Curlyqgrl's GH Dante and Lulu Edit #7

Dante & Lulu #7 November 15, 2010 - February 2, 2011: 8 hour original edit

DVD #7A At Jason's penthouse, Brenda apologized to Dante for messing up his life. Dante assured Brenda that she was not causing trouble in his relationship with Lulu and that he wanted to help keep her safe. Dante said that he had been glad to help her in the past. When he started to mention another secret they shared, Brenda said that she did not want to talk about the baby, and she did not want Sonny to know. Dante said that he would never tell. Spinelli arrived with a bag of organic produce for Brenda, but immediately started mocking Dante and making snide references to Dante's untrustworthiness.

Lulu had ordered a drink and was chatting with Siobhan when Dante arrived. He smiled at Lulu before heading over to hug Olivia. When he returned to sit down with Lulu, he ordered a beer. He and Lulu talked about their day. When he asked her if she was ready to go home, she said that she was staying at her place that night. Dante wanted to know what he had done and how he could make it up to her, but Lulu said that she did not want to lose herself in Dante the way Brenda had done with Sonny and her mother had done with Luke. Lulu said that she needed to back off and make sure that she stayed a whole person. Dante seemed to understand. After they left together, Jason stopped in to see Siobhan. He wondered if she had remembered anything else that she had seen or heard while she had been held hostage by the Balkan's men. Siobhan thought for a few moments then said that she did remember one cryptic phone call about a man that the Balkan's man had referred to as "Jack."

Carly and Johnny met with Brad Norman, an employee of Johnny's who had been a patrolman working with Dante to guard Brenda when she was in NYC in 2007. Brad told Carly and Johnny that though he had no actual proof, his gut told him that Dante and Brenda had been sleeping together. He said that though Dante had not admitted it, he had not denied that he was sleeping with Brenda when Brad had asked him directly. Brad said that Dante and Brenda were very close and that she had leaned on Dante more than anyone else. Brad said that Dante worked 16-hour shifts as her bodyguard and that he was the only one that Brenda would let take her down the elevator to her car when she left the city. Carly was convinced that Dante and Brenda had been sleeping together.

As Johnny drove them back to Port Charles, Carly was gleeful about the havoc that her information would wreak. She was sure that Sonny would hate Dante forever and that Lulu and Dante would break up. She also hoped that finding out that Dante and Brenda had slept together would finally extinguish the torch that Jax carried for Brenda. Carly told Johnny that it felt like her birthday, Christmas, and the Fourth of July all rolled into one. Johnny said that he did not mind family trouble for Sonny, but he did not want Olivia to know that he had a hand in anything hurtful that might befall Dante. Carly agreed to keep Johnny's name out of her plan. She then said that her only problem was deciding whom to tell first. font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#000080">As Brenda remembered a happy conversation with Dante, he was remembering the same scene when Carly knocked on his door and told him that she wanted to have a chat about his past with Brenda.

11/16 At the loft, Dante became defensive when Carly questioned him about his assignment to guard Brenda in 2007. She couldn't understand why he hadn't mentioned it to anyone including Lulu. Dante claimed that he had guarded numerous celebrities over the years, so he hadn't thought much about it. Michael's arrival put an abrupt end to Carly's interrogation. Carly assured Michael that everything was fine, hugged her son, and then left. Michael wondered if Carly had given Dante any grief about him. Dante revealed that Carly had been asking about Dante's relationship with Brenda. Later, Michael prepared to head to Carly's house, so Dante took the opportunity to remind his brother that everything that he had told Michael about Brenda had been in confidence. Michael assured Dante that he wouldn't say anything. However, Michael was curious if Dante had fallen in love with Brenda. Dante admitted, "I thought so," but then added that Lulu was all that he had ever wanted.

Later, Lulu arrived at the loft. Dante was happy to see her. Lulu thought that it was good for them not to spend every moment together because it kept them from taking each other for granted. Dante worried that Lulu's sudden desire for independence was because she was uncertain about him. Lulu assured Dante that she didn't doubt him. Dante was pleased because he intended to spend the night showing Lulu how much she meant to him. Lulu admitted that she had initially questioned Dante's commitment to her when she had learned about Brenda because she wanted their relationship to be based on honesty. Dante realized that it had been a stupid mistake to lie, so, in the spirit of honesty, he confessed that he was hoping to "get laid." Lulu laughed. She wasn't surprised because he'd had sex on his mind since she had met him. Lulu and Dante kissed and then made love. Afterwards, as Lulu slept, Dante got out of bed and then went to the window. He appeared deep in thought as he stared out at the night.

11/17 At the Quartermaine mansion, as everyone filed into the parlor, Ethan admitted that he had called Lulu, so that she could break the news of the wedding to Edward. They were surprised when Edward entered the room to announce that he had arranged for Cook to prepare a champagne brunch to celebrate Maya and Ethan's nuptials. Lulu followed moments later, demanding to know if the wedding news had been a joke. Luke decided that he needed more alcohol. Ethan and Tracy filled Edward and Lulu in on the details of the wedding. Lulu wondered why Ethan and Maya hadn't annulled their marriage. Maya confessed that they had been having too much fun. Edward quickly realized that Ethan and Maya had consummated their marriage, so an annulment wasn't possible. Tracy revealed that "being drunk off of your ass" was grounds for an annulment in Nevada.

Edward was furious because he realized that Tracy could have kicked Luke to the curb years before. Luke was frustrated because he had failed to get Tracy to marry him during the trip. Lulu suggested that Luke could marry Tracy without resorting to scams, but Edward thought that was part of the attraction between Luke and Tracy. Tracy made it clear that she would marry Luke, but he had to sign a prenuptial agreement first. Luke insisted that they were rich in what mattered: love, respect, and passion. "No pre-nup , no nothing," Tracy informed Luke.

Dante stopped by Pozzulo's at Sonny's request. Sonny was curious why Dante was willing to risk his life for Brenda instead of requesting a transfer. Dante claimed that he simply wanted to see things through. Sonny suggested that Dante tell him the truth. Sonny admitted that he was aware that something was going on with Brenda, and he suspected that Dante knew what it was. Dante admitted that he had met Brenda in 2007, when he had been assigned to guard her in New York City. Sonny wondered why Dante hadn't mentioned it sooner. Dante claimed that he hadn't thought that Brenda had recognized him; however, she later revealed that she had. Sonny was curious if Dante had requested the assignment, but Dante assured him that he hadn't. Sonny seemed to accept his son's answer, so he questioned Dante about what had happened in 2007 and how well Dante had known Brenda.

Dante downplayed his relationship with Brenda by claiming that he had been one of several officers who had been ordered to guard her and that they had barely spoken. Dante insisted that he hadn't been in a position to ask Brenda any personal questions during the two-week stint as her bodyguard. Sonny wanted to know what Brenda was hiding, so Dante advised Sonny to talk to Jason. Sonny explained that Jason had promised to keep Brenda's secret, so Sonny wanted Dante to call him if Dante discovered anything important. Sonny then confided that he wished that Brenda had called him in 2007 because he would have helped her.

Moments later, Diane entered the restaurant. Diane was happy to see Dante and Sonny because she had news for them about Michael. Diane revealed that Claire had petitioned the court to allow Sonny to see Michael. Sonny was elated to learn that the petition had been approved. Dante was less enthusiastic about the prospect of Sonny spending time with Michael. Dante urged Sonny to consider Michael's situation. Dante feared that one mistake could jeopardize Michael's parole.

Dante arrived at the penthouse to guard Brenda. Suzanne made it clear that she had done some research on Dante, so she knew about his connection to Sonny. She tried to question Dante about Sonny, but Dante quickly clarified that he and his father were not close. Suzanne realized that Brenda was in love with Sonny, but didn't want anything to do with him. Dante assured Suzanne that Sonny intended to stay away from Brenda, but Suzanne had her doubts about Sonny's willpower. Dante was startled when Suzanne began talking about the first time that she had met Brenda in 2007. As Suzanne talked about the trip to Africa and Brenda's illness, she suddenly remembered that Brenda had called out a name during her feverish delirium. Suzanne revealed that the name had been Dante.

11/18 Edward offered Ethan and Maya one million dollars to remain married for one year. Lulu was stunned when Ethan tried to negotiate the terms by reducing the time to six weeks, but Edward stood firm. Ethan wanted the money to be tax free, which Edward relented on. Maya argued that she didn't want to stay married to Ethan for a year. Ethan didn't see the problem, since she would get half the money and they would be able to enjoy the benefits of married life, including sex. Tracy and Luke entered the room moments later to announce that they had decided to get married. Ethan suggested that they celebrate with drinks, but Tracy reminded Luke that he was expected to remain sober until after their wedding day. Tracy was surprised when Edward didn't seem to have a reaction to her news. Ethan explained that Edward was busy sealing a deal with Ethan and Maya to remain married for a year in exchange for one million dollars. Luke wondered if he could get a similar deal from Edward, but Tracy glared at him.

Meanwhile, Maya wondered if there was a catch to collecting the money. Edward assured his great-granddaughter that there wasn't; he would cut them a check on their first wedding anniversary. Maya remained uncertain until Ethan pointed out that she could use her half of the money to pay off her student loans and to fund her sister's education. Lulu turned her attention to Tracy and Luke to find out the details about their wedding. Lulu was shocked when Tracy announced that she and Luke planned to get married on December 21st, Laura's birthday.

At Jason's penthouse, Dante was surprised to learn that Brenda had been asking for him while she had been sick in Africa. Suzanne was curious why Dante and Brenda had kept their association a secret. Dante started to explain that he hadn't thought that Brenda had remembered him. However, Brenda entered the room and immediately made it clear that her trip to Africa was never to be discussed. Suzanne started to explain herself, but Brenda asked to speak privately to Suzanne. After Dante left, Brenda made it clear that Suzanne was not to snoop in her private business again.

Dante entered the restaurant. Olivia was happy to see her son, but he explained that he was there to talk to Carly. Dante revealed that Sonny had been granted permission to see Michael. Carly realized that Michael would be thrilled, but Dante reminded Carly that it was a bad idea. Dante feared that Michael would end up back in prison if he didn't stay clear of Sonny and Sonny's business. Carly revealed to Jason that Brenda and Dante had an affair in 2007. Jason stared at her in disbelief. "That's right, Sonny's great love was banging his firstborn," Carly smugly clarified.

11/19 At Jason's penthouse, Jason sternly told Carly to drop her vendetta. Carly defended herself and said that she could prove that Brenda and Dante had engaged in an affair in 2007. She explained that a former cop, along with Dante, had guarded Brenda during that time, and that Dante had never denied to his partner that he had slept with Brenda. Jason still didn't believe it and told Carly to leave it alone.

Suzanne arrived at Dante's loft. She grilled Dante about his real connection to Brenda. Dante told Suzanne to leave Brenda be. Suzanne replied that Brenda could get killed if everyone stepped back and gave Brenda space. In the other room, Michael eavesdropped. Suzanne told Dante that Brenda's safety would be compromised if Dante couldn't maintain professional detachment. Dante continued to deny any deeper connection to Brenda. Later, after Dante had left, Lulu returned to find Michael alone. Michael said that he'd just arrived. Lulu was planning a romantic dinner with Dante, so Michael said he'd go to Carly's for dinner. Lulu asked if Dante ever talked to Michael about her.

Lulu arrived at Metro Court. "Just watching Tracy and Luke tie the knot," cracked Carly to Lulu, "might just inspire you and Dante." Lulu made it clear that she and Dante were nowhere near discussing taking that step. Lulu didn't believe in marriage anyway. No one she knew had a successful marriage. As Luke listened from afar, Carly apologized for having doubted Dante's love for Lulu. After Lulu left, Luke sat at Carly's table. He said it was touching, her concern for his daughter. "You're never more convincing than when you're lying, sweet Caroline," he told her. Luke said it was suspicious that Carly was making nice all of a sudden, given that she'd held a grudge against Lulu since Dante had gotten Michael sent to prison. Carly pretended that, because Michael was fine and was treated well by Dante and Lulu, she'd gotten over it. Luke questioned why Carly was trying so hard to push the couple into marriage.

Later, Jason informed Dante that Brenda had fired Dante. Dante understood and said he wasn't worried about himself, but he was about Brenda. Jason said that was a problem. He let Dante know that Carly had proof of Dante and Brenda's affair years before.

11/22 At Dante's loft, Lulu asked Michael if Dante had said anything about her. Michael reassured Lulu that Dante loved her and talked about her all the time. Lulu apologized for feeling insecure and thanked Michael for giving her answers.

At the penthouse, Jason asked Dante if he had slept with Brenda. He said he needed to know so that he could do damage control. When Dante denied sleeping with Brenda, Jason said that Carly believed that he had. Jason told Dante that Carly was out for revenge and would not stop digging until she uncovered the truth. Dante said he could handle Carly's hatred, but wondered why she would put so many lives in jeopardy should the Balkan find out that Brenda had killed his son and Dante had helped cover it up. Jason said that Carly could be very vindictive when her children were hurt. Dante asked Jason to intercede with Carly. Jason said that she could probably be convinced to keep silent until Michael's probation was over so that Michael would not suffer. Jason added that Carly's thirst for revenge would drive her to make sure that Brenda and Dante's crimes were eventually revealed and punished.

Lulu met Luke at the Metro Court. Luke said that he had called her over so that they could have a quasi-philosophical father-daughter talk. Lulu was all ears when Luke told her that love was like a drug. He said that a little could make you happy, but too much could leave you facedown in the mud. Lulu said that she understood perfectly, but that she thought it was too early in her brother's relationship with Siobhan to talk to Lucky. Luke saw that Lulu had missed his point and readily agreed with her.

Michael was packing to stay overnight with his mom when Dante arrived at the loft. Michael told Dante that he had overheard Dante's conversation with Suzanne and knew that Dante had an emotional involvement with Brenda. Dante said that Michael was right, but that it was in the past and that the reason he had not told Lulu the whole truth was because he did not want to hurt her. Dante said that he loved Lulu and he was committed to her. He told Michael that he could not imagine his life without Lulu. When Michael wondered how Dante could handle being with Brenda so frequently, Dante said that he had gotten over Brenda the first time, and he would get over her this time. Lulu opened the door as Dante spoke.

