Philip and Melanie woke up in the motel room after their night of passionate sex. They acknowledged that there had always been something between them. "Now what?" Mel asked. He admitted that he didn't know, but said he didn't regret their night together. Suddenly, they heard a rumbling noise. Philip went to check it out and found the motel manager outside, fixing an air conditioner. The leery manager made a crack about Melanie. An angry Phil grabbed him by his collar then went back inside. Melanie thanked him for acting so heroically. He asked if she would be interested in exploring a future for them. She said she could be persuaded. He checked his cell, but it was dead. They agreed to meet later.

At the hospital, a worried Stephanie checked to see if Philip had been admitted the night before, since he was MIA. Lucas came in and overheard her and asked if everything was okay. She told him she was trying to find him to tell him about Ciara. Lucas hadn't heard about Ciara. Steph filled him in. Lucas went to Chloe's room. Nathan asked Steph if she had heard from Philip. Steph said no. Nate assured her Phil was fine. She admitted that she had been up thinking about how Philip had walked away from the Kiriakis clan. She wanted to talk to her ex.

A chipper Melanie went to the hospital, though she planned to take a personal day and skip her nursing classes. When Nathan heard, he asked if she was backing out of medicine because of him. She laughed at his arrogance, then admitted that she had been a little annoyed that he switched over to Steph during their date. He apologized to her. "Get over yourself, because I have," she replied.

Philip returned home. Steph was there and was relieved to see him. She told him about Ciara. He asked if Victor knew. She said Victor was the one who told her. She added that Vic told her about Phil renouncing the family. She said she was proud of him for making a clean break. She then told him that she and Nathan were just friends. He apologized for what happened at the carnival. She said that she felt she had something to do with his decision about his job and family. He smirked that she did. He didn't know what to say. Neither did she. He asked if she wanted to get back together. She said it sounded like he didn't want that, then asked if something happened. Melanie, who just arrived, overheard their conversation.

Daniel left Brady a message, asking if he had figured out a way to get him in to the hospital. Kate came upon the doc on the docks. Verbal sparring ensued. She went to hit him, but he grabbed her arm. She appeared turned on, then took off.

Lucas sat with Chloe. He pulled out a document that he found in a box in one of the spare bedrooms in their house. Nathan came in. Lucas showed him the living will he found, in which Chloe said she didn't want extraordinary measures taken to save her life. It wasn't registered with an attorney, however. Nathan said the power to decide Chloe's treatment was with Lucas since he her husband. "So her life is in my hands," Lucas declared.

At the station, Bo brought Roman up to speed on Ciara's kidnapping case. A despondent Hope noted how the kidnappers said it would be her fault if Ciara died. Justin came in with a briefcase of ransom money.

Kyle tried to give Ciara food in the remote cabin, but Ciara wouldn't eat. Dean's nasty girlfriend told her if she didn't eat, she would never see her parents again. Ciara took a bite. Dean called to say that the money had arrived and asked if she was ready for the next step. His girlfriend said she was. Dean hung up the phone, then stepped on it to destroy it. He threw the pieces around the park then headed to the cabin, where Ciara was tied up and blindfolded. Dean revealed that he blamed Hope for his not making detective years earlier and carried a serious grudge. He threw a newspaper down on the table and headed out. "Show time," he said.

Back at the station, a nervous Hope and Bo waited for the kidnappers to call and set up a drop place. Bo called Dean over for an update. During their chat, Hope's cell phone rang. It was Dean's girlfriend, using a device to disguise her voice. Bo grabbed the phone and demanded to know if Ciara was okay. The kidnapper said to check Hope's e-mail and hung up. Trace wasn't able to get anything on the call. Bo accessed Hope's email and found a photo of Ciara holding the newspaper. Bo asked Roman to have the photo enhanced to see if they could find any clues in it. The kidnapper called back and gave Hope a drop site for the money. She told Hope to come alone, then once again reminded Hope it was her fault Ciara had been taken. Bo ordered squads to cover the drop site area, but a panicked Hope said she was going alone. She then got testy with Bo. He said he just wanted to follow procedure. Justin took Hope's side. Roman pointed out to his brother that experience showed if they went by the book, the odds were on their side. Bo tried to get his wife to focus but she tearily implored him to let her do what she knew was right. He hugged her and urged her to come back to him — with Ciara. Hope left with the briefcase. Dean texted his girlfriend that it was all ready to go. She grabbed her gun and gave one to Kyle. She took Ciara and untied her. In the park, Hope waited. Bo sat nervously at the station. He had a vision of Ciara getting shot during the drop. "God, no," he said.