"It's been a long day. And all I've got to say is Make it strong. It's been a long day. And all I've got to say is. I've been wrong."- Rosi Golan

Episode 19: "Been A Long Day" to listen the theme song please click here.
Written By: Kelly Zollo

Scene 1:West Lake Country Club; West Lake, NY

Kate adjusts her top for the fifth time since she has sit down at the country club table to meet her mother and brother for breakfast. She is starting to show, she noticed a few weeks ago when she placed her hand on the small bump. Afterwards, she immediately went shopping for some new scrubs and some bigger clothes. Cade still hasn’t called or spoken to her about the baby and the phone call from Austin that she rejected does nothing to ease her mind about any of it, spotting her brother she rises from her chair to hug him.

“Hey, you. What is this all about?” Kate asks, wondering why he called the meeting.

Shane takes a seat knowing that he is going to be delivering life altering news to his sister and his mother, though he fears that his mother already knows. The hospital was buzzing over her meeting with Peter a few weeks ago. He and Dr. Larkin had discussed treatments, he and Pete hadn’t spoken since the incident at the hospital. When he sees his mother approach the table he rises from his seat to hold out hers so she can sit down.

Helen has tried to put on a brave face ever since she woke up this morning, knowing what Shane is going to tell them. Looking over at her daughter she offers Kate a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. Grabbing the napkin off the table to fold it in her lap, folding her hands on top to keep them busy.

“Thanks for coming. I have something I need to tell you both.” Shane says quietly.

Kate looks at her brother curiously for a moment, before glancing at her mother who is now biting her lower lip. She can tell that her mother is upset, it is written all over her face and she can feel her stomach lurch.

“I went to see Dr. Larkin in oncology a few weeks ago and had some tests done.”

By now Helen has let a few tears slip out and reaches over to grab Shane’s hand in her own. Kate can feel her stomach lurch again as the words doctor visit and oncology begin to sink in, grabbing her stomach as a slight pain hits.

“I have leukemia, we’re going to start treatments in a few weeks. I wanted you both to hear it from me.” Shane finishes quietly.

Kate can hardly believe the news that she is hearing, as she looks up to glance at her mother and her brother. She can feel the sting of tears streaming down her face, yet she can’t reach up and wipe them away. The pain in her abdomen is too much, standing up from the chair, she quickly sits back down screaming in pain.

“Kate!” Shane quickly yells, as both he and his mother make their way around the table to his sister.

Helen barely knows what is happening around her as Shane spills the news, she looks over at her daughter and reaches for her hand. Only to stop as she sees Kate’s demeanor change, something else is going on. By the time she registers what is going on Kate is screaming out in pain and she and Shane are rushing towards her. Looking over at Shane, as they help Kate to the floor and she places her hand over Kate’s feeling the bump, her face clearly shows surprise.

“Sweetheart how far along?” Helen manages to get out through a tear stained smile.

Shane can feel something warm inside of him spread, as the waiter calls for an ambulance and it hits him that Kate is pregnant. If anything good can come of his last few months he will have Paige by his side and a niece or nephew on the way. Kate can’t answer her mother’s question, as her vision begins to cloud and then darkness takes over.

Scene 2: West Lake County Jail; West Lake, NY

Paige sits waiting patiently on the other side of the glass, hoping that Callie will change her mind and show up. The decision to tell Callie everything she knows about Ryan and his connection to the case and what is more important Jessica, is the only thing on her mind. The lawyers at the district attorney’s office have barely even helped her case and she can’t even get another bail hearing yet. Her mood changes as soon, as she sees Callie enter the room and approach the chair across from her. Picking up the phone and waiting for a moment before speaking.

“Thanks for coming.” Paige offers.

Callie doesn’t know why she had the change of heart with Paige, she sums it up to wanting to nail Jessica to the wall for hurting her family or better for severely disliking Jessica Robbins since she could remember and with Paige claiming information she is curious. She knows that if the information pans out she will have no choice but to take on Paige as her client and that doesn’t bother her.

“You said that you had some information for me about Ryan and Jessica, they still can’t find him or even prove that he was or is in town.” Callie says, getting straight to the point.

Paige nods her head for a moment.

“Try the country club, he could be using an alias Ryan Harris, Ryan McAllister are a few that he uses. If he isn’t at the club have someone put a tail on Jessica, she probably told him to skip town.” Paige says.

Callie jots the notes down and then looks up at Paige like she has lost her mind.

