Part 23:

 

Salem Airport Following Day:

 

Bo2, Hope, and Patrick all exit the plane with Giovanni. Hope thanks him for all his help and asks how she can ever repay him. He says, “Recommend me to de best hotel in town and we’ll be even.” Hope does and hugs him telling him that after all the dust has settled she promises to treat him to dinner. He accepts and they part ways.

Bo2 smells the air and says, “I can’t believe I’m home.” Hope smiles sympathetically. Patrick asks, “Okay, so now where?” Hope takes out her phone and says, “We’re not wasting one moment… we’re going to the hospital.” She takes out her phone and calls Roman. While she is on the phone Bo2 goes over to Patrick and says, “I think I should tell you… I heard you and Hope talking last night… about Clancy. And I heard what you said about not coming between us if I am Bo.” Patrick says, “I meant it. I care for her but I won’t stand between you two.” Bo2 takes his hand and grips it tight and pats Patrick on the shoulder and says, “You have been a good friend to her… and a good friend to me through all this. I want you to know… whoever I am… whatever happens… I appreciate all you have done.” Patrick smiles slightly embarrassed and says, “Thanks… I… appreciate that. Can’t tell you how weird it is… you and I being friends. The Bo here in Salem… well he is more likely to take a swing at me then thank me.” Bo2 says, “Well if he is your old friend Clancy then that would make sense right? From what you said last night it sounds like you and he had some unpleasant history.” Patrick nods gloomily.

 

Salem Hospital:

 

Roman, Abe, and Billie are all back at the hospital. They are joined shortly after by Shawn who is brought up to date on Chelsea’s condition. Just then Roman’s phone rings and it is Hope. She tells him that she is coming to the hospital and too meet her there.

 

Lexi comes over to the group and says, “Okay, the drug is ready. I’ve had Bo moved to one of the conference rooms.” Roman opens his mouth to object but Lexi quickly adds, “I’ve had the room set up with the proper security… he’ll be secure. But I figured all of you would want to be there when the drug is administered so I thought we’d need a bigger room.” Billie looks panicked the entire time and says, “I would like to go check on Chelsea before we start. Could you wait for me?” Lexi says, “Certainly. We’ll be in room 815.” She watches Billie leave.

 

Billie takes off down the hall. Once out of sight she darts into the stairwell and heads down. She looks around and we see her enter a room with the words ‘Salem Hospital Laboratory’ on the door.

 

Back upstairs the gang moves into the room where Bo1 is being held. Lexi stops them just before they go in and asks, “Did you have any luck getting a warrant?” Abe shakes his head saying, “The judge is mulling over the DNA test but refused the warrant for the experimental drug just like we thought.” Lexi says, “Then this is all pointless.” Roman says, “Maybe not. Hope is on her way, she may be able to convince Bo to take it. He seemed willing to yesterday until Billie interfered.” Lexi asks what Billie did and Roman tells her about her antics. Lexi absorbs the knowledge but says nothing. She then says, “Well, unless Hope is able to convince him I can’t give it to him.” Roman sighs and says, “We aren’t leaving this room until we know who he is… if it comes to it… I’ll give it too him myself.” Lexi looks uncomfortable but just nods.

 

They enter the room. Inside the conference room Bo1 is handcuffed to the table and in a wheelchair with an IV attached. There is a burley male nurse and two uniformed police officers with him.  Bo1 asks Roman what is going on. Roman tells him, “Hope is back… she’s on her way here.” Bo1 looks surprised. Lexi excuses herself and says, “I’ll be back. I’m going to go get the drug.”

