"After finishing up at the boat house, Tad returned home and immediately sought out Dixie. When a knock sounded on the front door, Tad assumed that Dixie had forgotten her house key. Instead of finding his fiancée on the other side of the door, Tad got a bit of a surprise. Ryan dropped by hoping that Tad had seen Braden. Since Braden and Dixie were friends, Ryan hoped that he might have turned to Dixie for support and help. Tad shook his head and muttered that he hopes Braden never gets within ten miles of Dixie. Ryan understood why Tad felt the way he did. Tad invited Ryan into the house so that he could wait for Dixie, who he expected to return home any moment. While the men waited, Tad apologized to Ryan for having gone to Iowa to learn more about his past. "I couldn't let you go down," Tad said. Ryan assured Tad that he was not angry. In fact, Ryan felt that he owed Tad an apology for the way he'd spoken to him during his jailhouse visit. Tad knew that Ryan had only said the things he'd said because he was trying to protect Braden. Tad admired Ryan's loyalty and chuckled when Ryan commented that he had a very complicated family. As time continued to slip away, Tad decided to call Chandler Mansion and check on Dixie. When there was no answer, the two men sensed that something wasn't quite right.
Outside their new condo, Mateo and Hayley argued over who should be the first to open the door to their new home. In the end, they both won---Hayley opened the door and Mateo hoisted Hayley into the air and carried her over the threshold. Hayley giggled giddily and asked Mateo if he wasn't a little premature with the gesture. After all, they were still not legally married. Mateo smiled broadly and told Hayley that in his mind, they've been married for well over a year. In a short time, he promised that they would also be married in the eyes of the law. The condo was not yet furnished, but that didn't mean that there were no comforts of home. A white faux fur rug laid on the hardwood floor, with several vases of roses around its perimeter. But something else drew Hayley's attention: A lava lamp that she's spotted at a local thrift shop. As Shirley, the name Hayley had given the lamp, lit up the room, Hayley and Mateo fell into each other's arms and made love.
Miserable from his bitter loss in court, Jack returned to his office determined to find a precedent that would allow him to send Braden to jail. He let his briefcase fall to his desk with an audible thud. Next, he took off his jacket and threw it into a nearby chair. Several volumes of law-related books were pulled from the bookcase and Jack sat down at his desk to toil over the task he'd given himself. Derek entered the office and was asked to close the door behind him. Derek told Jack that he hated not being able to arrest Braden for what he'd done to Kit. The sentiment was appreciated, but it did little to assuage Jack's guilty conscience. Jack asked Derek to put a tail on Braden to make sure that he doesn't rape anyone else. Derek agreed to have some track Braden for a little while, but he noted that it would have to be an unofficial job since no charges were pending against Braden. If Jack was to stick it to Braden, Derek noted that Jack would have to play things by the book. "Like I did with Ryan?" Jack snapped. As the attorney lectured Derek, Trevor appeared in the doorway and asked Jack to back off. Derek headed out of the office as Trevor flashed a stack of papers at Jack. The papers needed to be signed by the District Attorney's office in order to verify that the charges against Ryan had been dropped. Jack snatched the papers and scribbled his signature on the documents. While this may have been the main reason for his visit, Trevor had other things on his mind. Trevor advised Jack against pursuing Braden. Jack, he said, could waste the next year years of his life trying to find a legal precedent. Jack became angry when he assumed that Trevor was going to act as Braden's defense attorney. Trevor shook his head and replied that Braden doesn't need an attorney because Jack "blew it." Jack reiterated his desire to get justice for his sister. Trevor couldn't fault Jack for wanting to see the man who'd hurt his sister behind bars... but it was too late. While Braden was responsible for what had happened to Kit in the parking lot, Jack had to face that he'd caused damage of his own; Everything that had happened to Gillian, Ryan, and countless others was all Jack's fault. Trevor insisted that he was not trying to add to Jack's woes. "I'm saying this because I love you," Trevor said softly. "And I want my friend back."
