CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NIGHTMARE VISITOR

BO AND HOPE'S HOME

"What's the game plan?" Phillip unbuttoned his leather jacket, and sat down in the chair. "How are we going to insure that Vivian won't get near enough to my family to harm them any longer." His blue eyes sparkled in anger. "I'm sick and tired of this, Bo," his right palm hit his leg. "I'm so sick with the fact that my wife is going to live in fear over a sociopath whom can wiper out her life with something as simple as a damn freaking comb. I'm even sick of the fact that my mother in law is running scared over the same sociopath whom had buried her alive. The same sociopath whom stole her son at his birth. The same sociopath whom lied and told her that her child was dead at birth. The same sociopath whom sees no problem at her to making her shoot her own child."

"Phillip, don't you think that I don't feel as angry, and sick as you!" Bo roared. But, than he lowered his voice as he remembered that his daughter was just upstairs. "I feel more guilty every second since I read that article that Lawrence was murdered. Even though I didn't know that Carly killed him in self defense, I just knew that with Lawrence's murder – Carly's life was in danger." His eyes glistened in tears, "And I was helpless to get to her. As far as I knew she went deep into hiding to protect her life.

"Even if I thought it would help keep her safe, I still wouldn't have contacted her. I still wouldn't have tracked her down." Bo looked over at Hope, "And it wasn't because of you, Fancy Face. It was because I had willing allowed her to walk out of my life. It was because I didn't want to fight for her." Tears rolled down his cheeks, "I couldn't go to her for forgiveness for giving up so easily on our love for one another."

Hope walked over and put a hand on his shoulder, "Carly understood Bo. She understood that she had hurt you when she chose Lawrence over you. That's why it took such a desperate situation for her to seek you out once more." Carly had never told her that – but Hope knew insistently when she had found Carly in her and Bo's bed that one night.

"Perhaps it's best that Carly doesn't want me right now." Bo said in the silent room. "I don't want to risk her or the baby's health. She's much safer with Daniel protecting her." His muscles tried to unwind from the tension that had been building since Phillip had stated that Carly had chosen Daniel over him.

"Okay enough of this self pity party." Julie said clapping her hands. "It's not helping matters. What is, is. You can't change anything." She walked over to Bo and tipped his chin up with her right hand. "I bet you would do everything the same way even if you knew this all was going to happen."

Bo lowered his eyes without speaking.

"There." Julie said with a firm nod of her head. "Perhaps this is how God had planned everything …. to perhaps help Carly to finally understand that she doesn't live in a glass house. That it's okay for her to relay on others to protect her and keep her safe. That she can be the same independent person … even with others there protecting her."

Bo's head jerked up, "How dare God put one of his beloved souls through so much terror just to weaken them." He breathed in deep and quick, "I know Carly is a very stubborn person, but she had learned to lean on someone – me – since she was in her early twenties. She knew that I would come and save her when I first protected her from Lawrence in the bar." His jaw clenched, "How dare he allow Carly to go through all the terror and horror that Lawrence had put her in – just too protect another of his beloved souls."

Julie blinked, "That's not what I meant, Bo."

Bo moved away from the two women in his frustration and anger of the entire situation. His hands rose and ran roughly over his head. He wanted to scream and beat something to a pulp. But, he fully knew he was in his living room – and that his precious little daughter was upstairs in her bedroom. He tried desperately to calm his temper down.

Thankfully everyone in the room knew to keep silent and let him go through his silent anger alone. It took a full half hour before he managed to calm down.

Bo turned around and faced the people in the room a set look to his face. "We need a solid game plan on how to keep Carly and Melanie safe and alive. I want as many loyal people that we can locate." He looked at Hope, "I know that they will be loyal to you – but they must be loyal to Carly also. I don't want anyone to doubt within themselves on what they are doing to protect Carly will have any effect on your emotional state."

"Everyone knows what is at stake." Hope replied in a quiet voice. "They fully know what Vivian is capable of doing."