11/23 At the loft, Lulu was curious what Dante and Michael had been talking about. Michael revealed that he had been thinking about moving out. Dante quickly reminded Michael about the terms of Michael's parole, but Michael pointed out that the judge had approved Michael's visits with Sonny, so Michael didn't think that the judge would object if Michael petitioned the court to move out. Lulu insisted that she didn't want Michael to feel as if he had to move. Michael promised to think about it; however, he had to leave because he had plans to spend the night at his mother's house.

Later, Lulu lounged on the sofa while Dante prepared dinner. Lulu assured Dante that it hadn't been necessary for him to cook dinner, but Dante insisted that he wanted to show her how much he appreciated her. Lulu was touched by Dante's thoughtfulness. She confessed that the other men in her life were a mess. Lulu was annoyed because Luke had agreed to marry Tracy on Laura's birthday, Lucky had become smitten with an Irish woman, and Ethan had agreed to stay married to Maya for a million dollars. Lulu was surprised when Dante opened his cell phone and then called Edward. Lulu wondered what Dante was doing. Dante admitted that if Edward had been willing to pay Ethan and Maya a million dollars to stay married, then Edward might be willing to pay a substantial amount to keep Dante and Lulu apart. Lulu burst out laughing as Dante closed his cell phone. Lulu was curious how much money he would accept to stay away from her. Dante joked that two million should suffice, but then he turned serious as he promised her that she meant the world to him.

11/24 At the loft, Michael knocked on the door and then asked if it were safe for him to enter. Lulu smiled as she assured Michael that it was okay to open the door. She reminded Michael that he lived there, so he could walk in whenever he liked. Dante was surprised to see his younger brother. Michael explained that Jax had taken the family to Manhattan for the Thanksgiving Day parade, but Michael couldn't go because of the terms of his parole. Lulu and Dante were delighted that Michael could spend Thanksgiving with them. However, Dante and Lulu had different ideas about how to celebrate the holiday. Dante wanted to spend the day watching football games on the television, but Lulu intended to have dinner with her family at the Quartermaine mansion. Dante and Michael didn't seem thrilled at the prospect of spending the day with the Quartermaines, so they declined to go with her.

After Lulu left, Dante couldn't enjoy the football games. Michael urged Dante to go to the Quartermaines' to be with Lulu, but Dante insisted that Michael join him. Michael explained that he hadn't been invited, but Dante didn't think that Michael needed an invitation. Michael finally agreed to go when it became clear that he wouldn't be able watch the football game without Dante constantly checking for text messages from Lulu.

Edward's mood improved when Lulu entered the parlor without her "no good boyfriend." Edward had a temporary change of heart about Dante when Dante and Michael walked in a short time later. Edward was thrilled to see his great-grandson. Michael was curious where Monica was. Edward explained that Monica had gone to the spa because holidays without Alan were too difficult for her. Edward was certain that Monica would be crushed when she learned that she had missed an opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with her grandson. Edward turned to Dante to warn Dante that if Dante ever hurt Lulu, Alice would make Dante pay. Maya glanced around and then noticed that Tracy and Luke had disappeared.

A short time later, Tracy and Luke entered the parlor. Tracy proudly held up her hand to show everyone the engagement ring. The pizza arrived a short time later. Siobhan was confused because she thought the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal was a turkey. Edward explained that the Quartermaines had a long history of bad luck with turkeys, so they had started a tradition of giving Cook the day off and then ordering a pizza. After Edward honored the special holiday with a song, everyone shouted, "Happy Thanksgiving." Afterwards, Edward invited everyone to "dig in."

11/29 Sonny met Dante at his restaurant office and told his son that he and Brenda had reconciled. He said that Brenda had told him the secret about killing the Balkan's son and Dante's part in the cover-up. Dante told Sonny that it was his chance to call Dante a hypocrite. Sonny said that as a father, he was glad that Dante had protected the woman that Sonny loved. Dante said he had not known he was Sonny's son at the time.

Sonny said that it did not matter. He said he was glad that Dante was keeping Brenda safe. Sonny urged Dante to do everything in his power to catch the Balkan. As Dante opened the door to leave, Suzanne was standing there. Sonny got a phone call and asked her to wait outside, where she cornered Dante about his past with Brenda. He told her that what had happened between him and Brenda was in the past where it would stay.

Dante and Jason arrived at Sam's office to find Lucky working on the phone records. When he could find nothing relating to "Jack," Jason suggested looking for who had claimed the body of the Balkan's son, Aleksander Janacek six months before. When Lucky refused to proceed until he knew everything that Jason knew, Dante told Lucky what had happened with Brenda three years before. Lucky approved Dante's actions but worried that Carly would eventually spill the beans. He appealed to Jason for help. When Lucky was unable to unearth any new clues using the name Aleksander Janacek, Jason suggested that "Jack" might be a last name instead of a first name.

11/30 At McCall and Jackal Private Investigations, Lucky, Jason, and Dante discussed the possibility that the man that they were looking for could have the last name of "Jacks." Jason and Lucky realized that their suspect might be Jerry Jacks. Jason and Lucky quickly filled Dante in about Jerry's crime spree in Port Charles and the lengths that Jerry would go to for money. Lucky didn't discount the possibility that Jerry could be in cahoots with the Balkan, but Dante wondered if it were possible that Jerry was the Balkan. Lucky conceded that Jerry was a sociopath, while Jason acknowledged that Jerry had been known to haunt the Balkan region and was old enough to have a son Aleksander's age.

Later, Dante showed up at the penthouse. Carly was stunned when Dante revealed that Jerry Jacks might be connected to the Balkan. Dante wondered if Jerry had recently contacted Jax. Carly was certain that Jax would have mentioned it if he had heard from Jerry. Dante reminded Carly that Brenda was the prize, so Jerry might use Jax to get close to Brenda.

12/1 At the hotel, Dante questioned Carly about Jerry Jacks. He was curious if Jerry had recently contacted Jax. Carly explained that Jerry loved Jax, so it was unlikely that Jerry would call Jax if Jerry were doing something illegal. Carly was certain that Jax hadn't heard from Jerry and that Jax had no inkling that Jerry might be after Brenda. Dante wanted access to the hotel's phone records because he hoped to find something that might lead them to Jerry. Carly flatly refused Dante's request. She was curious why Dante seemed so fired up about protecting Brenda. Dante reminded Carly that he was a police officer and then warned her that she might be aiding and abetting a fugitive if she didn't cooperate. Carly wasn't swayed; she wondered why Dante behaved as if it was his personal mission to save Brenda. Dante ignored the question as he assured her that he had proof that Jerry was involved. According to Dante, a woman had heard Jerry's name mentioned while she had been held captive by the Balkan's men. Dante wondered if Carly's vendetta against Brenda was worth risking Brenda's life. Carly didn't seem fazed by the question; however, she was curious if Lulu was aware of Dante's obsession with saving Brenda.

Lulu walked into the Haunted Star and wondered if Dante had arrived yet? Tracy confessed that she had nearly forgotten that Lulu was dating "the spawn of Sonny." Johnny found Tracy's description of Dante apt and amusing. Lulu wasn't nearly as entertained as everyone else. Dante entered a few minutes later. "Speak of the spawn," Tracy commented when she spotted Dante. Dante realized that they had been talking about him, but he didn't seem overly concerned about what had been said. Johnny observed that it appeared that weddings were in the air, so he wondered when Dante and Lulu intended to tie the knot. Dante and Lulu appeared shocked by the question. Ethan spared his sister and Dante from having to answer the question by reminding Johnny that Ethan's marriage to Maya had been all about the money. Dante decided to head to his mother's place, so he agreed to meet Lulu at the loft later.

Lulu followed Ethan, Johnny, and Maya to the card table to play poker. A short time later, Tracy decided to take over for Lulu when it became clear that Lulu had hit a "cold streak." Lulu joined her father at the bar. She was certain that Tracy expected Luke to lecture Lulu about what a terrible catch Dante was. Luke didn't deny it; however, he seized the opportunity to let Lulu know that Dante was a young man with plenty of oats to sow. Luke warned Lulu not to make the mistake of thinking that she could change Dante. According to Luke, men didn't change, they just got older.

Dante went to his mother's apartment to talk to her about Jerry's possible connection to the Balkan and to find out if Jerry had contacted Jax. Olivia was fairly certain that Jerry hadn't been in touch with Jax, but she didn't think that Jax would ever allow Jerry to hurt Brenda. Olivia reminded Dante that Jax had loved Brenda deeply at one time. Dante was frustrated because he wanted everything to be over, so that Brenda could return to Italy. Olivia sensed that something else was troubling Dante. Dante talked about his first encounter with Brenda in Jason's penthouse after she had arrived in Port Charles. He acknowledged that he had handled the situation with Brenda poorly because he had been caught up in being the hero. He realized that Brenda was her own worst enemy. Olivia noticed that Brenda had made quite an impression on her son during the short time that Dante and Brenda had known each other. Dante admitted that he had been star-struck by Brenda. However, Dante insisted that he had a great life with Lulu, wonderful siblings, and a long-lost father. He didn't want to be the one to save Brenda, but he hoped that someone would keep her safe from harm.

12/2 Dante dropped by Sonny's office to give Sonny an update on the Balkan. Dante warned Sonny that Jerry Jacks might be involved, which meant that Brenda might be in greater danger. Sonny wasn't surprised by the news. They briefly discussed Jerry's criminal history before Dante revealed that he didn't want Jerry to realize that they were onto him. Sonny trusted Dante and Jason to do what needed to be done, so he shifted gears to let Dante know that he was dating Brenda. Dante was curious why Sonny wanted him to know. Sonny explained that he and Dante had the same desire to keep Brenda safe. Dante reminded Sonny that Brenda would return to Italy after the Balkan had been captured. Sonny wasn't as certain, which seemed to annoy Dante.

At the police station, Dante let the desk sergeant know that an autopsy report from New Jersey was expected. Jax approached Dante as Dante headed to his desk. Dante wondered if Carly had told Jax about Jerry. Jax confirmed that she had, so he wanted Dante to give him the opportunity to deal with Jerry privately. Dante appreciated Jax's request, but Dante feared that it might endanger Brenda further. Jax assured Dante that he was perfectly capable of separating his feelings. Dante admitted that he had once thought the same thing about Sonny, but they all knew how that had turned out. Jax insisted that he and Jerry had drifted apart over the years and that Jax would do whatever was necessary to protect Brenda.

After Jax left, Dante received the fax from New Jersey. The desk sergeant warned Dante that the autopsy revealed that the murder weapon had been a regulation sidearm. Dante studied the autopsy report after the desk sergeant walked away. Ronnie approached moments later and immediately recognized the case file that Dante was reviewing. Ronnie was curious what Dante found so fascinating about the murder of "Aleksander Janacek."

On the Haunted Star, Lulu showed up looking for Luke. Tracy revealed that Luke was busy attempting to break into the new safe in the office. Lulu was curious why Tracy was so determined to keep Luke from the money. Tracy explained that she wanted to be certain that Luke wanted to marry her for love, not her fortune. Lulu thought that Tracy was underestimating herself by not accepting that Luke loved Tracy for many reasons. Tracy explained that Luke's tendency to run when he felt "squeezed" was a burden on Tracy's assets, so she was tired of funding his getaways. Lulu confessed that she would love to have the opportunity to take off occasionally.

Tracy suggested that Lulu apply the urge to Dante by leaving him. Lulu made it clear that she would not change her mind about Dante, which prompted Tracy to warn Lulu that Lulu was in for a rude awakening. Lulu decided that Tracy should focus on getting married rather than on Lulu's relationship with Dante. Tracy smiled as she took the opportunity to ask Lulu to be her maid of honor. Lulu happily accepted the offer. Tracy suggested that Lulu could start fulfilling her duties by keeping an eye on Luke. Luke appeared moments later. Tracy wondered if Luke had managed to break into the safe. Luke pretended that he had no idea what Tracy was talking about. After Tracy walked away, Lulu revealed that Tracy had asked Lulu to be her maid of honor. Luke was pleasantly surprised by the news. He began to talk about trust and how important it was for a good relationship. Lulu admitted that she trusted Dante with her life. Luke cautioned Lulu not to.

12/3 At the police station, Dante explained to Ronnie why he was so interested in Alexander, whose body had been found in a swamp. Dante was hoping that the body could help them identify the Balkan. Dante responded to Jason's call and showed up at the scene of the crime. Sam updated Dante about the stranger they were questioning about Jerry Jacks, and on what had preceded the shootout. Jason explained that he'd shot at the sniper and found blood on the window frame where that person had been. However, the assassin was nowhere to be found.

Later Mac arrived and scolded Dante for having been involved in yet another death. Dante stated that the dead man had worked for Jerry Jacks. Mac was shocked to learn that there might have been a connection between Jerry and the Balkan. Mac warned Dante to be vigilant when Jerry was concerned. Jerry was extremely dangerous and needed to be stopped.

Jason and Sam went to the Jackal & McCall offices to try, unsuccessfully, to get information from the dead man's phone. They wondered why no one in town had seen Jerry until Sam theorized that he might have altered his face, as he had once before. Dante arrived and let them know Mac had changed his tune and wanted finding Jerry to be the top priority. Dante clued Sam in on what he and Jason knew: that the Balkan was after Brenda because she'd been involved in the death of the man's son.

12/6 Jason, Sam, and Dante were at Sam's P.I. office. They discussed the best way to flush out the Balkan. Jason was convinced that the Balkan would try to retrieve his son's body from the morgue. Dante suggested taking Aleksander's body to GH for a second autopsy, which, Dante said, was done all the time and would not arouse suspicion. He said it would be easier to lure the Balkan to them than to stake out the morgue in New York. After Dante was gone, Sam said that she did not think the plan would work, but Jason said that if Aleksander really was the Balkan's son, grief might cause the Balkan to make a mistake.

