"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Forty-Three
Lobby of Milford Police DepartmentFrom the corner of his eye, Shawn saw his mom take a step towards him but he held out his hand to stop her just as his dad did the same. He could see the look of shock on Dr. Evans face at what Belle had just done to him. He knew both her and John still thought of Belle as their sweet, perfect little girl but there was a lot more to Isabella Black than her parents knew. Belle hitting him had been a shock but he knew he deserved her anger. He just hoped he could earn her forgiveness.
"I know I did," he replied softly.
"You've never done that before…as long as I have known you I could always count on you to tell me the truth…no matter what. I mean even to the point of hurting my feelings you never failed to tell me the truth."
"I know."
"What made this time so different…you could have told me what you did …tonight…when you picked me up." Belle offered a small laugh but there was no humor in her voice. "I even asked about your face…why did you think you had to make up some story?"
"You've been looking forward to the ball for weeks now…and I didn't want to ruin it for you."
"Well it didn't exactly work out that way did it?" Belle dropped her hand from her lips. "I can assure you that I never envisioned it ending in the lobby of a police station. This was why you were so keyed up last night at the party isn't it? You kept pacing around the room, checking your watch and when I said I wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home you rushed me out the door so fast I couldn't even say goodbye to everyone. How long have you been planning this?"
Shawn looked over at his and Belle's parents for a quick moment before he turned back. "I know I owe you an explanation Belle but I don't think this is the place for us to talk."
"Oh…you'd rather wait until we're alone…maybe like we were last weekend out at Philip's? Do you remember that day?"
Shawn nodded solemnly but Belle kept on talking without waiting for a reply. "I felt so safe with you…I was able to open up and talk to you about what he…what he did to me. I was able to show you what he did to me…and then you touched me and took away my guilt…my shame…and my hurt and for a moment I could almost pretend that awful night never happened-"
"Belle," Shawn interrupted her as he moved to stand between her and their parents. No matter how disinterested they tried to look, he knew they were hanging onto every word Belle was saying. She was running on pure anger and probably didn't even realize what words were coming out of her mouth. "I should have told you…I realize that now and I was going to…just not tonight. I didn't want you to think about the attack tonight like you have been for the last two days…ever since you first discovered that bastard following you."
Belle turned away at his words to look back out the window at the falling snow. Shawn took a step closer to her, wanting desperately to put his arms around her and to feel her lean back against him like she's done a hundred times before but he knew she would only move away.
"I watched as you crawled back into your shell…jumping whenever anyone touched you…that scared vacant look back in your eyes…and I hated that he was doing that to you. I wanted him to know that that someone was watching him…that I knew what he was doing and he wasn't going to get away with it."
"I hate him for what he did to me," Belle whispered, still facing the window. "I am still so far away from being close to a place of forgiveness but I was working on it…and now this…him in the hospital because of what you did to-"
"No!" Shawn turned her around, his arms gripping tightly at her shoulders. "I didn't put him in the hospital!"
"Shawn…how can you say that? You mom told us-"
"Look we had some words and threw a few punches but when I left him he was fine," Shawn said, his heated words were laced with anger that Belle could even think about him that way. That he could hurt someone like that. "Okay maybe he wasn't fine but he was conscious. Belle, you know me better than anyone else in this entire world…do you really think I could hurt someone enough that they would end up in a coma? Tell me you don't believe that…tell me!"
"Excuse me…Dr. Evans?"
Marlena looked up from where she sat on the bench at the young police officer who stuck his head though the archway. "Yes…I'm Dr. Evans."
"Your service just called us…they are putting a call through on line two. It's University Hospital in Salem," he pointed to the black utility phone sitting on the counter with one of its clear buttons flashing rapidly. "You can take it right over there."
"Oh…thank you," Marlena said, rising.
"Who could that be?" John asked, watching his wife walked over to the phone.
"Perhaps its about a patient dear," she answered stopping to remove one of her earrings before picking up the hand set and pressing the button.
"Dr. Evans speaking…oh yes Dr. Manuel…what? Oh my…" A look of horror and disbelief came over Marlena's expressive face as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Have you called Dr. and Mrs. …are they…can you at least give me a status…yes of course… oh…they did…well of course we will be right there…yes, thank you." Slowly returning the receiver to the cradle of the phone, she paused to take a deep breath before turning back to everyone.
"What is it?" John asked, instinctively knowing that the news wasn't good.
Marlena walked over to where Shawn and Belle stood, unable to look at them directly as she tried to control the tears that suddenly filled her eyes.
"Mom…what is it?" Belle said.
"Oh honey," Marlena whispered, brushing away the tears that fell to her cheeks with the tips of her fingers. "Well…th-there's been an accident."
