AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story kicks off at the end of December of 2008. Sami is pregnant with EJ's baby and Nicole is pregnant with Mr Sandman's baby aka a pillow and Sami and Rafe are still in witness protection. Now as a huge EJ fan it has been very hard for me to watch this once great character that filled the screen and captivated every scene be reduced to a prop for the Nicole hour. Now don't get me wrong, I've always enjoyed Nicole's character - just not this version of her that we are currently seeing or indeed the great volume of her that we are currently seeing. I've hated watching Nicole make an idiot out of EJ over and over again while he stands there, head in the clouds and begs for more of the same. *blech!* Now they've got him all bullying and becoming a shouter which he never needed to do to get his point across and I'm not loving that either but mind you it's easier to watch him pinky swearing - he's a DiMera for goodness sake - DiMera's don't pinky swear! The closest they'd ever come to that would be cutting someone's pinky finger off and making them swear!!

But I digress... I do that so be warned...

Basically when I wrote this both his brains and balls had been MIA for a long time and I was just sick of it and I wasn't buying what the writers were shoveling as to how we got there. My EJ, the real EJ was too magnificent, too smart, too on the ball to be unable to tell one woman was pregnant who wasn't meant to be and one wasn't who was meant to be even while he was hugging both of them. Basically they had to make my beloved EJ dumber than dirty to sell the woeful baby switch story line and I've hated every single second of it. I could have lived with EJami being apart but EJ being the worlds only living brain donor... oh no, that's too much to ask of me!

So I took matters into my own hands and came up with this story. Basically this is the only logical explanation for why EJ went from running rings around everyone in Salem to licking light sockets. The other solution would be that obviously EJ had a brain tumour - hence the huge personality change... into no personality what so ever. *waves an angry fist at the writers at DOOL's damning them all for doing this to my favourite character!*

I hope you enjoy it, comments are always welcome and special bonus points if you can work out what is happening before the reveal...

La Folie à Deux

(The Madness Shared By Two)

Prologue

Sami cowered back in the wardrobe that Rafe had quickly ordered her into, hardly daring to breathe. Her heart hammered away so loudly in her chest that she was sure that everyone within a mile radius could hear it anyway. Heavy footsteps outside the wardrobe stopped her breathing altogether though, especially when they came to a halt in front of where she was hiding. The door of the wardrobe was suddenly ripped open and Sami screamed up at the silhouetted figure.

"Don't hurt my baby!" she cried out frantically, her hands clutching protectively at her heavily swollen belly, "Rafe... Rafe!"

In a moment of blind panic Sami made a rush for her would be assassin and caught him off guard and despite being well built he stumbled back a couple of steps as Sami launched herself at his chest. Sami started to make good her escape, her hand already on the door handle when she heard the sound of a silencer being fired and felt a sudden pain in her shoulder. She gasped loudly and her world tilted wildly before a comforting darkness claimed her.

Chapter One

"And what about this one?" asked Nicole, looking at him expectantly, "I think these are lovely too."

"Whatever you think darling," said EJ with a little smile, "I'm sure whichever chinaware you pick out for the wedding will be the very epitome of tastefulness."

"Really?" asked Nicole nervously, "Because I just know that everyone is going to be coming to our wedding and just judging me throughout the whole thing so I want it to be perfect."

"You know it is entirely possible that our friends will come to the wedding simply to wish us well," said EJ with a quirk of his lips to which Nicole sent him a disbelieving look.

"Yeah right," she snorted, "Trust me EJ, I've been in the berg way longer then you and the only well wishing I'm going to be receiving is that people wish me at the bottom of one!"

"You're kind of funny when you're stressed," observed EJ in amusement, "Do you know that?"

"And yet I don't hear myself laughing," said Nicole flatly, "Now are you going to help me with this or not EJ?"

"I'm sorry sweetheart," said EJ apologetically, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "But I have a lot of paperwork to get through that I simply can't put off any longer."

"For your father?" asked Nicole curiously.

"That's right," nodded EJ, scratching his cheek with one long finger.

"How's that going anyway?" she asked him, looking at him intently, "I know you had some reservations in the beginning."

"It's going swimmingly," said EJ easily as he stood up, "You know now that I look back on it I'm not really sure why I was so hesitant in the first place."

He looked down at Nicole then and sent her a warm smile.

"And I guess I have you to thank for encouraging me to do this sweetheart," he told her, "It was clearly the right move. I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

"You bet you are," sniffed Nicole playfully, "And don't you forget it."

