Chapter 38

Jason quickly scanned the words Mimi wrote for a second time. "Damn it! Of all the stupid things…" Crushing the paper in his hand, he tossed it back on the table and quickly marched away.

"Jason…wait! Philip called out. "Now where is he going?"

"What was that all about?" Chloe asked.

"I'll see if I can find him," Jan said turning away with a sly smile, "I think I can help him calm down."

As Jan walked away, Belle reached over, grabbing the note but Shawn quickly snatched it out of her hands. "It's none of your business either honey."

"Oh please…like we don't know who wrote that."

"We don't."

"Come on Shawn…it wasn't here when Chloe and I left to go to the ladies room. Did Mimi come back here?"

Shawn and Philip exchanged quick glances. "Yeah…she did."

"So who else would leave a note for Jason?"

"Okay," Shawn said handing it back to her. "You win."

Belle smiled her thanks and quickly smoothed out the paper on the tablecloth before opening it. She quickly scanned the message finding herself blinking back the beginning of tears. "Oh Meems…"

"What does it say Belle?" Chloe asked.

"All I want for Christmas is you," Belle whispered, "if there's any chance at all I'll be waiting outside on the terrace."

"And Jason took off in the other direction." Philip said after a moment of quiet.

"I'm going to find Mimi," Belle said, rising from her chair.

Chloe too pushed back her chair. "…and I'm going with you."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Shawn asked.

"I can't leave her waiting outside for someone who…for whatever stupid, crazy-ass reason is heading off in the other direction!" Belle cried, "I can't do it!"

Shawn gathered Belle in his arms to comfort her, still confused by Jason's reaction to the note. "Okay, okay…look, I'll go with you and Chloe…why don't you and Philip stay here in case Jason comes back?"

"And if he does?" Philip asked.

"Keep him here."

"How do you suggest I do that?"

"I don't care how…tie him to a chair, sit on him or knock him unconscious…but this has got to end even if we have to shove him and Mimi into a closet somewhere and bolt the door until they talk!"

Philip and Chloe watched as their friends hurried towards the outside terrace. Looking over his shoulder, Philip tried to find Jason in the crowd but it was impossible. Turning back to Chloe, he watched as she retook her seat and concentrated on folding her cloth napkin into an intricate square.

"Origami?"

Chloe only nodded as she kept her eyes focused on her napkin.

"I didn't know that you knew how to do that."

"Well, there's a lot about me you don't know," Chloe said quietly.

Philip nodded as he turned toward her, putting his arm along the back of her chair. "I keep learning that… like I still don't know what it was you were so intent on telling me tonight."

"I don't sing anymore."

"What?" Philip said, a look of total confusion on his face at Chloe's soft spoken words. "What are you talking about?"

Chloe took a deep breath and slowly released it. "I've tried…but ever since that night in the park…when I told you about what my instructor had done…and about my past…I've tried…in the shower, in school, just sitting on my bed listening to one of my CD's…I feel the desire but when I open my mouth…nothing would come out."

"You've never told me that before."

"I know…I thought it was something I could work through you know…"

Philip slowly pulled back, removing his arm from Chloe's chair. "By yourself you mean."

"Yeah I guess…my music has always been such a private and personal thing for me…I mean, it was the one thing I could always count on growing up. It was my escape…my safe place…and suddenly it was gone."

"And you never said a thing about this to me."

"With all that has happened since that night…Belle…and me being in therapy…I didn't even notice it until a week ago when I was in the shower and when I opened my mouth…nothing came out."

Philip only nodded, trying to hide his hurt that Chloe hadn't confided in him about this before tonight. He had thought they had come such a long way since that night and to now discover this…he wondered if it had anything to do with her strange behavior lately. And she said a week ago…as in last Saturday when they were alone in the barn. A feeling of guilt washed over him. "Did you…umm, did you tell your doctor about it?"

"Well actually I ran into Brady in Dotcom while looking at some CD's and when he asked me if I was going to start working with the Chicago Opera again…it all sort of came out."