"I want Laura called." Bo firmly stated. "I want Laura back in Salem as soon as possible. I want her insight on how Vivian managed to trick her into believing that she was sane when she helped her get out of the asylum."

"I have all ready called Laura," Doug said, "She'll be back home later on this evening. I'm picking her up at the airport personally."

"Good." Bo nodded over at his father in law.

DANIEL'S APARTMENT: CARLY'S ROOM

"Hello darlin'." Lawrence smiled down at his sleeping wife in another man's arms.

Carly opened her eyes and blinked. She looked in fear into her husband's eyes. 'Oh God, he found me. He knows that Daniel is Melanie's father. Oh God, he's going to kill Daniel. What have I done?'

"I see you are with your lover. I knew if I was just patient with my time …. you would lead me to him." Lawrence sat down on the bed, close to their feet. "I knew my whore of a wife couldn't stay away from the daddy of her daughter forever."

"Don't kill him, Lawrence. Kill me. Not him. Please." Carly begged with tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please Daniel isn't at fault here. You are right. I couldn't stay away from him. My need and desire for him overcame me. I had to risk your wrath and have him back inside me."

"Well Carly, this indiscretion of yours comes with a price." Lawrence shook his head from side to side. "I feel that you would have been wisest to have left it at what is was. Having your lover's baby and giving her up for adoption. Never to be seen or heard from ever again."

"I'm sorry Lawrence." Carly moaned.

"C-carly." Daniel sighed as he began to wake up. He knew his love was in pain, and he had to wake up to protect her from whatever was the cause of it.

"Wakey wakey, Doctor Jonas." Lawrence sang in a mocking sing song voice. "Come on Daniel, join our party."

Daniel woke up with a start. He was eye to eye with a pair of cold blue eyes. "Lawrence." He growled as he pulled Carly closer to his side in order to protect her from her husband.

"I see you know me by sight." Lawrence grinned. "That makes this so much faster. No need to introduce myself. So I see you have taken the liberties of my wife once more, Doctor Jonas. There are only a few men on this earth who could take one look at my wife – know what she is and turn and walk away. Too bad for you that you aren't one of them."

"So you found me." Daniel moved to try to shield Carly from Lawrence. But, it was hard with Lawrence sitting basically on her legs.

"Yes I found you." Lawrence laughed. "Finally I found the fa ..."

"Please Lawrence, no." Carly cried out in alarm.

"I love Carly, Lawrence. I want you to give her up. You can have the nasty divorce that you are after. I just want Carly free from you." Daniel broke in before Lawrence could attack Carly once more. He fully knew that he couldn't prevent Lawrence from mentality attacking Carly – but he would be damned if Lawrence could physically attack her. He would fight the other man naked to protect Carly if the need arises.

"You love Carly." Lawrence leaned forward in mock surprise. "Well now Daniel, this changes things." Turning to smile at his wife, "Yes this changes everything. Doesn't it Carly."

Carly remained silent as she stared wide eyed at her husband.

"Daniel Jonas you are the proud papa of Carly's only daughter." Lawrence put out his hand, "Welcome to the daddy of Carly's children club. She had my son."

Daniel didn't move a muscle. Shock ran though him rapidly. His mind was racing a million miles a minute. He had a child. He had a daughter. Carly was the mother of his child. How perfect was this? He turned his eyes onto the shocked and sad green eyes of his soul mate. "We have a daughter." He couldn't keep the smile from his lips.

"She's dead, Daniel." Carly bowed her head.

"W-what?!" Daniel asked in breathless shocked. What Lawrence had said didn't sound like his baby girl was dead.

"Lawrence is going to go and kill her now." She whispered. She felt his hand underneath her chin and lifting it, "I'm so sorry Daniel. I just signed our daughter's death warranty by coming to you."

"No you didn't Carly. We'll leave Lawrence now. We'll go back to your home and get her. I'll get you two to safety." Daniel said.