"Never," vowed EJ, bending down and stealing a kiss from her.

As he straightened up EJ grimaced, putting a hand to his head.

"Have you got another headache?" asked Nicole in concern.

"Mm," said EJ distractedly.

"That's like the fourth one this week isn't it?" asked Nicole with a frown, "Maybe you should go and see a doctor?"

"I'm fine," said EJ with a dismissive wave of his hand, "The only person I want you to worry about is getting our little one safely into this world darling."

Nicole gave a weak smile at that, swallowing hard and putting a nervous hand on her protruding stomach.

"Besides I'm sure I just need to get a new prescription with my glasses," said EJ easily, "I'll make time to go and see an optometrist. You'll see that will be what it is for sure."

Before Nicole could argue with him the doorbell sounded and EJ smiled down at her.

"Stay there," he told her, "I'll get it."

EJ walked out to the foyer, still rubbing his head. He didn't want to worry Nicole in her delicate condition but these headaches really were becoming troublesome. Perhaps her suggestion of seeing a doctor might not be such an outlandish one after all. Nothing seemed to help with them. EJ tried to shrug it off, opening the door to a surprise visitor.

"Hope," he said with an arched eyebrow, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

EJ stepped back to let Hope through the door.

"I'm sorry EJ," she said, looking at him very seriously, "But I've got some bad news."

"What kind of bad news?" asked EJ with a frown, feeling his head beginning to throb even more now.

"It's Sami," she said quietly, "The safe house she was in appears to have been discovered and she and the man assigned to protect her have gone missing."

"But... but I just talked to her," said EJ shakily, this being the last news he'd been expecting, "On the webcam on Christmas day."

"I know," said Hope, putting a sympathetic hand on his arm, "You have to know that everything is being done to find Sami."

"How could this happen?" asked EJ faintly, "I don't understand how this could happen. She was meant to be in protective custody!"

EJ's voice was starting to become raised then as the news sunk in.

"EJ I promise you, every possible thing is being done to find her," said Hope earnestly, putting both her hands on EJ's arms now.

EJ looked down at Hope's sincere face and felt a sudden wave of comfort at her touch and instinctively reached up to cup her elbows in a light touch.

"Thank you," he said roughly.

"What's wrong?" asked Nicole with a frown, suddenly appearing in the hallway and seeing EJ and Hope standing together in an almost embrace, "What's going on?"

"The safe house Sami was in has been discovered," said EJ shortly.

"Is Sami dead?" asked Nicole, looking between the two of them.

"She's missing," said Hope tersely, not liking the vaguely hopeful tone in the other woman's voice.

"Oh," said Nicole, looking at EJ to see his reaction to all this but he still looked a little stunned, "That's... that's too bad."

"Very convincing," said Hope in annoyance.

"Well it's no secret that Sami and I aren't best friends," shrugged Nicole unapologetically, "So don't expect me to tear up just to play the part."

"Nicole Samantha is the mother of my son," said EJ tightly, glaring at her as his head suddenly felt like it was going to explode.

"What is going on here?" asked Stefano loudly from the top of the stairs.

EJ grimaced and looked up at his father as he came down the stairs.

"Samantha has gone missing," he said tightly, not finding it any easier to get the words out no matter how many times he said it.

"But this is terrible news!" said Stefano, sounding outraged, "What is being done to find my grandson's mother eh Detective Brady? I demand to know."

"Everything that can be done is being done," said Hope with a frown at the way Stefano was intent on throwing his weight around, "Sami is my niece and you can rest assure that every available police officer on the Salem PD is working on this."

"Is that meant to make us feel better?" asked Nicole skeptically, "No offence but you guys kind of suck."

"Nicole!" scowled EJ, putting his hand to his head, "You're not helping!"

"I'm sorry," said Nicole quickly, going to his side and putting her arm around him, "I open my mouth sometimes and things just fall out. I didn't mean anything by it. Look, you're obviously in pain, why don't you come and sit down and I'll get you some pain killers?"

"EJ?" Hope gave him a quizzically concerned look at that.

"Just a little headache," said EJ dismissively but started to let Nicole lead him away anyway, "Hope you'll let me know as soon as you hear anything won't you?"

"Of course EJ," she said quickly, "And try not to worry."

She looked at Stefano then as Nicole walked with EJ into the living room.

"I'll be going then," she said shortly, not having a whole lot to say to the likes of Stefano DiMera.

