-34-

Aimee's eyes grew wide. She knew now! It should have been obvious from the moment she walked in. This was Callie's daughter! Madeleine looked like a small version of her mother.

"Well, it's uhm, nice to meet you." Aimee said with a bit of anxiety in her voice. She had no idea what Madeleine did or did not know about her.

Maddie nodded slowly, but her vision had turned to look down upon her mother's figure lying in bed. The youth's eyes widened as she noted all of the wires and tubes hooked up. A wave of emotion struck her as she began to openly weep. Aimee reached from her wheelchair and pulled a nearby seat over and placed it next to her. She gestured down.

"Please sit down." Aimee said softly, giving the girl a kind smile. Maddie had been breathing harder the more she looked down at her mother. She nodded slowly and took a seat next to Aimee. Maddie was uncertain what she should do or say. She flashed an anxious look to Aimee.

"Can she hear me?" Maddie asked Aimee.

"I believe she can, yes." Aimee said quietly. "I'd like to think she can anyway." She looked again at Madeleine. Aimee felt slightly out of place and wondered if she should give Callie's daughter some privacy with her mother. She cleared her throat. "I can leave if you would like me to..." She paused. "I think I said as much as I could." Maddie blinked a few times, unsure what she wanted. She slowly shook her head.

"Uhm, no, it's ok." She said then looked over her shoulder towards the door. No one was there. "I was guessing my dad would have come here, but I guess he is still busy." Aimee nodded.

"Did he bring you here?" She asked. Maddie nodded slowly.

"Yes, but he had to take a phone call." Aimee raised an eyebrow. She was uncertain as to why Callie's husband had some urgent need to make a call. But it was really not her place to speculate. She looked at Madeleine.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I know this must be hard on you." She paused. The curiosity of wanting to know how much Madeleine knew about her got the best of her. "Do you know who I am?" Maddie shook her hear.

"No..." She began. She looked down at the floor to avoid eye contact. "But I guess you and my mom must be pretty good friends." Aimee raised her eyebrows.

"We are. But how did you know?" She asked the girl. Maddie's eyes shifted about and then cautiously rose to meet Aimee's.

"Well, I was outside the door a few minutes ago. And the door was kind of open." Aimee's eyes closed for several moments. She hadn't realized her words to Callie had been heard by anyone. Much less Callie's adolescent daughter.

"Oh...Well, uhm, I am sorry you heard that." She began. Maddie raised her brows with a confused look.

"Why?" Aimee looked about a bit uncomfortably. Searching for the right words. She was not entirely sure how direct she should be with a twelve-year-old. Even if she was one with a mental capacity beyond her years.

"Well, I said some things to her that might have made you uncomfortable." Maddie looked down for a moment. She had been a bit confused by this strange woman who had told her mother she loved her and given her a kiss that looked a bit on the serious side. She didn't feel that it was necessary or needed to cast any judgments on her mother, or this woman she had just met.

"I guess I figure that you and my mom must really like each other." Maddie started. Not particularly wanting to fully embrace the idea that her mother may have been having a relationship with someone other than her father. She felt conflicted because it had been since forever that she had seen her parents act in a romantic way with each other. If her mother needed to be with someone else she may have, on some level, understood. Aimee smiled to her. Sensing the girl's hesitancy. She could tell Madeleine was aware of the general context of the relationship she and Callie had.

"Well, yes, Cal...I mean your mom and I do really like each other." She paused and looked down at Callie. "Your mom saved my life." Maddie's eyes widened a bit as she slowly turned towards her.

"She saved your life?" She asked. Aimee bit her lower lip for a moment. She knew she would have to broach that subject a bit tactfully. She nodded slowly.

"Well, the detectives are telling me she did. I don't remember a lot about when it all happened. You see, I was kidnapped and your mom helped keep me alive."

"How did you get kidnapped?" Maddie asked with a bit of interest on her face.

"Well..." Aimee began. "We were looking for this kidnapped girl. Her name was Nicole and she was roughly the same age as you. And the guy who took her ended up hiding in my car one night and took me at gunpoint and took me away too." Maddie looked at her with sympathy.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Did you save the girl?"