Philip felt his heart sink into his stomach. "Brady?"

"I told him I didn't think it was something I could do…that I wasn't able to sing."

"And of course Brady being an opera aficionado…he was able to help you."

Chloe looked over at Philip hearing the edge of sarcasm in his voice. "You need to let go of this jealousy you have for Brady…he's my friend and at one time he was your friend too."

"Was being the operative word."

"Philip please…if I can forgive him why can't you?"

"So…what did your 'friend' do to help you…I mean he did do something…he must have because you've been chatting with him all night and he even got a hug from you."

Chloe scooted her chair back a bit wanting to be able to look squarely at Philip because what he said was true. Brady did help her with a terrific idea of his, an idea that gave her the strength to do something tonight that she hoped would be very special. It also brought something to her that she never expected and as much as she wanted to talk to Philip about what she found out today she knew that had to wait until they were really alone. Suddenly she noticed her mother taking the stage again. 'Oh no', Chloe thought. 'Please not yet…I need more time.'

"Yes he did help me but that's not what is important here. What is important is that I've been working on the problem and when my mom first came to me with this crazy idea of hers I told her flat out no way because I was so scared. But then Craig and I talked and he made me realize that I could do this…and I realized that I needed to do this."

"Do what? You are back to the riddles again Chloe."

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Nancy said from the stage. "We have a very special surprise for all of you tonight that is such a treat for me and my husband as well. We were blessed last year when my daughter came to live with us here in Salem and as many of you know she is quite an accomplished singer."

Philip turned to Chloe. "What is your mom talking about?"

"I wanted to tell you everything before it was time," Chloe whispered.

"Time for what?" Philip asked.

"I asked her if she would perform a selection for us tonight from her favorite opera," Nancy continued,    "and I am so proud that she accepted. Chloe…would you please join me?"

Chloe pushed back her chair as Philip watched her. "What are you doing? I thought you just said you couldn't sing!"

"I also said I was working through it," Chloe leaned over and pressed her lips against Philip's cheek. "This is for you…wish me luck."

Stunned, Philip could only stare after her as everyone else joined Nancy in applauding as Chloe started to make her way to the stage.

"You know, I've a good mind to ring that jerk's neck!"

"Slow down Belle," Shawn said quickening his step to keep up with her.

"Don't tell me to slow down Shawn Brady! Mimi is nuts about Jason and for him to just dismiss her so easily really pisses me off!"

"Yeah…I can see that. I don't think I've ever seen you so upset before."

"I don't like to see my friends dumped on and this really hurts because I was totally behind Jason through this whole mess and to have him walk away from her…"

Spotting the glass doors that lead to the outside terrace, Shawn grabbed Belle by the hand to slow her down. "I think maybe you better calm down a second before you do out there."

"What do you mean?" Belle said, forced to slow her steps as Shawn tugged on her hand.

"Mimi is expecting Jason…not you and I and she's gonna figure out that we read her note and is probably going to be really embarrassed that Jason left her out there. You charging to her rescue may be the last thing she needs right now."

"She needs me Shawn."

Shawn stopped short as he looked through the glass and saw Mimi pacing back and forth as snow gently swirled around her. "No…what she needs right now is a warm coat…and Jason."

"Oh Shawn…look at her…she must be freezing and I disagree…Jason is the last thing she needs! He had his chance and he blew it!" Belle said, watching as Mimi wrapped her arms around herself. "I've got to get her inside."

Suddenly grabbing Belle around the waist, Shawn quickly dragged her away from the doors and into the shadows behind a tall column.

"Shawn! What are you doing?"

"Stopping you." He said with a wide grin looking down into Belle's flashing blue eyes. "Do you know how cute you are when you are angry?"

"And this anger is going to be turned on you if you don't let me go!"

"Oh I am really scared now," Shawn teased, brushing back a strand of Belle's hair.

"What has got into you?" Belle asked, struggling to break free of his hold. "We are supposed to be helping Mimi!"