While Dante waited in the GH lobby to see Steve, he overheard Theo railing about a character in an opera. Theo and Dante discussed opera until Steve took Dante away for a consult. Steve told Dante that a second autopsy for Aleksander Janacek would not be a problem.

Dante went to Jason's penthouse in response to a summons from Suzanne. Spinelli answered the door and told Dante that Brenda was going to a cocktail party and needed protection. Suzanne hurried downstairs and said that she would meet them there. She said that she would get her own transportation because Brenda was in a mood. After Suzanne left, Spinelli said Brenda was in a mood because she had intended to spend the evening with Sonny. When Brenda descended the stairs, she looked at Dante and asked if he was her date. He said he was the security detail. Brenda smiled and said, "Just like old times."

12/7 At the penthouse, Dante confessed to Brenda that he had thought quite a bit about their 2007 relationship. Brenda smiled softly as she admitted that she had too. She revealed that she would always be grateful to Dante for saving her life. Dante argued that she had been the one to save him; his only regret had been that his plan to cover up Aleksander's death had only had a "shelf-life of three years." Dante was confident that their troubles with the Balkan would soon be behind them. Brenda was pleased to hear that a stroke of bad luck had revealed some useful information that might help lure the Balkan out of hiding. Dante returned to the original topic of their relationship in 2007. He assured Brenda that he didn't regret anything. Brenda admitted that she didn't either.

Later, in the limousine, Brenda and Dante amicably chatted as they drove the ASEC event. Brenda was curious how Dante had become involved with Lulu. Dante told an amusing, but edited, version of his courtship with Lulu. Brenda realized that Dante was still the same boy who rode his bike downhill without any brakes. Dante was surprised that Brenda had recalled the childhood story that he had shared with her. Brenda and Dante were jolted forward when the limousine suddenly stopped. Brenda thought that it was a sign for her to return home when she discovered that one of her heels had snapped off. Dante promised Brenda that all was not lost. He was curious what her shoe size was. "Seven," Brenda answered as Dante jumped out of the limousine with promises to return soon.

Brenda was stunned when Dante approached a woman on the sidewalk to offer her one hundred dollars for her shoes. The woman was reluctant to part with her shoes, so Brenda suggested that Dante offer more money. After some dickering with the stranger, Dante returned to the limousine with the shoes. Brenda burst out laughing when she realized that Dante had paid three hundred and fifty dollars for a pair of Cartullo knockoffs, but she insisted that Dante was her hero. Later, Brenda and Dante returned to the penthouse after the ASEC event. Brenda was certain that Dante was the only man who could persuade a woman to part with her stilettos in the middle of winter in upstate New York. Dante bashfully downplayed his success in procuring a pair of shoes for Brenda. Brenda wished that he would just accept her gratitude without trying to joke about it. She wanted him to know how much he meant to her. Dante seemed to muster up the courage to talk to Brenda about something in their past. However, before Dante could say more than a few words, Brenda's cell phone rang. Brenda asked Dante to hold the thought, while she checked to see who was calling. It was Sonny, so Brenda answered the call. "Hey, sweetheart," Brenda greeted Sonny. Dante scowled when Brenda assured Sonny that it wasn't a bad time to talk.

12/8 Edward threatened to withhold payment if Ethan and Maya didn't live together as a real married couple. Maya objected, but Ethan tried to make some stipulations. Edward would have none of it; he insisted that the couple live as Mr. and Mrs. Lovett or the deal for a million dollars was off. Tracy reminded everyone that they were there to talk about her wedding to Luke. Tracy warned everyone that the wedding would be off if anyone let her down. Luke didn't think that it was fair for Tracy to penalize him if someone did something wrong. Tracy didn't care; she wanted her dream wedding to go off without a hitch. Lulu reminded Luke that Tracy was the bride, so it was Tracy's call to make.

Tracy reminded Luke that he hadn't signed the pre-nuptial agreement yet. Luke claimed that he wanted his lawyers to have a look at it before he signed it, but Tracy argued that Luke didn't have any lawyers. Luke sputtered as Tracy followed a bickering Edward, Ethan, and Maya out of the parlor. Lulu shut the door to have a private word with her father. Lulu feared that Luke intended to scam Tracy before the wedding. Luke assured his daughter that he didn't have any plans to pull any stunts. However, Luke sensed that Lulu's concerns had more to do with Lulu rather than with his wedding to Tracy. Lulu realized that Luke was referring to Dante. Luke conceded that he wasn't thrilled with Dante's career choice, but, more than that, he saw that Dante was an adrenaline junkie. Luke explained to Lulu that Dante loved living on the edge. Lulu didn't see that as a problem. Luke was happy to hear it, but he explained that adrenaline was like a drug. Luke was certain that eventually Dante would need more to get a rush of adrenaline. He wondered if Lulu could accept the possibility that it might lead Dante down a dangerous path that could get him killed.

At Jason's penthouse, Brenda warned Dante that Sonny might not be in a good mood because Suzanne had put up a fuss about Sonny escorting Brenda to the ASEC event. Brenda appreciated that Dante had taken Sonny's place and that Dante had managed to help solve her broken shoe issue. Brenda wanted to repay Dante's kindness by helping Dante to build a relationship with Sonny. Dante explained that he hardly knew his father, but Brenda insisted that Dante was a lot like Sonny. Dante wished that she wouldn't compare him to Sonny. "Why not?" Brenda wondered. Brenda insisted that Dante and Sonny were good men who were incredibly strong and passionate. Dante argued that Sonny had caused quite a bit of damage to everyone's lives. Dante didn't want to be like that. Brenda acknowledged that Sonny was flawed, but she was certain that Sonny loved Dante and that he wanted to get to know his son.

Moments later, Sonny arrived. "Hey honey," Brenda greeted Sonny. Dante looked uncomfortable as he watched Sonny and Brenda together, so he quickly excused himself and then left. Sonny sensed that something was troubling Dante, but Brenda assured Sonny that Dante was fine.

Dante went to Jake's to get drunk. Dante ordered Coleman not to call Olivia, Lulu, or Sonny when it was time for Dante to leave. Coleman agreed to put Dante in a cab, so Dante ordered a shot of tequila. The alcohol loosened Dante's lips as he began to ramble after several shots of tequila. Dante wondered what his life would have been like if he had spoken his mind years earlier, as he had wanted to. Dante decided that he should focus on the present. Coleman agreed. Dante complained that the problem was that the past hadn't stayed in the past; it was in Dante's present and "ruining everything." Dante confided that he constantly thought about the "one in a million chance" that he hadn't taken. However, the choices that Dante had made had led him to find love; it didn't matter to him if he had let someone else walk away.

Michael’s phone rang. It was Coleman suggesting he come to Jake's to pick up Dante. A short time later, Michael arrived at Jake's. Dante chuckled as he realized that Coleman had called Michael. "Well played," Dante conceded as Michael helped Dante out of the bar. At the loft, Michael admitted that he was curious why Dante had decided to get drunk. Dante revealed that he had guarded Brenda earlier that evening and that he had made her laugh in the hopes that she wouldn't notice that he felt the same way about her as he had a long time before. Dante admitted that he had wanted to be with Brenda in 2007 and that he would have done anything and been anyone that Brenda had wanted. Dante thought that those feelings had been in the past because he had fallen in love with Lulu. Michael helped Dante to bed. Dante was curious if Sonny and Brenda were good for each other. Michael had no idea, but Sonny loved Brenda. Michael recalled that Sonny had once told him that all the love in the world couldn't help two people if they weren't right for each other. Dante was curious when Sonny had made that statement. Michael revealed that it had been before Jason had returned to Port Charles with Brenda. Dante grumbled that Sonny had obviously changed his mind because Sonny and Brenda were working on "happily ever after." Michael finally realized why Dante had gotten drunk.

12/9 At the loft, Michael handed Dante a drink that supposedly could cure a hangover. Dante took one sip of the vile concoction and then decided to use plain old aspirin to treat his headache. Dante realized that he might have said too much while he had been drunk. Michael assured Dante that only he had heard Dante's confession about Brenda. The brothers headed to the living room to continue their conversation. Dante acknowledged that he had been in love with Brenda in 2007, but he didn't want those feelings to mess up what he had with Lulu. Dante confessed that he had been waiting for the feelings to go away, but they hadn't. Dante then questioned Sonny's love for Brenda; he wondered if Sonny truly loved Brenda or if he were trying to recapture the glory days. Michael didn't have an answer, but he suspected that a part of Sonny wanted Brenda back to piss off Carly. Dante appeared surprised by the revelation. Michael explained that Brenda was someone whom Sonny could get serious with because she understood him as well as Carly. Michael believed that Sonny wanted to show Carly that he could have the same happiness with someone that Carly had with Jax. Michael confessed that he had grown up watching his parents use people time and again against each other instead of just being honest. Dante was curious if Michael were suggesting that Dante be honest with Lulu.

Lulu arrived at the loft. Michael quickly excused himself, while Lulu greeted Dante. Lulu immediately noticed that Dante had a hangover. She quickly prepared a home remedy for his hangover and then handed it to him to drink. Dante felt foolish for trying to drink away his problems. Lulu wondered what was troubling Dante. Dante decided that he had to be honest with Lulu, but at the last minute, he blamed his drinking binge on Sonny. Dante claimed that he was tired of compromising himself for Sonny. Dante was certain that everyone would be better off if Sonny were put away. Later, Dante went to Greystone Manor to see Sonny.

Dante and Sonny briefly discussed Dante's assignment to guard Brenda before Sonny revealed that Dante could have the night off, since Brenda would be safe in Sonny's care. Dante suggested that perhaps Brenda was drawn to Sonny because he was familiar during a time when everything seemed chaotic. Dante advised Sonny not to rush into things with Brenda because she might end up hurt. Sonny explained that he had known Brenda for a long time, so he intended to make things right for them. Dante realized that he might not be the right person for Sonny to talk to about Brenda.

12/10 Lulu happened upon Michael and Abby at the waterfront. Lulu suggested that the couple hang out with her and Dante some time. Lulu asked Michael if everything was okay with Dante, because Dante wasn't the type to drink to excess. Michael assured her that Dante was okay. After everyone had left the waterfront, Olivia arrived and sat alone, thinking about her breakup with Johnny. Dante showed up and asked why she was crying. Olivia explained that she thought that she and Johnny's relationship was finally over. "You want me to kick his ass?" Dante playfully inquired, eliciting a laugh. Though Dante was never a fan of Olivia's relationship with Johnny, he was genuinely sorry that their romance had come to an end.

Dante paid Johnny a visit at the penthouse. Johnny weakly stood at the door and attempted to have a conversation as Dante extolled his mother's decision to dump Johnny. Sensing Johnny was hiding something, Dante asked some questions that Johnny found nosy. Regardless, Johnny decided to tell Dante he'd been on a bender the night before and wasn't feeling well. Lisa arrived, which Dante found noteworthy, and Dante left.

Dante and Sonny sat in Sonny's parlor and chatted. Dante grew uncomfortable listening to Sonny talk about Brenda. Sonny declared that he wouldn't give up trying to develop a familial relationship with his son. However, he did promise not to share too deeply, for instance, his feelings about Brenda. Dante advised Sonny not to hurt Brenda, and to leave him out of Sonny and Brenda's relationship. Dante went to see Jason. Jason let him know that the photo of Dante guarding Brenda had been found in the box Lucky had gotten from the safe deposit box. Dante was having trouble concentrating. He asked Jason if Jason had ever wanted something so much that he could think of nothing else.

12/13 Dante went to Jason's penthouse and confessed his feelings for Brenda and his regret that he had never told Brenda how he felt. Jason asked Dante how he would feel if he betrayed someone who trusted him. He told Dante about his affair with Elizabeth and said that he knew from personal experience that betrayal was a regret that one carried for life. Dante said that he had made his decision three years before, but he did not know how to live with it.

Steve dropped by to let Dante know that Aleksander's body would be released from the east loading dock later that evening After Steve left, Jason got out his gun. When Dante protested, Jason said that Jerry was unpredictable and ruthless and that if he shot Jerry it would be in self-defense. Dante still objected to Jason carrying a gun, but Jason said that no one, including Mac would be sorry if Jerry ended up dead.

At the loading dock, Jason and Dante hid out and watched. Dante reminded Jason that the object was to follow whoever showed up to collect the body, not shoot them. A few minutes later, Jerry appeared. Dante noted that Jerry appeared at GH in person. He speculated that Jerry was the Balkan.

12/14 At the loading dock, Jason and Dante hid out of sight while Jerry Jacks claimed Aleksander Janacek's body. Jerry quickly sensed that he was being watched, so Jerry drew a gun and then took the morgue attendant hostage. Jerry ordered Jason to show himself. Jason reluctantly complied, while Dante circled around to get a clear shot at Jerry. Jason demanded to know why Jerry was after Brenda. Jerry couldn't believe how so many men made fools of themselves over Brenda. According to Jerry, Brenda was lethal and far more dangerous than anyone realized. Jerry claimed that no man had ever walked away unscathed from Brenda, so Jerry had decided that it was his job to stop her.

Jason was curious what Brenda had ever done to Jerry. Jerry refused to give Jason a direct answer. Things took a sudden violent turn when Jerry decided that it was time to leave. Jerry inched close to the driver's side door of the van, shot the morgue attendant in the back, and then jumped into the van. Jerry managed to escape while Dante and Jason scrambled to call for help and then coordinate roadblocks with Lucky, in an effort to catch Jerry. Within moments, Steve was at the loading dock to check on the condition of the morgue attendant. The morgue attendant was rushed into surgery while Dante and Jason jumped into Jason's car to follow Jerry's van.

In the van, Jerry was on the phone with someone. Jerry was livid that Brenda had not only gotten Aleksander killed, but she had used her "legion of protectors" to use Aleksander's body as bait. Jerry promised to be at the pier soon, so he wanted the boat to be ready. Jerry explained that they didn't have any margin for error and that it was their last chance to take Aleksander home where he belonged. Jason and Dante called Lucky to warn him that Jerry was fast approaching Lucky's position. Jason explained that they were on Jerry's tail. Lucky advised Jason and Dante to be careful because a roadblock had been set up. In the van, Jerry saw the roadblock. Jerry apologized to Aleksander and then swerved off of the road.