 

Bo1, Roman, Abe, and Shawn rehash the same conversation with Bo1 insisting he is who he is.  Meanwhile Lexi heads down the stairs to the laboratory. Billie is on her way back up and seeing Lexi coming ducks out the first door she can and takes the elevator up the rest of the way. Billie is flushed and runs to room 815 and joins the others. Roman tells Bo1, “Lexi has had the drug made that will restore your memory if you have been brainwashed. I’m asking you… as my brother… will you take it?” Billie steps into the room saying, “Don’t do it Bo. This is ludicrous! Let me get Frankie here first. They have no warrant… they can’t force you to take it.” Roman steps up saying, “The hell I can’t! If this man is an imposter I WILL find out… even if it cost me my job!” Bo1, yells, “Enough! Billie… I appreciate your faith in me but Roman is right… and… I need to know what made me do this.” Bo1’s face is pleading as Billie looks sick.

 

Just then Lexi steps in and says, “It doesn’t matter… he can’t take the drug.” Roman and the gang turn around. Shawn says, “What? Why not?!” Lexi sighs and looks angry. She says, “Because it has been destroyed.” She is looking at Billie as she gauges her reaction. Roman, Abe, Shawn, and even Bo1 all exclaim in surprise… but Billie does not. Lexi continues, “Yes… someone broke into the lab and demolished the drug and all the vials of the components.” Roman swears and hits the table in anger. He asks, “And how long will it take to make more?!” Lexi says, “Another day or two to make it but the problem is that one of the components is hard to come by… I’ll have to order it and I don’t know how long that will take to get here.”

 

Roman curses again in fury. Shawn looks dumbfounded and asks, “I don’t understand! Who would destroy it?” Hope is standing in the doorway looking directly at Billie and says, “I think I know.” The group whips around surprised at her presents.

 

Hope walks in followed by Patrick. Bo1 tries to stand saying, “Hope!?” but the burley nurse puts a hand on his shoulder keeping him in his seat. Hope walks right up to Billie and asks, “You destroyed the drug didn’t you Billie?” Billie says, “How dare you accuse me like this!”  

 

Lexi steps forward and says, “You did Billie. Hope called me last night she told me she suspected that you may try and stop us from using the drug on Bo. I told her that I understood her mistrust of you but that I thought she was being paranoid. I’m glad I decided to listen to her anyway.” Lexi then reaches into her pocket and produces a syringe and says. Abe asks, “Is that…?” Lexi nods, “It is one dose of the formula RX: 4-815-16.”

 

Billie steps back and snaps, “You are lying! Why would I destroy the lab!?!” Lexi says, “I would hope you could tell us that. But you DID do it Billie. You destroyed the lab and you broke into the records room last night and altered Chelsea’s file.” Everyone in the room gasps Patrick asks, “What did she alter?” Lexi sighs and says, “I don’t know why but she changed the paternity test to show that it was done off of a DNA sample from Bo taken about 10 years ago.” Patrick and Hope exchange a knowing look. Billie snaps too, “I did no such thing! I was with Chelsea last night and then I went home.”

 

Lexi looks at Billie and says, “Billie you can’t deny this. We have you on tape… I called away the nurse at the station last night to see if you would break in, and you did. The security cameras recorded everything and the computer system logged the entry change. How many times do you think this hospital needs to have a break in of the records room before it takes measure to stop such things? How did you not suspect you’d get caught?” Lexi looks more confused by Billie’s actions then angry. Billie is stunned and panicked Lexi says, “Why Billie? What would have changing that file have gained you?”

 

Hope answers for Billie who is in shocked silence, “It would have made it seem indisputable that Bo Brady… the real Bo Brady was Chelsea’s father. She did it because she knows that this man (Hope nods towards Bo1) is indeed NOT Bo Brady!” The room gasps as Hope drops the final bombshell, “She did it so that whenever the real Bo did surface that she could continue the charade that Chelsea is Georgia when in fact… as Billie knows… she most certainly is not!” Billie swallows hard as the room fills with noise as everyone’s gasps and questions coming at once. Bo1 looks as if his world is falling apart and Billie looks like she would give anything to flee the room if she could.

