure will answer that, as soon as I remember."

"You know what? I think it's awfully damned convenient that you don't remember anything. Could it be because you're not Jamie Ewing Barnes?"

"Afton, please listen to me. I only know what Cliff told me and I was found where Jamie disappeared. Cliff's my only link to my identity and my family."

"Could be coincidence. There are a lot of frauds in this world…cheap blonde women like yourself who would do anything to get her sticky fingers on a little bit of cash…"

Jamie was growing angry. Her life had been pure hell for the last three months and she didn't intend to sit here and let this woman accuse her of being a fraud who was only after Cliff for his money. "Afton, at first I felt really bad about not wanting to give Cliff a divorce, but now I'm not so sure I do, because I think Cliff deserves better than you." Jamie looked at her for a moment longer and then left the room.

The Barnes Residence

Pamela Rebecca Cooper found herself nervously awaiting a phone call from the Clifford Group. Would she be hired? That question had been flowing through her mind for most of the day. When the phone rang, she bolted from the couch and answered it before the second ring.

"Hello?" she said, almost too eagerly.

"Hey Rebecca, it's Eric."

She was slightly disappointed, but also pleasantly surprised. "Eric, hi. Where are you?"

"I don't know if you'd believe me if I told you."

"Try me," she said, swinging the phone cord in one hand.

"I've been running from the cops, halfway down the Atlantic Coast and now I'm hiding out in North Carolina."

"WHAT?"

"Haven't you heard about Karen? It's all over the news."

"No, I haven't even turned on the TV since Mom and Dad left for Mexico. Eric, please tell me…"

"I went to Pennsylvania with Karen to help her find and check on the son she gave up for adoption years ago."

"Oh my God…Karen had a son?"

"Yes. His name's Austin. But Karen ended up kidnapping him…and I didn't know it. Before I realized what was happening, I was on the run. We ditched the car here in a town called Mystique Point, in North Carolina and then ended up finding a cabin in the mountains. Then I went down to town for supplies and ended up being chased by some kind of cougar. When I was running from that, I took a fall down the mountain and landed on a little ledge. I ended up with a badly bruised arm and then I climbed out and was almost arrested, but Karen knocked out the cop with a rock and we got away."

Pamela Rebecca was speechless. "Eric Stone…April Fool's day isn't until this weekend. Now tell me where you really are."

"Honest to God that's what happened! Turn on the news; you'll see it."

"Oh my God…" It was all she could say. "How could you risk your freedom to help Karen? She hates you."

"No…she doesn't anymore. We've become kind of close since leaving Dallas."

"Have you slept together?"

"No. I don't want to take advantage of Karen liked that. Not when she's so vulnerable."

"There was a time when you wouldn't have wasted the opportunity."

"That was the old Eric, Rebecca. Going through the shooting and my paralysis gave me a lot of time to think about things."

"I see. Well maybe if you play your cards right, you'll end up with Karen."

"What happens, happens. I'm not pushing anything, but you know I do love her."

"I know. God Eric, I just can't believe what kind of trouble you're in. Is there anything I can do?" Pamela Rebecca asked. "I just found out you are my brother…I don't want to lose you."

"I'll keep in touch. Just don't tell anyone where I am. But, I need to go, so I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah, you will. Take care of yourself…"

"I will. Bye."

Southfork Ranch

Theresa was in the kitchen, so Christopher answered the phone when it started ringing. He hoped it was Karen. Or did he?

"Hello?"

"Hi. Is J.R. Ewing there?"

"No, I'm sorry he's not here right now can I take a message?"

"Yes. This is Hope Miller with the Dallas PD. Could you just ask him to give me a call back as soon as possible?" There seemed to be some urgency in her voice.

"Sure." Christopher hesitated. "Is everything alright? I'm Christopher Ewing, J.R.'s nephew. Is there something that I can help you with?"

"No, but thank you."

"Is this regarding the shooting?"

He could hear a sigh on the other end of the line. "Actually, yes. I just wanted to inform Mr. Ewing that we've made an arrest."

"What? You're kidding me!? Who?"

"A Mr. Todd Foster, of Dallas."

Christopher dropped the phone.

Ewing Oil, the next day

"J.R.!" Sue Ellen walked into her ex-husband's office.

"What?" He responded, annoyed.

"Were you even planning on passing these drilling reports by me?"

"Sue Ellen, I don't have time for this."

"WE are partners here. WE need to be in constant communication about the operation of this company."

"Don't give me that crap. Ewing Oil is my company. Just because you begged and groveled to get into it doesn't mean I have to listen to you."