Leaning down to caress her cheek with his lips, Shawn waited until he nuzzled her ear before he spoke. "I think right now we mind our own business and let Jason take it from here."

"Mind our own business? Are you nuts! We need to get outside and help poor Mimi before she freezes into a popsicle…wait a minute, did you say let Jason take it from here?"

"Un-huh" Shawn replied, trailing his lips down Belle's neck leaving soft wet kisses behind. "That's what I said."

"Where is he?" Belle said, pushing Shawn away from her. "Did you see him?"

"Belle Black…are you telling me you would rather spy on our friends," Shawn leaned back, allowing Belle to peek around the corner to the glass doors, "than make out here in the dark with me?"

After a quick glance out on the terrace, Belle grabbed the lapels of Shawn's jacket and pulled him deeper into the shadows. "Come here Brady…and I'll show you what I'd like to do instead of telling you."

"Be gentle with me tough girl," Shawn said, wrapping his arms around Belle as he felt her lips on his jaw.

"Anything you said perfect boy," Belle replied, picking up on how Shawn switched their nicknames for each other as she gently nipped at his ear before soothing the bite with a quick flick of her tongue.

Pushing against the glass doors Jason stepped outside, the cold air and the sight of Mimi pacing back and forth dressed only in that incredibly sexy dress momentarily taking his breath away. Struggling to breath, he could only watch at Mimi turned to look at him, her arms wrapped around her offering little protection from the cold.

"Miriam Lockhart…you are a fool," he finally said.

"Well I guess that answers that question," Mimi replied softly, her expectations dashing as quickly as they rose when she first saw Jason come through the door.

"No…no, that's not what I meant," Jason said as he saw the joy drained from her face. "You…you must be freezing out here."

"Yeah especially in this dress huh?" Mimi said, quickly brushing away the tears that refused to obey her silent command not to fall as they spilled from her eyes to make their way down her cheeks.

Jason took a few steps toward her. "Are you crying?"

"What do you care?" she shot back, turning away unable to face him any longer.

Not sure how to respond to that, Jason suddenly remembered what he had in his hand and he quickly closed the space between the two of them and placed the coat around Mimi's shivering shoulders. Closing her eyes against the warmth that enveloped her, Mimi let it drift over her skin as the cold air was suddenly blocked from her body. The heavy material brushed against her cheeks with a softness she had never felt before in her life and she found herself opening her eyes to look at the soft, brown belts that created the coat Jason has wrapped her in.

"Jason!" Mimi whirled around to face him. "This is a fur coat!"

"Mink actually," Jason corrected her. "Artificial or synthetic or whatever you call it but it's still mink."

"Where did you get this?"

"Well no matter how much I begged the girl at the coat counter, she wouldn't give me yours and the only ticket I had on me was for this one…it's my mom's."

"Oh Jason…it's beautiful." Mimi said, again looking down at the floor length jacket.

"You're beautiful," Jason said, gently placing his finger under her chin and lifting her face until she looked at him and then he trailed his fingers up her jaw to her earlobes. "Mink and diamonds…they look good on you."

"Its just pretty wrappings," Mimi whispered. "Underneath it all I'm just your plain, ordinary Mimi."

"Plain…no way…ordinary…never." Jason said, staring deeply at her, he refused to allow her to break free. "But mine…yeah, I'll take that."

He knew the chance she had taken in writing that note and it killed him that he had no idea how long it sat on the table until he found it. And after fighting with the clerk trying to get her coat, he was afraid they were going to have to find something inside to talk when he shoved his hands in his pocket and felt the small cardboard ticket that he got earlier when he checked his parent's coats. Quickly grabbing the mink, he headed back inside the ball room and thought about stopping by the table to tell the gang where he was going but seeing only Philip and Chloe there in a deep discussion he decided to just head out here to find Mimi, praying that she was still here.

"Did you really mean it," he asked. "What you wrote in that note…did you mean it?"

Mimi stared back at him, afraid to blink for that would again release her tears. 'Be honest girl,' she thought, 'no games, no teasing…just tell him the truth and let the cards fall where they may.' But unable to watch his reaction she pulled out of his arms and turned away nodding yes to his question.

