Part 17:

 

Paris:

Hope stares up at Bo2 but before she has a chance to register what is happening Bo2 runs to her and scoops her off the floor hugging her tightly. Patrick bursts in and sighs a relief seeing Hope is alive.

Hope pushed Bo2 away from her and says, “Bo?! What the hell are you doing here!?” Bo2, still mesmerized by seeing her again stammers, “It’s a long story. I…” Hope cuts him off pushing past him and kneels over Steve. She snaps at Patrick, “I can’t believe you! You say you want a relationship with me and then you call Bo and drag him into this?! Is THIS your ‘loose end’ you were talking about?! One last attempt to try and fix things between Bo and I?” Bo2 asks towards Patrick, “Relationship?!” Patrick doesn’t respond he is still focused on Hope and defusing the situation, he says, “Hope, this isn’t what it looks like. I will explain everything but right now we all have to get out of here.” He looks back out the door seeing if anyone is coming.

 

Hope turns over Steve and checks to see if he is alive. He is. She mutters, “Thank God.” She puts pressure on his wound. Bo2 sees Steve’s face and says, “Oh my god! Is that? … Steve?! I shot Steve!? But… how?” Patrick looks around to see what they are talking about. He is shocked as she sees Steve moaning on the floor still unconscious but obviously still alive. He says, “He’s not dead?! Damn it!” He grabs the gun from Bo2 and starts to point it at Steve. Hope jumps up pushing his hand away from Steve and yells, “NO!”

 

Patrick looks at her like she is crazy, he says, “Hope you don’t understand who this man is!” Bo2 is now bandaging up Steve’s gun wound best he can with cloth from the mattresses. He says, “This man is not who you thought he was, Patrick. He is our friend… he’s family.” Bo2 hauls Steve off the floor and buts him over his shoulder. “And we are not leaving him here to die… again.” Patrick says, “Again?” Hope looks from Bo2 to Patrick and says, “I guess we both have some long stories to tell.” Just then the lights blast on and an alarm starts sounding in the distance. They all look at each other and Hope says, “Maybe we’ll save them for another time.”

 

She goes to help Bo2 with Steve. Patrick stares at them and we can tell he does not like the idea of bringing Steve along. Hope just says, “I’m not leaving without him, Patrick.” Patrick sighs knowing he can’t argue with them. He says, “Okay then we all go.” He takes Steve’s other side from Hope and he and Bo2 both carry him out of the cell together with Hope leading the way guns drawn.

 

Hope takes one of the guns off of the unconscious guards in the hall and without looking at Bo2 hands it too him so they are all now armed.

 

L and Mason:

 

L watches on a monitor as Hope, Bo2, Steve, and Patrick all head down a hallway. She turns to Mason, she does not look pleased. She says, “Explain to me fast what just happened and how you are going to fix it!?” Mason is flabbergasted he says, “I… I have no idea Ma’am! I don’t know how this happened.” L says, “You assured me that all the serum was evacuated from the compound after Lockhart freed Brady. So why is there an empty syringe in that cell?” Mason looks terrified of her. He stammers, “I… my men did a sweep I don’t know how they missed it.” She shuts him up with a wave of her hand, “Enough… fix it… now.”

 

Mason turns to the security console behind him and picks up the radio. He says into it, “Initiate containment protocol Alpha 2 and prepare the helicopter.” He turns to L and says, “They won’t get out of here I promise.” L steps towards him and says, “They better not. If Hope makes it out of here and those four have time to chat, they can piece together far more then I am comfortable with. If I do not get Hope then make sure NO ONE can.” She turns to leave just as an alarm beams on the panel behind Mason. She says, “Now what?” Mason turns to look at the board he furrows his brow and says, “I… I’m not sure. This can’t be right?” L, “What is it?” Mason turns to her and says, “Its another intruder alert? But we know Hope came alone.” They look worried.