A short time later, Jason, Dante, and Lucky looked down at the mutilated wreckage of the van. Dante warned Jason and Lucky that it would take some time to pull the van out of the ravine, but Dante was certain that Jerry couldn't have survived the crash. Dante was certain that Brenda and Siobhan were out of danger. Jason revealed that Jerry had survived worse, while Lucky reminded Dante that they hadn't been certain that Jerry had been the Balkan.

12/15 Dante went to Jason's penthouse to let Jason know that Jerry's body hadn't been recovered. Jason explained that Spinelli was keeping tabs on the investigation. Dante was annoyed by the reminder of Spinelli's involvement and who Jason was. Dante felt that the lines between Jason's world and Dante's world were blurred more than ever. Jason had no idea what Dante was talking about. Jason made it clear that he wouldn't reveal anything about Dante's involvement in Aleksander's death because he didn't want to endanger Michael's parole. Dante acknowledged that they were at a stalemate, at least until Michael's parole ended. Dante decided to change the subject; he wondered if Brenda had returned. Jason explained that Brenda was with Sonny. Dante's annoyance returned. Dante couldn't understand why Sonny would buy Brenda a house when he already had Greystone Manor.

Jason explained that it was what Sonny did and then revealed that Sonny had once bought a cow pasture for Brenda, so that they could go on a picnic. Dante couldn't believe that Sonny would have the arrogance to show up on a farmer's doorstep to demand that the man sell his land to Sonny, so that Sonny could impress Brenda. Jason didn't understand why Dante was so angry about it; according to Jason, Sonny had overpaid for the land. Dante explained that the farmer hadn't been given any choice in the matter. Dante insisted that Sonny was just a notch above Jerry. Jason clarified that Sonny didn't kill innocent people. Dante didn't care; he insisted that Sonny was a disaster for anyone close to him, including Brenda. Dante wanted Jason to persuade Brenda to end things with Sonny and then return to Italy once the danger had passed. Jason refused to do it. Jason made it clear that his job was to keep Brenda alive, nothing more.

12/16 At Jason's penthouse, Jason was certain that Jerry would eventually seek him out, so he suggested that they wait for Jerry to make a move. Dante wasn't keen on using Brenda as bait, but Jason insisted that he knew Jerry better than Dante did. Jason was confident that Jerry would try to go after him because it would leave Brenda vulnerable. Dante seemed a bit offended by the suggestion that he and Lucky weren't a threat. Jason explained that Dante and Lucky wouldn't break the law, but Jason would, so Jason was Jerry's biggest obstacle. Dante was curious why Jerry would target Brenda if it might hurt Jax. According to Jason, Brenda wasn't part of Jax's family, so she was fair game.

Moments later, a man knocked on the door. The man quickly determined who Dante was and then served him with papers. A short time later, Diane arrived to review the papers. Diane explained that Dante and Brenda were being sued for the wrongful death of Anton Banovic, the man who had tried to abduct Brenda in an alleyway. Jason wanted Diane to make the lawsuit go away, but she explained that it wasn't that simple. Dante argued that the shooting had been self-defense. Diane reminded Dante that they only had Dante's word for that because Brenda had never made a formal statement. Diane warned them that Brenda would have to be deposed. "No way," Jason warned Diane. Jason made it clear that he expected Diane to honor their attorney-client privilege. Diane assured him that she understood, so Jason and Dante told her about Aleksander Janacek's death. Jason explained that the Balkan was after Brenda to find out how his son had died. Jason insisted that Brenda couldn't testify because she'd end up incriminating herself.

Dante arrived at Lucky’s with files on Jerry and the Balkan. Siobhan decided to make herself scarce, so that Lucky and Dante could work. However, she lurked nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation. Lucky was curious where Jason was. Dante explained that Jason and Brenda were at the penthouse because Jason hoped to lure Jerry there. Dante thought that it would have been a better idea to use Aleksander's body to draw Jerry out of hiding, but Lucky didn't think it would work a second time. Lucky was certain that Jerry would just send a lackey to pick up Aleksander's body. Dante remained reluctant to use Brenda because he didn't think it was right to put her in further danger.

Dante wondered where Jerry would go. Lucky didn't think that Jerry would want to involve Jax, so he doubted that Jerry would take refuge in Jax's home. Dante wondered if the contents of Ronan's safety deposit box could provide them with any clues. Lucky didn't think so, but he pulled the pictures out and then explained that he and Siobhan had gone over them several times. Dante questioned Lucky's decision to involve Siobhan; he feared that it might put Siobhan in more danger. Lucky explained that he hadn't willingly involved Siobhan; she had been in his hotel room when he had arrived in New York City. However, Lucky was quick to credit Siobhan with helping him to secure the contents of the safety deposit box and eluding the Balkan's men. Lucky suggested that they question Brenda because he was certain that she knew more than she had told them. Lucky thought that Jason was too soft in regards to Brenda, so they might have more success. Dante wanted Lucky to leave Brenda alone. Lucky was curious when Dante had become so protective of Brenda.

12/17 At Lucky's apartment, Lucky confronted Dante and told him that they needed someone objective to question Brenda. They had to determine whether she was withholding information pertinent to the Balkan, who they both believed was Jerry. Based on how Dante acted, Lucky suggested that Dante was not impartial with regard to Brenda. Dante admitted that he and Brenda were being sued for the wrongful death of the man who'd tried to abduct her. He feared that she'd crack under pressure and admit to having killed Alexander.

Dante returned home to find Lulu, who was brimming with good news. Kate, she announced, was away for two days, so she and Dante were free to enjoy themselves. Dante put a damper on the mood by announcing that Jerry was not dead after all.

Dante visited Sonny at Sonny's office to let him know that Lucky wanted more information on Brenda's past. That was a bad idea, Sonny said. Luke showed up and questioned whether Sonny should be having a conversation about the Balkan with Dante, the cop. Sonny assured Luke that it was okay to speak freely. Dante let Luke know that Jerry Jacks might actually be the Balkan. Lulu met Maxi at the Metro Court, and they shared a toast to Kate being on the other side of the planet. Lulu asked Maxi for her thoughts as to whether Dante felt something more for Brenda than a desire to protect her. Lulu expressed her doubts that Dante was hiding something from her. Dante walked in as Lulu and Maxi chatted and stopped short when he heard them talking about him.

At the waterfront, Jerry met Siobhan, disappointed that she hadn't gotten Lucky there. Jerry threatened to dispose of her until his phone rang. On the other end was Theo, whose British accent had been replaced by a New York one. He made it clear that he knew Jerry was meeting with Siobhan and threatening her. Jerry angrily responded that the man had it easy as the Balkan, hidden away where no one was gunning for him. Siobhan was shocked to discover that Jerry was not the Balkan after all. Jerry let her know that he'd never seen the man's face. "Maybe I should remedy that," the Balkan said. "Maybe it's time for you to better understand who I am and what I want."

12/20 On the docks, Jerry threatened Siobhan because she had not followed his instructions to get Lucky to the docks so Jerry could kill him. Before he could act on his threat, Jerry received a call from the Balkan, who told him not to harm Siobhan. He also told Jerry that killing Lucky was not on his agenda. The Balkan, a.k.a. Theo, said that Jerry was a disappointment to him. The Balkan said that the objective was to convince everyone that Jerry was the Balkan, but instead, Jerry had driven his son's body off a cliff. Jerry pulled a gun on Siobhan and told the Balkan that he wanted an extra ten million dollars, or he would switch sides and tell Jason everything Jason needed to know in order to catch the Balkan. Theo was sarcastic when he asked if the extra payment would guarantee Jerry's loyalty for another week.

When Jerry said the money was for kidnapping Brenda, Theo concluded that Jerry would demand more money from him in exchange for Brenda, then give Brenda back to Jason along with the Balkan's secrets. Theo told Jerry that he was unreliable and that his employment was terminated, effective immediately. A shot rang out, and Jerry clutched his stomach and a bleeding bullet wound. He muttered, "Bloody hell," as he toppled off the pier into the water. Siobhan's phone rang immediately after. The Balkan was on the other end. He said that he expected her to be more reliable than Jerry. Otherwise she would meet the same fate. After Siobhan agreed to do as she was told, the Balkan instructed her to call Lucky and tell him what had just happened. He said he was sure that Siobhan could convince Lucky of her innocence. He hung up after cautioning her not to disappoint him. Siobhan immediately called Lucky and told him she had just seen a man shot.

At the Metro Court, Lulu told Maxie that she worried that Dante was falling for Brenda. Maxie told Lulu that Brenda was a user. Neither realized that Dante was listening nearby. Dante was all smiles when he joined them and said that he had the night off after all. He invited Lulu back to his apartment. She agreed, but Maxie told Lulu that she had to work. When Lulu left, Maxie chided Dante and said that she wanted to make sure that Lulu's heart was safe. Dante told her it was. Dante left, and Lulu returned and called Maxie on her ruse to get Dante alone. Maxie said that she had not told anything that Lulu had confided, but that she had wanted to remind Dante how fortunate he was to have Lulu in his life.

Dante met Brenda at the penthouse. She told him that she was happier than she had ever been, since she and Sonny were back together. Dante said that he was glad for her and wondered if she would tell the whole truth. Brenda said that she did not want to talk about the baby ever, and Dante agreed to keep her secret.

When Lulu arrived at Dante's loft, she found it decorated with a Mexican theme. Dante was wearing a large sombrero. He had a sombrero for Lulu as well and had prepared margaritas for them. Lulu said everything was perfect, but wanted to know if he had gone to all the trouble because he had overheard her conversation with Maxie. When Dante said he had, Lulu apologized for being insecure. Dante told Lulu that he understood. He said that if the shoe were on the other foot, if Lulu were spending lots of time with a handsome celebrity that he would feel the same way. Lulu got a big smile on her face and told Dante that she loved him and trusted him. They hugged and began kissing passionately.

12/21 Sonny was adjusting his tie when Dante entered Sonny's office. Dante wanted to let Sonny know that someone fitting Jerry's description had been shot on the piers and then had fallen into the water. According to Dante, a trustworthy witness had seen the shooting, and the blood at the scene had confirmed that the victim had been Jerry. Sonny realized that Jerry's death meant that Brenda was out of danger. Dante thought it was a bit too soon to jump to conclusions, but he conceded that Brenda was safer than she had been the day before. Sonny was curious if Dante intended to go to Luke and Tracy's wedding. Dante revealed that Lulu was one of the bridesmaids, so he planned to be there. Moments later, Michael entered the office. Dante grew suspicious when Michael asked to have a word with Sonny. Sonny assured Dante that it wasn't a conspiracy. Sonny and Michael wanted to discuss the Christmas brunch that Sonny had with his children every year. Sonny invited Dante to join them, but Dante had promised his mother that he would spend Christmas in Bensonhurst with the Falonceris. "Maybe next year," Sonny suggested.

At the Quartermaine mansion, Lulu and Maya found Tracy making a business call instead of preparing for the wedding. Tracy didn't see the point of changing into a wedding dress, since she expected Luke to jilt her. Maya warned Tracy to stop with the drama because it was a day to celebrate. Tracy argued that Luke was self-destructive, so it was inevitable that he would find a way to ruin the day. Tracy didn't want to look like a prom queen when she was ditched at the altar. Lulu and Maya insisted that Luke would show. After Tracy left to change clothes, Maya and Lulu admitted that they couldn't blame Tracy for being skittish. Lulu was initially certain that Luke wouldn't let Tracy down, but then she realized that Luke had a habit of showing up only when the wedding wasn't real. Tracy returned to the room wearing the same outfit. Maya and Lulu realized that Tracy had overheard them talking. Maya and Lulu quickly changed their tune until Tracy agreed to put on her wedding dress; Tracy figured that she could always burn the dress if the wedding didn't happen.

Dante arrived at the Q’s for the wedding. Next, Lucky was happy when Siobhan arrived for the wedding. However, Lucky had to leave her side when Alexis approached him to let him know that they had a problem with Luke. Lucky, Lulu, and Ethan followed Alexis to the den, where Luke refused to sign the prenuptial agreement. Luke wanted reassurance that Tracy was marrying him for love. Lucky, Lulu, and Ethan warned Luke that he was "self-sabotaging" and that he had to sign the agreement if Luke hoped to marry Tracy. Eventually, Luke signed the agreement. Alexis snatched the document out of Luke's hand.

Later, the guests took their seats as Lucky and Ethan made their way to the front of the room. Everyone waited for Luke to arrive, but several minutes passed without an appearance from the groom. As tensions mounted, Luke suddenly entered the foyer and then casually strolled to the altar to join his sons and the minister. As the music started, Maya and Lulu made their way down the staircase and then approached the altar. Seconds later, Tracy stood at the top of the staircase. Tracy seemed stunned to see her groom. She smiled and then slowly made her way to Luke's side. Alexis held up the prenuptial agreement to show Tracy that Luke had signed it. Tracy decided that she wanted to see it before the wedding vows were exchanged, but Luke refused to let Tracy stall their wedding. Luke made it clear that it was time to stop the games.

Luke insisted that he and Tracy had to get real, so he decided to start. Luke revealed that there had been a Motown tune titled, "The Hunter Gets Caught by The Game," that aptly described what Tracy had done to him. Luke insisted that he loved Tracy and that they were perfect for each other. He described their relationship as an "unlikely surprise" and then insisted that he stood before her in full unapologetic husband mode. Luke pulled out the key and then tossed it to Alice as he thanked Alice for arranging to have a car on standby. Tracy's jaw dropped as she glared at Alice. Luke demanded Tracy's full attention. He wanted to be able to call her "wife" and know that it wasn't just a nickname. Tracy took a moment to compose herself and then, her voice brimming with emotion, agreed that Luke was her unexpected surprise. Tracy confessed that Luke had made her want to live again and that he gave her a reason to get up in the morning. Tracy looked forward to their next adventure and promised to love him until the day that she died. Luke smiled with joy.