"I…I feel the same way," he said, unsure of why she was pulling away from him.

"I don't think so," Mimi said, refusing to allow herself to believe his words, not matter how her heart was reacting as it beat soundly against her breast. "You already got what you really wanted for Christmas remember? You got your truck."

"I'd rather have you."

"Oh…I don't think so," Mimi balked at his words as she made her way to the edge of the terrace and stared out at the bright lights of Salem. "I've listened to you talk about that truck all semester. You've probably had a picture of it taped to a wall in your room."

Jason shoved his hands into his pockets against the cold and the frustration that was growing inside of him. 'She's not going to make this easy for me,' he thought as he walked up next to her. 'Does that really surprise you?' an inner voice questioned him. Jason knew he didn't have to answer that… nothing had been easy for the two of them from the moment they first met.

Suddenly his fingers curled around the cool metal of his new keys as an idea blossomed in his head so quickly that he knew if he took the time to think about it he might chicken out…or lose his last chance with Mimi. He quickly pulled them out of his pocket. "I'll prove it to you Mimi."

"Jason…there is nothing to prove-" her words stilled when she heard a jiggling sound coming from behind her. Turning around she saw Jason was holding out the keys to his brand new truck over the edge of the terrace. "What are you doing!"

"I'm going to throw 'em over the side…or over the edge…or however you say it."

"Are you nuts?" Mimi cried. "We are over thirty stories off the ground! You'll never find them!"

Talking a step closer to her, Jason leaned in and spoke in an exaggerated whisper. "I think that's the whole idea."

"You are crazy!"

"Do you believe me now?"

Wrapping the coat, tighter around her Mimi back away. "You'll never toss those keys."

"Here goes," Jason said, taking a deep breath and tossing the keys up in the air.

"Jason!" Mimi screamed as she lunged over the edge of the railing grabbing into the air for the keys, falling against his broad chest forcing Jason to grab her around the waist to keep the both of them from falling to the ground. Wrapping his arm around her, he felt her grab onto his shoulder as her other hand reach out for the keys and her fingers became entangled with his.

"Careful there or we'll both go over the edge," Jason said, trying to steady the both of them on the slippery, stone surface of the terrace.

"Tell you you've got you're keys." Mimi stared out at their two hands, still outstretched before turning to look at Jason whose face was only inches from her.

"Tell me you believe me," he said.

Her heart was now hammering twice as hard in her chest and she was sure he could feel it as tightly as he was holding her to him. "You really are crazy," she gasped.

"You're right," Jason agreed, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "Crazy for kissing you like I did at the homecoming game and then not making things straight between us during the ride to the party. Crazy for not dancing with you at Nick's and for thinking I could trust Jan enough to talk to her…crazy for losing control and hitting Scott and crazy for not insisting harder that you listen to me and for not realizing how hurt you really were…and crazy for wanting to return the hurt I felt."

Mimi closed her eyes against his words. "Please Jason…tell me you've got those keys."

"I've got you," replied, pulling their joined hands to him and turning them so he was able to press his lips to the ridge of her knuckles.

"Jason…" Mimi opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"I've got you," he repeated, blinking at the unfamiliar sting that crowded his eyes. "Oh god Mimi…please tell me I've got you…"

"Yes…yes…you've got-"

Jason swallowed the rest of her words as his mouth descended on hers, the hunger of his kiss surprising them both. Releasing her hand, he reached inside the mink wrapping his arms around her pulling her closer as he angled his head, forcing Mimi to do the same as he deepened the kiss. His tongue demanded entrance and quickly mated with hers in an erotic dance. He felt her arms reach around his shoulders as she returned his kiss with a desire that sent a shock wave coursing through his body.

Shocked at her own eager response to Jason's kiss, the only thought that reverberated through Mimi's thoughts was don't stop…please don't stop. And somehow Jason heard her as he explored the deep recesses of her mouth before allowing her to do the same as she felt the answering thunderous beating of his heart against her chest until it joined hers in a rhythmic pounding that weakened her knees, draining all of her strength.