"Of course," said Stefano smoothly, walking with her to the door, "Thank you for delivering such difficult news personally Detective. As my son said, will you please keep us... how do you say... in the loop... with this matter? And if there is anything we can do to help, then you must call on us. The DiMera's have many resources."

"Don't I know it," muttered Hope but nodded her agreement.

Nicole sat close to EJ on the sofa, a concerned hand on his knee.

"Please won't you see a doctor EJ?" she begged him worriedly, "You can't go on like this."

"My future daughter in law is right Elvis," said Stefano, walking into the room after seeing Hope off.

"Will you two please stop buzzing around me?!" asked EJ in aggravation and then grimaced, "Sorry."

EJ took Nicole's hand then and put the other to his face as he rested his elbow on his knee.

"I'm sorry," he repeated tiredly, "I don't mean to snap. It's just the news about Samantha caught me off guard."

"I know," said Nicole, looking away quickly, "It's always Sami isn't it?"

"Nicole," said EJ with a heavy sigh and tightened his grip on her hand reassuringly, "I love you, very much but you have to allow me to be concerned about the welfare of the mother of my son."

"Is that all it is?" asked Nicole tremulously, looking very vulnerable all of a sudden.

"Sweetheart Samantha was my past," said EJ, trying yet again to reassure her, "You and this baby are my future. I wish you would trust in our love."

"I'm not so great with the whole trust thing," admitted Nicole, "I'm not very used to it."

"You can trust me Nicole," said EJ firmly, "I love you, we're going to be married soon and that is all you need to worry yourself about, I promise."

EJ leant over and kissed her then and gave her a smile.

"I'm going to get some Tylenol," he announced, "And then I think it's probably time that we both got some sleep, it's getting late."

"Okay," said Nicole and watched as EJ went into the kitchen to get his painkillers.

"I'm worried about him," she said fretfully, looking over at Stefano.

"Don't," said Stefano, putting a calming hand on her shoulder as she remained seated on the sofa, "I will have Rolf attend to my son. Now you should do as Elvis suggested and gets some rest Nicole. We have business to be taken care of tomorrow you and me eh?"

"Right," nodded Nicole and they shared a look, "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"But of course," said Stefano with an inclination of his head.

Nicole headed up the stairs to her bedroom, passing Rolf on the way. Rolf joined Stefano in the living room.

"Elvis' headaches persist," Stefano informed him.

"I told you of my concernz Stefano," tutted Rolf, "I vill need to run zome testz."

"Alright, alright," said Stefano with an annoyed wave of his hand, "Come, he is in the kitchen."

When the two men walked into the kitchen it was to find EJ leaning over the kitchen sink, obviously in pain.

"My son," said Stefano, quickly going up to him and putting a hand on his back, "This is not good. Let Rolf have a look at you eh?"

EJ frowned, eyeing Rolf suspiciously. He only knew of a small amount of Rolf's past antics but what he did know didn't make EJ exactly keen to agree to any kind of examination from the man.

"I think I'd rather see a real doctor Father," said EJ flatly, "No offence Rolf."

"But I am a real doctor Elvis," protested Rolf.

"This man has saved my life many times over," said Stefano by way of endorsement, "I think it is important to let Rolf examine you my son."

"I'll make an appointment tomorrow," said EJ with a shake of his head, not desperate enough yet to submit to Rolf's ministrations.

Rolf and Stefano exchanged glances then behind EJ's back as he started towards the door.

"As you wish my son," said Stefano to his back, nodding at Rolf, "I was only trying to help."

"I know and I appreciate that Father but owww!"

EJ had been in the process of turning around and thanking his father for his concern when there had been this sudden sharp pain in the back of his neck. EJ jerked around, a hand flying to his neck as he stared wide eyed at Rolf who was standing directly behind him, a syringe in his hand.

"What the hell?!" he exclaimed but the words came out slurred and EJ felt his world begin to become distorted.

He made a grab for the table and missed as he felt his knees begin to buckle, falling to the ground. Suddenly EJ couldn't keep his eyes open and even though he struggled valiantly against it soon the darkness enveloped him completely and he knew nothing else.

"I vish he vas a smaller man," commented Rolf with a sigh as he and Stefano came to stand over EJ's now unconscious body on the kitchen floor, "It iz not good for my back to be lifting zuch heavy zings you know Stefano."

"It goes with the territory Rolf," said Stefano with an unconcerned shrug at the other man's reservations.

"Ya I suppose zo," nodded Rolf stoically, "Za next job I have vill have no heavy lifting though, I vill make sure of it... and maybe lezz drugging."