"Well I've got papers giving me halfway control of this company that says you do."

J.R. leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. "Do we really need to do this now? I'll give you the report. Can we just try to cooperate for the next few days, for mama's sake."

"Look J.R., I'm not the one causing trouble. I WANT things to go peacefully here." She turned around and stood in the doorway. "Just get me an updated copy as soon as you can."

As she walked back into the temporary office that she had housed some things in, Sue Ellen felt a twinge of empathy for J.R. He was upset about Clayton, she could tell. It was just a twinge, though.

A few minutes later, Sue Ellen was packing up some files in her purse when she heard a knock on her door. She turned around.

"Lucy." Sue Ellen was not expecting her.

Lucy entered the office, and revealed a large bouquet of dead roses that she had hidden behind her arms.

"What is this?" Sue Ellen was a bit shocked.

"Just a little welcoming present to Ewing Oil. I'll clear my things out of my office. You can move in by tomorrow."

"Lucy, look…."

"Oh don't even start," Lucy's tone quickly turned hostile. "You could have had the decency to even TELL me you had stolen my job and my shares."

"I was going to tell you. But everything happened so quickly. Clayton was shot and everything else just didn't seem to matter after that," Sue Ellen said, slightly defeated.

"You know what, just save it. I don't even want to hear it," Lucy said as she turned around.

"Lucy wait. I'm not trying to take over your job. I'm still at the Clifford Group. I wouldn't even think of not having you continuing at Ewing Oil. You've done such a great job. I know we see eye to eye, so there shouldn't be any problem in the way I vote my chunk of the company."

"If you think that I'm going to sit around here and have to check everything through you, you've got another thing coming. I'd rather have to suck up to J.R." She crossed her arms. "Uh-uh. No way. I hope you just feel good knowing that you stole one of the most important things in my life, just like my daddy did." She gave a silent laugh. "Just like the Ewing family. Never take Lucy seriously."

"That's not fair…"

"Really? That's what I said when I heard you took my 25% of the company."

Sue Ellen didn't know how to respond to that one. The room was silent for a moment. Finally, Lucy adjusted her purse.

"Listen, I'll be civil to you for grandma's sake, but don't count on us being best buds anytime soon. In fact, you better watch out Sue Ellen. One thing about being Jock Ewing's granddaughter is that if I lose something, I make sure to get it back. Remember...unlike you Sue Ellen, I am a real Ewing."

Lucy left Sue Ellen alone in an empty office, feeling even emptier.

Downtown Dallas, near the police station

Todd stepped out into the cool afternoon air, and immediately lit a cigarette. Not only had he been dying for one for the last twenty-four hours, but he needed to blow off some steam. He was still disbelieving: he had just been arrested for murder! Being wealthy paid off though, and he could bail himself out, but he had to wait at least twenty-four hours before the bail was approved. Now, he was instructed not to leave Dallas.

What was everyone thinking? He was sure that this was spread all across the Dallas papers, his arrest. What about his past? Did they get wind of that? Todd was scared. He didn't want anyone finding out. The police officer told him that, per the requests of the Ewing family, they were keeping details to the press very slim, but that didn't reassure Todd at all. Press leaks were always present, and someone out to make a buck would do anything. He knew. He'd been there. Besides, the Ewings were big news, and this was a national story.

"Todd?" He turned around. It was Janice.

"Janice. Oh My God. What are you doing here?"

"Getting my fingerprints updated. What do you think I'm doing here?" Normally that would have been accompanied by a smile, but Janice's attempt at humor was feebler. As if to make herself more comfortable.

"We need to talk."

"That's why I came here."

"Do you want to go somewhere? We can get coffee or something."

"No." She breathed deeply. "No. I'll just tell you now."

"Look Janice.."

"I'm leaving town," she abruptly said.

"What? Why?"

"It happened! I got accepted into a writing program at UCLA!"

"That's wonderful." Todd was not sincere.

"I need to get out of Dallas. Too much has happened recently. I need a fresh start, you know? To get away from my mother. This is my dream, you know?"

"Don't you think this is a little sudden?" Todd asked.

"I applied months ago."

"You told me that, but you said you didn't want to go. You told me that you were happy right here. With your job and with me."

"Things change Todd."

"Is what I did in the past really THAT bad? Can you really not deal with it at all?"

"Look, it's difficult for me to explain. I don't like the lying."

"I never lied! I wasn't completely forthcoming with the truth, granted, but I never lied to you." Todd pointed his finger adamantly.

"How do I know that you're not lying now? How do I know that you're not lying about trying to shoot J.R.?"

"I can't believe this! You really think that?"