DVD #7BAt the Quartermaine mansion, the minister asked if anyone objected to Luke and Tracy's marriage. Alice started to stand up, but Edward threatened to fire her if she didn't sit down. Alice grudgingly complied. As the ceremony continued, Tracy appeared to grow increasingly resistant to marrying Luke, so she stopped the wedding before the minister could finish the ceremony. Tracy demanded to see the prenuptial agreement.

Luke refused to hand it over, so Tracy started to walk away. Lulu and Brook Lynn sprang into action. Lulu reminded Tracy that Luke was in love with Tracy. Brook Lynn insisted that Tracy was being ridiculous. Brook Lynn decided to speak for everyone by ordering Tracy to get married, so that they could all have a "damn drink already." The guests applauded loudly. Brook Lynn suggested that Tracy get out of her own way because it was clear to everyone that Tracy loved Luke. Brook Lynn urged Tracy to take a chance by returning to the altar to complete the wedding ceremony. Tracy hesitated for a moment and then joined Luke at the altar. The minister completed the ceremony and then pronounced Luke and Tracy to be "husband and wife." Luke and Tracy kissed as everyone, except Alice, clapped.

Lulu and Dante took a break in the den. Lulu was relieved that the wedding was over. She confessed that she had thought that Tracy would bolt before the ceremony. Lulu admitted that she understood why Tracy had been afraid. She realized that it was scary to put one's heart on the line. Dante vowed that he would never make Lulu regret opening her heart to him. Lulu smiled as Dante leaned forward to kiss her. Afterwards, Lulu and Dante returned to the reception.

Ethan toasted to the bride and groom. After Luke and Tracy kissed, Lucky offered his own toast. Lucky confessed that he was happy that Luke and Tracy had managed to find a way to make things work. Lucky conceded that Luke and Tracy were mismatched in many ways, but they had fought hard to be together. Lulu spoke to Tracy when it was her turn to make a toast. Lulu recalled that she had referred to Tracy as "the step-monster" when Luke had first married Tracy. However, Lulu had eventually gotten to know Tracy, so Lulu realized what a deep, special, and remarkable person Tracy was. Lulu felt lucky to have Tracy in her life and honored to be able to call Tracy, "stepmother." As everyone applauded, Tracy hugged Lulu.

Luke decided to share his thoughts about what it meant for him to be able to call Tracy his wife. Luke credited Tracy for making his life interesting; he insisted that he deeply loved Tracy and always would. Tracy kissed her husband as the guests clapped with approval. Afterwards, Tracy admitted that she was at a loss for words. Tracy confessed that she had never been happier and then thanked everyone for witnessing the rare moment. Later, Tracy tracked down Luke to let him know that something about the prenuptial agreement had been bothering her. She was certain that Luke has signed it, "Rutherford B. Hayes." Luke confessed that he would never have been so predictable; he had signed it, "Wile E. Coyote." Tracy burst out laughing.

Lulu was surprised to see Spinelli arrive for Luke and Tracy's reception. Spinelli explained that he was there to make amends with Dante. Carly appeared stunned when she overheard Spinelli's comment. Spinelli led Dante and Lulu to a quiet corner to continue their conversation. Spinelli insisted that, in the spirit of forgiveness, the moniker, "Dante the Betrayer," would be retired. Dante held out his hand. Spinelli hesitated a moment and then shook Dante's hand. Lulu was thrilled.

After Dante and Lulu went to dance, Carly motioned Spinelli to join her in the foyer. Carly demanded to know if Spinelli had what she wanted. Spinelli reluctantly handed over a copy of an official document that indicated that Dante had given full custody of a child to Brenda. Carly smiled triumphantly when she discovered that Dante and Brenda had a child together and that Dante had given Brenda full custody of the baby. Carly confessed that the information was better than she had hoped. Carly gloated and said that it showed that Dante and Brenda were the worst kind of liars. She cautioned Spinelli not to tell Jason or anyone else what they had found out. She said she could hardly wait to tell Sonny that Brenda was the mother of his grandchild.

Inside, the reception proceeded joyously. Luke and Lulu danced, as did Tracy and Dante, Mac and Alexis, and Nikolas and Brook Lynn. Ethan and Maya assembled the single ladies for the bouquet toss. Tracy heaved it over her shoulder just as Sonny and Brenda walked in. The bouquet landed unerringly in Brenda's arms. Sonny happily announced that he and Brenda were engaged. Dante appeared stunned, as did Carly. Lulu told Dante that he did not have to feel compelled to rush into anything with her just because her dad had just gotten married and his had just gotten engaged.

Lulu and Dante went back to his loft. He fell asleep on the couch while Lulu was talking. Dante dreamed that three years before, when Brenda got in the car to leave, he had not let her go. Instead, he had declared his love for her and his desire to help her rear her baby, and she had agreed. He was startled awake when Lulu touched him. He hugged Lulu close, but his mind remained on the dream.

12/28 At Jason's penthouse, Theo introduced himself to Brenda. Brenda recalled meeting Theo on the sidewalk. Theo confirmed that he had been the one to return the dropped glove to her before he steered the conversation to the lawsuit. Theo warned her that his policy was to tell his clients the unvarnished truth to prepare them for the worst. According to Theo, Brenda's prospects looked bleak. Brenda found Theo's honesty refreshing as he laid things out for her. Theo assured Brenda that no one doubted that Anton Banovic had intended to harm her, but they believed that Brenda had been given special treatment because of her celebrity status. Theo explained that he would argue that there wouldn't have been a lawsuit if Brenda hadn't been famous. Theo was certain that the Banovic family wanted to exploit the situation for financial gain, even though Brenda had acted in self-defense.

Brenda clarified that she had shot Anton to protect a police officer. Theo urged Brenda to tell him everything about the shooting. Brenda agreed, but several minutes later, Jason arrived home. Brenda introduced Theo to Jason, but he had already known about Theo. Brenda wanted some fresh air, so she decided to take a walk. After Brenda left, Jason asked what Theo's take on the lawsuit was. Theo explained that Brenda's fame and connection to Sonny were problematic. Theo warned Jason that a jury would watch Brenda closely. Jason was certain that Brenda would fall apart on the witness stand, so he ordered Theo to settle the case before it went to trial. Theo didn't think that it was possible because the Banovic family wanted to make Brenda suffer. Jason confided that killing a man, even in self-defense, had nearly destroyed Brenda.

At the loft, Dante confessed that the wedding seemed to have freaked him out more than he had thought. Lulu was curious about Dante's dream. Dante was reluctant to share the details, but Lulu insisted on hearing them because the dream had clearly rattled Dante. Dante spun a tale about marrying Lulu in his patrolman's uniform, but instead of pants he wore the boxers that Lulu had given Dante on Valentine's Day. Lulu chuckled, but she realized that he had made everything up. Dante insisted the dream had been hazy and that he only recalled disjointed bits and pieces of it. Lulu let the matter drop when Dante leaned forward to kiss her.

Later, Dante was on his way home from the grocery store when he bumped into Brenda and Max on the sidewalk. Max stepped away, so that Brenda could speak privately to Dante. Dante congratulated Brenda on her engagement to Sonny. Brenda admitted that she had been thinking about telling Sonny about their relationship and the baby. Dante agreed to support whatever she decided, but he cautioned her to think things through carefully. He suggested that sometimes the truth wasn't for the best. Dante used Michael's situation as an example. Dante explained that he had thought that he had done the right thing by revealing that Michael had killed Claudia. Dante had been certain that Michael would only receive a suspended sentence, but instead Michael had been sent to prison. Brenda imagined that it had been difficult for Dante. Dante realized that it was a judgment call, but he wondered if telling Sonny the truth about the baby would make things better for Brenda and Sonny. "Probably not," Brenda admitted. Dante was curious how she thought that Sonny would react to the news. Brenda confessed that Sonny would likely feel terrible. Dante wondered why she would hurt Sonny when he was clearly happy. Brenda realized that Dante had a point, so she thanked him for being good to her and then left.

Dante arrived home a short time later. Lulu admitted that she had been worried because Dante had been gone for quite some time. Dante explained that he had gone to the store and then had run into Brenda and Max on his way home. "Oh," Lulu said as her smile slipped. She realized that Dante hadn't told her how he felt about Sonny's engagement to Brenda. Dante acknowledged that Sonny and Brenda had history together, which had its own baggage, but he hoped that they could work things out. Lulu noted that old habits were hard to break sometimes. Dante chuckled as he quipped that it boded well for them that they hadn't developed any old habits. Lulu disagreed; she teased that Dante had a tendency to inhale fries and behave immaturely. Dante smiled as he suggested that they focus on their future, not their mistakes, and then he kissed her.

On the sidewalk, Theo ordered one of his goons to keep Brenda under 24-hour surveillance. Dimitri suggested that Theo simply kill Brenda, since Theo had gained full access to her. Theo explained that he needed information from Brenda, so he intended to break her down to get what he needed and then kill her.

1/3 Carly and Jason were conversing at the Metro Court when she got a call from Morgan, who was on a chartered bus bound for a ski trip. He told her he was having fun, and then suddenly exclaimed that something was wrong. Carly heard the passengers screaming, and the sounds of a crash before she lost her connection. She tried to reach Morgan, and Jason tried to reach Michael, but there was no answer on either phone. Brook Lynn and Nikolas were also at the Metro Court and overheard. While Carly and Jason made plans to go search for the bus, Nikolas and Brook Lynn headed to General Hospital to help out.

At the bus crash site, bodies were scattered over the snowy landscape. Most had been thrown from the bus and plummeted into a deep ravine. Steve was the first to awake He had minor injuries, but nothing life-threatening. He found Cameron who was also uninjured. Maxie was uninjured, but Matt had a broken arm, which Steve treated with a makeshift sling.

Great Bus Crash Promo

Molly, Kristina, and Ali were okay, as were Taylor and Michael and the rest of the students but Morgan and Olivia were missing. Michael and Taylor went looking for Morgan, but found Olivia, who was seriously injured. Michael stayed with Olivia while Taylor went to find Steve. Olivia told Michael not to worry about her, but to keep looking for Morgan. Michael said he would wait for Steve and then search for Morgan. Olivia told him that Sonny would be proud of him. She said that he was a natural caregiver because he was calm and focused in a crisis. Michael demurred and said he was only calm on the outside.

Once Steve arrived and assessed Olivia's condition, she was carried on a makeshift stretcher back to the campsite where Ali had used her scouting skills to build a fire for the group. When Olivia asked, Steve told her that her condition was serious. She said she was a tough girl and could handle the pain. She said that it was ironic that she did not ski and her only reason for the trip was to see some snow and relax in the lodge. She begged Steve to find Dante and tell him that she loved him more than anything.

1/4 Brenda and Dante heard the news of the bus crash while at GH and left to search for the crash site. On the other side of the mountain, Brenda and Dante were desperately searching for any sign of the crash. Brenda was concerned because Dante was speeding, but he refused to slow down. Brenda decided to check in with Lucky, who quickly let her know that everyone was still looking for the crash site. After Brenda ended the call, she began to talk to Dante about Sonny. Dante was annoyed that Brenda always seemed to defend Sonny's actions. Brenda was equally frustrated because Dante was hard on his father. Dante refused to apologize as he explained that his mother had raised him. Brenda asked Dante to slow down, but he ignored her request. Brenda realized that Dante was worried about Olivia, but Dante denied it. He insisted that his mother was strong and smart, so he didn't have any reason to be concerned. Dante praised Olivia for being a wonderful mother who had made huge sacrifices for him. Brenda smiled as she assured Dante that Olivia had raised a good man.

Near the crash site, Michael found Morgan collapsed in the snow with a broken leg. Morgan was in considerable pain, but conscious. Michael realized that Morgan wouldn't be able to walk on his own, so Michael hoisted Morgan over his shoulder and then trekked to the makeshift camp where the other passengers were gathered. Steve was trying to keep a gravely injured Olivia awake by talking to her when Michael walked up. Steve went to check on Morgan, so he didn't see Olivia cough up blood a few minutes later. After Morgan was taken care of, Steve returned to Olivia's side.

Michael and Molly arrived at the road and Michael called 911. He was relieved when the call went through. The operator assured Michael that they would be able to locate the crash site by tracking the cell phone signal. The operator patched Michael through to Lucky. Michael explained that Morgan and Matt had suffered broken bones and that Olivia had been seriously injured, but the rest of the passengers were fine. Lucky was relieved to hear that Cam hadn't been hurt. Michael was frustrated when the call was suddenly dropped. Moments later, a car pulled up. It was Dante and Brenda. Brenda stayed on the road with Molly while Michael took his brother to see Olivia. Brenda called Lucky to let him know that they had arrived at the crash site. Afterwards, Brenda assured Molly that help was on the way.

Next, Carly and Jason arrived. Carly quickly assured herself that Molly was okay, but she was desperate to get to Morgan. Molly told Carly where Morgan was, so Carly took off with Jason close behind her. Carly and Jason reached Morgan and the other kids a short time later. Carly credited Morgan with saving everyone because they might not have known what had happened if he hadn't been on the phone with Carly at the time of the crash.

Nearby, Olivia's condition deteriorated as she revealed that the cold no longer bothered her. Steve tried to keep Olivia awake by talking about Dante. Olivia bragged that she had raised her baby instead of dumping him on her parents and then going out to party every night. Olivia recalled a time that she had scrimped and saved to buy a beautiful new sofa. She had the sofa for one day when Dante had arrived home bloody and battered after an encounter with a neighborhood boy. Olivia revealed that she had Dante lie down on the sofa while she tended to his injuries and yelled at her son for getting hurt. After Olivia had tucked Dante in for the night, she had spent hours scrubbing the sofa to get the blood out. Olivia began to cry as she confided to Steve that Dante was an adrenaline junkie. Steve assured Olivia that she was an amazing mother. Olivia's sadness turned to joy when Dante suddenly appeared at her side. Dante begged his mother to stay strong. A short time later, paramedics attended to Olivia and then whisked her off to the hospital.

