[Sitting alone Laura watches as the waves crash along the shore and slowly roll away again. Mesmerized, the scene dissolves into the nothingness as her thoughts begin to stray. Seeing Hope locked up had been no real reward. And almost immediately after entering the room, she had left--left her ensnared in the blackened intensity of Grace's fiery stare. But even as she turned to leave she knew that she should not--the vicious animosity an invisible toxic gas that burned her lungs. Gasping for air, she had simply surrendered her responsibility and with blind watery eyes stumbled past Shane out towards the calming sea air. A loud gull overhead pierces the moment. With a subtle shake of the head, Laura again focuses her attention on the thunderous tide.] Forget it...Let 'em figure it out for themselves. [Closing her eyes, Laura sighs and tilts her head to the heavens as a strange tiny smile spreads cross her lips.]

Shane: [Hearing her dry chuckle, Shane pauses.] Laura? [Her eyes open but remain trained on the steady waves. Smiling tentatively, he sits beside her.] Are you all right? You seemed upset earlier.

[Finally, her cinnamon eyes turn to peer at him--guarded. In a disjointed thought he wonders just how it was that he had never noticed her eyes before this moment.] I'm fine.

Shane: [Her dull reply dangles unheard amongst his ruminations until she again turns away and slowly breaks the spell that she'd woven around him. Softly], You don't seem fine. [Laura says nothing.] I spoke with Bob earlier...he told me that you'd been hurt. [Suddenly, she turns to him with eyes that glow darkly in silent challenge.] I'd like to help if you'll let me.

[As the burning embers begin to fade into an unreadable expression, her voice softens.] That's all right...I'm okay. [Seeing the look of disbelief reflected in his soulful eyes, she reaches for his hand and pulls it to her heart.] Really, I'm fine...[smiling lightly], I've been given the all clear. [Lifting his hand, she kisses it before settling their combined grip in the warm sand.]

Shane: The all clear? [Laura nods.] From Marlena?

[The painful ghost of a smile settles on Laura's lips as she again nods marginally.] Yes.

Shane: [For long minutes they sit enveloped within the sound of crashing waves--a crest of tense silence slowly building.] I wish you'd tell me what's bothering you...I'm really a very good listener. [His lips curl into a flirty grin.] Not a professional, mind you, but a real stand-up chap who just might be able to help.

[Turning to face him, a warm light filters in behind Laura's eyes. Nervously she chews her lower lip.] A real stand-up chap, huh? [An untamed laugh escapes.] I have no doubt that you could...help, I mean. But...have you ever found yourself in a situation that...well, before anyone could help you...[Shane's brow furrows in puzzlement.] you had to figure some things out first...you had to figure out just what the problem was exactly?

Shane: [Shane nods.] Yes...I believe so, but sometimes it helps to have an objective outsider to help put things into perspective.

[Laughing lightly, Laura's brow quirks playfully.] And which would you be--objective or an outsider?

Sam: [Shane's lips purse consideringly, but his reply is pre-empted by Sam's glowering stare as she stalks up to Laura.] I wanna talk to you...alone.

[Sarcastically], Nice manners.

Sam: [Peevishly], I'm serious.

[Emotionless], Yes, well maybe I'm not interested in having a nice sit-down chat with someone who thinks I'm in co-hoots with Stephano Dimera.

Shane: [Shocked, Shane's eyes widen as they travel from Laura to Sam and back again.] What! That's utterly preposterous!

Sam: [Ignoring Shane], Oh for Christ's sake! Can't you see that she was just trying to push your buttons?

Is that suppose to be a denial? [Pauses], I see just fine...In fact, I see better than you or the illustrious detective Brady will ever hope to.

Sam: What the Hell is that suppose to mean?

[Turning to Shane], How about I meet you later on...we could have dinner together, maybe go for a walk?

Shane: If you're sure?

[Kissing him on the cheek], Positive. [Watching Shane head back to camp, Laura's gaze falls upon Grace--fresh from victory.]

Sam: [Sam taps her foot impatiently.] Well?

[Sighing heavily], Look...I don't want to fight with you...or Roman, but if you're expecting me to be a good sport about insinuating a connection between myself and Stephano...well, let's just say you're in for a mighty long wait--'cause it ain't gonna happen.

Sam: This isn't about Dimera and it isn't about you...This is about Marlena!

[Laura's bitter laughter hangs in the heavy air long after she's turned her blackened eyes on Sam.] Gee, thanks for the update...Now that you've made it abundantly clear that I rank somewhere just above pond scum on your scale of importance, why don't you quit wasting my time and tell me just what it is you want.

Sam: Want?

Yes, want...I mean that is what it's pretty much always amounted to with you, isn't it...what you wanted.

Sam:[Sam's eyes glaze with rage.] You're some piece of work, you know that? [Frustrated, Laura stands and begins to brush away the sand.] I'm trying to help my sister...[Without further comment, Laura turns to go.] Where do you think you're going?

[Seeing Grace's intense scrutiny, Laura stops but does not turn around.] This is getting us nowhere...I'm going back to camp.

Sam: [Sam's voice is low and firm.] I want you to stop trying to get in the way of Roman and I finding out the truth. [Laura sees Grace extract herself from Bob's adoring camera.] I want you to quit protecting that imposter.

[Turning, Laura's eyes bore into Sam as she has to strain to hear Laura's rapid-fire raspy whisper.] You and Roman are not the only ones on this island who care about Marlena, so you better listen and listen good because I'm only going to say this once--you're not dealing with some kind of freakish Dimera clone. [Pausing to take a deep breath], Whatever else may be true you are still Marlena's twin sister and while I may know her as a person better than you or Roman will ever hope to at this point...you know her in a way that no one else ever could. [Trying to ease herself into a relaxed pose, Laura again shifts towards camp and Grace's approaching form. Looking back at Sam], Look at her...her mannerism, her body language, the way her eyes light up when she laughs--we're still talking about Marlena.

Grace: [Grace glances at Sam and then settles her dangerous gaze upon Laura--her words shrouded in playfulness.] Did I hear my name?

[Shaking her head wearily], Just trying to make your sister see reason and reality...[Smirking], Unfortunately I'd forgotten that she's almost as stubborn as you. [Finally looking Grace directly in the eye], Please tell me that Hope's still standing?

Grace: [Grace's eyes brighten as she nods.] It was your idea...you know Laura, I don't think I'll ever really understand you.

Yeah, well where's the fun in that? [Looking to Sam and then Grace], I'm not feeling so well...my head is pounding and my vision is a little blurred...I think I'm gonna go lay down for a while. [After a few steps toward camp, she stops and looks back at Grace. Shyly], Uhh...I'm suppose to meet Shane for dinner...Will you make sure I don't oversleep? [Grace's eyebrows rise speculatively, but then she nods.] Thanks.

confessed by Laura at 10:17 PM