"What?" Everyone cried in unison.
"Oh my gosh…it's not Brady is it Mom?" Belle asked reaching out for her mother. "Mom?"
"No…no sweetie…it-it's not Brady," Marlena said, as she clasped her daughter's hands tightly in her own, praying she was strong enough to be able to deal with what she had to say after everything else that had happened tonight. "It's Philip and Chloe."
"No!"
"Apparently they left the ball and were involved in an accident downtown. They are in the emergency room now."
"They aren't…I mean they're not…" Shawn found himself unable to finish his question.
"I don't know sweetie…I don't know," Marlena said, turning to address him. "Dr. Manuel did say that it was Jason Welles and Mimi that first came upon the accident…and I guess they too have suffered some injuries."
"Jason and Mimi…" Belle turned to look back at Shawn. "I don't understand…"
"It's gonna be all right," Shawn said, reaching out to touch her but she stepped away from him and into the comfort of her mother's arms. He felt so useless as he stood there, watching Belle's mother trying her best to comfort her daughter.
"I think we need to get over there," Bo said, helping Hope on with her coat.
"I agree," John said, walking over to join his wife and daughter. "Let's go."
"Yes," Marlena said as she slowly released Belle and helped her with her jacket. "I told them we were be there…all of us."
"Shawn?" Bo said from where he and Hope stood at the double glass doors that lead outside. "Maybe you should ride with us."
Shawn only nodded as he turned away from Belle and went to join his parents.
"Give her time son," Bo said quietly knowing the hurt his son was feeling as Belle's rejection. "She's still in shock over your arrest and now this…"
"Yeah I know…let's just get to the hospital okay?"
Jennifer Deveraux sat silently next to Mimi, watching her rock back and forth on the fabric covered couch, knowing that no words were going to help the distraught girl who amazingly been the only one not hurt in tonight's accident. An accident that had, just after one nurse remarked on what was an unusually quiet night it was in the ER, quickly turned it into a war zone with three of the four emergency bays filled. All with young people who had yet to reach their eighteenth birthdays.
Grateful she had refused the invite to the ball tonight and volunteered to work instead, Jennifer reached out and lightly rubbed the young girl's back praying her parents would show up soon. She had managed to convince Mimi to change into the clothes she had found in a locker in the candy stripper's room with the girl's name on it after Jennifer found her curled up in the waiting room, her evening clothes covered in blood and soaking wet.
Suddenly a frantic woman and man, jackets thrown hastily over pajamas, entered through the sliding glass doors and Jennifer knew they must be Mimi's parents as Dr. Wesley and Nancy, the Kiriakis' and Dr. Welles and his wife were all with their respective children.
"Mimi…" the woman's tear filled voice called softly and moments later, Jennifer was blinking back tears as she watched the young girl fly across the room and into her parents embrace. Saying a quiet prayer of thanks that her own daughter was safety tucked in bed asleep at home, Jennifer rose to her feet giving the Lockharts a few minutes of privacy before she offered to explain what little she herself knew of tonight's events.
"Oh honey, are you all right?" Mimi's mother said as she stroked her daughter's hair, which had long since fallen from its elaborate swept up style.
Mimi nodded against her mother's shoulder. "But J-Jason…and Ch-Chloe and Philip…oh mom…it was terrible. We couldn't get her out and the flames were so close…and Jason protected all of us…"
"Shhh," her mother soothed knowing her daughter was too upset to make any sense.
"Excuse me…maybe I can help."
Mimi's mother looked over her daughter's head at the young woman who quietly walked up to where they stood.
"My name is Jennifer Dev-…Jennifer Horton Devereaux. I'm a volunteer here at the hospital."
"Horton…another member of the famous Horton clan?"
"I'm afraid so," Jennifer answered with a soft smile. "Alice Horton is my grandmother and Dr. Bill Horton, who used to be on staff here at the hospital, is my father. I was working down here in emergency when your daughter arrived."
"Please," she said as she and husband made their way back over to one of the many couches that lined the walls of the ER.
"From what the police and EMT's have told me…two friends of your daughter's were involved in a two car accident-"
Suddenly the doors opened again and in rushed the Blacks and the Bradys still dressed in their formal eveningwear. As soon as Mimi saw Belle she left the comfort of her parents and raced across the room towards her friend. Jennifer rose as the group headed towards her.
"Jennifer…what is going on?" Hope said.
"How are Philip and Chloe?" Shawn asked unable to take his eyes off Belle as she and Mimi make their way over to where the rest of them stood.
"How did you know about the accident?" Jennifer asked. "Did someone at the ball tell you?"