“I know this sounds crazy but I have to tell you. Jessica orchestrated the entire thing from Elliot’s murder, to tampering with Hannah's car, she is behind everything Callie.”

It sounds insane is the only thing that Callie can comprehend as she looks at Paige through the glass. Truthfully, her friend looks like crap, she hasn’t slept in weeks and it shows. She has suspected Jessica for weeks, but with no gun and no one else to confirm Paige’s story the case has no ties to Jessica. She knows that Tyler is still waiting on the coroner’s report on Elliot’s body and even then it will be sketchy due to rotting away in the lake.

“Start at the beginning.” Callie says.

“When I went to the city after the accident, I ran into Ryan, we got close. I slept with him, slept with clients when he needed me too, we grew close. He knew about Hannah, he knew everything about back home. I saw a picture of him with Jessica once at his apartment. She was a bit younger, it was from that time she spent in California.” Paige says, knowing how crazy the next bit of information is going to sound.

“He kept this journal I glanced at it once, there was these notes in there about he and Jessica having a plan. A few dates that seemed strange at the time but now make sense, take for instance the night that Hannah and Vanessa got in the car. He mentioned wanting revenge on the people that had hurt Jessica and his mother.”

“Are you saying that Ryan and Brian have been working with Jessica to blackmail you and worse to cover up their own father’s murder?” Callie asks, her eyes going wide at how crazy it sounds.

“Brian I am not sure about, but I know Ryan inside and out Callie he is bad news and he’ll do anything that Jessica needs him to do. Where do you think the gun went? Do you really think it just disappeared? It’s gone because whatever revenge that Jessica wants she knows the gun will end to it. I shot Elliot in the stomach, but I hardly doubt he had the strength to lift the gun and shoot himself in the head.” Paige finishes leaning back in her chair and looking at Callie.

“You do realize how insane this all sounds right?” Callie manages to finally ask, as she begins to process everything.

“I know it sounds crazy Callie, but I have no reason to lie to you. I have nothing else to lose Callie. Please tell me that you’ll look into it.”

“Time is up Ms. Alexander.” The guard says, waiting for her to end the call with Callie.

Callie waits for a moment letting it all sink in before nodding her head at Paige, “I’ll look into it.”

Scene 3: West Lake Police Station; West Lake, NY

Jake looks around the chaos of the police station as he searches for his brother, finding Tyler and then approaching his desk. He knows that what he is about to do is unethical and unheard of but he has no choices, what matters right now is making sure his kid isn’t born behind bars. He needs the case about Jessica's involvement with Elliot Davison to go away and be never heard from again. He made a promise to Jessica for the sake of their child and he intends to keep it.

“Hey, can I talk to you?” Jake asks.

Tyler glances up from his desk as he notices his big brother standing over him, it’s odd for him to see Jake not in a suit let alone at the police station.

“Sure.”

Standing up from his desk he nods his head and leads his brother to an interrogation room for the privacy. The station has been buzzing all day long and he and Jamie have just gotten a breather. They’re still waiting on the coroner’s report that is to come in this afternoon hopefully to end the case for Elliot Davison.

“What’s going on?” Tyler asks, once the door is shut behind him.

“I need you to quit looking into Jessica as a suspect for what happened with Elliot Davison and with Hannah. I know that it doesn’t make any sense, but I need you to do this for me Tyler.” Jake says, knowing that even asking is killing him.

Tyler looks at him like he has lost his mind, as a cop he can’t ignore evidence just because his brother wants him too, “I can’t do that Jake, you know that.”

“Damn it Tyler, I’m not asking you to change evidence or anything like that I’m just asking you to ignore whatever leads happen to come in.” Jake says, running a hand through his hair.

“I can’t do that Jake, it’s my job as an officer of the law to uphold it. What’s gotten into you?” Tyler asks, sensing his brother’s agitation.

Jake takes a moment to get his temper under control before pulling out a metal chair in the room and sits down in it. Running his hands over his face and through his hair, knowing that he owes his brother an explanation for his behavior.

“Jessica is pregnant,” he manages to mumble.

The last thing that Tyler had expected to hear was that his brother had slipped up and gotten Jessica Robbins, of all people pregnant. He lets the news sink in for a moment before pulling out a chair to take a seat next to his brother, knowing how altering the information is. He is certain that his brother is going through hell at the notion of being stuck with Jessica for the rest of their lives, knowing his brother envisioned a future with Vanessa.

“Holy shit.” Tyler finally manages to get out.

