"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Forty-Four
Emergency Room Lobby – University Hospital"Philip…until Dr. Wesley comes out and tells us differently you can't give up on the fact that she is still alive and fighting for her life," Kate said quickly as everyone gasped at her son's outburst.
"You heard that nurse," Philip said, wiping furiously at his tears. "She said she didn't know how Chloe had managed to survive the crash and she doubted she would live for more than another-."
"Stop!" Victor voice snapped as he stopped Philip's wheelchair and walked around to face his son. "You are doing her and yourself a great disservice by giving up so easily. As long as she's in there fighting you need to be out here fighting for her. Where would I be now if your mother had given up on me? This isn't a time for you to be thinking about what you might lose but a time to be concentrating on what you still have. You are alive thanks to your friends and so is Chloe and she's got the finest people in the medical profession working to make sure she has every chance to stay that way. Over the last few months I have see a remarkable change in you Philip…a maturity that wasn't there before and I always contributed that to your relationship with Miss Lane but it's more than that…you are a Kiriakis…don't ever forget that and start acting like one!"
The room remained silent as Philip stared hard at his father for a long moment before he slowly pushed himself out of the wheel chair to stand tall in front the distinguished man who easily topped him by six inches.
"Honey," Kate said, reaching out to her son to help him, "perhaps you shouldn't-"
"I'm fine mother," Philip said quietly, still not breaking eye contact with his father. "I can stand on my own two feet without your help."
Victor reached out to gently pat Philip on the side of the face before pulling him close into a quick embrace. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks dad."
"How are you Philip?" Marlena asked, after father and son broke apart, and the Kiriakis family took a seat on the last empty couch in the waiting room.
"Surprisingly okay Dr. Evans," he replied, pausing to take a quick look at his friends. "Despite being thrown from my car I've only got a few cuts and bruises. It hurts like hell to move but I'm moving."
"Not to mention a severely dislocated shoulder," Kate said quietly.
"But no problems with your legs huh?" Jason said.
"No but I remember you asking me to move them. It was only my arm that I had no control of."
"Well, I guess your injury and mine makes us twins," he said, lifting his left arm encased in the slight, wincing when a sharp pain managed to get past the medication to dart across his shoulders.
Philip slowly rose from the couch and walked over to where Jason and Mimi sat and crouched down in front of his friend. "You saved my life bro…I'd say that makes us more than twins."
Jason nodded silently, unable to get any words past the lump in his throat even if he knew what to say. Instead he held out his hand and was surprised that Philip didn't return their normal, pre-game, fast moving ritual but instead gripped his hand in a simple handshake, weak but solid.
"You too Mimi," Philip said, laying his hand on her knee after Jason released it. "I never would have left Chloe if I didn't know that she was in good hands."
"She's in good hands now too," Mimi said, blinking back the tears that suddenly crowded her eyes. "You know Dr. Wesley and Nancy would fight God himself if he decided…if he wanted Chloe."
Philip only nodded in response before he turned back to Jason. "What happened to you?"
"No big deal…just a piece of metal that went flying through the air when the cars exploded. I was trying to cover you and the girls and my shoulder got in the way."
"The cars…exploded?" Philip's face went pale.
"Yeah a few minutes after Mimi and I got you and Chloe out of there…we were so lucky."
"The other driver?"
Jason just shook his head as a stunned Philip sat back on his heels.
"Philip…can you tell us what happened?" Shawn asked as he watched his friend closely. "Do you remember the accident?"
Slowly, Philip nodded as the events of the last few hours flashed through his mind…Chloe singing…her mother's stunning announcement…the angry words he and Chloe exchanged and then the sudden admission of her love for him…and her denial of regret that caused him to take his eyes off the road to look at her…
"Yeah…I remember Chloe and I were fighting… about her being accepted into that school and-"
Suddenly Philip sprang to his feet, swaying slightly with the movement and Mimi quickly rose to help but he shook off her attempts, his eyes glued to Dr. Welles, Nancy and Dr. Wesley who'd walked through the swinging doors into the waiting area. Everyone turned to the threesome each praying that the news they were about to hear would be good news.
"Dr. Wesley…" Philip's voice was thick with emotion. "How is she?"
"Well, it's not good Philip," Craig said as he cradling a sobbing Nancy in his arms, "we thought we had control of her bleeding but its coming from somewhere internal and they can't stop it unless they go inside. But what concerns me most is the compression of her lower spine and the massive swelling that is surrounding it…"
"Oh god I knew it," Jason said dropping his head into his one good hand. "I knew that I was causing more injury to her by pulling on her…trying to get her free…"
"Jason…you can't think that way!" Mimi cried as she dropped back down beside him.
Shawn leaned over and quickly placed a strong hand on his friend's leg. "Mimi's right Jase…you didn't have any choice back there at the accident…you had to get her out of that car."