"Well…we were-"
"My service got a hold of me," Marlena said. "I spoke with Dr. Manuel earlier. How are the children?"
"Why don't you all take a seat and I will tell you what I know," Jennifer said pointing towards the waiting room, "and perhaps Mimi can fill in the rest."
The ladies sat but John, Bo and Shawn all remained standing as Mr. Lockhart also rose to stand and they all shared hushed, quiet hellos.
"Like I was saying to Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart, Philip and Chloe were involved in a two car accident at the corner of Main and Pioneer earlier tonight. Of course the police are still working on the scene and Bo…you might be able to find out more but the preliminary reports are that Philip's car was hit while entering the intersection and he was throw from the car while Chloe was pinned inside. Mimi and Jason came upon the accident and found them and were able to pull of them to safety before the cars exploded from spilled gasoline."
"But why were Philip and Chloe away from the ball?" Shawn said, checking his watch. "It only just ended a few minutes ago."
"They had a fight," Mimi said, sniffling through fresh tears, "after Nancy announced that Chloe had been accepted to a school in New York City and was leaving Salem in January."
"What?" Belle cried.
"It was just after Chloe sang…she was so wonderful but I guess she hadn't had a chance to tell Philip about leaving town because he was really upset and stormed out of the ball but Chloe followed him. I guess they got into his car and drove away."
"Chloe sang?" Shawn asked.
Mimi nodded. "With the orchestra…Jason and I just made it back inside to hear her…where did you guys disappear to?"
Shawn quickly glanced at Belle who adverted her eyes, concentrating her gaze on the tiled floor in front of her. He turned to look up at his father and then over at his mom before answering. "Umm… something came up that we had to deal with."
"Mimi…why did you and Jason leave the ball," her mother asked, "and where are your clothes?"
Looking down at her denim oxford shirt, jeans and sneakers, Mimi shuddered as the memories of finding Philip and Chloe washed over her. "Jason and I followed Chloe when she went after Philip. They were yelling at each other and both of them were really upset…when Chloe ran into the elevator to follow Philip we were worried that some-oh god…that something would happen to them…my clothes…Mom… I'm sorry but I ruined your dress…I had to cover Chloe with my jacket and there was just so much blood…"
"It's okay honey" her mother said as her father quietly pressed a few tissues in his daughter's hand. "I don't care about the clothes…I just want to know that you are all right."
"Thanks to Jason…he dragged Philip to the sidewalk and then he got Chloe free from her seatbelt and got her out of car just as the fire started…we had just gotten over to the sidewalk with her and was covering them with our coats," Mimi said, pausing to wipe at her nose, "he was going to go to his truck to check for something we could use… blankets…something…when suddenly both of the cars exploded… there was so much gas on the ground and the flames…he pulled me down onto of Philip and Chloe and he covered us with his body…there was stuff flying through the air…he didn't even tell anyone he was hurt until one of EMT's saw the blood soaking through his shirt…he's a hero."
"Don't call me that."
Everyone turned to see Jason walk through the double doors that led from the emergency room bays, his chest bare and wearing just his tuxedo pants and dress shoes, his mother at his side. Mimi let out a cry of relief and flew off the couch into his arms not seeing the cringe of pain that crossed his face as he steadied himself and readily held her against him with one arm, the other encased in a fabric sling that supported his bandaged left shoulder.
Closing his eyes against the numerous pairs of eyes that stared at them, Jason concentrated on the feel of Mimi in his arms, the pain in his shoulder quickly fading thanks to the painkillers he'd been shot up with. He could feel Mimi's tears against his neck and they moved him towards an emotion he'd never before felt in his life.
"Oh god…you're okay."
"I'm fine…I told you that," Jason whispered into her hair.
"But there was so much blood," Mimi said as she slowly released her hold on him and stepped away. Suddenly embarrassed at the extent of her emotions she started to back away but Jason quickly reached for her hand and held tight.
"Just a few stitches."
"More like a few dozen," his mother said, standing at his side. "I take it you are Mimi?"
"Ah...yes I am."
"This isn't the way I wanted you two to meet but mom…this is my girlfriend Mimi Lockhart," Jason said. "Mimi…my mom."
"It's nice to meet you Mimi…finally."
"You too Mrs. Welles…and did you just say a few dozen stitches?"
Mrs. Welles smiled wearily as she, Jason and Mimi walked back over to where everyone sat. "Yes…it was quite a large piece of metal they took out of his shoulder and it took almost twenty four stitches to close up his shoulder."
"How are the other two…Philip and Chloe?" John said.
"My husband just went to check," Jason's mom said as she took a seat next to Mimi's mother. "I heard that Philip wasn't too bad…didn't you say he was awake when you found him?"