1/5 Olivia arrived by ambulance at the hospital. Patrick explained to Olivia that she was bleeding internally, so they had to operate on her. Moments later, Olivia was rushed into an operating room. Jason, Michael, Brenda, Dante, and Molly arrived. Dante and Brenda approached Robin at the nurses' station to get an update on Olivia. Robin explained that Olivia was in surgery and that Patrick would do everything in his power to help Olivia. Brenda tried to comfort Dante by reminding him that Patrick was a brilliant doctor. Dante talked about what a great mother Olivia was.

Michael joined Dante and Brenda. Michael revealed that Steve had kept Olivia talking after the crash to distract her from the pain. Michael let Dante know that Olivia had bragged about Dante the entire time. Brenda reminded Dante that Olivia was a fighter, which gave Dante hope. Steve stopped at the nurses' station to see how Olivia was doing. Dante let Steve know that Olivia was in surgery. Steve assured Dante that Olivia was strong and that Michael was the hero of the day. Steve revealed that Michael had found Olivia. Dante expressed his gratitude to Michael for rescuing Olivia and then hugged him. Steve grew impatient as he waited for news on Olivia, so he sent a nurse to get an update. Steve regretted that he couldn't have done more for Olivia. Dante had no idea what Olivia had been thinking when she had decided to go skiing.

Lulu arrived and Dante quickly filled Lulu in on Olivia's situation. Lulu wanted to help, but Dante told her that there was nothing that any of them could do except wait and keep each other company. In Olivia's hospital room, Steve let Dante know that they had done all that they could for Olivia. Dante was shaken to see his mother lying still in the bed, but Steve urged Dante to talk to her. Steve was confident that it could make a difference. Dante sat down next to his mother's bed and then began to weep as he begged her not to leave him. Dante assured Olivia that she was a wonderful mother and that he appreciated all of the sacrifices that she had made for him. Lulu quietly comforted Dante as he confessed that he wanted his mother to live a long and happy life. Music montage to "Hallelujah," performed by Jeff Buckley

1/6 Lulu went to Olivia's hospital room to check on Dante and Olivia. Olivia remained unconscious as Dante sat at his mother's bedside. Dante shared a story about the first time that he had knocked himself out. According to Dante, he had awoken in the hospital to find his mother at his side. Once Olivia had been assured that Dante would be fine, she began to yell at him and then threatened to ground him for life. Dante decided that he would do the same thing when Olivia woke up. Lulu understood that Dante was terrified, but she reminded him that there was still hope as long as Olivia was breathing. Dante knew that Lulu was right, but he was frustrated because he had no idea what to do for his mother. Lulu assured Dante that Olivia loved him, so he just had to be himself.

Shortly after Lulu left, Theo appeared in the doorway. Theo explained that he worked for, "Mason, Petrovich, and Miller," so he needed to ask Dante some questions about Anton's shooting. Dante glanced at his mother and then insisted that it wasn't right the time. Theo argued that he had taken the time to seek out Dante, so Dante could return the courtesy by answering a few questions. Sonny was annoyed when he overheard Theo's comment as he approached Olivia's room. Theo warned Sonny that the case would proceed regardless of Dante's mother's condition.

Theo claimed that he was the only person who could help Brenda and Dante because the circumstances of Anton's death reeked of collusion. Sonny didn't care; he insisted that Dante was too worried about Olivia to answer questions. Sonny warned Theo to leave Dante alone unless Brenda was about to be dragged away in chains. Theo appreciated Sonny's concern for Dante; he suggested that they had more in common than Sonny realized.

Later, Johnny stopped by to check on Olivia. Dante invited Johnny to spend some time with Olivia, but Johnny explained that he and Olivia had broken up because of Johnny's lifestyle. After Johnny left, Dante returned to Olivia's bedside. He told his mother how much he appreciated and loved her. Olivia slowly lifted her hand to gently stroke the side of Dante's face. Dante's eyes filled with tears as his mother smiled up at him.

1/7 Steve entered Olivia's hospital room as Olivia confessed to Dante that she wished that she could relax in the ski lodge's lobby with a hot toddy to warm her. Steve was glad to see that Olivia was awake; he was certain that she would make a full recovery. Olivia thanked Steve for everything that he had done at the crash site. Dante noticed the sparks fly between Steve and Olivia as Steve credited Patrick for saving Olivia's life. Olivia was grateful to Patrick, but Steve was her hero because he had kept her talking until help had arrived. Steve confessed that he had enjoyed listening to her stories, so it hadn't been a hardship. Olivia wanted to show her appreciation to Steve by cooking him dinner. Steve readily accepted the invitation. After Steve left, Dante admitted he was curious about what was going on between Olivia and Steve. Olivia deftly evaded the question. She confided that she was thankful that she had survived the crash; she loved Dante too much to say goodbye. Theo met with Dante and Brenda at Jason's penthouse to discuss the wrongful death lawsuit. Brenda wondered if they could get a continuance. Theo explained that a man's son was dead and that the father had a right to expect someone to pay for it. Dante appeared puzzled by Theo's remark.

1/10 Theo questioned Brenda and Dante at the penthouse. When Dante told Theo that there was nothing to tell because Brenda had killed Anton in self-defense, Theo said that Anton's family did not think so. He said it looked like two entitled people, shielded by celebrity and a police badge, were getting away with murder. Dante wanted to know which side Theo was on and told him to use some tact. Theo said fine, he would treat Brenda with kid gloves and she would be even more vulnerable on the witness stand. Brenda said that she just wanted to get on with her life. Theo responded sarcastically that it was a privilege the dead man would not enjoy. Dante had heard enough. He told Theo that they got it and told him to leave. As he walked to the door, Theo said that he hoped that by the next time they met, Brenda could muster up some remorse for killing a man. After Theo left, Brenda expressed her fears about the situation. Dante said that they could not lose anything but money. Brenda was afraid that she would say the wrong thing on the stand or to Theo. Dante told her not to worry. He said that Theo did not know that she had killed Aleksander and would not find out.

Ronnie met Dante at Jake's. Dante asked Ronnie to do some research on Theo because Dante suspected that something was off about Theo. Ronnie agreed to help because Dante had done a few favors for Ronnie in the past. Lulu arrived as Ronnie left. Dante expressed his fears that Brenda was not strong enough for a trial and expressed his doubt that she would ever marry Sonny. Lulu asked Dante if he had feelings for Brenda.

1/11 At Jake's, Lulu questioned Dante about his feelings for Brenda. Dante chose his words carefully as he downplayed what Brenda meant to him. Lulu admitted that she feared that Dante was attracted to Brenda, but Dante insisted that Brenda was soon to be his stepmother. The answer didn't ease Lulu's concerns, so she asked Dante to request to be reassigned from protecting Brenda. Dante seemed genuinely perplexed by the suggestion.

Lulu explained that Dante had changed. According to Lulu, Dante had been distant, guarded, and hadn't slept well since Brenda had arrived in Port Charles. She was confident that distance from Brenda would help. Dante conceded that it was weird to have Brenda in Port Charles, but he couldn't just quit his job. Dante continued to make excuses, which prompted Lulu to wonder if he was trying to be a good cop or Brenda's hero. Lulu immediately regretted her paranoia over Brenda. She realized that Dante would feel terrible if something happened to Brenda, so Lulu insisted that he disregard her request. Dante appreciated her honesty because he wanted Lulu to be able to trust him. Lulu smiled as she decided to talk to him about his brown leather jacket that made him look like Serpico.

1/13 Lulu stopped by to talk to Lucky. Lucky tried to explain that he and Siobhan were in the middle of something. Siobhan seized the opportunity to excuse herself and then leave. Lulu questioned Siobhan's behavior, but Lucky attributed it to the stress of being hunted by the Balkan. Lulu was disappointed to learn that the person fished out of the harbor had not been Jerry. She wondered if Siobhan planned to return to Ireland once the threat of the Balkan had passed. "Not necessarily," Lucky admitted. Lulu reminded Lucky that Siobhan could only remain in the country if she had a green card or if she married an American citizen.

Lulu suggested that Lucky's undercover stint in Ireland had been his time to get away from the problems that he had gone through with Elizabeth. Lucky argued that his assignment with Interpol had nothing to do with his personal life. Lulu feared that the lines between his personal life and professional life had blurred. "So what," Lucky wondered. Lucky revealed that he had shared things about himself with Siobhan that he had never shared with Elizabeth, but marriage had not crossed his mind. Lulu relaxed a bit, but she cautioned him not to rush into a new relationship too fast because it took time to heal from a broken heart.

Siobhan met with the Balkan in a church confessional booth. The Balkan warned her that he didn't appreciate his calls being ignored, so he had left a "gift." Siobhan noticed an envelope in her booth, so she opened it to find a picture of a young woman bound to a chair with a gag in her mouth. "You bastard," Siobhan yelled. The Balkan told her to "watch the name calling," but Siobhan ignored him as she threatened to kill him if he touched a hair on the woman's head. After Siobhan calmed down, she demanded to know what the Balkan wanted from her. The Balkan explained that he knew that Lucky's father, Luke, was a good friend of Sonny's. The Balkan was certain that the Spencer clan would be invited to the wedding, so he expected Siobhan to make certain that Lucky attended the wedding with her. The Balkan wanted Siobhan to be his eyes and ears when he took his revenge against Brenda.

Michael went to the police station to drop off Dante's cell phone. As they chatted, Ronnie entered the squad room with Abby. Ronnie explained that the vice squad had raided a strip club, so Ronnie needed help booking everyone who had been arrested. Michael and Abby were stunned to see each other. Michael immediately asked if Abby were okay, but Ronnie advised Michael to stay out of it because it could compromise Michael's parole. Michael insisted that Abby hadn't done anything wrong. Ronnie chuckled as he made a crude remark about Michael using protection with Abby. Michael lunged for Ronnie, but Dante pulled Michael away. Michael pleaded with Dante to help Abby because she was a friend, so Dante turned to Ronnie to find out why Abby had been handcuffed. Ronnie explained that Michael's friend had been picked up for prostitution.

After Ronnie carted Abby into an interrogation room, Michael asked to see her. Dante explained that she was being processed. Michael implored Dante to pull rank to get her released, but Dante explained that it didn't work that way. Dante insisted that solicitation was a serious offense, which might be further complicated if Abby had any priors. Michael argued that Abby wasn't a hooker; she was a dancer. Michael revealed that Abby worked at Vaughn's to put herself through school, so that she could become a paralegal. Dante pointed out that Michael was in high school, so he was curious how Michael had met Abby. Michael admitted that Sam had introduced them and that he trusted Abby. Michael explained that Abby had helped him, so he wanted to return the favor.

Dante decided to have a talk with Abby about Michael. He demanded to know if she had lied to Michael. Abby assured Dante that she had never taken money for sex and that she had no idea why she had been arrested. Dante admitted that he was concerned that Abby might be using Michael for money, but Abby denied it. She explained that she could have easily accepted Carly's generous offer to leave Michael alone. Dante acknowledged that Abby was a beautiful woman, so he was curious why she was hanging out with a teenager. Abby claimed that Michael wasn't like other kids his age. "But he's a kid," Dante argued. Abby explained that Michael couldn't talk to girls his own age.

Dante decided to let Michael visit Abby while Dante questioned Ronnie about the arrest. Ronnie claimed that they had received an anonymous tip from a guy claiming to be a customer. As Dante and Ronnie discussed the arrest, Johnny strolled into the squad room to inform them that he was there to post bail for the strippers that had been picked up in his club. Ronnie reminded Johnny that prostitution was illegal and then suggested that Johnny would eventually end up in a jail cell next to Anthony. Dante went to let Abby know that she was free to leave, but it was an on-going investigation, so it wasn't over.

Dante went to Pozzulo's at Sonny's request. He was stunned when Sonny explained that he had called to ask Dante to be his best man. Dante was honored, but he turned his father down. Moments later, Brenda entered the office.

1/14 Brenda arrived at Sonny's office to find Sonny and Dante together. Sonny informed her that he'd asked Dante to be his best man but that Dante had refused. Sonny urged Dante to think about the offer, and Brenda asserted that she knew why Dante did not want to be in the wedding party. Dante cut her off and explained that he did not want to lead Sonny on to believe that the two men were getting closer, emotionally. Brenda asked Dante to reconsider, and Dante finally agreed to be Sonny's best man.

Carly went to the McCall & Jackal office to convince Diane that Brenda had given birth to Dante's child. Diane was incredulous but gave Carly props for her originality. Carly explained that she had proof and, with or without Diane's cooperation, Carly would make sure Sonny and Brenda would not get married. Carly shared that she and Spinelli had been conducting an investigation into Dante and Brenda's past. Diane found the idea of Carly and Spinelli conspiring amusing.Carly produced a document that proved Dante had given up all rights to Brenda's child. Diane wondered where that child was. Carly admitted she didn't know but asked Diane to pull strings to get a legitimate copy of the document in order to prove that Carly was not lying. Diane asked why it would be in her interest to help Carly. Carly explained that Sonny would become unbearable when the truth eventually surfaced. Diane agreed to help.

Theo asked Brenda to repeat the details of the night she inadvertently killed Mr. Banovic. Theo kept asking questions that did not pertain to the night they were discussing. It seemed that he was referring to the night Alexander was killed, but Brenda did not make the connection. Theo asked Brenda one final question, "Who is Alexander?"

Dante went to Jason's and revealed that DNA results concluded Jerry and Alexander were not related, which led Jason and Dante to believe that the Balkan was still alive.

1/17 Dante went to the penthouse and told Jason that forensic tests proved that Jerry was not the Balkan, and Brenda was still in danger. Dante and Jason were discouraged to realize that Jerry's appearance had been a diversion, and they were back to square one. Dante had other less-than-encouraging news for Jason. Dante told Jason about Abby's arrest and Michael's near throttling of Ronnie. Both men were concerned that Michael might lose control and do something that would result in revocation of parole.