Later, Jack walked slowly around his office. He stopped and stared at the numerous degrees hanging on his office wall. A knock sounded on his door and Jack promptly told the visitor to leave. "Dak?" called a familiar voice from the hallway. Jack turned, his face lighting up with emotion. The siblings raced towards each other and shared a long embrace. Jack was relieved to see that his sister was okay, but perplexed when Edmund entered the room and stated that Tad was responsible for tracking Kit down. Kit still blamed herself for fingering the wrong man as her attacker, but she was glad that the ordeal was finally behind her. She thanked the two men for having stood by her. Kit and Edmund invited Jack to join them for a bite to eat unless, of course, he had work. "No, I'm all through," Jack mumbled. He told the pair to meet him in the parking lot. After the left, Jack again strolled slowly around his office. He placed Kit's picture in his briefcase and walked towards the door. He stopped momentarily and looked back at his desk. He reached in his pocket and removed his District Attorney badge. He placed the badge on his desk and angrily turned over the nameplate on his desk. The meaning of "all through" suddenly became clear.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Dixie snapped. She told Braden that she would not tolerate Jamie or Junior destroying a lamp, so she certainly wouldn't accept the behavior from a grown man. By his side, Braden's hand clenched into a fist. The man took a deep breath and apologized for the damage he'd caused. He offered to pay for the broken lamp, but Dixie said that payment wasn't necessary. If he wanted to make up for his tirade, Dixie suggested that he get a broom and clean up the shards of glass. Braden gushed about Dixie's kindness and generosity. Dixie became uneasy by the flattery. She bent over the mess and started to clean up. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Braden grabbed her by the arm and ordered her to stop what she was doing. Braden wasn't angry, however. He told Dixie that there was no need for her to undo the damage that he'd done. When the phone rang, Braden ordered Dixie to stay put and let the phone ring. Dixie explained that she'd turned the answering machine off earlier in the day and needed to answer the phone in case Junior was calling. Braden gritted his teeth and told Dixie that he would let her answer the phone if it rang again. Braden accused Dixie of being afraid of him and he refused to believe Dixie when she denied his claim. "Damn you!" Braden hollered. "You've turned on me too." Dixie assured Braden that she was still his friend and pleaded with him to seek out professional help. Braden's blood pressure was already sky high and the implication that there was something wrong with him only enraged him all the more. Reminding Dixie that he'd kept her illness a secret for months, Braden did his best to make Dixie feel guilty about that way she was feeling. Braden slowly walked towards Dixie. With each step he took, Dixie took a step backwards. Unfortunately, she ran out of room. With her back pinned against the wall, Braden loomed over Dixie with a look of rage flashing in his eyes. "I am not a rapist!" he shouted---and he claimed to have proof. Braden said that he's had romantic interest in Dixie for months, but stated that he contained these urges because he knew that Dixie loved Tad. Ryan and Tad burst through the front door. Tad raced across the room and pulled Braden off of Dixie. He then wrapped his arms around Dixie and hustled her out of the mansion. Meanwhile, Ryan and Braden appeared ready for battle. Braden was incensed that his brother believed that he was going to rape Dixie. All the signs pointed to it---the broken glass, the unanswered phone, and the fact that Dixie was pinned in a corner. Like Dixie, Ryan pleaded with Braden to talk to a counselor. Braden suddenly grabbed the back of Ryan's neck with one hand. With the other, Braden formed a fist and readied to punch Ryan. Ryan didn't try to wriggle out of the hold nor did he show any sign of fear. "Take it back!" Braden ordered. Ryan said nothing. Braden unhanded his brother for the moment, but made good on his promise to pummel his brother when Ryan referred to him as a rapist. Braden unleashed two or three good shots. Again, Ryan made no effort to fend off the attack or even to mount a counteroffensive. "Why won't you fight back?" Braden roared.
Back home, Dixie broke into tears. Tad wrapped his arms around her and did his best to comfort her. "It's okay," he said soothingly. "I've got you. Dixie didn't want Tad to ever let her go. Without warning, Dixie suddenly collapsed in Tad's arms."
- Soap Central