"But I panicked! When I saw those flames I tried to yank her out of the front seat before I even thought to check and see if she was still being held by her seatbelt!"
Placing a hand on Shawn's thigh without thinking, Belle leaned over his lap and placed her other hand next to where his was on Jason's leg. "Don't say that! You were fighting for her life Jason…you reacted to your surroundings and the heat of the moment. If you had the chance to do things differently we all know you would have…you proved that with Philip telling us that you first stopped to check on his ability to move his legs. We know you would never purposely hurt someone."
Having turned his head the moment he felt Belle's hand on his leg, Shawn found his mouth only inches away from her cheek. "Nicely put Isabella," he whispered softly, no one hearing his words but her.
Belle snapped her head around her mouth almost colliding with his. When she nervously wet her lips with the tip of her tongue she heard the catch in Shawn's breath and her eyes collided with his until she saw the fading bruising there and she quickly backed away.
"It's not the same thing," she mumbled, retreating to the corner of the couch, quickly pulling free of his touch and burying both of her hands into her lap.
"Your friends are right," Dr. Welles said, walking up behind his son, placing a hand on Jason's uninjured shoulder. "You did what you had to do to save that girl…don't lose sight of that."
"So what's next Craig?" John asked.
"We are going to begin preparations for surgery…they've got to stop the bleeding and find out what is happening in the spinal area."
"Do you have the best person for that kind of surgery on staff here at the hospital?" Victor asked.
"Unfortunately no," Craig said. "Dr. Manuel is top notch but the surgeon that specializes this kind of trauma is at a medical conference in Las Vegas. Dr. Manuel has contacted him and he's agreed to assist via a video conference in the operating room."
"That's not good enough," John said hotly. "Vic, isn't your jet sitting at LAX waiting on a couple of board members from Isabella's foundation that are in Los Angles attending a conference?"
Belle saw her friends look at her in confusion but she quickly shook her head. "Brady's mom," she whispered.
"You're right John," Victor nodded in agreement easily picking up on his former son-in-law's thoughts. "I can have that plane in Vegas in thirty minutes and back here in Salem an hour later. Can you hold off on the surgery that long?"
"A few hours the most we can wait," a deep voice said from behind them as Dr. Manuel joined them. "If there is a problem with the flight I'd hate to think I won't have Dr. Daniels help at all."
"We can arrange a video conference from the air if we have to," Victor said rising from the couch. "I need a phone and I'll get that jet off the ground in fifteen minutes."
"There's a private office just through that door," Dr. Manuel pointed out.
"Victor…I...ah…I don't know what to say," Craig said.
"Nothing need be said," Victor replied laying a hand on his son for a moment as he walked past. "If situations were reversed and it was my child I'd like to think you'd do the same."
"We still have to start with blood transfusions," Dr. Manuel said as Victor disappeared behind a closed door. "She's lost too much blood as it is and will continue to do so…we've got to replenish it. Do you know her blood type?"
Craig shook his head as he looked down at his wife. "Nanc…what's Chloe's blood type?"
"I-I…I don't know," Nancy sobbed through her tears.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"Don't yell at me Craig! She's only been back in my life for a year now…I can't even get out of her what her favorite tv show is much less her blood type!"
"Roswell," Philip, Mimi and Belle said simultaneously.
"What…that one with the aliens?" Jason asked and Philip nodded. "Gee, I would have guessed anything that was showing on the Discovery channel."
"That too," Philip said with a sad smile.
"Okay…okay." Wrapping her tightly in his embrace Craig knew he needed to keep Nancy calm before they headed back to their daughter. "Rob…let's run a standard blood test and go from there-"
"You don't have to," Philip said suddenly. "She's type O negative."
"What?" Nancy spun around, her tear filled voice was edged with a controlled fury that Marlena doubted anyone else in the room recognized but she caught it instantly. "How do you know that?"
"We did experiments with blood tests in chemistry class last month. Everyone was joking about needing them, you know…for a marriage license and stuff…but it real important to Chloe…I guess because she doesn't know who her…"
"Are you sure?" Craig said interrupting Philip, his voice low as he continued to face away from everyone, his body stiff and still.
"Yes sir," Philip answered.
"O negative…that's not good." Shawn said.
"Why do you say that?" Belle asked.
"Don't you remember? Having the blood type of O negative is great if you are a donor because anyone in need can accept type O blood, no matter what type they may have. But when you are the one who requires a blood transfusion your body will only accept one type of blood…O."
"That's right," Dr. Manuel said. "I'll have the staff check the blood supply immediately and then we will contact the blood bank for a list of registered donors."
"That's not necessary," Craig whispered, "I'm O negative."
"But…but that's impossible!" Nancy cried.