Theo questioned Brenda in his office. During her recitation of the facts surrounding Anton's death, Theo insisted that she had mentioned someone named Aleksander. Brenda insisted that she had not. It did not take long for Theo to break Brenda down and find out everything that had happened on the night Aleksander had perished. She told Theo that Aleksander had never been her boyfriend. She said that he had followed her to New York, stalked her, and then attacked her police guard. She said that she'd picked up the gun the policeman had dropped and shot Aleksander. Brenda was sobbing as she admitted that Dante was the policeman who had taken the body away. Theo called her actions murder, but Brenda pleaded self-defense.

Before Theo could elicit any more information, Dante and Jason arrived to tell Brenda that the Balkan was still alive. Jason left with Brenda, but Theo insisted that Dante stay and answer some questions about the pending court case. When they were alone, he confronted Dante about Aleksander's death. At first, Dante denied that Brenda had killed Aleksander, but it soon became obvious that Brenda had told Theo everything. When Theo said that Brenda had committed murder, Dante said it was self-defense. Theo scoffed and said a jury would not buy two murders in self-defense within a five-year span. Dante said that Aleksander had been a rich, spoiled punk, living off his father's money. He said that Aleksander had treated Brenda like property, stalked her to an alley, and attacked Dante. Dante said that Aleksander was a big guy who had been choking the life out of him. Dante said he had nearly passed out when he heard the shot that had caused Aleksander to let him go.

Siobhan met the Balkan in a confessional booth. He told her about Aleksander's death from his perspective and painted Brenda and Dante as callous murderers who would soon pay for their crimes. Siobhan said she was sympathetic, but he would have to proceed without her because Lucky had broken up with her. The Balkan told Siobhan to do whatever it took to get Lucky back. Siobhan insisted that it was not possible. Siobhan's phone rang, and when she answered it, she heard her sister's terrified voice begging Siobhan to help her. Siobhan immediately agreed to the Balkan's demands. He told her to go back to Lucky and make sure she made it to the wedding. The Balkan told Siobhan that she would help him make sure that Brenda's wedding never happened.

At his apartment, Lucky told Dante about his breakup with Siobhan. Lucky shared his bewilderment with Dante, as he pondered what Siobhan was not telling him.

1/18 In Sonny's office at Pozzulo's, Dante tried to persuade Sonny to postpone the wedding. Sonny knew that he wouldn't be able to convince Brenda to wait, so he insisted that the wedding would go ahead as planned. Dante worried that the Balkan would try to make a move against Brenda, but Sonny assured Dante that there would be extra security at the wedding. Dante decided to shift gears by letting Sonny know that Brenda had told Theo about Aleksander's death. Dante pointed out that he could end up losing his badge if the truth were revealed in court, but Sonny reminded Dante that Theo's job was to protect Dante and Brenda.

At the loft, Lulu and Maxie were working on some Crimson business. Maxie noticed that Lulu had been periodically checking for messages, so she wanted to know what was going on. Lulu admitted that she was concerned about Dante being in danger and Brenda's influence on Dante. The talk was cut short when Theo stopped by to see Dante. Lulu explained that Dante wasn't there, but Theo insisted on waiting. Maxie quickly made her excuses and then left. Lulu fetched Theo something to drink while he settled in a chair. Theo assumed that Dante had told Lulu about Aleksander, so she played along to glean as much information as she could about Dante's secret. Theo claimed that he was concerned about Brenda's instability, which might pose a problem on the witness stand. Lulu assured Theo that Dante felt terrible for what had happened to Aleksander, but Theo didn't believe her.

Theo warned Lulu that Brenda might confess to killing Aleksander on the witness stand and then name Dante as her accomplice. Lulu pointed out that even if Brenda testified about Aleksander, it would still be considered self-defense. Theo argued that Brenda and Dante's accounting of what had happened was suspect because of the role that they had played in Aleksander's death. Lulu wondered how they could stop Brenda from testifying. Theo confided that their attempts to settle the case out of court had failed, so it would be up to him to prepare Brenda. Theo decided that he couldn't wait any longer, so he asked Lulu to let Dante know that he had stopped by.

Lulu waited until Dante arrived home. Dante immediately sensed that Lulu was upset. Lulu revealed that Theo had stopped by and that he had told her about Aleksander. Dante immediately explained that Brenda had broken things off with Aleksander when she had discovered that he was involved in crime, but Aleksander had stalked her. Lulu demanded to know why Dante had lied to her about Brenda. Dante explained that he had tried to protect Brenda. The confession fueled Lulu's hurt and rage; she wondered what else he had hidden from her. Dante explained that it hadn't been his secret to tell. Lulu recalled all the times that people had warned her not to trust him. Lulu felt betrayed. Dante insisted that she meant everything to him, but Lulu didn't believe him because she couldn't trust him. "This is done," Lulu announced before she stormed out.

1/20 At Crimson, Lulu talked to Maxie about the breakup with Dante. Lulu revealed that she had found out about Dante and Brenda on her own instead of from Dante, so the trust was gone. Maxie argued that people screwed up all the time; she was certain that Lulu had never loved anyone as much as Dante. Lulu didn't deny it, but it bothered her that Dante had felt comfortable enough to continually lie to her. Maxie urged Lulu to talk things out with Dante.Lulu assured Maxie that she had talked to Dante and that he had professed to love her. Maxie sensed that Lulu hadn't believed Dante's declaration of love. Lulu didn't think that it mattered, since her relationship with Dante was over. Maxie pointed out that Dante hadn't exactly cheated on Lulu because his relationship with Brenda had occurred three years prior to meeting Lulu. Lulu insisted that Dante obviously had feelings for Brenda because he had been willing to risk his job for her. Maxie suggested that perhaps Dante had been afraid to tell Lulu the details of his relationship with Brenda, but Lulu argued that he was not the Dante that she had fallen in love with. Maxie was certain that Dante genuinely tried to be a decent person. Lulu insisted that she and Dante didn't have anything without trust. Maxie worried that Lulu might revert to the "stupid idea" that all Spencers were doomed to fail at love.

At the loft, Dante revealed to Michael that Lulu had found out about Dante's past with Brenda. Michael wondered if Lulu had been upset about the lie or about Brenda. "Both," Dante admitted; however he insisted that he didn't have feelings for Brenda. Michael disagreed, but Dante clarified that Brenda was "three-quarters fantasy" and that she represented what could have been. Dante made it clear that Lulu was the real thing and that his love for her would never change. Michael was curious how Lulu had found out about Dante's past with Brenda. Dante confessed that someone else had told her. Michael couldn't blame Lulu for not trusting Dante if he hadn't been the one to tell her the truth. Dante was desperate to fix things because he loved Lulu. Michael admitted that Abby had broken things off with him too. Dante was sorry to hear it. Michael explained that his point was that he had to respect Abby's decision just like Dante had to respect Lulu's.

Dante argued that it was different for him and Lulu; he refused to give up on her. Just then, Lulu entered the loft. Michael quickly made himself scarce, so that Dante and Lulu could have some privacy. After Michael left, Lulu wondered whom Dante had been referring to when he had said that he wouldn't give up on "her." Dante assured Lulu that he had meant her. He insisted that he loved her, but he acknowledged that she had every right to be angry. Lulu admitted that she wasn't angry; she was simply done. Lulu started to pack her things as Dante explained that he had wanted to tell Lulu about Brenda, but it hadn't been his secret to tell. Lulu wasn't moved because she feared that Dante was hiding more. Dante denied it, but Lulu didn't believe him.

Dante stopped by to let Brenda know that Theo had told Lulu about their role in Aleksander's death. Brenda couldn't believe that Theo could do that. Dante took full responsibility for telling one lie too many. He assured Brenda that he had never regretted helping her. Brenda wanted to know how to fix things for Dante, so Dante asked her to postpone the wedding.

1/21 Brenda articulated sorrow for her part in the problems Dante and Lulu were having. Dante insisted that Brenda postpone her wedding to Sonny. Brenda thanked Dante for always having protected her but insisted that she didn't need protection from Sonny. She knew the dangers of becoming a mobster's wife. Dante and Brenda agreed that they would continue to keep the child they'd given up a secret.

At Crimson, Maxie railed against Lulu for avoiding dealing with Dante. Lulu made it clear that Lulu and Dante had broken up. Maxie urged Lulu to forgive Dante for denying his past with Brenda because he had lied to protect Brenda. As Maxie railed against Brenda's manipulative charms, Brenda walked in and asked to talk with Lulu. The two women went into Kate's office for privacy. Brenda apologized and took full responsibility for Dante having lied. She said that the thought of losing Lulu was killing Dante. Lulu laid into Brenda and accused her of selfishness. Brenda agreed and said that Dante was a good man who loved Lulu and that it would be a big mistake for Lulu to let him go because he'd lied to protect Brenda.

1/24 At the Metro Court, Dante saw Carly talking to Diane and jumped to the conclusion that Carly was petitioning the court to become Michael's guardian. Carly could not resist letting Dante know that she knew about the crime he had covered up for Brenda. Dante said he had already been lambasted by Lulu, who had broken up with him, and did not need a replay from Carly. Carly told Dante that he was a hypocrite for exposing Michael. Dante said he was trying to protect Michael from the same consequences he was facing. Dante said secrets always got out and hurt the ones keeping them. Carly's venomous anger was apparent when she told Dante that he deserved whatever hell was coming his way.

Lucky went to Jake's to meet Lulu, who was steaming mad because Lucky had known about Dante's past with Brenda and had not told her. Lucky said that the secret had not been his to tell. Lulu said that family ought to be first and wanted to know how he would feel if she knew that kind of secret and kept it form him. Lucky defended Dante and said that Dante had been trying to keep Lulu safe. Lulu said that there could be no trust if lovers were not truthful about the things that mattered. Lucky said that their relationship with Luke and their childhood made Lulu cynical. Lulu said that there could be no relationship without trust, and Dante had ruined that. She told Lucky firmly that she and Dante were over. When Lucky implored her not to throw love away, she angrily told him that she was not throwing anything away. Lulu told Lucky that she needed a brother who supported her, not her lying ex-boyfriend. Lucky reassured her that she had that.

1/25 Theo found Carly and said he was there to see her. He told her that he was doing some of Sonny's legal work. He said that he had some papers for her to sign that dealt with the trust Sonny had established for her sons. Carly said that she did not sign anything without reading it. Theo said that he was trying to clear his calendar so that he could devote all his time to the case against Dante and Brenda. Carly said that she was not inclined to do anything that would help Dante or Brenda. Theo said he was amazed because she was the first person who had not rushed to defend Brenda and Dante. Theo asked if Carly knew something he did not. He said that Sonny was wiling to pay any amount of money for their defense. Carly said that she would give Theo some advice. She told him to get the money up-front and cash the check quickly because by the time that the wedding day rolled around, Sonny would not pay anyone to defend either Brenda or Dante. Theo tried another approach to get Carly to tell what she knew, but she told him to do his own research. When he failed to find out what Carly was holding back, he tried to rush her into signing the papers he had with him. Carly refused to sign and told Theo that she would only deal with Diane over legal matters. Theo was stymied. He was forced to leave without her signature on the documents.

At Jake's, Lulu and Lucky discussed Lulu's breakup with Dante. Lulu was upset because Dante had experienced romantic feelings for Brenda in 2007 and had not admitted it to Lulu. Lucky said that Dante's feelings for Brenda had happened before he met Lulu, and Lucky did not have the impression that Dante still had those feelings for Brenda. Ethan arrived and supported Lulu. He said the Spencers had bad luck in relationships. Lucky admitted that he and Siobhan had broken up. Ethan said that he should bail on Maya before she started counting on him, though he wondered how he could walk out on a great woman and a half million dollar payoff. Ethan theorized that the Spencers were cursed. Lulu laughed and said that she felt better knowing that heartbreak was genetic. Lulu left Ethan and Lucky behind when she headed out.

At the loft, Dante told Michael that it was his fault that Michael had gone to prison. He told Michael to be mad at him. Michael said that he was not mad at Dante. When Michael asked about Lulu, Dante said that she was mad at him and he did not blame her. Dante said that he had been acting like an idiot over Brenda. He said that he had done nothing but lie to Lulu. Dante asked for advice from Michael, who did not think that telling the truth was the correct choice.

Lulu was in her apartment, crying and eating ice cream, when Dante knocked. He was dressed in a suit and invited Lulu to the opera. She declined. Dante said that was okay because the tickets were for the following Friday. Lulu said she did not care; she was not going out with him. Dante told Lulu that he loved her, but she did not believe him. She said that she did not want to sit around with a sick feeling in her stomach, waiting for his next lie. She told Dante that he only told the truth when he got caught in a lie. Lulu said that she no longer trusted her instincts. She said there could be no love without honesty, and she did not trust Dante. Dante challenged Lulu to ask him anything. She asked if he loved Brenda. Dante said that in 2007, he'd thought he did, but nothing had been real. He said he'd had a crush that was completely unrealistic. He said nothing had ever happened between them. He said that he'd put Brenda in a car and she had driven away and that was all there was to his relationship with her.

Dante told Lulu that his love for her had taught him the difference between real love and infatuation. Lulu started crying and told Dante that she wanted to believe him, but she could not trust him. She said that her lack of trust in Dante was caused as much by her own issues as his lies. Lulu was sobbing as she told Dante to leave. Dante was downcast as he paused briefly outside Lulu's door. She cried as he walked slowly away.

Theo met Shawn in a waterfront alley. He said that he had pretended not to know Shawn earlier to put Carly off the scent. Theo said that he would hire Shawn as an investigator on one of his cases to allay suspicions. When Shawn asked whom he would be "investigating," Theo said that Shawn would "investigate" any person who tried to prevent Theo from avenging his son's death.

