Chapter 26

'Bo.' Steve said quietly, touching Bo's arm. 'Let her go. There's nothing you can do for her now.'

'I'm so sorry, Bo.' Hope choked, filled with sadness and remorse as she drew their crying daughter into her arms, trying in vain to console her. Paying no heed, Bo kissed his beloved's cheeks and lips, his whole body shaking as he wept harder.

Roman and Rafe dashed in then shrank back at the sight before their eyes. 'Oh my God, she's ...' Roman glanced at Steve and Hope who sadly shook their heads. Rafe cursed savagely.

'Take Ciara out, she shouldn't be here.' Roman instructed, without looking at Hope. Hope took off her jacket and covered the child with it before lifting her in her arms. Forcibly, he and Steve made Bo put Carly's body down so that she could be taken away.

'She was very brave, just you remember that.' Roman urged, gripping his grieving brother's shoulders, struggling not to cry himself. Life was just too unfair... after putting up with a lot of pain, injustice and humiliation, Carly's life had to end this way. What were they going to tell Frankie, Mel and Nicholas? How will they and Bo live with this tragedy? And as for the two families, they will have to live with the bitter irony that the woman they'd treated unkindly had died a heroine's death saving the life of their child.

Unable to bear the sight, Rafe walked out of the cabin rubbing his eyes with his sleeve.

'Yeah Bo, she was... the best of the best.' Steve brushed back his tears. ' We'll always remember her for that especially. Come on... let's go now.'

Sniffling, Bo placed Carly's arms over her chest, his hand resting on her clasped hands, the square emerald glittering on her finger.

She's gone forever, his head told him. It's all over, let her rest in peace.

But his heart refused to accept it, like the first time so long ago. Something had told him then that Carly was still near but everyone had convinced him it was her spirit lying within. Carly's presence and their spiritual connection was stronger than ever, he could feel it right now as he touched her face with his free hand.

She's not dead... she's not dead... his heart insisted. You would know she was dead, why else would the connection still be on?No matter how long it takes, two souls will eventually have to return and become one like they are meant to be.

Obeying the strange, powerful instinct urging him on, he kept his hands on Carly's, silently conveying the message from his heart to hers.

Princess, you're my life. I can't exist without my life; please, please come back to me. I love you so much, I'm nothing without you. Please don't make me live in darkness for the rest of my days here on earth. I love you, only you. You and I are meant to be, for always!

More tears rained down his cheeks as he kept his hands on hers, willing her to wake up. Roman, Steve and the paramedics stood by helplessly, at a loss of what to do next.

'Now you're talking, big brother.' Isabella who was beside him, unseen, murmured. 'For always.' Placing her hand on top of his, she kept it there for several seconds.

Bo blinked as he felt something warm pass through his hands but didn't remove his hand from Carly's.'Look... look!' he suddenly shouted. Carly's fingers were moving, slowly but they were moving!

'Carly, sweetie can you hear us?' Roman crouched beside her, feeling her neck for a pulse. Sure enough, there was a faint one. And then incredibly, Carly's eyes began to flutter.

Galvanised into action, the astounded paramedics firmly urged Bo and the others to move aside while they attended to her. It was implausible but Carly's heart was definitely beating again; clinging to a thin thread of life. Roman and Steve hugged Bo as he began crying again. But this time there were tears of heartfelt relief.

Isabella smiled before vanishing.

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The atmosphere at the hospital's waiting room left much to be desired. Frankie's manner towards the Bradys was even more frosty and hostile; refusing to make eye contact with them. Caroline tried talking to him, to offer some comfort but all she got was an icy cold, 'I have nothing to say to you,just stay away from me.'

Melanie sat between Dario and Nicholas, eyes red from weeping. Jennifer sat with Adrienne, Justin and Brady; her hands in prayer stance, face pale and set with worry and sorrow. Sitting apart from the others, Bo wore the look of a caged animal as he waited for Lexie and Daniel to come out and tell him the good news that Carly was going to make it. The scenario was glaringly familiar to him; waiting for news of Carly's condition. Like the time she was stabbed in the lighthouse when he'd left her for only a minute. When she'd walked into the trap meant for him and he'd experienced a stabbing sense of terror that he was going to lose her. And the time she'd almost died from a virus she'd injected herself with in an effort to save Melanie who'd been infected along with Nathan. The wait, every single one of them, had been so agonising. But this one was different; she came back to life at the cabin... a sure sign she was going to make it. And she'll know, once and for all, what Isabella told him.

Closing his eyes, his mind drifted to a half forgotten memory...

'What a beautiful night.'

'Not as beautiful as you.' He kissed her full on the lips, holding her closer as they moved to the strains of Kenny Chesney on the deck, the full moon enveloping them with its bright, silvery light.

'I love our song but this one moves me so much too.'

'It sums up everything I feel about you; things I feel deep in here that I don't have the words to say.'

'Oh Bo, you think you don't say enough?'

He shrugged. 'What can I say... I'm a crusty sailor, not a poet.'

Carly's hands moved up to cup touch his cheeks, the moonlight showing the tilt of her smile. 'The same crusty sailor who recited some Bryon to me at the hospital?'

' I was having a moment, okay?' he protested, feeling his cheeks go warm. She looked so beautiful and fragile in her robe, her face bare of makeup and the way she was brushing her hair that the words had come out before he knew it.