"With some luck, yes. She was able to escape." Aimee didn't want to get into a lot of details about her time when she was held by Jeremy. Maddie could sense her hesitancy and looked at her overall appearance.

"Did he do this to you?" She asked, gesturing towards Aimee's injuries. Aimee looked down at her various scratches and bruises. Even the track mark from the needle Jeremy used on her arm. Aimee shuddered a bit at the recollection. She nodded towards Maddie.

"Yes he did." Aimee replied, hoping the girl would not prod for details. Instead, Maddie gave her a sympathetic smile and reached over and lightly touched her arm.

"I'm sorry, Aimee." She whispered.

The two sat watching over Callie for some time. Maddie looked over to Aimee.

"You think I should talk to her?"

"If you feel comfortable, I think Cal...I mean your mom, would really like to hear your voice talking to her. Do you want me to leave?" Maddie shook her head.

"No, it's ok." She said. Maddie scooted the chair forward a little bit. She was able to reach over and touch Callie's hand with hers. She took a breath, then looked over her shoulder to Aimee, who smiled kindly towards her. Aimee reached forward and rubbed Maddie's back consolingly. This helped Maddie relax and she turned back to her mother. She cleared her throat.

"Hey momma... it's Maddie. Dad brought me here so I could see you." Her emotions flooded over her as she felt her mother's hand and looked at her closed eyes. "Uhm, I am really happy I can see you." She searched for words. "Momma, I would really like it if you woke up. I want you to be alright again. I need you, momma." The tears flowed freely down the youth's face. She took her other hand and ran it over her mother's face. "I love you, momma." Maddie whispered.

Aimee had become visibly moved by watching Callie's daughter.

Maddie and Aimee sat there in silence for some time watching over Callie. Each offering a silent prayer. Maddie looked over to Aimee a bit sheepishly.

"You know, I haven't exactly been the best daughter." She told her quietly. Aimee offered her an understanding smile and nodded.

"We all have our moments, sweetie. I was a bit stressing on my parents as I recall. I often tasked them. You need not feel guilty. At least not at a time like this." Maddie sniffled a bit as she looked down at her mother. The overall helpless appearance seemed to sink in with her. How fragile that life was and that a person could be so easily hurt in the blink of an eye. She remembered the many pointless heated exchanges she had with her mom. How they all seemed so pointless and petty.

"I just want her to be ok." Maddie lamented looking down. She absently took her phone from her bag and checked the screen. No messages. She had half expected her father to have at least texted her to say he was indisposed...with something. Aimee read the look on Maddie's face. She didn't really know the girl, but she knew the look.

"I'm sure he has a good reason..." she began. Maddie raised her brows towards Aimee, a dissatisfied expression painted on her face. But also one that was a little surprised by the perception of someone she didn't know very well.

"It's kind of you to say, I suppose. But dad is...I know this is hard on him too, but..."Maddie's search for words fell silent. Aimee could understand. Especially in a situation such as this where she would have expected her father to have been with her at all times through this.

"Did he just tell you to come visit your mom?" Aimee asked. Maddie shook her head and pursed her lips.

"No, not really. When we checked in at the nurse's desk we were told mom had a visitor and would have to wait. Dad got some call just about then and told me to wait in the waiting room while he returned some call." She paused. "Then I got tired of waiting and saw that the nurse on duty changed and the new one just let me walk into the patient area. I guess I gave her the impression I was already in visiting and just walking around. I don't know, but she let me come into this area. I wanted to see mom. Even if maybe he doesn't." Aimee's eyebrow perked a bit. Again, she was taken a little aback by Maddie's advanced intellect and ability to deal with relative functionality during such a crisis. Still, she also had wondered about Chet. She was expecting him to have walked in by this point. She did not relish such a meeting, but had expected it to happen by now.

"Well, I imagine your dad will be along soon. Maybe he is talking with your aunt." Maddie looked over to her.

"Have you met my Aunt Iola?" She asked. Aimee cleared her throat. She didn't exactly want to tell her that she also knew her aunt on an intimate level. She knew that Maddie might have a hard enough time when she came to fully realize what kind of relationship she and her mother shared.

"Well, yes. She was traveling with your mom. I met them both in Atlantic City." Maddie smiled when she thought about it.