"I don't know what to think! First I find out that you used to be a gigolo, then you disappear from town but not after threatening J.R.! And I know you have a gun Todd. They never found the gun."

Todd crossed his arms. He was hurt. "You really don't know me then, do you."

Janice just looked at the ground. Todd continued. "Alright, go off to L.A. I thought that there was something here worth saving, but you know what, I think now that I was wrong." He stubbed out his cigarette. "And to think you call me a liar, or dishonest or whatever. Pot calling the kettle black, don't you think Janice? You lied from the get-go too. Maybe if you had been honest with me, I wouldn't have fallen in love with the big bitch that stands before me."

Todd turned around and didn't look back. Janice watched him walk off into the distance, and cried.

Southfork Ranch

Pam sipped her coffee and looked at Grace, who was sleeping in her baby seat. A smile came across her face. Grace was the only light in her day, it seemed of late. Christopher and John Ross were sitting with her, and Ray was back a few steps in the kitchen, making more coffee.

Pam felt better about Christopher. As far as she knew, he was not drinking. She had to trust him. She had been honest with him, and told him that she had no idea where Bobby was, because she needed Christopher. She needed Christopher to be strong for her because she wasn't sure how much stronger she could be. And what was she going to tell Miss Ellie? She had spent all of yesterday sedated, and hadn't asked about Bobby. She knew she couldn't hide the truth much longer--it was getting ridiculous. Pam was scared. She was scared of being honest, because it might break Miss Ellie.

Christopher looked at his mother, and wondered how she did it. How did she survive? All those years that she was away because of Katherine, and now this. Where was his father? Christopher hadn't really allowed himself to think of it before now, but he was scared. It wasn't like his dad to disappear like this. Even if he and his mom had gotten into a fight, Bobby would have called. Especially with Clayton gone. Christopher wanted to tell his mom how scared he was, but he needed to be strong for her. She was counting on him now, and he needed to prove how strong he was. He couldn't drink. He wanted to so badly, but he couldn't.

"Todd was released on bail today," Ray said as he approached the table.

"They made a mistake. There's no way that he did it," Christopher responded.

"Are you so sure about that Christopher? They were aiming at my father. He has a tendency to make people do stupid things," John Ross said.

"I know Todd. He wouldn't do that."

"It is pretty hard to believe," Ray said. "Todd seems like a nice guy."

"He didn't do it. Trust me." Christopher reiterated.

"Listen, I'm not trying to be mean here, and say anything against Todd. But if he really did try to shoot dad, and ended up killing Clayton, would he admit to it? The guilt would have to kill someone. Maybe he blocked it out or something," John Ross said as he took a sip of coffee.

Pam just stared off into the distance, looking at some unknown object across the room. What was she going to do about Bobby? What was she going to tell Miss Ellie? What was she going to tell the family? Her excuses were wearing thin….

Theresa entered the kitchen. "Excuse me, Mrs. Ewing?"

Pam looked up upon hearing her name.

"Mrs. Farlow would like to see you. She's, um, she's asking about Mr. Ewing. She wants to know where he is."

And Pam knew that she wasn't talking about Gary or J.R.

Southfork Ranch

Sue Ellen entered the living room and didn't notice Jack sitting there reading a magazine. She was dabbing her eyes with Kleenex.

"It's gonna get better, I promise," Jack said.

Sue Ellen looked up startled. "I didn't see you."

"You can cry Sue Ellen. It's alright."

"I can't believe he's gone. I know everyone is saying that, but I can't believe it. What is this family going to do?"

Jack got up and stood next to her, leading her over to the couch. "The family is going to stick together like it always does."

"Huh," she gave a false laugh. "Tell that to Lucy."

"What happened?" Jack asked.

"It's my own fault. She confronted me today about the 25% of Ewing Oil that I have now. She didn't even find out from John Ross or I. J.R. told her and probably embarrassed her. She's really hurt."

"I'm sorry."

"I can't blame anyone but myself though. And maybe it would be better if it wasn't Lucy, but she's been hurt so much in the past. I told her that her job at Ewing Oil was still there, but she refused." Sue Ellen shook her head, dabbing her eyes again with the Kleenex. "I don't know."

Jack patted her back and they sat in silence for a moment. Then, unexpectedly, she heard her name called out. "Sue Ellen."

Both Jack and Sue Ellen looked up to see Cliff and Afton standing in the hallway. There was someone behind them. And when she stepped out, both Sue Ellen and Jack's eyes bulged and their jaws dropped.

"Jamie?"

Be sure to come back tomorrow night (Saturday, April 1) for the continuation of this episode!

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