'You can stop playing Bo Brady; I know you. You're the most loving, wonderful man I've ever meant. Simply saying "I love you" to me is saying far more than enough, you know why?'

'Why?' he asked quietly, looking into her eyes.

'Because...' her voice was also quiet. 'There was a time I gave up on ever hearing you say them to me.'

'Oh princess...' he crushed her against him, kissing her; savouring the soft lips parting under his and eagerly responding to the hot possession of her mouth. Raising his head, he touched her face tenderly.

'I love you, Carly Manning. Totally, Deeply, Madly...' he kissed her again, more possessively this time and she clung to him; Kenny Chesney serenading them as they went on expressing their love.

You had me from "Hello"
I felt love start to grow the moment I looked into your eyes,
You won me, it was over from the start.
You completely stole my heart, and now you won't let go.
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from "Hello"...

I love you, Carly... He said to himself.

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Lying on the operating table, Carly hovered between life and death as Daniel, Lexie and several nurses attended to her, extracting the bullets and tending to her wounds. Maxine, who was also present, stolidly concentrated on the job at hand even though in actual fact wanted to give in to tears at the sight of the doctor she was very fond off lying unconscious and seriously injured. Daniel's hands were steady and Lexie didn't falter for a second as they slowly but surely pulled her away from the tempting light.

'Mummy, wait... wait!'

Carly turned, her eyes widening at the sight of the little girl running to her.

'Gwyneth!' she whispered, stretching out her arms to her daughter who hurled herself against her, pressing her lips against her cheeks. Carly touched her face, ran her hands over her hair disbelieving. Exactly how Bo had described her...

'Sweetheart, if only you knew how much...'

'I know Mummy. I know you've been so sad about me.' Gwyneth replied softly, her brown eyes solemn. 'You and Papa.'

Carly shook her head miserably. 'I'm so sorry...'

'No Mummy...no! Gwyneth protested, holding Carly's face with her small hands. 'It wasn't your fault! We don't know why some things happen, it just happens.'

'But you not with me... not ever being born, it's haunted me for so long.'

'I'm okay Mummy... okay. Because I know you and Papa will always love me, will always keep me within you. Just like he still keeps Zack.'

'Hi.' The little boy she'd seen in the framed photograph in Bo's living ran up, grinning up as Carly stared at him. Like Shawn D, he was angelic but had more of Bo's features, no trace of his mother's. He and Gwyneth resembled close enough to be twins.

'I'm okay too, Carly.' he said earnestly. 'I died but Claire lived and I still live... through her. Shawn Douglas and Belle know that. And Gwyneth and I have each other.'

'Please Mummy... don't be sad anymore. And don't let Papa keep waiting for you. You didn't die because his love begged you not to die.'

'That's right, Carly.' Isabella appeared beside her. 'Your spirit came back to your body because Bo's love wouldn't let you go... and the two of you have to live the life given to you before you finally depart eventually.'

'He loves me that much?'

'Oh, Carly, yes! But you'll have to see the depth of that love for yourself. And you will.' Isabella stroked her hair. 'it's time to go back to where you belong.'

Carly looked down at her daughter. 'I... can't leave her.'

'Mummy, go.' Gwyneth said gently but firmly. 'They need you out there. Remember what I said. Go.'

'Go.' Zack urged.

'Go.' Isabella added, smiling. 'You're more loved than you possibly know, Carly. You'll see.'

Taking one last glance at them, Carly painfully turned her back to them and began walking away until another voice stopped her. 'You aren't leaving without saying goodbye are you?'

'Tony!' she gasped as he stood in front of her, beholding those beautiful black eyes again. 'I've missed you so much.'

'I know.' He took her hands.

'Tony...'

'Hush.'

'But... but I...'

He covered her mouth with one hand, his expression gentle and calm. 'You have nothing to be sorry for. There are different sorts of love and I know that you loved me, Carly. I'm the one who is sorry... sorry we didn't have that life I promised you.'

Carly choked, tears streaming down her cheeks.

'But listen. You aren't meant to be alone, like you've been thinking this past year. Even with all the pain you went through you have so much love left in your heart to give. Please don't keep locking it away because of me or what happened in the past.'

'I'm still not sure if I can!' she cried. 'I'm afraid!'

'You can and you will eventually. You're Love personified, Carly. That was the main reason why I fell in love with you.' He held her face, placing a kiss on her forehead.

'You'll always have a place in my heart.' She whispered, holding on to his wrists.

'I know babe.' He smiled Pulling away, he gazed at her intently, hugging her close. 'I know.' as though fixing the image of her face clearly in his mind before walking away from her, a white mist enveloping him, Isabella, Zack and Gwyneth.

Will I remember all this when I wake up? She wondered.

'Stable.'

Daniel glanced at the machine monitoring Carly's heartbeat. A very good sign.

When he and Lexie finally came out, there was an even bigger gathering in the waiting room. Ciara was sitting on Hope's lap and surprisingly Stefano, EJ and Kate DiMera were present. Victor too, his face unreadable.

'Dad!' Melanie rushed to him the same time Nicholas, Frankie and Bo did. 'How is she?'

Daniel stroked his daughter's hair. 'She lost a lot of blood and she's going to be in a lot of pain for a while... but she's going to make it.' His eyes met Bo's damp ones and he smiled. 'Carly's going to make it.'