 

Billie brings the room to silence once again yelling, “It’s a lie!!! Chelsea IS Georgia and he (she points to Bo1) IS BO! I know it!” She is near tears she is so desperate. Hope says calmly obviously leading Billie, “And how do you know?” Billie plays her last card as the group looks on in shock. She says trying to dig at Hope, “Unlike you I KNOW the man I love. If he isn’t Bo Brady then who is?!”

Hope nods and smiles she walks over to the door and says, “Maybe he is the real Bo (refereeing to Bo1)… maybe the real Bo is dead… or maybe…” She opens the door, “…maybe HE is the real Bo.” And as she says this Bo2 walks in as everyone in the room (except Hope and Patrick) gasp. Lexi covers her mouth in surprised saying, “Oh my god!” Roman, Abe, and Shawn all jump to their feet in shock. Bo1 looks at Bo2 in horror. Billie takes a couple steps back looking on the verge of passing out and stammers out, “n… no!” Shawn looks from Bo1 to Bo2 as Bo2 stares at him and we can tell it is killing him not being able to hug his son. Shawn can’t take it and sinks into a chair.

 

Silence lays thick in the room for several minutes. Then Roman is the first to regain his composure and asks, “Hope? Who… is this?” Hope sighs and hesitates an answer. Bo2 speaks up and says, “We don’t know.” Hope looks at him in a way that tells us she is relieved he offered that up and touched he didn’t make her voice her concerns about him. He continues, “I believe I am your brother, Roman… that I am Bo. But under the circumstances we can’t be sure.” Roman is just staring at him as if he can’t believe his eyes, let alone what Bo1 is saying.

 

Hope fills in the blanks telling them all, “Alex North gave Patrick information that led him to find this… Bo. I followed Patrick and eventually caught up with them.” Abe asks, “So this was North’s doing?” Hope shakes her head, “I don’t believe so. While looking for Patrick I found a computer with a database full of information…old projects of Stefano’s and Tony’s. I was being watched, as soon as I got into the computer someone on the other end started to delete the files remotely. I burned to disk as many as I could. But most of the files were corrupted or encrypted and I couldn’t read anything but file names.” Hope looks over to Billie again and says, “But what we were able to read was very educational.” Billie is sweating bullets and says, “This is crazy! They find some guy who claims to be Bo and they just assume he’s the real deal!? Face it Hope, you just want this man to be Bo because you don’t handle the fact that Bo chose to be with me!”

 

Hope steps to face Billie and ignoring her taught asks, “You’ve yet to answer my question, Billie. How long have you known?”

Billie stammers saying, “I… know what?!” Hope is tired playing games, “Enough already! You’re caught Billie! I have files on disk with the truth! How long have you known that this man is NOT Bo!” Billie takes a step back and stammers out guiltily, “I… I didn’t know… I had no idea… I only started to suspect last night.” Silence lays across the room as Billie sees everyone watching her waiting for her to finish. She tries to force the words out, “Chelsea… she….she is.. um…”

 

Bo2 speaks up and we can see nothing but loathing in his eyes. He eggs her onward saying, “Tell them Billie… tell them who Chelsea really is and what you did to her.” Billie looks up at him in shock and stammers out through, “She is my daughter…. But she is not Georgia.” Billie hangs her head in defeat.

 

Bo1 says, “What?!” Billie says, “I knew it from the start…” She starts to cry, “I held Georgia after she was born… for hours… there is no way… no way she could have lived.” Bo1 says, “Why?! Why didn’t you tell us this?!” Billie says, “Because I wanted you… I wanted you back, Bo! And I knew only Georgia could do that. But then… the DNA test came back positive… that you were her father. I… I started to think maybe I was wrong… maybe she really was Georgia. I knew it was crazy but how else could she be your daughter?! It never crossed my mind you were anyone but Bo Brady.” Bo2 watches the scene with a look of disgust and shock at Billie’s confession. Bo1 looks at her with anger but his face then changes to confusion and hesays, “Wait… but you said her DNA test DID match mine.”

