Hero

(Flashback: late spring 2013)

It was just past midnight. Max was sitting on a bench in a busy corridor in the hospital, right outside Chloe's room. Max had briefly dozed off but she was woken up by Chloe's mother Joyce. Joyce had come to the hospital as soon as Max had called her with news of what had happened. Warren was asleep on another bench just a few yards away.

David, who had been treated for his wound, said that he was going to report to the police everything he had seen and found out, now that it was still fresh in his memory. He suggested Max and Warren also not wait too long to do so.

Max promised David that she and Warren would keep contact with him and were available for statements at any time. "Better go tomorrow morning", David said.

Joyce sat down next to Max. "Thank you for calling me, I was so worried when I got your call. And David just told me what has happened. I don't even know where to begin, how could I have been so blind to the pain my poor Chloe was in?"

Max tried to comfort Joyce by saying that she too had made mistakes. "I disappeared from her life just when she needed a friend the most, right after the death of your husband, her father."

"I did not handle the situation as I should have", Joyce answered. "I should have realized I was not just a widow, but also a mother. Maybe I brought David in too soon, and I should have realized what William had meant to Chloe. But David is a good man, a really good man, he is just not very good at showing his emotions. Until he told me what he had seen and heard, I had never seen him cry. Now I understand Chloe's feelings so much better. She really loves Rachel, doesn't she?"

"Yes, she does. Chloe has talked about her a lot ever since I came back into her life. I'm no expert at love matters or anything, but I just think that you can't fake feelings like that. To see my best friend in the state she was in yesterday, is something I hope I'll never have to see again."

"Max, I can't put into words just how much I am hoping that Rachel will be alright. And thank you so much again for being here for my Chloe. But I think you should go get some sleep, it's going to be hectic in the next few days."

Max agreed with Joyce, and promised she'd be back the next morning. After getting up from the bench, Max woke Warren up, and after finding no news about Rachel's condition they both went back to Blackwell to spend the night in their respective dorm rooms.


The next morning Max returned to the hospital. She immediately rushed to Chloe's bed to find her awake. A doctor left the room as soon as Max entered it. "I'm so glad to see you, Chloe, I was really worried about you. How are you feeling right now?"

"Hey there Supermax. I'm so glad to see you. I'm feeling a little light headed, but I will be OK, I think. The doctors can't tell me anything about Rachel, do you know what is going on?"

Max answered that she didn't know much about Rachel's situation either, but that Rachel was getting all the care she needed and all they could do was wait. Chloe agreed that they would need to be patient, there was nothing either of them could do anyway. But Chloe kept insisting that she would really like to see Rachel.

"Your mother and David were here yesterday", Max said. Chloe acknowledged it and said she and her mother had a lot to talk about. "And I guess I owe David a whole bunch of apologies. I mean, he practically saved Rachel's life. He's a hero. I don't even know where to start."

Max told Chloe what David had told Joyce. Chloe was very impressed but admitted that it was not going to be easy to admit how wrong she had been about David. "I'm not very good at those kinds of situations, Max, but I'll figure it out somehow. I'll have to be strong for Rachel". Chloe then asked if Max had heard anything on the news.

"It's all over the local radio stations. Mark Jefferson has been arrested, and Nathan Prescott was moved to a prison hospital, kept under guard. Apparently, the police found him in a drugged up state, Mark Jefferson might have tried to kill him too, or so it seems. The police are all over that Dark Room of theirs, and there are a few cops here in the hospital for protection.

Which reminds me, I have to go to the police with Warren. I don't want to leave you now, Chloe. But Warren is coming, so we can give our statement together. The police will probably want to talk to you as well. Will you be alright on your own?"

Right at that moment Chloe's mother Joyce walked into the room. She was joined by Rachel's father James and his wife Rose. Max excused herself and left to make her witness statement, Chloe said she hoped Max would return soon. Max promised to be back as soon as she could.


"Chloe, we have come to tell you about Rachel and how she is doing", James Amber said. "She is still unconscious, but her situation has stabilized and the doctors are running various tests. They can't state anything definitive yet but it looks like she will pull through, and from what I understand it is also thanks to you."

"You shouldn't thank me", Chloe answered. "You should thank my stepfather, David. Without him, we would not have made it. He's the real hero". Joyce briefly wondered if she was in an alternate universe, but she managed to keep her composure and decided not to say anything.

"Right now, Rachel is getting the best care she could possibly have", James Amber continued. "It's not going to be easy for her once she wakes up. Certainly not considering that Rose and I have been lying to Rachel all her life, and I guess she ended up paying the price for our lies. I don't even know how we will ever be able to make up for that, even partially. I want you to know, Chloe, I really do love Rose, that part was not fake, I just hope we can convince Rachel of that. And nothing would please us more if you were there for Rachel once she can start her recovery."

Chloe told the Ambers as well as her mother that she would do anything to help Rachel. James Amber said that he and Rose would be able to fund whatever was needed to give Rachel the support she required. "It's the least we can do", he said. "Money can't buy forgiveness but we can help create the environment she needs for her recovery."