"Oh, right. That makes complete sense."

The two sat there together. They felt more relaxed with each other than when Maddie walked in earlier to help Aimee off the floor. Aimee had hoped she could continue to have a good rapport with Callie's daughter. She knew it might prove more difficult when she came to realize that Aimee very much wanted to be a more prominent person in Callie's life. Aimee looked nervously down at Callie. Her figure seemed so lifeless. The machines she was hooked up to seemed to suggest that they were all that kept Callie alive. Maddie noted her anxiety. She slowly placed her left hand onto Aimee's.

"She will be alright. She has to be!" Maddie whispered firmly. Aimee nodded. She was being reassured by a twelve-year-old. But perhaps that wasn't necessarily all that hard to believe when she considered who her mother was. Under the alcoholic uncertainty that emanated from Callie on occasion, she knew that Cal was a strong minded woman and could be very focused and independent minded. The fact that her daughter had inherited some of these traits was not unreasonable to expect. Aimee smiled.

"You are a lot like your mom." She said quietly. Maddie blushed at the words. A smile creased her lips.

"Thank you." She whispered.

The sounds of the monitors and machines were all they could hear as they maintained their vigil. Still, Aimee couldn't help but feel a little anxious as she watched the clock on the wall. She knew Chet would have to soon make an appearance, no matter how distracted he may be.

"I guess I should probably get back to my room." Aimee managed to say. She didn't really want to leave the room. She wanted to stay and watch over Callie. She even felt the need to keep her eye on Maddie. No matter how advanced she may seem, this was obviously very hard on her, and her father was not exactly supporting her needs at the moment. Maddie looked over at her.

"Do you have to?" She asked with a sense of pleading in her voice. Aimee bit her lip and nodded.

"Well, I don't want to go, sweetie. But I have a feeling your dad will be here soon, and well, I might not exactly be in the best place here. I mean he might not appreciate it." While Maddie didn't entirely know the extent of Aimee's relationship with her mother, she did seem to comprehend that Aimee represented not only a form of competition to her dad, but maybe her dad might think Aimee was responsible for her mom being injured. She remembered overhearing her dad on the phone the day before, and while he didn't mention Aimee by name, he did talk about someone that her mom got caught up with. Someone who seemed to be, according to her father, mixed up in all this and that may have been responsible for her mom being injured. She placed her hand back on Aimee's.

"I think you should stay, and well, he can deal with it."

"He can deal with what?" A voice came from the doorway. Both Maddie and Aimee turned their heads quickly to see the figure of a man standing there. Aimee looked him over. He was about six foot or so with blond hair and was built like a football player. Well, a retired football player judging by the bulging midsection he seemed to be carrying. Maddie cleared her throat.

"Oh, hey dad. Nothing, really." She said, having hoped he had not been spending time outside the door in the same way she had. The man walked in slowly. He glanced over at Callie, then his eyes shifted over to Aimee. He took her in slowly. His expression seemed to not say much. "This is Aimee. A friend of mom's." Maddie said. Chet nodded slowly, still taking Aimee in.

"Well, I wish I could say it was a pleasure." Chet said a bit gruffly towards her. Aimee's anxiety spiked at the words. She knew he was aware of why she was, and likely the extent of her relationship with his wife. Aimee looked down at herself. Doing her best to ensure she was covered properly and in the process of shifting her gown her left leg slid out. Chet raised an eyebrow as he assessed the young woman's shapely leg. "Well, I guess I can't blame Cal for wanting a bit of that." He said in a low tone. Aimee took on an indignant look. Not so much that Chet had made the comment. But had made it in the presence of his daughter. She looked up at Chet disapprovingly, but said nothing.

Maddie's eyes pivoted between Aimee and her dad, then glanced over towards her mother. Then she looked back at her father.

"There hasn't been any change." Maddie said quietly. Chet shot his daughter a look.

"Yes, so I've heard." He said, giving Aimee a significant look. Aimee began to feel even more anxious.

"I think I should go now." She said quietly. Chet nodded.

"Yes, you probably should." He said flatly. Before either Maddie or Aimee could express their disdain, a voice came from the doorway.