"Carly doesn't know where YOUR daughter is, Daniel, see I forced Carly to give your daughter up at birth. In order to save her life that day. It was a closed adoption. Carly has no idea whom has your daughter. Only I know." Lawrence leaned back and pulled out a gun from his back. "Now it's time for you to die, Daniel Jonas."

"Lawrence NO!" Carly cried out and threw herself in front of Daniel.

"Bang." Lawrence said. He slowly lowered the gun. Tilting his head he looked at the scene in front of him. Suddenly a little girl was in his lap. Running his hand down her silky blond hair to her shoulders, "This is Melanie, you two. Your precious little daughter." He leaned down, "These are your parents, Melanie."

"Mommy. Daddy." Melanie whispered her eyes wise at the sight before her. A man was being covered by a woman. Both of them didn't have clothes on their chest. The woman's green eyes looked in shocked right at her.

"Baby." Carly whispered with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Go to them." Lawrence said letting the two year old go. He watched as she slowly made her way over to Carly and Daniel.

Carly reached out and waited for her daughter to take her hand in her own. Melanie paused and just stared wide eyed into her eyes. Melanie finally smiled and reached out … Carly quickly wrapped her arms around her little body and pulled her into her chest. Bending down she kissed her head, face. "Baby, my sweet baby girl."

Daniel had wrapped his arms around Carly and touching his daughter.

"Now it's time for all three of you to die." Carly's head jerked up and found Lawrence with a sawed off shot gun pointing at them. "Lawrence, NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo!"

Lawrence pulled the trigger.

Carly cried out in pain and fear as her eyes jerked open. "N-n-nooooooooooooooooooooooo! Melanie!" She felt arms pull her backwards and she began to fight them off of her. "Let me go. He's killing my baby girl. Let me go!"

Daniel had awaken from his sleep when he heard Carly begin to moan and plead. He had been trying to wake her up from her nightmare – when she had suddenly started trashing about and screaming at the top of her lungs. He had held her tighter and pulled her more into him to keep her safe from her thrashing. "Carly, wake up. It's me Daniel. You are safe. Wake up." He said over and over again. Praying that she would wake up soon.

"Melanie!" Carly cried as she turned into Daniel's chest and buried her head into his tight muscles. Her arms wrapped around him pulling him even closer to her shaking body. He just just held her tightly to him and tried desperately to be the comforting presence that she so desperately needed right now.

Daniel slowly managed to make Carly aware that she was safe in his arms. That there wasn't anyone threatening their daughter. She finally managed to look deeply into his eyes and knew that everyone whom she truly cared about was safe and sound.

Daniel's thumb ran up and down her throat. "Want to tell me about your nightmare?"

"Lawrence found me in your bed. It was a few years after Melanie's birth. I couldn't keep away from you any longer – so I seeked you out." Tears rolled down her cheeks, "I was being selfish. I was going to have you to myself for a few short hours. Then leave you. I would have found a way to continue the affair. I wasn't going to tell you about Melanie."

Daniel sighed deeply. Not in disappointment, but with joy. She had been dreaming about him. Erotic dream t about him never less. He wondered if this was the first time she had these dreams about him? Or if she had them all along? Then his heart dropped, she probably dream t about Bo still. He was no different to her. He made just as much imprint on her soul – just as Bo had.

Her next words broke his heart. "Lawrence was in the room. He threatened you. I tried to stop him from telling you the truth. But, he said things changed after you said that you l …" she shook her head. He could see the slight blush on her cheeks. But she quickly went on, "just things changed with Lawrence. He told you about Melanie. I had to tell you that I had signed her death warrant. Melanie was suddenly there in Lawrence's lap. She was two. He told her whom we were, and told her to come to us. Melanie did and I got to hold her in my arms once more. You had your arms around us, and we were smiling, and crying over our little girl. I looked up and he had a sawed off shot gun pointed right at us. I begged him not to pull the trigger, Daniel, I truly did."