"For a few minutes," Jason said as everyone turned to look at him. "Long enough to tell me he could move his feet but not his left arm…he thought he dislocated it. Then he passed out again."
"Chloe didn't wake up once," Mimi whispered, "and there was so much blood."
"Dr. and Mrs. Wesley are with their daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Kiriakis are with Philip," Jennifer said. "We haven't heard anything since they went in."
"I can't believe this is happening," Belle said, wrapping her arms around herself, unable to get warm despite the comfortable temperature of the waiting room. She looked up at Shawn who returned her stare. She wanted desperately to feel his arms around her…for him to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be alright but the hurt of discovering he lied to her tonight was still too raw. She broke free of his stare to look over at Mimi and Jason, but when Mimi silently questioned by she and Shawn were so far apart she found herself unable to look at her friend, her eyes again dropping to the floor.
"Honey I think perhaps we should get you home," Mrs. Welles said. "You've been through an awful lot tonight."
"I agree," Mrs. Lockhart said. "There is nothing you can do here-"
"Forget it!"
Mimi and Jason turned to look at each other once they realized they'd spoken at the same time.
"I'm not going anywhere until I know that Philip and Chloe are going to be alright," Jason said.
"Me too," Mimi said standing up to her parents, taking strength from the warmth of Jason's hand in her. "You can't really expect me to leave here without knowing?"
"I suppose getting you out of here is impossible right?" Bo said, looking at his son.
"Right," Shawn answered quietly. "I'm here to stay."
"Ditto," Belle said quietly. "Don't even think of asking me daddy…I'm not moving until Philip and Chloe come out through those doors or I'm allowed to go back and see for myself that they are alright."
Shawn found himself proud of Belle's spirit and he couldn't resist sending her a quick wink of support that got him a small smile in return before she suddenly realized what she was doing and looked away.
"Well I think I'll call into the station and see what more I can find out about the accident," Bo said as he started to walk away.
"Ah…Mr. Brady?" Jason said. "I don't know if its my place or not but when Mimi and I got to the accident we checked on the first car…it was a pickup actually and the driver was already dead…and he reeked of alcohol."
"Have you been questioned by the police yet?" Bo asked.
"No sir."
"Okay…I'm sure they are going to have a few questions for both you and Philip."
Hope watched as her husband headed for a quiet corner to call into headquarters. "Since it looks as if we are going to be here for a while would anyone like some coffee?"
"That sounds good," Mrs. Lockhart said rising from the sofa along with Jason's mother. "We'll help won't we hon?"
Her husband took a long look at his daughter and the young man who had his arm wrapped tightly around her. "Yes…I think I need a strong cup of coffee."
"Will you be alright dear?" Jason's mother asked him.
"Yeah mom…I'm fine."
"Marlena…John?" Hope said turning to her friends.
"Coffee sounds good…bring back enough for everyone." John said. "We'll stay here with the kids."
"My shift is just about over and I need to get home," Jennifer said as she walked away with Hope. "Please call me and let me know what is going on. I'm going to get Abbey and head over to Gram's. I know it's late but she is going to want to know about this."
"Okay sweetie…I won't call unless it's…well its bad news," Hope said, deliberately lowering her voice as they walked away with Mimi's parents and Jason's mother towards the hospital coffee shop that was open twenty-four hours.
"Why don't you sit," Mimi said, looking up at Jason. "You look like you are ready to fall down."
"I'm fine," Jason said, "but it is a bit cold in here."
"Here," Shawn said as he quickly pulled off the jacket to his tuxedo and handed it over to Mimi. "It's not much but we are pretty close in size."
Mimi helped Jason put on the jacket, holding it as he slipped it on one arm and then wrapping it around his shoulder. "Now…sit," she commanded, pulling him down to an empty sofa.
Jason complied, as Mimi joined him and without even thinking about it, Shawn walked over and sat down next to Belle. He wanted desperately to put his arm around her and comfort her as he watched Jason do with Mimi but he saw Belle stiffen the moment his leg brushed against hers and he didn't want to do anything to make her move away so he just sat there.
"Boy I wish you dad would come out and tell us something," Shawn said, dropping his head back against the cushion. "Anything."
"Okay how about this?" a anguished voice called from behind them and everyone turned to see Philip sitting in a wheelchair, his left arm wearing a matching bandage and sling like Jason, being pushed by his father with his mother at his side. His face was covered with cuts, scrapes and bruising as was his chest and arms as he wore a standard hospital gown backwards, open like a jacket over one shoulder, his legs still encased in the black dress trousers of his tux. But none of that was able to detract from the tears that filled his eyes and ran unabashed down his cheeks. "I've killed the only girl I'm ever going to love."
to be continued…