"Chet Morton!" All heads turned to see Iola standing there with a less than pleased expression. "I know I just didn't hear that." She snapped at him. Chet rolled his eyes, but remained silent. Iola walked in and looked down at Aimee.

"Are you alright, girl?" She asked with a sympathetic look. Aimee nodded, though still feeling the stress of the situation. Iola placed an arm around her niece.

"And how are you, girl?" Maddie blinked a few times in the general direction of her dad. Iola smirked. "Yes, I understand. But this isn't the time or place. As much as I'd like to put my two cents in." Chet looked at his sister with some disapproval.

"But sis, this is the woman who..." Iola held up a hand to silence her brother. She looked over to her niece.

"Maddie, girl? Can you do Auntie a favor and maybe take Miss. Aimee out for a little wheelchair ride? I am guessing she would like a little fresh air." Maddie stood up almost immediately and nodded affirmatively.

"Yes, auntie. I can do it." She said. Aimee nodded her approval as well.

"Yes, thank you, Iola." She said quietly.

Maddie took the handles of Aimee's wheelchair and turned it around and slowly pushed her out the door. Iola watched as they slowly disappeared down the hallway. She closed the door to room 5 and flashed a look at her brother.

"Tell me I didn't walk in to find you berating that poor girl? And doing it in front of Maddie? What the Hell were you thinking?" She asked with eyes still set firmly on her brother. Chet cleared his throat and held out a hand.

"Look, sis. That woman is likely responsible for Cal being shot and in the condition she is now!" Iola blinked several times, not believing what she had heard.

"Are you seriously deluded, bro?" She exclaimed with obvious disgust. "Cal saved that woman's life. And by the way, that woman has a name. Aimee. And after getting kidnapped, Aimee saved a 12-year-old from a psycho. And do you know at what price? She had the shit beat out of her and was raped! And for good measure, the creep shot her up with some heroin! So this idea that she somehow is responsible for Cal laying there is not something I am buying!" Chet shook his head.

"It's not that I am unsympathetic. I am sure she went through a lot. But the way it seems to me is that Callie may not have rushed in and gotten shot if she wasn't trying to save her lover." Iola sighed deeply.

"That part irks you. I get it. But it doesn't change the facts. I mean we can rewind this all back to well before anything that ever happened in Clymer. We can go back to before Atlantic City and Frank. Hell, all the way back to the last few years and your marriage." Chet looked at his sister with a strange expression.

"Atlantic City and Frank? What does that mean?" He asked with a curious tone. Iola closed her eyes tightly for a moment. She had let Frank's name escape without intending to do so. She thought quickly.

"Uhm, I just meant that when Callie got to Atlantic City that she didn't know Frank was going to be there with Joe. And seeing Frank after so long was a bit of a shock, and uhm, a drain on her. You know how they never really became warm and fuzzy friends after they broke up. They just kind of were tolerant of each other." Iola had hoped her vague explanation would be satisfactory to her brother. The last thing she wanted to do was to let the cat out of the bag about the brief interlude the two had in Atlantic City and how Callie immediately regretted it. It wasn't her place to tell Chet. Chet nodded then looked over at Callie.

"Yeah, I guess that wouldn't be easy for her." He said quietly as he watched his wife lying there. He sighed deeply and looked at his sister. "But you can't expect me to be thrilled with this situation with this Aimee woman. I am sorry as I can be that she was a victim of the kidnapper and suffered so for it. But you can't exactly expect me to be happy about a woman who...I mean that Cal..." He became tongue tied. Iola stepped closer to her brother and put an arm around him for a moment and gestured towards Callie.

"Why don't we try to keep that on the back burner and focus on our girl pulling out of this. I am drained physically and emotionally over all of this. All I want is for Cal to pull through. Can we try to keep our sights set on that?" Chet took a breath and nodded slightly.

"I can try. I mean of course I am wanting her to recover and make it through all this. I just can't help but wonder what will happen afterwards." Iola closed her eyes.

"Bro, I know you feel hurt. Slighted. But this is about Cal right now. This is also about not appearing to be a big douche in front of your daughter. Which by the way you were most successful at just a few minutes ago." Chet grudgingly nodded.

