"Braden approached the ticket counter and made final preparations for his first-class business trip to Japan. Adrian appeared from behind and told Braden that he wanted to see him off. Braden turned and noticed that Tad and Dixie were also standing nearby. Braden's face paled slightly and he blathered on about a note that he'd written for her. The note seemed of much importance to Braden. Suddenly, Braden collapsed into Adrian's waiting arms. Adrian dragged the fallen man to a nearby waiting area. Braden's fainting spell was not life threatening; It had been induced by some sort of spy gadget that Adrian had hidden in his hand. While Braden was out, Tad wanted to get in a few slaps, but Dixie ordered him to behave. Braden woke up a short time later and asked what happened to him. Braden tried to get out of the chair he'd been placed in, but he was too weak to stand. Tad informed Braden that he and Dixie had traveled to Iowa and learned that he and Ryan are brothers. Braden was furious with the pair for interfering. Braden listened uneasily as Tad implied that Ryan was taking the fall for a crime that he'd actually committed. Braden growled angrily and told Tad that he was mistaken. He had not raped Kit Fisher. By now, Braden had missed his flight. Braden demanded that he be allowed to leave and threatened to have Adrian, Tad, and Dixie arrested for "assault, kidnapping, and false imprisonment." Dixie tried to keep the peace by telling Braden that they were just going by the facts as they knew them. She begged Braden to open up to her, but he wouldn't speak with Adrian and Tad in the room. Dixie asked the men to allow her to speak to Braden alone. Considering what Braden had been accused of, Tad naturally did not want Dixie to be alone with Braden. He did yield to his fiancée's request and allowed her to go one-on-one with Braden. Outside, Tad asked Adrian if they could detain Braden. Adrian shook his head and explained that they have no proof to tie Braden to Kit's assault. The two men continued talking until they came to a disturbing conclusion. Kit had lied about being raped in the past. What if Braden and Kit had had consensual sex---and Ryan had pleaded guilty because he believed that his brother had raped Kit? Back inside, Braden again implored Dixie to let him go to Japan so that he could earn some money for himself and for Palmer. Dixie stated that the business trip would do him little good if he'd violated the morals clause in his employment contract. Repeatedly, Braden told Dixie that he was "alone in the world." Braden also made frequent mention that Ryan would never have faced time in jail if he hadn't confessed. Dixie asked Braden if he was willing to turn his back on Ryan and let him rot in jail. "Like I told you before," Braden said coldly. "I'm a cold-hearted SOB."
"I don't have a martyr complex," Ryan said rolling his eyes. He told Hayley that he wished he could undo everything. "You have so much life and love and promise ahead of you," Hayley said softly. Ryan refused to back out of his confession. Hayley took Ryan's hand and pleaded with him to make her understand why he felt the need to take the fall for Braden. In a painful account of his childhood, Ryan commented that his mother told him repeatedly how he's ruined her life. Things got only worse when it came time to recount the numerous beatings he'd received from his father. The beatings, he said, were the reason he needed to confess to assaulting Kit. Hayley understood that Ryan felt a sense of responsibility to Braden for taking their father's attacks, but this was not the way to repay him. She explained that Ryan needs to make Braden face what he's done. By not holding him accountable, Braden will be haunted by his actions for the rest of his life. Ryan seemed to understand. Belinda entered the room and announced that the judge was waiting for him.
In the courtroom, Mateo once again tried to convince Gillian to say goodbye to Ryan. Gillian shook her head and repeated that she was following Ryan's orders. Edmund, Brooke, and Kit filed into the room, causing Gillian to momentarily panic. Mateo explained that Kit had the right to be present at the sentencing. Jack, however, wasn't sure that this sister should out herself through the emotional stress of the mini-trial. Kit expressed a need for closure, and Brooke reminded Jack that she'd be seated next to Kit should she need extra support. Belinda and Ryan filed into the courtroom and the judge arrived in the courtroom. Suddenly, Gillian was having second thoughts about not having spoken to Ryan. Hayley sat down next to Gillian and told her that she believed that Ryan was finally going to tell the whole truth. The judged gaveled court to order and asked Ryan if he understood the terms of his plea agreement. Ryan nodded. The judge then explained that as part of the agreement, Ryan had to give the court a detailed account of what had gone down on Halloween night. Ryan paused momentarily. He looked over his shoulder at Kit. He then turned around fully and looked at Gillian and Hayley. "I did a terrible thing and mislead many people," Ryan began. He described how he and Kit had bumped into each other at the bar. He skimmed over their dance session, instead choosing to place emphasis on how Kit had turned down his sexual advanced. Then, he claimed that he'd waited in the parking lot for Kit to leave---and then assaulted her. Hayley called out that Ryan was lying and Gillian raced towards the front of the courtroom. The judge again sounded the gavel and ordered the two women to quiet down or face ejection. Hayley announced that Ryan was covering for someone else adding that she would tell the court everything if Ryan refused. The judge was not amused and again ordered Hayley to sit down. Hayley said nothing and Ryan did not speak up. Jack was asked if he was satisfied that the terms of the plea agreement had been met. Jack voiced his agreement. The judge then announced that she was ready to move to the sentencing phase of the hearing.
Dimitri paced back and forth near the magazine rack. Liza tried to comfort him, but Dimitri was too worried about Erica. She reminded Dimitri that Erica was under David's watchful eye and told him to hope for the best. An out of breath Vanessa scurried into the room and asked if Erica was okay. Liza immediately recognized Vanessa's voice that of David's "secretary." She blasted Vanessa for not giving David her message. Vanessa claimed that she'd passed the message on to a nurse because David was with a patient. She clenched her hand and cursed the nurse as the probable leak to the media. Adam stepped in and introduced Vanessa to Liza. Vanessa smiled when it became known that she was David's mother. She then asked if it was wise for David to be so close to Erica considering that he's the one who is responsible for Erica's injuries.
"There's been some damage," David said softly. He quickly assured Erica that in time, medical advances would more than likely allow her face to return to its pre-injury state. David tried to keep Erica calm for fear that her heart might overload. "Do you think I care about my heart?" Erica snapped. She was quiet for a moment. A smile suddenly reappeared on her face. She stated that she knew that David was a renowned liar and accused him of playing games with her. She walked back towards the mirror and announced that she was going to look under her bandages. David ordered her not to touch her face. Exposing the wound to the air would be an open invitation for infection. Erica tried to get David to take off the bandages for her, but David refused. "I want to see my face," Erica said sternly. "I will see what it looks like with or without your help."
Back in the library, the nervous waiting game continued. Their blood ran cold when a piercing shriek echoed through the school's corridors. Time moved in slow motion as they raced to the locker room to check on Erica's condition. There, David clutched Erica by the arms as she wiggled and squirmed back and forth. She continued to scream in horror. Erica's bandages laid in a pile on the floor, her face wounded face exposed to the elements. For the first time, Erica had seen the damage to her face."
- Soap Central