“Tell me about it we used protection, I wouldn’t sleep with her without it, she assured me she was on the pill. Apparently we’re in that one percentile of cases where a condom and the pill didn’t work.” Jake says, a laugh escaping his lips.

“Have you told Vanessa yet? I know you were thinking about making a move for her again...” Tyler begins only to be stopped by Jake again.

“Not yet, truthfully I haven’t gotten the nerve to go and see her yet.”

Tyler nods his head for a moment running a hand through his hair, “I can’t stop following a lead Jake. What I can do is call you if anything comes in. Listen I’m close to Callie and Vanessa, you should probably tell her before Jessica does. I got to get back to work.”

Touching his brother’s shoulder, Tyler leaves the room. Once the door is closed Jake gets up from the chair finally letting the best of his tempter show as he knocks the chair over and to the ground. Suddenly feeling very trapped.

Scene 4: 1298 Hollow Oak Way; West Lake, NY

Vanessa adjusts her dress one more time as she knocks on the door to Brian's house. Talking with Austin putting things into focus for her and not getting a phone call back from Jake. Getting impatient, she nearly leaves the porch only to be stopped when the door swings open and Brian looks at her.

“Hey,” he says clearly surprised at her sudden appearance.

“Can I come in?” Vanessa asks, stepping inside the house as he moves out of the way to let her in.

“Sure.”

Brian closes the door behind her and follows her into the living room, watching her pace back and forth. He hasn’t seen her since he showed up at her house and she asked him to stop the book, in which he tried to do. He doesn’t regret anything that he said to her, he wanted to find out the truth about his father and he is sorry for hurting her. He also is not going to regret questioning her feelings for Jacob Donovan either, seeing them hold hands at the edge of the lake putting things into perspective for him.

“What’s going on?” Brian asks.

Realizing that she is pacing, she stops turning around to look at him, “Austin came by to see me. He told me what you tried to do for the book.”

“It was the right thing to do,” he says quietly.

“I might of over reacted a bit, everything was spiraling out of control I should have been more understanding about what happened with your dad. I know I’ve been pushing you away lately.”

Brian looks at her and sees the sincerity in her eyes at the statement and he lets out a deep sigh, she still hasn’t clarified her feelings towards Jake.

“Have you talked to him yet?” Brian manages to ask, emphasizing the him so she knows who he is referencing in Jake.

The question takes her off guard, she had come to discuss them not her past with Jake not how she feels about Jake. Jake hasn’t returned her phone call, hasn’t came by to see her, yet Brian is still there. Sticking around West Lake even though he could have taken off for California. Shaking her head no at him and waiting as he speaks.

“I can’t be your back up plan Vanessa.”

“I know, and I don’t want you too,” she says quietly, seeing a copy of the finished book on the stand and tracing her fingers over the cover.

“Then what are you doing here?” Brian asks.

Finally being able to move from his spot in the doorway and into the living room, coming face to face with her. Wanting to believe that she has fully chosen and that he is the choice. Unsure if he can really take being a replacement or someone that she settled for.

“I can’t keep wondering. I know that sounds selfish but I can’t,” he says.

“Wondering what?”

“If there will ever come a day when I’m not sharing you with Jacob Donovan. I can’t do that and more so I don’t want to.” Brian says, her next move surprises him.

She steps towards him wrapping her hands around his waist. Looking down for a moment before raising her head to press her lips against his. Jake hasn’t called, a sign that she should move on and she doesn’t want to wait around forever for someone to want to be with her knowing that Brian does. Brian wraps his arms around her waist and presses her against the wall of the living room, hands already reaching for the zipper on her dress, as she wraps her legs around his waist to work on removing his shirt from his pants.

Scene 5: Harvell & Assocaites Garrett's Office; West Lake, NY

Garrett has returned to the office from a lunch meeting with a client for some property for his son’s company. Entering the lobby of the firm to collect his messages and then telling his secretary to hold his calls for a bit, needing some self relaxation. Stepping into the office his face quickly turns to a scowl as he sees Alan in the chair across from his desk.

“What in the hell are you doing here? Get out before I have security throw you out.” Garret snarls, reaching for his desk phone.

His actions are cut off as Alan rises from his chair to cover the phone with his hand, taking a seat on the edge of Garrett’s desk. They haven’t spoken in years and if he had the choice he would rather die than go to Garrett but he is out of options. With Mary McAllister being back in town he needs to do damage control. They teamed up together years ago to get rid of the gold digging, nosey secretary and he is determined to do it again.