 

The fab 4:

 

Hope and the boys are moving as fast as they can towards what they hope is an exit. As they enter an intersection in the hallway gun fire blazes out at them. They dive back into an alcove. Bo2 put the weight of Steve on Patrick and runs to crouch next to Hope near who is peering around the corner trying to get a clear shot at their attackers. He takes the opposite side from her and looks around too. She glances at him but says nothing. He looks at her. The tension is there but we know for different reasons. He says while looking around the corner, “I can’t tell you how it feels to see you.” Hope glare-glances back and snaps, “I’m amazed Patrick was able to pull you away from your ‘family’. Or did you just come to make sure he and I were back for the trial?” Bo2 looks at her with sadness and sympathy, he knows she thinks he is Bo1. He opens his mouth to say more but their attackers pick now to shoot a couple rounds at them. They shoot back and then duck for cover.

 

Patrick comes up to them and takes a look at the situation too. He says, “Crap. We’re surrounded on both sides.” Bo2 and Hope say that the same time, “No problem.” They glance at each other. We can see that it is really ticking Hope off that Bo2 is acting so… like his old self. But they catch eyes and he says to her, “You know what I’m thinking?” She says, “It’s risky.” Patrick looks like the odd man out and says, “um… wanna fill me in?”

 

Bo2 goes back and picks up Steve he pats him down and finds a couple small grenades. He singles for Patrick to help him. Patrick takes Steve from Bo2 and asks what’s going on? Bo2 asks him, “Can you carry him by yourself?” Patrick says, “Well yeah, why?” Bo2 says, “Listen…” He puts a hand on Patrick’s shoulder, “I know you don’t trust him (referring to Steve) but I’m counting on you to get him through that hallway.” Patrick nods and Bo2 thanks him. Hope watches this and you can tell she’s confused by their friendly interaction. Bo2 says to Patrick, “Give us to the count of 3 and then follow us.” Patrick looks confused.

Bo2 joins Hope and shows her the grenades saying, “Its all he had on him, smoke only but could be enough to help.” She takes one and says, “Okay, on 3. 1… 2… 3!” They both through out their smoke grenades in opposite directions down the hall as the shooting from the attackers continues. Then Bo2 and Hope roll out into the hallway guns blazing. They move fast through the intersection and end on the other side back to back. They turn as Patrick who obeyed Bo2’s instructions makes the last leap with Steve to join them as Hope and Bo2 give him cover fire. Bo2 just then sees more men moving down the hallway they just came from drawing their guns. He yells, “Get down!” and pushes his way to cover hope. He yells as a bullet catches him in the arm. Patrick pushes open the door they have reached and the four of them pile out of it.

 

They stumble outside the mansion onto the ground and look up into the headlights of a parked hummer with 4 men standing there staring at them with machine guns pointed directly at them.

 

Patrick, Bo2, and Hope all raise their guns but know they are out gunned and doomed. One of them men lowers his machine gun to his side, takes a few steps towards them looking them up and down. He takes a drag off of his cigarette and blows out the smoke looking at Hope he says in a thick Italian accent, “You be Speranza?” Hope’s mouth falls open as she looks at him stunned. Patrick and Bo2 both look at her confused. She says, “um… yes?” The man nodes and motioning with his hand says, “Well din you and your boyfriends may want to duck.” Bo2, Patrick, and Hope all look at each other and then hearing the door behind them open they all drop to the ground covering their heads. Behind them L’s men burst through as their new Italian friends open fire. Hope and the boys scramble out of the way.

 

After the gun fight is over. The man with the cigarette comes over and helps Hope and Patrick and Bo2 to their feet. Two of his friends lift Steve up and carry him to the car. He says to Hope, “Me name is Vinnie, my brother asked me to look after you. Do not be angry at him for having you followed.” He looks her over and says, “You really do look something like my niece… I understand why Giovani took a liking to you.” He smiles warmly and says, “Come! We take you to hospital.”

Hope is beyond stunned at this turn of events. Patrick and Bo2 both look at her. Patrick finally gets out, “Um…. You uh… make some new friends along the way, Hope?” Hope who is still wide eyed in disbeliefs stammers out, “Ye… Yeah… I uh guess that’s two long stories I owe you.” Patrick and Bo2 share a slight smile and they all move to the car.

 

As they are driving away we hear an explosion. Hope and the guys jump. Vinnie leans back and says, “Oh sorry about dat. We broken in and wired de place to blow.. you know… just in case dey decide to try and follow eh?” He smiles again as Hope just nodes with that same wide eyed stun look on her face.