Daniel pulled her closer to him. She laid her head against his neck and sobbed. "It's okay, Carly. Everything will be okay now. Lawrence is dead. Melanie is alive and safe. So am I and so are you. I'm going to make sure it stays that way." He rested his chin against the side of her head just staring at the closed door.

He would make sure that he kept his promises to her.

MAGGIE'S HOUSE

Melanie sighed as she pushed the covers off of her body. It was time to get up and try to clean herself off. She didn't know where Phillip had disappeared too. But her inner sense was screaming that it had everything to do with Carly. "Phillip, whatever you need to do to protect her and me, than I'm all for it. But, there is no way that I'm going to allow her into my life. She lost all rights when she willing gave me up."

Knock Knock

"Come in." Melanie said with a sigh. She smiled as the door opened and Maggie was standing there with a tray. "Hey there Maggie. How did you know that I was hungry."

"I thought I heard you moving around in here." Maggie smiled, "But, I think you should have waited till someone was in the room before getting out of the bed dear. You don't want to fall and be pain due to it."

Melanie with her hand firmly on the bed post frowned at the older women, "I have been in pain for the past four days. Never ending pain." Shaking her head, "I'm not talking about the wound in my heart. No I'm talking about my actual heart and my actual soul. That pain has yet to let up." Hot, angry tears rolled down her cheeks. "I just want it to be numb. I don't want to feel the pain or anything ever again"

"Melanie, you fully know the only way to make the pain stop; is to make peace with your mother." Maggie set the tray down on the table.

"My mother is dead." Melanie said sitting on the end of the bed.

"Your mother is alive, Melanie." Maggie said with a tear in her left eye. "She's very much alive and loves you very much."

"The hell she does!" Melanie stormed out, anger deeply etched on her face. "The hell she does!" She repeated in a more quiet voice.

Maggie did the only thing she could do for this broken young girl in front of her. She wrapped her arms around her and pulled her tightly against her. Allowing the little lost girl to finally break down in a much needed heartbreaking sobs.

DANIEL'S APARTMENT: CARLY'S ROOM

Carly's hand lowered from Daniel's jaw line and trailed slowly down his chest. It drifted to the right and bumped the breast pocket and she was surprised when a ring fell out. Her eyes lowered and she gasped in surprise. Her hand picked up the ring and looked at it fully. "Daniel, what's Chloe's engagement ring doing in your breast pocket?"

"We aren't getting married." Daniel simply said.

"Why?" Carly shook her head.

"She's not the one for me. I don't love her enough to make her waste her heart on someone whom doesn't want it." Daniel sighed deeply. "My heart wouldn't belong to her. Not even one single small piece. It belongs to another ..."

"It belongs to Rebecca." Carly said in a knowing voice.

Daniel lowered his eyes. He couldn't look her in the eyes. Otherwise she would read the truth in his soul. It would hurt too much to put her in the position that she would be in on turning him down. He would never cause her that hurt.

Carly hand lifted to his chin and lifted it; so she could look into his eyes. "Daniel, Rebecca is gone. She's not coming back. She would want you to move on and make a life with someone else."

"Carly -" Daniel shook his head and pulled away. Not only emotionally but physically. Getting off the bed, "Look I'm going to let you get yourself ..."

Carly had sat up when he had pulled away. "I'm sorry Daniel."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Daniel shrugged.

"I'm sorry that I'm the reason why Chloe broke your engagement." Carly sadly stated.

"Chloe wasn't the one whom broke the engagement." Daniel said looking into her eyes. "It's time that I get some food fixed. You haven't eaten since this morning." He turned and left the bedroom, closing the door behind him softly.

Carly looked at the closed door with a worried crest in the center of her forehead. Something was off with Daniel. She was bound to find out what it is. She was also bound to get Daniel and Chloe back together. They were meant for one another.

END CHAPTER THIRTEEN