“I know that you don’t want me here so I’ll make this quick. I ran into Mary McAllister at the airport the other day, seems that we have a problem that we need to take care of, again.” Alan says.

Garrett loosens his tie, moving away from his desk and towards the wet bar knowing that this would come back to bite them in the ass. Mary knows far to much about their lives, she knows about his affair with Ivy pushing Leann to hang herself. She knows about Alan’s numerous affairs herself included. She also left town with a secret that she promised that she would never return with involving their friend Nick Porter.

“She came by to pay me a visit.” Garrett says, pouring himself a drink and then looking back at Alan to offer him one as well.

Alan can feel his skin boil nodding his head, the thought of Mary being back in town, let alone staying in town because her son is now there. He can only hope that Garrett has some sort of solution to their problem. Mary knows far to much, Mary knows more than she should about certain things that would destroy families.

“I am sure the visit was charming.” Alan snaps.

Garrett takes a sip of his drink before turning back to face Alan, “She said that she would quietly leave town again. Of course she had some conditions on the matter.”

“What kind of conditions?”

“That I persuade my daughter to end things with her son. I figured it would be a fair trade considering that she knows everything. I wouldn’t want to see Helen destroyed over her being back in town, we owe Nick that much.” Garrett says calmly.

Alan isn’t sure why he is thrilled at the prospect of Garrett getting his hands dirty again but he is, “Well, well the good attorney having to get his hands dirty after all these years. What did you say to her?”

“I told her to get the hell out of my office.”

“So you didn’t agree to her offer? Did you even think of your children? She knows everything, do you really want that crashing down around you?” Alan asks.

Garrett can only glare at him, “I am not going to sacrifice my daughter’s happiness for Mary McAllister to get some twisted pleasure from it.”

Rising from the desk Alan nods his head at him for a bit.

“Of course not. You would rather your children find out that you helped cover up a murder or that Leann got so tired of your lies she took her own life,’ Alan says, walking to the door. ‘Let me know how the self righteous thing works out for you.”

Garrett can only feel defeated as he watches Alan leave his office and he turns around in his chair to glance out the window.

Scene 6: 897 Trespass Way; West Lake, NY

The car ride from the rehabilitation clinic has been full of an awkward silence, Austin picking her up is the first she has seen of him since she was admitted. They have barely spoken more than a few words to each other, she is thankful that the weather outside is semi decent to enjoy. When they pull into the driveway she gets out of the car, Austin grabs her suitcase to carry it inside.

The first thing she notices is the spot on the floor where she collapsed a few months ago, she can feel her breath quicken. Closing her eyes for a moment before turning around to look at Austin. He is placing her suitcase in the guest bedroom and she can already feel the tears sting her eyes. It will take time before he can trust her again, she is sure of it judging from his actions.

“Thanks for picking me up. I could have called Pete.” Liz offers.

Austin doesn’t know what to feel towards her, he is more concerned about the guilt that he is feeling over sleeping with Kate. The phone call went horrible, with Kate letting him know that they couldn’t talk anymore. Instead he had to confront his issues with his wife head on and now he isn’t sure where to begin. Picking her up had been the first steps he had taken to a reconciliation with her.

“It wasn’t a problem.” Austin offers.

Liz moves towards the couch to take a seat, rubbing her hands on the back of her neck to keep her resolve, “I know I screwed things up for that I am sorry.”

“Jesus, Liz you were snorting cocaine I am certain that qualifies as more than screwing up. Were you high at our wedding?” Austin says, letting out an exhale and taking a seat across from her.

Liz can feel the sting behind her eyes and wipes at her face with her fingers to brush the tears away.

“No.”

“Why should I believe you?” he asks quietly.

Liz, bites her bottom lip for a moment before looking at him and speaking, “I really don’t care if you believe me or not. It’s the truth I’m going to be honest with you. I have to be honest with you.”

Austin folds his hands in his lap wondering if now is the best time to tell her about Kate, trying to find the words to come out of his mouth only for nothing to come out. Instead, he stares at his wife who clearly needs his support and understanding at the moment. One night is something that he can keep from her, she is going through a lot and he doesn’t want to add to it.

“It was high school the first time I used, I was seventeen and trying to fit in Jessica and I went to a party, she asked around and told me to do some. I was under a massive amount of pressure to live up to my brother’s reputation, pressure to live up to my grades, I wanted to get away like my dad did all those years ago, just get up and leave. I wasn’t fitting in with anyone at school, Hannah and the others would tease me sometimes I was an outsider in a world I didn’t think I fit in. When Jessica left for a few years, I did it on and off got it where I could I tired to quit.” Liz begins, stopping to catch her breath.