"Why? I know my own blood type Nancy!" Craig said turning on her. "You are A and I am O…and so is Chloe. My god…I can't believe I am actually going to ask you this but didn't it ever occur to you that she…that Chloe might…could actually be my daughter?"
"No Craig…th-that's not possible! We weren't together anymore the night I…the night Chloe was conceived."
"We had only broken up that summer and it was a few weeks later when you…it was your father wasn't it?" Craig said, grabbing his wife by the arm and dragging her away from the waiting area. "He convinced you that I couldn't possibly be the father of your baby!"
"Dr. Wesley I don't understand completely everything that is going on here but Chloe must be our number one priority right now," Dr. Manuel said. "Let's begin the transfusion and if you desire…I will have the lab put a priority on DNA testing for you and your step…your step-daughter."
Craig released his wife, dropping his hands to his sides and his head to his chest. "Yes of course you are right," he turned and headed back towards the emergency room. "Chloe is what matters right now."
"I'm sorry Nancy but you can't come with us…we are taking Chloe directly up to the OR so when Dr. Daniels arrives we can begin the surgery immediately." Dr. Manuel said as she started to follow Craig. "Why don't you stay here with your friends. I will contact you if there is any change."
"C-Craig?"
Stopping at the doors, Craig turned to look back at her. "I'll take good care of…your daughter."
Nancy could only stand there after Craig disappeared with Dr. Manuel. Marlena rose and went to her, wrapping her arms around her. "It going to be all right," she soothed. "Come on…let's go sit down."
"She can't die," Philip whispered, shocked at what he and everyone had just seen happened between Chloe's parents. "She can't…not when her father might be right here…"
"Don't you talk about my daughter!" Nancy screamed, throwing off Marlena's arms as she advanced on Philip. "Chloe raced after you tonight when you acted like a baby after finding out about her acceptance into that school! She followed you outside and got into your car! You were behind the wheel …this is your fault!"
"Mrs. Wesley," Philip stumbled back a few steps, "please understand…I would never hurt-"
"Don't give me that crap! You have done nothing but hurt my daughter from the moment you first laid eyes on her! You were mean and hateful to her from the very beginning and you've been jealous of her talent for months now! You're afraid she was going to go off and be a big success and forget all about you!"
"Don't speak to my son that way!" Kate said, coming off the couch pushing her way in front of Nancy. "Philip loves Chloe!"
"Oh yeah…he's got a great example in the areas of commitment, love and trust coming from the likes of you and the rest of that group of rag-tag misfits you've got living in your house!"
"Nancy I think you need to settle down," John said firmly as he pulled her away from a very shaken Philip and an upset Kate, steering her towards an empty corner of the waiting area as Marlena laid a gentle hand on Kate's arm, her quiet eyes asking for calmness. "You are very upset right now, rightfully so but I don't think you realize what you are saying."
"I know exactly what I am saying…I can't even stand the sight of you!" Nancy bellowed as she twisted in John's grasp to stare at Philip. "If Chloe dies it is on your head!"
"I didn't mean to…I never…wanted to hurt Chloe," Philip whispered as Jason and Shawn quickly rose to stand at his side with Mimi and Belle following to form a protective circle around their friend.
"We know that Phil," Belle said as she watched her parents trying their best to calm Nancy down. "Mrs. Wesley is just really upset right now…especially after everything that just happened here."
"But she's right," Philip said as he shook off the comfort his friends were trying to offer, "she right…this is my fault…Chloe is laying on an operating room table fighting for her life because of me!" Suddenly he broke away from his friends and hurried away, heading down the empty corridor and disappearing around the corner.
"Philip! Wait!" his mother called.
"Let me Mrs. Kiriakis," Shawn said, as Kate started to go after him. Turning back to look at Belle, he saw her quickly nod.
"Go on…he needs you."
"Are you sure?" he asked, reaching out to gently trace his thumb across her cheek, amazed that she was allowing him to touch her. "I wanted us to talk…I need to make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine," Belle lied unable to break free from his powerful, dark eyes as they looked down on her the same way they always had…with warmth and tenderness…just like before he'd been arrested tonight. But there was something else there now and she found it difficult to put a name to the never before seen emotion.
She had been so scared to look at him, Belle realized, to really look at him. 'I was scared that I would see a different Shawn,' she thought, 'someone other than the boy I've known all my life and only just a few days ago realized I was in love with.' The boy she knew would have never hurt someone so badly that they needed to be in a hospital and Shawn had told her that…begged her to believe him but the police said…oh, she was so confused!
"I'm fine," she repeated, somehow finding the strength to drop his gaze and back away from his touch. "Go…please before he doesn't something crazy like try to leave the hospital."
"Without a car and half dressed?"
"In the state of mind Philip's in at this moment he might just walk out of here…and we'll never find him."
to be continued…