At the Spectator...

[Jack has kissed Sami to prove that he can move on from Jennifer. At just that moment, Jennifer walks in, shocked at what she is seeing. Sami responds for a split second, and then reels back and slaps Jack.]

Jack: What the hell did you slap me for?

Sami: What the hell was that kiss for? What's your problem, Jack?

Jennifer: That's what I'd like to know!

[Jack and Sami turn and see Jennifer, neither one knowing what to say.]

Jennifer: What is going on?

Jack: I don't owe you an explanation. What goes on between Sami and me is private.

Sami: Private? What are you talking about, Jack? There's nothing "going on" between us.

Jack: Sami, you don't need to explain either. You see, I’m not with Jennifer anymore. She's made it perfectly clear that she sees no future for us. Now I have no choice but to take her word for it.

Jennifer: Since when, Jack?

Jack: Will today do?

Jennifer: I have some work that I need to do, and so do you, Jack. So, Sami, if you don't mind...

Sami: Oh, yeah, actually, I do mind. I'll go when I’m good and ready.

Jennifer: Fine. Fine, whatever, Sami.

Jack: Whatever? That's a new one.

Jennifer: Do you know the Gemini meteor shower piece is due tomorrow? And I want your copy on my desk in one hour - no later.

Sami: Jack, I know why she's acting like this. You had a fight with Brandon, didn't you?

Jennifer: You know what, Sami? Not that it's any of your business, but I am going to fill you in, just to save Brandon from the annoyance of you chasing him around trying to find out what happened.

Sami: See, I was right. They did have a fight.

Jennifer: No, we didn't have a fight. We broke up, and I’m sure that makes you very happy, Sami. (to Jack) And you, too. [Jack doesn't react]

Sami: I knew it. All that talk about your relationship, your big romantic getaway, but bam - 24 hours later, it's over.

Jennifer: You know what, Sami? I realize that gloating is one of your favorite sports, along with lying, meddling, and being a pariah, but could you do it somewhere else? Because I have work to do.

Sami: So do I. Now. [She pulls Jack aside] Oh, and Jack - about the kiss. Don't let it go to your head, but it wasn't half bad, and you certainly deserve better than her. [She pokes her head around Jack to smirk at Jennifer.] Bye for now.

[Jack and Jennifer watch her go, and Jack shrugs at Jennifer.]

[Later, Jennifer brings an assignment and puts it on Jack's desk, then walks back to her office. Jack grabs the paper and follows her, slapping it back on her desk. He starts to leave, but then turns back around.]

Jennifer: Something on your mind?

Jack: This is where I'm supposed to turn it back on you, to try to push you to tell me what's on your mind.

Jennifer: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Jack: I'm talking about us, what we do - the verbal sparring, the back-and-forth, the game playing. I'm done.

Jennifer: Excuse me?

Jack: You heard me. I'm done. That's it. I'm not going to reel off one of my lists trying to dazzle you with the many different ways of saying "it's over." I'm done with that, too.

Jennifer: With what, dazzling me, Jack?

Jack: Trying to. It's time to move on. I'm ready. Finally.

Jennifer: I'm not really sure I understand.

Jack: Look - you're through with Brandon, so I think it's time for you and me to be honest... about us.

Jennifer: Well, if you're saying that maybe we should try to be together again -

Jack: I'm saying I want to see other women.

Jennifer: That's good, because I think that you should.

[She turns away from him to hide any traces of hurt on her face.]

Jack: Do you?

Jennifer: Yes, I do. Not that Sami is such a great choice.

Jack: Are you jealous?

Jennifer: Of course I'm not. Why should I be?

Jack: Gee, let me think...

Jennifer: Look, if you're talking about that kiss, I know that you set it up. You knew that I was standing there.

Jack: Actually, I didn't.

Jennifer: Then why did you do it?

Jack: Because I wanted to. Because I felt like it. The kiss had nothing to do with you. It was my Fourth of July, my Declaration of Independence, and you know something? Jennifer, it felt damn good.

Jennifer: You know, I think that you are making an awfully big deal out of one little kiss, Jack.

Jack: I'm trying to be honest, Jennifer, not fake honest. I want to talk to you from my heart.

Jennifer: Okay, go ahead.