Austin looks at her shocked for a moment, nodding his head at her to continue.

“When Jessica came back I was trying to get clean for good, Cade had hired me at the firm. She let me know that she knew a guy who could get her the drugs, I refused at first and then she started to accept me. I never fit in with Vanessa or Kate, I felt close to Jessica she was using me just like everyone else that she likes to play games with. I can see that as a lie now.’ Liz says pausing to ring her hands. ‘She’s been getting me the cocaine ever since. She’s bad news Austin and her dealer Ryan is even worse.”

Austin lets the information sink in for a moment Jessica was supplying her with drugs that she was getting from Ryan and that Jessica was pushing the drugs towards her. Ryan McAllister, who is wanted for being a part of the accident that killed Hannah. He can see the tears come out of her eyes and finally moves himself to sit next to her and hold her as the tears come. He is certain that he can’t be angry at her anymore she is sorry, all he can do now is put her first on her road to recovery. Even if that meant cutting Kate out of his life for good.

Scene 7: West Lake County Jail; West Lake, NY

Sitting in the waiting room of the West Lake County jail Jacob Donovan plays nervously with his hands, waiting for the guard to bring in Paige to see him. He isn’t evens sure why he is there Tyler hasn’t made any effort to go and see their half sister, even if his younger brother is asking Callie to help her. He never even went and saw Vanessa while she was behind bars and he now knows why, it is to hard. The walls are to vacant of warmth or happiness, there is a sense of silence and dread that is accompanied by the jail. Looking up when Paige takes a seat in front of him, hand shaking as he picks up the phone.

“Wow you were the last person I expected to see.” Paige says.

She isn’t sure why her half brother is sitting across from her behind the glass, they are far from close, more like acquaintances. When the guard had told her there was someone there to see her she had thought that it would be Shane. Instead she is faced with Hannah’s brother, Vanessa’s ex-boyfriend and the guilt of that night begins to take over. She half expects him to yell at her, curse at her, throw the phone at the glass anything other than stare at her with perplexed and hurting eyes.

“How could you do it? Everything is a mess because you just didn’t say anything,” he finally manages to get out.

“I don’t know. I was scared I wasn’t as sure as Hannah was about turning ourselves in. I had no idea about someone messing with her car. I guessed, my mom told me it would be best to leave town for a while and I did,’ she says, pausing for a moment, ‘It was easier to pretend that it just never happened. I never meant for it to get out of hand.”

“You never meant for it to get out of hand? What did you think was going to happen when they charged Vanessa?” he counters, anger overtaking him.

Paige knows she deserves it and so much more worse than what he is saying to her now, she deserves to be where she is behind bars.

“I don’t know. I figured they would go easy on her it wasn’t the first time one of us drank and drove and you know what you want to be pissed fine. Be pissed at me, more so be pissed at Jessica she was a part of it too and I don’t see her ass sitting next to me.”

Her outburst makes him look up at her and he swallows hard when he looks knowing she is right. He can’t put the mother of his child behind bars he just can’t going to Tyler already proved that.

“You don’t know what you are talking about.”

“No, that’s right you’d rather just let her wrap herself around her little finger with a baby, if it’s even yours. Hell if she even is pregnant. Told Vanessa yet?” Paige finishes.

Jake’s hand begins to shake and her eyes tear up as Paige glares at him through the glass.

“You think you know her, that you have some obligation to her but she’s using you, she uses everyone in case you haven’t noticed. Think about it, Vanessa was back everyone knows how you feel about her, Jessica isn’t stupid. You want to be mad and angry about where you are with Vanessa look in the mirror. You abandoned her in prison what did you think she was going to do when she got out run to you with open arms? You are the one who slept with Jessica, you got yourself into this mess.” Paige finally finishes.

He doesn’t know what to say to her, as the tears slip out and he wipes them away slamming the phone down and rising from his chair. He knows she is right, glancing back at the booth to see the tears slip out of his half sister’s eyes as the guard leads he away. He knows that he should go and take her advice about Vanessa but he can’t bring himself to do so, he also knows that he should want Jessica behind bars with her but he can’t. She is having his baby she had the test results to prove it, placing his hand on the door to leave he thinks about the test results trying to remember where she went for the appointment and who the doctor on the tests is.

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