Cheatin’ Heart
Nicole quickly flashes back to drugging Brady’s drink before he returns to the table with her aspirin. Brady is about to drink up, but he receives a phone call from Marlena. A guilty Nicole mutters how it’s his own damn fault, mocking how Brady wants her to tell the truth. “E.J. will never know,” she vows.
Brady returns to the table after his phone call. He urges her to go home and talk to E.J., but she insists that if she tells him the truth, it will ruin her life. “And if you lie, your life isn’t gonna be worth anything,” counters Brady. He is about to take a drink, but she knocks it out of his hand and runs out.
Brady follows Nicole to the pier and asks why she ran out on him. Nicole apologizes, stating that she couldn’t go through with it. She displays the vial, revealing that the reason she knocked the drink out of his hand was because she laced it with cocaine. Brady is floored and asks why she would do that. Nicole refers to herself as a selfish sociopath who was afraid that he was going to tell E.J. the truth. He tosses the vial into the river and chastises her for her actions. He refuses to have any part of her scheme, rehashing what she did to him all those years ago. Nicole realizes he’s angry with her, but insists that E.J. is the first man in a long time who really cares about her and makes her happy. She expresses that she didn’t mean to hurt him, she was just desperate. “Desperate enough to destroy the very guy who’s trying to help you out?” questions an appalled Brady. She professes to love E.J. and knows he loves her too, even though he hasn’t yet said those words. Brady reminds her that people who love one another don’t lie to each other. Nicole admits that she doesn’t have a lot of experience when it comes to love, but professes that she has finally found someone who loves her and finds the good in her. “Don’t I deserve that?” she yells. “No you don’t. Not if this is the way you’re gonna get it,” responds Brady.
Nicole realizes that her plan is going to be hard to pull off, so she understands if Brady is skeptical. Brady is incredulous that Nicole is planning to adopt a baby and pass off as her own. Nicole wonders what other choice she has. Brady reminds her of the expression “the truth will set you free.” Nicole complains how the truth will free her from E.J., then she’ll be free to drink herself to death. She cries how she lost her baby girl, and nothing has or ever will compare to that pain. She quivers how she has a desperate need to be a mother and fears not being able to fulfill that need. Brady softens up and realizes how important this is to her. He assures her that he won’t say anything to E.J. or anyone else. A crying Nicole hugs him and thanks him.
University Hospital
Daniel approaches Kate in her hospital room and assures her that he’s right there. A nurse interrupts and summons him out of the room, then hands him Chloe’s pre-op file. “That’s not right. It can’t be,” he says upon looking at it.
At the park, an irritated Chloe hangs up the phone after talking with her parents, who aren’t happy with her decision to donate her bone marrow. Lucas questions if she’s having second thoughts about going through with the operation. Chloe still intends to go through with it, she’s just mad that her parents overreacted to her decision. Lucas doesn’t blame her parents for being worried about her. He expresses how much it means to him that she’s giving Kate a second chance. They are interrupted by Daniel’s call, who informs Chloe that he was checking her white blood cell count on her pre-op, and they may have a problem. He asks her to come by the hospital.
Afterwards, Lucas questions what Daniel wanted. Chloe surmises that there’s a slight abnormality with her tests, since some of the counts are off. This worries Lucas, but Chloe reaffirms that she’s going through with the procedure.
Lucas and Chloe arrive at the hospital and meet up with Daniel, who wants to ensure that Chloe’s blood count is where it should be. Lucas asks to come into the room, but Chloe assures him she’ll be fine. He decides to visit a sleeping Kate in her room, expressing how proud of her he is. He reassures Kate that Chloe’s giving them a second chance.
Meanwhile, Daniel finishes Chloe’s blood work in another room and checks her blood pressure. She hopes the procedure will be a success and recalls being sick, so she’s tougher than most people. She refers to the situation as paying it forward, recalling how her little sister Joy did the same thing for her years ago, so she’s doing the same thing for Kate. “My karmic responsibility,” she adds. Daniel then checks Chloe’s lymph nodes and the two share an electric moment. He looks at her as though he wants to do more than just check her lymph nodes, and she quickly turns away. Daniel the dog stares at Chloe and says they’re all done, then exits the room.
Outside the room, Lucas nearly runs into a flustered Daniel and asks where Chloe is. Inside the room, Chloe flashes back to her electric moment with Daniel as she gets dressed. Daniel informs Lucas that they just finished up and Chloe’s getting dressed. He offers to call if anything shows up in Chloe’s blood work. A tense Chloe emerges from the room ready to go. Lucas notes how nervous she seems, but she claims she just wants to go home.
A hot and bothered Daniel returns to Kate’s room. He sits next to a sleeping Kate and exchanges looks with Chloe through the window. Chloe is eager to just go, but looks at Daniel one more time before heading out.
E.J. and Sami’s Phone Conversation
At the safe house, Sami is on the phone with E.J., who is at the police station with Roman listening in. She assumes there’s something wrong, as she can hear it in his voice. “I’m calling to say goodbye,” he demurs. E.J. states that he and Nicole are living together and expecting a child. He’s hoping that he and Nicole will have a long future together. “Are you in love with her?” she asks. E.J. doesn’t answer right away, then admits he has feelings for Nicole. “I asked if you loved her,” she reiterates. “Yes I do,” he responds.