"Yeah, I kind of figured that already. Maddie has been not liking me for a good while now. Not just this. But after Cal left for Atlantic City I just fell more into avoidance with the kids. I am not even sure why. I love them. But I guess I took a lot for granted with Cal being there for them more." Iola shook her head.

"Well, you aren't alone. Cal has lamented to me more than a few times about not being there for the kids. About how the two of you often use the maid and nanny as extended childcare. I mean she put it off on you more, but didn't exclude herself from the issue. She knew her drinking was also having an impact...or the money for that matter." Chet nodded.

"Yeah, the precious money that we seemed to be entranced with. But even though I am aware of its evils, I am not really anxious to give away my peace and security." Iola gave a half shrug.

"I can't advise you on that, bro. But all I'd like to see here and now is that we focus on Cal and Maddie too. And while I know you have a lot of fresh resentment, please try to be kind towards Aimee if you encounter her again. She is still recovering herself. She has a lot of emotional hell to deal with. The fact you hate her is not something that she needs to deal with." Chet looked about in search of something to say in which he could defend his actions. But couldn't.

"I will do what I can, sis. But don't expect miracles."

"Fair enough." Iola said quietly.

They sat in a private staff lounge. Aimee, Maddie and Fenton Hardy looked out the window upon the city of Indiana, Pennsylvania.

"So you were able to spend some time with Callie?" Fenton asked Aimee. Aimee nodded affirmatively. She was glad to be in a more friendly environment at present though.

"Yes. I am just so worried for her. I know this little lady helped me out, too." She said gesturing towards Maddie. Fenton smiled at the girl and raised his brows.

"Wow, young lady. You certainly do look like your mother." He marveled over her physical characteristics that resembled Callie's in many ways. She blushed a little and smiled.

"Thank you." She said quietly. "I just hope I can see her with her eyes open soon." Fenton smiled and nodded.

"Keep the faith, young lady. Your mother is a strong woman." He was interrupted by his phone ringing. "Excuse me." He gestured and turned to accept the call. After a few guarded words he disconnected the call and turned back to the two. "I have some good news." He said. Aimee smiled.

"Well, we could all use some of that." She said. "What is it?" Fenton held up a finger and gestured for her to wait. He walked over to the door. A few minutes wait and a knock came on the door. Fenton opened the door and exchanged a few words with a uniformed police officer. A moment later he opened the door wider and Alice and Nicole Rose stepped through the door. Aimee's face lit up with excitement as she finally was able to see the young girl whom she had helped escape from her captor! Nicole raced towards Aimee who held her arms open. The two embraced in a long, extended hug!

"Oh, baby girl! I am so so happy to see you. I was so worried about you!" Nicole held on to Aimee for dear life and wept as she hugged her.

"I am so glad to see you, Miss Aimee! I was so worried for you!" The young girl whispered to her. Aimee smiled and sat back up and took in the child, who had a much better appearance compared to the last time they were together.

"You are looking so good, Nicole! I missed you so much." A moment later, a very grateful looking Alice Rose stepped up.

"I hope you don't mind if I give you one of those, too!" She said and bent down and hugged Aimee tightly. "Thank you so very much for saving my baby. It meant everything to me." Aimee began tearing up, as did Alice.

"Your welcome, Alice. I am glad it worked out and she is safe now." Alice took in Aimee's appearance. She saw he abrasions and bruises. She also had been advised that Aimee had been drugged and raped in the process. More tears flowed down Alice's cheeks.

"You've been through so much. I am so sorry for everything. I really am." Aimee nodded and placed a hand on Alice's cheek and wiped away her tears.

"It's not your fault. We were all victims." Alice sniffled and nodded.

"Yes, but...the price you all had to pay...it was so much." She looked up to Fenton. "Is there any update on Callie?" She asked. Fenton sighed and shook his head.

"The doctors say she is holding her own, but has not shown any signs of regaining consciousness. They did say she could snap out of it at any time." He added quickly and smiled towards Maddie. It was important to keep a positive attitude and encourage Callie's daughter that things would be ok.

Nicole turned to Maddie.

"Hi, I'm Nicole. I am sorry about your mom." Maddie formed a half smile.

"Thank you. She will get better. I know she will." She said, trying to convince herself this would indeed be the case.