"I really do want to blame you", Chloe stated. "But I can't, not anymore. I could have prevented all of this too. Before Rachel disappeared, I had opportunities to just drive away with her, all the way to L.A. where she and I wanted to go. I am not blameless in this."

Joyce interrupted and said that neither the Ambers, nor Chloe should blame themselves for what had happened. After all the real blame belonged with the two men who had carried out the kidnapping. She hoped that there would be no bitterness between the Ambers and Chloe. Chloe assured her mother and the Ambers she had no intention of ever bringing it up again.

"Rachel is all that's important now", Chloe said. "I would really like to see her, it's been so long". The Ambers expressed their gratitude once more and suggested Chloe join them to check up on Rachel later in the afternoon. Rachel was undergoing treatment and they would all have to wait.

In the meantime, James Amber would make some calls to find a lawyer who could represent them, control the proceedings and keep the press at bay. "There will be a lot of interest in this case, and I want to ensure that we are in a position that we can control some of what is going to happen. That lawyer will also be able to help Rachel with her statements and testimony, which she will certainly be called upon for. Please let me provide this for Rachel, Chloe."

Chloe expressed that she had no objections, and approved of anything that was good for Rachel.


A few hours passed and Chloe saw Max reappear. "How was it at the police station, Max?"

"Warren and I were interviewed together. They are writing a report now and we are going back tomorrow to check if all the details are correct. It was intense but I'm glad we did it."

"I'm freaking out here, Max, again", Chloe said. "We're going to check on Rachel in an hour or so, and I would appreciate it if you joined me. I can't wait to see her, Max. Am I behaving selfishly?"

Max assured her best friend that she was not, and suggested they get something to eat in the canteen. Chloe joined Max but was unable to eat much. They went back to the waiting room to find the Ambers there too.

One of the doctors approached the Ambers and they signaled for Chloe to come with them. Max followed as Chloe had asked.

The doctor started explaining the situation. "We have run all the tests, some of them to double-check. We think that our initial diagnosis is sound. There seems to be no brain trauma of any kind, nor physical wounds that won't heal with time. But considering her ordeal, and the muscle atrophy, she's going to need some intense physical therapy to help her walk again and light therapy to get her eyes used to daylight again. We will also prescribe a high nutrition diet."

After some back and forth questions and answers, the doctor said they could go in and see Rachel. The Ambers went into Rachel's room, followed by Chloe and Max. Max instinctively held Chloe's hand, to assure her she didn't have to deal with any of it alone.

"It's so strange seeing her after all this time", Chloe said. "I'm really trying very hard not to break down again. I hope the doctors are right she might wake up soon."

After a while James Amber suggested to Rose and Max that they leave Chloe alone with Rachel for a moment. Chloe sat down on a chair next to Rachel's bed and caressed her hand. "I'm here for you, Rachel. Please come back to me. It's driving me crazy to not be able to just talk with you. And look at me here feeling sorry for myself, when you had it so much worse. I want you to know that I'll be there for you if you still want me to be."

Chloe saw that Rachel couldn't hear her. She sobbed as quietly as she could, whilst touching Rachel's face. "I need to be strong for you, but it's so hard. I'm so messed up right now. I'll wait here as long as I have to, I promise. I'll never leave you because I love you."

Chloe got up and headed for the door. Once she emerged from Rachel's room, Max could see in her eyes that she had been crying. Max decided not to mention it, instead she put her hand on Chloe's shoulder. "I'm here for you Chloe, you are my best friend and always will be. I'm here for you whenever you need me."

Chloe told Max she really appreciated it. After Chloe expressed her wish to stay with Rachel, the Ambers arranged for Chloe to be able to have the other bed in Rachel's room. James Amber told Chloe that while the doctors had said it was an unusual request, they had agreed to allow it considering the circumstances. Max promised to go to Chloe's house to pick up a few things for her.

Around eleven o'clock in the evening Chloe briefly left Rachel's room to get herself something to drink. Just a few minutes later she returned, and she saw that someone was in the room with Rachel. Chloe walked towards the shadowy figure but before she could say anything the figure addressed her.


"I thought I might find you here", Frank Bowers said to Chloe. "Look, I'm not going to stay long, and I would appreciate it if you didn't call the cops on me or anything. It was hard enough to get in here unnoticed with so much police about the place. I'm a person of interest to them, and they visited me earlier today.

I suspected they were coming, I heard about the events on my police scanner and managed to clean the merchandise out before they arrived. They didn't find anything in my RV but my personal stash, which I convinced them to let me keep. I had to make a statement of course, and have to remain in contact with the police, whether I like it or not. I swear to you, Chloe, if I had known what those two bastards were doing, I would have killed them on the spot."

Chloe didn't respond but in her mind she knew Frank absolutely would have done just that.