 

Hope notices Bo2’s arm and says, “You’ve been shot.” He glances at his arm and says, “It’s not bad.” She says, “No but it will be if we don’t get the bleeding to stop.” She moves over and accepting a first aid kit from one of the Italian boys bandages up his arm and Bo2 watches her, never taking his eyes off her or even flinching at the pain. He says, “Hope…” She says, “No. I don’t want to hear it. I won’t let you bleed to death because you are still Shawn’s father… even if he does hate you. And I appreciate your help in our escaping… but we have nothing to say to each other, Bo.” She glares over at Patrick and we can tell she blames him for this, thinking still that this is the Bo from Salem and that Patrick brought him here. Patrick interjects, “Hope...” She stops him saying, “No! Not here. We will talk when we get to the hospital.” She glances at their companions and Patrick and Bo2 both get the hint that she doesn’t want to discuss it all with in earshot of their new friends. They ride the rest of the trip in silence.

 

The Mansion:

As the Mansion bursts into flames from the explosion, L, Mason, and Derrick board the helicopter and escape. L looks down as that rise into the air. She says to Mason and Derrick. “I want them tracked. We will regroup and salvage this.” Both men nod. L then says, I think under the current circumstances we can assume that Hope will soon learn the truth about her husband in Salem.” Mason says, “In that case I think it is time we initiate plan B.” L nods saying, “Do it.” Mason flips open his phone and takes out a small recorder device from his bag. He dials a number.

 

Salem:

 

Brady House:

 

Chelsea is home watching TV… that is to say she is sitting in front of it zoning in its direction but obviously lost in thought. The phone rings and she doesn’t move. Bo1 comes in after a couple rings and glancing at her says jokingly, “Thanks for jumping up, Chelsea.” She comes too and says, “Oh sorry.” She gets up to leave as he answers the phone.

 

Chelsea pauses at the door to the kitchen as eaves drops.

 

Paris:

 

On the other end of the call we see Mason. He hears Bo1’s voice and plays the tape into the ear piece. We hear a high pitched tone. Even Chelsea at the door of the kitchen can hear it through the ear piece. She flinches at the sound. L, Derrick, and Mason all also squint in displeasure at the sound. But Bo1 stays stalk still and un moving. Chelsea watches. The tone dissipates and a series of beams follows. It sounds a lot like Morris code. That is followed be a word said by a voice on the recording that sounds a lot like Stefano saying simply, “Execute.” With that Mason hangs up. L says with a smile, “Despite how much I loathed the man… I am internally grateful for his thorough planning.” Mason smiles and nods in agreement. He says jokingly, “Well now I guess we just keep an eye on the Salem paper headlines.”

 

Salem:

Bo1 stands there holding the phone long after it is a dial tone. He stairs off into space for a long while. Chelsea watches unsure what to do. Finally Bo1 blinks back to reality. He looks at the phone in his hand and then hangs it up. He then disappears up stairs. Chelsea rushes in and hits *69 on the phone. She gets the standard, “We’re sorry but that number can not be reached using the automated call back system, please hang up and dial directly.” Chelsea slams down the phone disappointed and then hurries back to her spot behind the kitchen door as she hears Bo1 returning down stairs. She looks and see him putting his gun in his shoulder holster. He picks up the phone and dials. We hear a ring and Shawn on the other end say “Hello?” Bo1 hangs up and leaves.

 

Chelsea runs to the phone and hits the redial and sees Shawn’s number. She says to herself, “Oh my god. No no no…” She grabs her purse and runs out the door. She takes out her phone and dials. Mimi answers and Chelsea says, “Mimi, you have to get to Shawn now and get him out of the house!” Mimi asks, “Why? What’s going on?!” Chelsea says, “I don’t know and I don’t have time to explain. But I have a horrible feeling that Bo is going to do hurt Shawn! Please, I know you don’t have any reason to trust me but I’m telling you… Shawn is  in danger. You have to hurry.” Mimi who is in shock and doesn’t know really what to think says, “O… kay. I’ll try.” Chelsea thanks her and tells her she is following Bo1 and will call her back later. After she hangs up she says to herself, “I know what that phone call was Dad… you’ve been triggered… but why?” She looks terrified she steels Billie’s car and takes off following Bo1.