Peter shoots the gun as Jennifer walks up from behind.  She lets out a blood curdling scream worthy of the movie and it's sequel.  Jack and Jude simultaneously fall to the ground.

Peter -- (looks behind)  Jennifer!

Jennifer -- (ignores Peter)  Jack!  (she runs to his body)

Jack and Jude are both lying on the ground in the snow.  Jude is on his stomach while Jack is on his back.  Blood is smeared all over Jack's face and there are large blood stains on his gray sweater, which is exposed as his jacket is unzipped.

Jennifer immediately kneels by Jack's side.

Jennifer -- (frantic with worry)  Jack!  Jack?  Oh God!  Please be okay.  Please be okay!  (she gently touches his head and caresses him)

Peter -- I only shot once.  There's no way I could have shot them both, Jen.

Jennifer -- (she is angry and yells)  You shot him Peter!  You shot Jack!  (she begins to cry)  How could you shoot him?  How could you shoot Jack?

Peter tries to talk to her but Jack head suddenly starts to move.

Jennifer -- Jack!  Jack, you're alive.

Jack -- (tries to sit up)  Jen . . . yeah.

Peter -- How bad are you hit, man?

Jack -- (calmly and slowly)  I'm fine.

Jennifer -- No, you've been shot.

Jack -- No, no I haven't been shot.

Jennifer -- Jack, you can't get up, you're bleeding.

Jack -- (still seated)  Look, I was struggling for the gun and then Jude just collapsed.

Peter goes over to Jude's body and turns it over to reveal a pool of blood in the snow.  He checks for a pulse.

Peter -- He's dead.

Jack -- (now on his feet)  You shot him.

Peter -- Yeah.  In case you didn't notice, he was about to kill you.

Jack -- And you just appointed yourself judge, jury and executioner.

Peter -- Oh come on Jack, I didn't mean to kill him.  He must have moved when I pulled the trigger.

Jack -- (realizing how close he was to death) You shouldn't have even shot at him at all!

Peter -- I thought he was going to kill you.

Jack -- I could have handled it.

Peter -- If I hadn't have shot him, you'd be dead right now.  Tell him, Jen.

Jennifer -- It all happened so fast.

Peter -- That's right.  I saw what was happening and I reacted.

Jack -- You're lying.  You are trying to cover up a deliberate case of cold blooded murder.

Jennifer stares at Peter with worry.

Some time passes as the state troopers arrive at the scene.  The head trooper is played by Rob Moran, who now plays TC.  Jude's body has been covered and Jack is still all bloody from the
incident.  The trooper wants Jack, Jen and Peter to wait as the men clear the scene before getting some statements.

Peter -- So what are you going to tell them, Jack?

Jack -- (elevated voice)  I'm gonna tell them the truth.  You might want to try it some time, Peter.

Peter -- What, are you calling me a liar?

Jack -- I'm just calling things the way I see them here.

Peter -- I should have let Jude kill you.

Jennifer -- Stop it.  The both of you.  Peter, you know you didn't mean that.

Jack -- The hell he didn't.

Peter -- I just saved your life, Jack.  You have got a lot of nerve standing there making wild accusations about me.

Jack -- (angered)  There is nothing you would like more than to see me disappear permanently.

Jennifer -- Are you saying that Peter tried to shoot you and shot Jude by mistake?

Jack -- No, no, no.  Peter wanted Jude dead.  But it was a win win situation.  It didn't really matter which one of us he shot, did it?

Jennifer -- That doesn't make sense.

Jack -- Peter shoots Jude, Jude can't expose Peter as his boss.  He shoots me, there's no one around to investigate it.

Peter -- You're the only one who believes that I was connected to Jude.  Your jealousy is making you irrational.  Don't waste your time with him, Jen.

Jack -- You know, Jude offered me a bargain.  He said that if I let him go, he would tell me who the guy it is who he was working for.  And I am damn sure that it was you Peter.

Peter -- Think what you want to think, Jack.  You can't prove a damn thing.

Jack -- Which is exactly why you murdered him.  You did that to save yourself.

Peter lunges at Jack but the trooper stops him.  The trooper starts to ask questions about the weapons.  Peter admits he shot Jude.  The trooper takes him to one side to question him.

Jennifer -- Do you think that they are going to charge him, Jack.

Jack -- (he has started to wipe the dried up blood off his face)  No.  Unless I can prove that Peter deliberately killed Jude.

Jennifer -- You can't do that.  Peter shot Jude to save you.  You should be grateful.

Jack --  Jen,  what if Jude was working for Peter and Peter shot him to silence him.

Jennifer -- That's not true.

Jack -- (quietly and calmly)  Peter is evil.  As long as you and Abby are around him, you are in danger.

Jennifer -- You have been saying that ever since you got back to Salem.

Jack -- Jude did make me that offer.

Jennifer -- Then why didn't you take it.

Jack -- Cause there was no way that I was going to let that lowlife escape.  He would have given away all that information to the cops.  Guys like that would give away their own mothers if they think
it will help them.  And  I guarantee Jude would have given up Peter.

Jennifer -- Well, did he mention Peter?  Did he say his name?

Jack -- No, but it was just a matter . . .

Jennifer -- But nothing Jack.  Once again you have no proof.

Jack -- Jude said that he was working for someone very big and powerful.

Jennifer -- Well maybe it was Stefano.  Or maybe he would have said Peter cause he knew that's what you wanted to hear.  You said he'd do anything to save himself.

Jack -- Jen.  You are a trained reporter.  Just think this through.  Think the evidence through.  Peter didn't have to shoot to kill.  He shot him to protect himself.  Who knows what else he has done.  He was raised by Stefano.  He worked for Stefano.  Stefano is evil.  Jen, I know in my gut that Peter is just as bad, maybe even worse.

Jennifer is confused.

Jack -- Well admit it Jen.  Everything that I have said makes sense.

Jennifer -- It's still your word against Peter's.  Jack, why do you keep doing this to me.

Jack --  Because I am scared to death for you and Abby.

Jennifer -- Peter would never hurt us.

Jack -- Listen Jen,  I know it's important to believe that right now.  But eventually you are just going to have to face the truth.  It's going to be painful but I want you to know that I'm going to be there for you and Abby, no matter what you need.

Peter -- (walks up on them)  I bet you will.  What's he been saying to you, Jen?  As if I didn't know.  The ranger is ready to take your statement Jack and just stick to the facts.  No one cares about your crazy theories.

The ranger calls Jack over.  Peter asks Jen what was said between them.  Jack did get to Jen as she expresses doubt over his story.  Peter swears on his love for Jennifer that he is telling the truth.  The ranger and Jack come over and Jennifer explains that she didn't see anything.  The ranger lets them go back to town.

Peter -- See, Jen.  Jack was lying.  Otherwise he would have told his crazy theory to the officer.
 
Jack -- Peter is the one who's lying and if he hadn't killed Jude I could have proved it myself.

Peter -- You're wrong!  Tell him, Jen.

Jack -- Yeah Jen.  Tell me,  which one of us do you believe.

Jennifer -- (upset)  Hope was just rescued from that madman.  Bo was shot and Jude is dead and all either of you care about is who I believe.

Peter apologizes and takes her back to the pub.

Jack -- (alone as he speaks out loud)  I'm sorry you're upset, Jen.  But you didn't answer the question.  Which one of us do you believe?
 
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