Frank pensively looked towards Rachel who was still unconscious. "I want you to know this, Chloe, and as I said before, there was nothing serious between her and me. She hung out around my RV, that's true. She let me make some pictures of her, but in the end, she just needed someone to fix her up. Nothing inappropriate happened. I may be a lowlife drug dealer but I am not a fool. I saw how Rachel's eyes lit up whenever she talked about you. I admit I was jealous of you."

Chloe asked if Frank remembered when he had last seen her. "It was not long before she disappeared, Chloe", Frank answered. "She said she had met someone who was going to make her famous, and then she would come back for you and take you with her. Did you get the letter she left for you?"

Chloe was surprised that Frank knew about the letter, but didn't push the issue further. Frank then stated that it was time for him to go. "I'm leaving Arcadia Bay forever, as soon as the police will let me. I am thinking of heading to New Mexico or Arizona, see what the future holds there for me, explore new markets maybe. You will probably never see me again."

"I still owe you money", Chloe said.

Frank was quiet for a few moments. "No, you don't. Not anymore. I burned that book this morning. I want no argument from you. All I want in exchange, Chloe Price, is for you to promise me three things. First, never tell her I was here. Then, you and her stay away from people like me in the future, we're bad news. And finally, this is the most important part, take good care of her."

After looking at Rachel for a few moments, Chloe turned towards Frank in order to thank him, but to her surprise saw that he was gone. Chloe ran into the corridor and could see an elevator closing about twenty yards away. Frank was gone. In a way, Frank's visit seemed appropriate to Chloe.

Chloe looked at the TV screen that was still on in the waiting room. The sound was muted but the headlines mentioned a storm that had struck the coast a few miles north of Arcadia Bay. The news ticker also mentioned the local teacher that had been arrested, and that one of his victims had been found alive. "That's Rachel", Chloe thought to herself. "I should go back to her now".

Chloe gave the news ticker one last look and saw that reports were crediting a local man with solving the case. "David's my hero", Chloe smiled. "It's going to take some getting used to. All of this could be a new beginning for me, and hopefully for Rachel too."

Not long after that moment, Chloe was fast asleep in the bed next to Rachel's bed.


(Present time: 2019)

"Looks like the weather's cleared up", Max said to Warren. "The storm disappeared just like that, all of a sudden, who can explain it?"

Max knew that she and Warren were originally only scheduled to stay with Chloe and Rachel for two days and it had already been at least a full day more.

"I don't want to leave, but I have an important meeting tomorrow and need to make some preparations", Warren said.

"Thank you for coming, Warren", Chloe said. Warren said he still owed Chloe thanks for helping him with Max.

"Just forget about it", Chloe replied. "The fact that you were here with us is already enough for me. It's really helped to have all of us here. And you'll always be awesome for kicking Nathan's ass. And even more so for being a good man to Max."

Warren blushed and Max kissed him goodbye. Chloe playfully added that Warren better not ever make her sorry to set him up with Max, and grinned when she put up her fists. The four of them laughed about the whole scene.

Rachel shook Warren's hand and hoped his new business venture would be successful. "I'm sure you'll be back here soon telling us all about it. And congratulations on the two of you expecting a baby. Chloe and I will ask Max all about it, I promise you. And maybe one day you two can let us babysit?"

As Warren left, the three young women went back to the living room. "I think we should continue", Max said. "I can stay for a few more days, my next exhibition isn't until next week anyway."

"That's hella cool, Max", Chloe told her childhood friend. "But once we're done we're going to hang out at the Santa Monica pier, and we'll talk about your pregnancy. We do need to get out of this house every now and then".

Max said she was looking forward to it. "I so recall your wedding near that location. You looked so adorable in that dress, Chloe, and Rachel rocked that suit".

"Your costume wasn't bad either, Max", Rachel replied. "How you managed to be our official photographer and Chloe's witness at the same time still amazes me. You must have some real superpower, Max".

"Oh, you don't want to know", Chloe laughed.


(Flashback: late spring 2013, continued)

Chloe woke up past seven o'clock in the morning. She instinctively wanted to pull the drapes back before she realized that the doctors had told her not to. She walked over to Rachel and sighed when Rachel still appeared unconscious. Chloe turned to look for her toothbrush and prepared to go to the bathroom. Then, just as she walked past Rachel's bed she suddenly noticed something.

Rachel had her eyes open. Chloe hit her head against the door when she saw it. She winced from the pain and looked at Rachel. Then she heard a voice she had missed for so long. "That's going to leave a nasty bump, Chloe".

Chloe dropped everything in her hands and rushed over to Rachel's bed. She thought of a thousand things she wanted to say, but all she managed to do was flash an awkward smile. Rachel's voice was soft but it enchanted Chloe on the spot. "I am so happy to see you, Chloe. I'm glad you're the first person I see, I missed you so much."

Chloe spoke her first words to Rachel in nine months. "I love you, Rachel Amber."


PS

Frank Bowers might still return in the future, just to see if Chloe kept her promises to him. For Chloe and Rachel, the time has come to rebuild their relationship and overcome the obstacles that are still standing in their way.