Jack: All I ever wanted was to be with you. I asked you to marry me again on several occasions, and you turned me down every time. Now you've been preoccupied with Brandon, and now you've moved on, obviously. So the questions is, who's next on the list? Where do you go from here? I can only assume that now that you're free, you're going to go after Colin. But that's - that's up to you. My point is, I can't keep pursuing you if you keep pursuing other men. It's not that I won't always love you, and I'll probably die wanting you - and I'm not saying that I want you to be with someone else. I'm saying for far too long I've spent all my emotional capital trying to win the Jennifer Jackpot, and I can't do it anymore. I won't do it anymore.

Jennifer: But what if -

Jack: What if? What if what? What if I win? Is that what you were going to say? Well, I said I was going to be honest, so okay. I still want that - a life with you and Abigail. But you have to know what you want. Jennifer, if you want me in the end, then you have to come to me and tell me.

Jennifer, a tear rolling down her cheek: So, what does that mean exactly? Does that mean that you're going to be so busy with other women?

Jack: Like I said; if you want me, let me know. But don't take too long, because I'm definitely looking. Don't be surprised if I end up with someone else.

Jennifer: Well, you weren't kidding when you said you wanted to be honest. And I appreciate it, really. I guess I, uh, need to be honest myself.

Jack: Okay.

Jennifer: The thing is, is, um... I have been playing games with you. And I didn't mean it, and I certainly didn't plan it, but... It just happened; I don't know, for a lot of reasons, and - I guess the thing is now is that I need to look into my heart, and I need to figure out what it is that I need, and then maybe from there I'll know where I'm going and who with.

Jack: Well, I'd better get back to my desk. You, too.

[Jack pauses and chuckles to himself]

Jennifer: What?

Jack: It's funny, really. It's - you know, with most other couples, the problems start when they try to work together. But with you and me, no matter how bad it gets anywhere else, at work we click. Which reminds me, that puff piece for the magazine is on-line, and I'm almost finished with "It's Raining Meteors," so...

Jennifer: Jack, wait. When we first met, you were obsessed with work, and you used it to keep people away and to keep life away, and I am not going to let you do that again. I am not going to be the reason that you do that.

Jack: Jennifer, you remember our wedding?

Jennifer: How could you ask me that question? How could I forget our wedding?

Jack: No, not the wedding, the reception afterwards. You know, everything was a madhouse, and we - we slipped away, and then in my back pocket I had the piece of paper with the speech that I wasn't able to give you at the wedding.

Jennifer: Yes - "From the day we first met, you surprised me and challenged me and engaged me in a way that no other human being ever has."

Jack: You remember all of that?

Jennifer: No one has ever said anything so beautiful. Not even close.

Jack: It was true... and it still is. Everything I learned, felt, and valued from being with you - all those things - I'm going to keep with me till the day I die.

Jennifer: Me too.

Jack: What? What?

Jennifer: Jack, you're just being so serious. I don't even know what to make of all this.

Jack: Well, it's a new me, a new us. We better get used to it.

[He walks out of her office leaving her to ponder what just happened.]

[Jack is at his desk, working on the computer, and Jennifer walks over to bring him a piece he did that she had been proofing.]

Jennifer: Okay, Jack, it's a nice lead, but you've got to give me more heart on the close. Okay, uh, mention the grandmother's tears of pride sooner, and a little build to the runner-up missing "terpsichorean" and Jeannie nailing "onomatopoeia."

[Jack clicks a key on the keyboard, revealing that he's already made all the changes.]

Jennifer: How did you know what I'd want to change?

Jack: Like I said before, we click at work. Especially in matters of earth-shaking importance like the regional finals in the spelling bee. [They both smile] What?

Jennifer: Nothing. I just - I have another assignment for you.

Jack, in jest: The azalea festival, please.

Jennifer: Use or lose the headline - it's yours. [She hands him a folder with papers in it.]

Jack: "Where is Stefano DiMera?"

Jennifer: And, I mean, technically it's not news, because, you know, we don't know the answer, but if we find out, could you even think of a bigger story?

Jack: Aside from the Pope, the President, and all the crowned heads of Europe going down on the same ship, no, but why me?

Jennifer: Because you're available.

Jack: Who wouldn't be available? I mean, all the Pulitzer hopefuls around here would kill for this story.

Jennifer: Well, you know what? That's too bad. You're better. You're the best.

Jack: Thanks. Thanks. I'll get this story, and I'll get it right.

Jennifer: Jack, just remember that you're dealing with the DiMeras, so please be very careful. Promise me.

Jack: I promise. I'll be careful. [Jennifer nods, and as she passes by, they high-five.]

Jack, to himself: I'll be whatever else I need to be to find out what the DiMeras are up to.