Lexi says, “That’s right… whoever you are… Chelsea IS your daughter.” Roman says, “Okay, someone better tell us the entire story here because I’m getting confused.”

Hope says, “Chelsea is Billie’s daughter from an affair she had with an ISA informant named Ryan. She knew two things would happen if anyone ever found out about it… she’d lose her job and she’d lose any chance at getting Bo back. So she decided then and there to give the baby up for adoption.” Hope pauses as the group takes in what she is saying. She continues, “But there was something else. Tony DiMera had been aware of her relationship with the informant, and of her pregnancy… he also had something else on her that the file I found didn’t disclose. I believe that information was in one of the files I couldn’t open. But whatever it was, that… combined with the knowledge of her affair was apparently enough to make Billie agree to the unthinkable.”

 

Everyone looks at Billie as Shawn asks, “You gave your daughter to Tony DiMera… willingly!?”  

 

Billie jumps as he yells this at her but says nothing. Bo2 says with anger in his face, “That is exactly what she did. Tony DiMera raised the girl from birth… raised her to be just like him. And he filled her head with lies.” Roman asks, “What lie?”

 

Hope sighs and tells them, “She was raised to believe she was Georgia… and that I was Gina… that I had torn apart her parents and that I stole her away from Billie and made everyone believe she was dead. Tony told her that when the time was right he would bring her back to Salem. Her mission would be to destroy me and get her parents back together. He told her that once I was out of the picture she would have her parents back and that I would leave town and he would then take care of me. He told her it had to be done this way because only she could drive a wedge big enough between Bo and I. ”

 

Everyone is silent for a moment as they take in this new information. Shawn, asks, “So you are saying that she was raised this entire time… by Tony? My god...” Hope nods and says, “Yes… it explains a lot about her I know.” Shawn asks, “And what about Zack… was that part of her and Tony’s plan?” Hope chokes back the tears and says, “No. The file laid out their plan in great detail. There was nothing in there about trying to hurt you or Zack.”

 

Lexi asks, “But… Stefano is dead and Tony’s in jail.”  Hope nods and says, “I know… whoever is pulling the strings now obviously picked up this mess to twist to their own agenda.”

 

Silence once again lays through the room. Billie has not moved or even looked anyone in the eye. Bo1 looks at her with distress and confusion and asks, “Why… why Billie? Why would you give your… OUR child to Tony!?” Billie has tears running down her face she looks up and is a picture of defeat and anger and sadness she stammers out, “I… LOVE my daughter. I don’t expect any of you to understand what I was going through. I spent every day after Tony took her looking for her! Trying to get her back”

 

Something dawns on Patrick and he says, “That’s why you were on the island… when everyone in Salem was thought to have been killed! That’s why we found you there wasn’t it?” Billie nods, “Yes.” Hope says, “And that’s why you wouldn’t let anyone but you and Bo help in the search for Georgia… because you knew it could lead back to the truth.” Billie doesn’t respond and her silence is answer enough that Hope is right. Hope asks, “What else did Tony have on you Billie? What was it that made you had your baby to the DiMeras?” Billie turns away from her refusing to answer.

 

The room is silent again and then Abe asks, “So let me see if I understand this right; Whoever he is (pointing to Bo1) he is Chelsea’s father. So either this story you tell is true Hope and he is this Ryan person Billie had an affair with. Or he really is Bo Brady and Georgia really is alive… albeit that’s seeming the less likely of the two scenarios.” Hope nods, “Yes as unlikely as it seems with all we now know... I must admit I have no other proof. There is a chance that we are wrong and that Chelsea really is Georgia and this really is Bo.”  

Bo1 looks at Lexi who is still holding the drug in her hand and says, “You’re holding the proof in your hand Lexi… give it too me. I want to know who the hell I am.” Lexi looks to the others, Hope and Roman both nod, Shawn does too. Billie is still with her back to them barely holding herself together. Lexi goes over to Bo1 and puts the needle into his IV and says, “Okay… here we go.”