As the need for air finally caused them to break apart, Mimi buried her head against Jason's neck as his chest heaved underneath hers. Threading her fingers through his hair, she pressed herself even closer to him unable to form her emotions into words and she smiled as she felt his answering squeeze. They stood there for several moments as they each realized that they finally were honest with each other.

"You know," Mimi whispered against his throat. "I hop you really do have your keys."

Jason felt a deep chuckle rise in his chest. "Oh yeah…why is that? You need a lift home?"

"As a matter of fact I do," Mimi said, leaning back to look up into his smiling eyes. "And besides that…oh!"

Mimi gasped as she felt the outline of his keys suddenly pressing into the bare skin of her back, the metal warm from being curled tightly in its owner's hand.

"You were saying?" Jason asked placing a swift kiss on her still warm and moist lips that quickly turned into a deeper kiss filled with tenderness, sweetness and a new emotion that neither could put a name to just yet.

"I was saying," Mimi responded as they ended the kiss, "that I want to be the first girl to get to ride in that new truck of yours."

"The only girl," Jason whispered, dropping his forehead until he rested against hers. "My girl."

"Well do you think they have worked things out?" Shawn asked, as Belle leaned back against him as they stared out the glass doors at their friends.

"I would give that a definite thumbs up," Belle replied, turning around and reaching up to place a kiss on Shawn's mouth. "Let's go back and tell Philip and Chloe. Who knows how long those two will be out there…talking."

"Well kissing is nice but its still pretty cold out there. Let's go before they decided to come inside to warm up and find us spying on them."

Reaching for her hand, Shawn laced his fingers with hers and they started back towards the main room when suddenly both set of parents along with two strangers came around the corner.

"Hi mom…dad," Belle said, a slight blush on her cheeks as she gave a silent prayer of thanks that they hadn't arrived a few moments ago to find the two of them making out. "You're not looking for us are you?"

"As a matter of fact we are Izzy B.," John said quietly.

"What's up dad?" Shawn said looking at his father before noticing the pained expression on his mom's face. "It's not J.T. is it?"

"Your brother is just fine Shawn Douglas," Bo answered, his voice strained. "This concerns you."

Shawn and Belle exchanged glances and then looked at the two men who stood just behind their parents. Shawn knew something must be wrong because he dad rarely called him by his full name unless he was in trouble. "What's going on?"

"Shawn Douglas Brady," one of stranger stepped forward between the parents. "You're under arrest for the assault and battery of Roger Turner."

"What!" Belle cried as she felt Shawn release her hand and she watched as he closed his eyes against the words. "What are you talking about! Who's Roger Turner?"

John and Marlena quickly went to Belle's side and John tried to wrap his arms around her but she pulled away from him. "Daddy…answer me…who is Roger Turner?"

"Honey…think…you know the name. Roger Turner is the young man who…who attacked you a few weeks ago."

Belle's gaze swung back and forth between her parents and Shawn's. "And you think Shawn…what… beat up this R-Roger…beat up this guy?"

John could only nod at the shocked look on his daughter's face. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

"This is crazy!" Whirling around, Belle pushed her way between the stranger and Shawn, placing her hands wide on  his chest. "Tell them Shawn…tell them they're wrong! Tell them you wouldn't do something like this!"

Staring over Belle's head at his parents, Shawn saw the hurt and uncertainty in their eyes. As his mother moved close to his dad, wrapping her hands around his arm for support Shawn suddenly wished he could lie to them. But he knew he couldn't. Looking down into Belle's stunned face he knew now he never should have lied to her. He should have told her straight out what he had done.

"Son…can you tell us that?" Bo asked.

Shawn slowly shook his head as Belle's gasp rang in his ears. Marlena quickly stepped forward and pulled Belle into her arms wishing with all her heart she could block out the words that they were all forced to listen to.

"Shawn Douglas Brady…you have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"