1/26 Dante arrived to pick up Olivia and take her home. He told her all about his breakup with Lulu. Olivia was concerned. She told him that he had to put himself in Lulu's shoes and imagine how she felt. Olivia told Dante that he was a wonderful man and that in her heart, Lulu knew it, too. Dante was not happy when Steve arrived and said he was taking Olivia home. While Olivia was away taking care of paperwork, Dante gave Steve the third degree. When Olivia returned and overheard, she took Dante aside and told him to keep his nose out of her personal affairs. She told him that he was butting into her business because he could not take care of his own. Dante told Olivia that he loved her, and they hugged before Dante left.

Lulu was lying on her couch, crying, when Maxie said it had to stop. She told Lulu to get dressed and go to work, but Lulu said she was staying put on the couch. Maxie said that if Lulu insisted on drowning in her own misery then she had to face facts and admit that she was still in love with Dante. Lulu was still tearful when she said that she could not be in love with a man who was half in love with another woman.

Theo met with Shawn in the law office. He said that Shawn was replacing Jerry because Jerry had been too much of an independent thinker. Shawn wanted to know what that had to do with kidnapping a bride. Diane and Alexis walked in, so Theo introduced Shawn and gave a glib explanation about the need for Shawn's services with the firm. Shawn located Johnny and gave him a brutal beating. He told Johnny that he would soon be dead if he kept avoiding his tasks for the Balkan. Lulu found Johnny lying hurt in the snow. She wanted to call 9-1-1, but he insisted on going home to his apartment. When they got there, Lisa was waiting. Later, when Shawn and Theo were in the office alone, Shawn said that Jason had stonewalled his questions, but did not seem to suspect Theo. Theo asked about Johnny. Shawn said that the message had been delivered. Shawn wanted to know where Theo was going. Theo said it was a simple case of vengeance. He said that a man had died, and the family deserved justice. Dante walked in as Theo was speaking.

1/27 At Diane's law office, Dante found Theo talking to a stranger about Dante and Brenda's business. Dante wondered why Theo was sharing privileged information with the man. Theo introduced Sean Butler to Dante and then explained that Sean had been hired as a security consultant. "Why?" Dante demanded to know. Theo assured Dante that Jason would fill Dante in. Dante wanted to have a private word with Theo, so Sean left. Dante demanded to know why Theo had told Lulu about Aleksander. Theo seemed unconcerned as he admitted that he had been under the impression that Lulu had known. Dante suggested that Theo probably shouldn't assume things or have discussed the case with Lulu. Theo quickly turned the tables on Dante by wondering what else Dante was keeping from Lulu and his attorney. Dante insisted that Aleksander had nothing to do with the case, but Theo disagreed. Theo argued that the situation with Aleksander mirrored what had happened to Anton. According to Theo, the connection was damaging. Dante claimed that both cases were self-defense and that Aleksander had been scum. Dante insisted that everyone would have been better off if Aleksander had stayed where Dante had dumped the body.

Dante suggested that Theo settle the case, but Theo claimed that he had tried. Theo was curious why Dante hadn't called for help after Aleksander had been shot. Theo thought that perhaps Aleksander could have been saved. Theo became increasingly upset as he accused Dante of having no respect for the oath that Dante had sworn to uphold. Dante wondered why Theo was so concerned about Aleksander when Aleksander had nothing to do with the lawsuit. Theo claimed that Brenda might fall apart on the stand and reveal everything to the jury. Dante argued that Theo should be trying to get Brenda out of testifying, but Theo insisted that it might not be an option. According to Theo, if the opposing counsel learned of Dante's involvement in the cover-up of Aleksander's death, then the jury might see Dante as a dirty cop and a murderer. Dante reminded Theo that Theo was supposedly a brilliant attorney. He questioned why it felt like Theo treated his clients like suspects. Theo didn't have an answer for Dante, so Dante ordered Theo to do whatever was necessary to win. Theo assured Dante that was the reason that Theo was there; "Make no mistake about that," Theo warned Dante.

Lulu helped Johnny into his penthouse, only to find Lisa standing in the living room. As Johnny hobbled toward the sofa, Lulu wondered what Lisa was doing there. Johnny smiled as he invited Lisa to explain to Lulu or "should I just stand here needling you about it?" Lisa ignored the subtle threat as she helped Lulu settle Johnny on the sofa. Lulu was stunned when Lisa started to leave instead of checking Johnny's injuries, so Lisa suggested that Lulu call 9-1-1. Lulu demanded to know what was going on with Lisa. Lisa reluctantly told Lulu that she and Johnny occasionally hooked up. Lulu was curious why Lisa had trashed Johnny's place. Lisa claimed that she had been looking for an earring that she had left behind the last time that she had spent the night with Johnny. Lulu insisted that Lisa examine Johnny, so Lisa gave Johnny a cursory examination and then declared that he was fine.

After Lisa left, Lulu warned Johnny that Lisa had an unhealthy obsession with Patrick. Johnny deftly changed the subject to find out how Lulu and Dante were doing. Lulu confessed that she had ended things with Dante because she had caught Dante in several lies. Johnny felt bad for Lulu, which surprised her because she knew that Johnny wasn't fond of Dante. Johnny didn't deny it; he thought that Lulu deserved better than Dante because she was an amazing woman. Lulu was glad that someone thought so. Later, Lulu made her way home as she talked to Maxie on the cell phone. Lulu denied that she had spent the night crying over Dante. Dante walked up and then admitted, "Ah no, that would be me."

1/28 After Lulu and Dante bumped into each other on Baker Street, Dante turned on his old charm and tried to persuade her to give him another chance. Lulu admitted that her brothers and Maxie had all told her to make up with Dante. However, Lulu stated that she was unwilling to compete with Brenda for his feelings, and she left.

Alexis barged into Theo's office to get a file. Theo asked her to fill him in on Lulu and Dante's relationship. Alexis let him know that she was unaware of the details but that Lulu would do nothing to betray Dante in court, no matter how scorned she might be. Alexis grabbed the file she was looking for, but Theo snatched it back, stating that it was one of his. As Alexis turned away for a moment, Theo removed the photo of Alexander from the folder and admitted he was mistaken. He returned the documents to her as she suggested he depose Lulu.

Later, Lulu responded to Theo's request and joined him at the office. He showed contrition for having spilled the beans with regard to Dante's prior relationship to and experiences with Brenda. Lulu accepted the apology and agreed to help as she could. Theo hinted ominously that Dante would be devastated should anything happen to Lulu.

Jason showed up at Dante's with the news that Siobhan was working for the Balkan but that Lucky was too infatuated to see it. Jason worried that Lucky was inadvertently giving information to Siobhan, which she was passing along to the Balkan. Dante suggested they tell Lucky of their suspicions.

As Siobhan took photos of the interior of St Timothy's, Lucky walked in and let her know that Brenda and Sonny weren't actually getting married there. He told her he knew she was working for the Balkan.

1/31 In his office, Theo asked Lulu if she had felt threatened recently. Lulu said no. She told Theo that she had a demanding boss and had to go. Shawn entered, and Theo explained that the Balkan was a danger to all of them. He said Shawn was there for protection. Lulu said that she was not Dante's girl any longer and did not think the Balkan would have a reason to be after her. Theo said that she might know something that she did not know she knew. Lulu assured him that she did not know any more than she had already told him. Lulu left after Theo warned her to be careful and said he would contact her with a date for her deposition.

At the loft, Jason told Dante that he suspected that Siobhan was working for the Balkan. Dante wanted to act immediately, but Jason said that Dante was not being objective because he was too involved. Jason said that they needed a plan that did not make Lucky and Siobhan collateral damage.

Brandon dragged Abby into an alley and started beating her before attempting to rape her. Abby fought him and screamed for help. Michael heard her and paused momentarily as he remembered being held down and beaten in prison by Carter. He reacted quickly and dragged Brandon away from Abby. Michael was furious. He started pummeling Brandon. He was choking him into lifelessness when Jason intervened.

Jason immediately called Dante, who arrived promptly. Abby was traumatized. Jason wanted Dante to take Michael home while he did the same for Abby. Dante insisted that he call it in. He said that Michael had acted in defense of Abby, and Brandon was clearly the wrongdoer. Dante said that Michael deserved a win, and Jason agreed. Dante cuffed Brandon and escorted him to jail while Michael and Jason took Abby to General Hospital.

Dante arrived to take her statement. She said that Brandon was an old boyfriend that she had broken up with almost two years before, but he had tracked her down. Abby said that Brandon had dragged her into an alley and started beating her, despite her pleas that he let her go. When Dante asked if Brandon had raped her, she said that Michael had stopped him before he could. Michael rushed out of Abby's room and Jason followed him. Abby started crying and told Dante that she did not want to see Michael hurt. She said that Michael was the best person she knew. She said that she wanted to help him, not throw him back into his nightmare. Dante said that Abby had helped Michael and that rescuing Abby from Brandon was a turning point for Michael.

Max was waiting outside the loft when Dante arrived home. He said Brenda was waiting inside. When Dante saw Brenda, she asked him if she could help. He said only Lulu could do that. Dante said he had never asked anything of Brenda before, but he wanted to know what had happened to the baby.

2/1 In Siobhan's room above Kelly's, Lucky stared at the picture of Siobhan's sister, Megan, who was tied to a chair. Siobhan explained that the Balkan had been threatening to kill Megan if Siobhan didn't cooperate. Lucky wondered how long Siobhan had known about Megan's situation. Siobhan revealed that she had been told about Megan while Siobhan had been held captive while waiting to be traded for Brenda. Siobhan began to weep as Lucky wrapped his arms around her.

At Dante's loft, Dante apologized for asking Brenda about the baby. He realized that she might have a good reason for not telling him what had happened to the infant. Brenda assured Dante that it was okay. She explained that she had flown to Rome after she had left New York. Brenda had thought that everything would work out perfectly because she had the custody papers from Dante. According to Brenda, that was when she had met Suzanne. Brenda had taken an immediate interest in the work that the Alliance to Save Exploited Children had done, so she had jumped at the opportunity to fly to Africa on behalf of ASEC. However, Brenda had talked to a doctor first, to make certain that it would be safe to travel in her condition. The doctor had assured Brenda that she was far enough along in the pregnancy that it wouldn't pose a problem. Brenda confided that Suzanne had known about the baby, so Suzanne had taken care of Brenda when Brenda developed a fever and then passed out. Brenda recalled waking up from her illness to learn that her son had died. Brenda confided that she was occasionally blindsided by the loss, such as when Sam had talked about the stillbirth of her own daughter. Dante realized that Brenda was able to relate to the grief that Sam had endured. Brenda began to weep as she revealed that she had never had an opportunity to hold her baby boy. Dante immediately wrapped his arms around Brenda to comfort her. Seconds later, Lulu knocked on the door and then walked in. Lulu took one look at Brenda in Dante's arms and then turned away. Brenda urged Dante to follow Lulu.

Lulu headed straight to the apartment that she shared with Maxie. Maxie was surprised when Lulu explained that Dante and Brenda had shared a "meaningful and important" embrace. Maxie was curious if it had appeared that Brenda and Dante had been having fun. Lulu confessed that they had looked miserable. Maxie suggested that Dante had a need to rescue women; she also conceded that he might have a crush on Brenda, but Maxie was certain that Lulu was the woman that Dante loved. Moments later, Dante showed up. Maxie quickly gathered her things and then insisted that she had to see Matt.

Theo met with Shawn Butler. Shawn suggested that Lucky might have turned Siobhan. Siobhan called the Balkan to arrange a meeting to turn over the pictures that she had taken at the church. Theo wondered if she were alone. Siobhan claimed that she was, but Lucky was standing next to her. Theo agreed to meet her at their meeting place the following day at three in the afternoon. After Theo ended the call, he ordered Shawn to tag along to make certain that Siobhan hadn't double-crossed them.

After Maxie left, Dante explained that he had merely been comforting Brenda because she had been upset. He assured Lulu that he was not in love with Brenda. Lulu was shocked when Dante went on to tell her about the incident with Abby and Michael in the alley. Lulu felt bad because she realized that Brenda might have been comforting Dante. Dante clarified that Brenda hadn't been trying to ease his troubles. Dante revealed that Brenda had been waiting for him when he had returned home. He hadn't been able to throw Brenda out when he realized that she had been troubled about something. Lulu decided to give Dante a free pass. She insisted that they were still broken up, but she understood that he had been worried about Michael. Dante confessed that he had wanted to talk to Lulu about everything, so he appreciated that she had heard him out.

2/2 In the office at Pozzulo's, Dante let Jason know that Abby's ex-boyfriend, Brandon, had a criminal record, which meant that Brandon would be sent to jail. Jason admitted that Dante had been right to report the attack. Moments later, Lucky entered the office. Lucky told Jason and Dante that the Balkan intended to kidnap Brenda on her wedding day. Jason and Dante were curious how Lucky had learned about the abduction plans. Lucky revealed that he'd had some questions about Siobhan's activities, so Lucky had decided to set a trap for her to see what would happen. Lucky admitted that Siobhan had walked right into it, but he quickly assured Jason and Dante that Siobhan had not been a willing conspirator. Lucky explained that the Balkan had kidnapped Siobhan's sister, Megan, to force Siobhan to cooperate. Dante suggested that Siobhan could have made the whole thing up. Lucky suggested that Jason have Spinelli verify Megan's disappearance; however, Lucky he had already confirmed it. Dante feared that Lucky might be too close to the situation to be objective. Lucky denied it; he had been the one to set the trap for Siobhan when she had behaved suspiciously. Dante was called away, so Jason promised to take care of everything with Lucky.

Dante went to the hospital to talk to Abby about Brandon's arrest. Michael decided to tell Dante about the rape in Pentonville. Dante immediately blamed himself for putting Michael in a situation where Carter could attack Michael. Michael explained that Franco had set everything up as a way to get to Jason, so Dante wasn't responsible for what Carter had done. Dante continued to blame himself, so Michael guided the conversation back to Abby's situation with Brandon. Abby wondered if Michael had to testify about his role in stopping the attack. Dante thought that a written statement should suffice, but Michael wanted to make certain that Brandon went to jail, so Michael was prepared to testify. After Dante left the room, he sadly leaned against the door, saddened by what he had heard.