Banshee Song
Book One
1 Chapter Twenty-one
Chloe rushed breathlessly into the emergency waiting room. She scanned the room and headed over to where Shawn sat with his head in his hands. "Shawn" she breathed as she threw her arms around him. "How is he?"
He looked up and Chloe could see the worry reflected in his dark brown eyes. "We don't know…Craig and Colin are in with him now."
Chloe gave her friend another deep hug. "What happened?"
Shawn straightened in his chair and focused his gaze out in front of him. He fought to compose himself. "He had one of his attacks, like he used to get when he was younger. Mom found him, um he wasn't breathing and his color was wrong, almost blue. He did finally start breathing, but he still doesn't seem right. The doctors have been in there for a while and no one will tell us anything."
Chloe gently grasped his tense shoulder. "I'm sure that Craig will tell you as soon as he knows anything." She pensively bit her lip, wishing she knew how to help her friend.
Shawn glanced at her sideways. "I'm guessing that you know…about J.T.?"
Chloe simply nodded. "I'm so sorry, Shawn. I can't imagine what you must be going through."
He continued staring out in front of him. "Funny. When I found out the truth, it had felt like I was losing my brother. And now I really am."
"Don't say that!" Chloe said softly. "J.T. is going to be fine. You said it yourself; he used to get these attacks all the time. He survived then; he'll make it now. Remember, he's tough; he's a Brady."
Shawn smiled in spite of himself. "Yeah, he is." Shawn smiled gratefully at Chloe. "You know, all my life I've wanted a baby brother. I've just always wanted someone to watch over and protect. Someone who would look up to me. I used to imagine all the things we'd do together. I'd teach him boating, and how to fish. We'd play catch and I'd show him my curve ball." He smiled, lost in his dreams.
He sighed and slumped his shoulders, wondering if those dreams would ever become reality. "It's weird, J.T. is only two years old, and he can't do much, but I can't imagine having anymore fun with him then I do now. Just sitting with him, watching him play with his toys, seeing how he interacts with his world. It's the most amazing thing." Shawn trailed off then, suddenly moved with emotion.
Chloe wrapped her arm around his drooped shoulders. She decided to take his mind off of his little brother by opening up to him about some of her old dreams. "When I was younger and staying at some of the foster homes, I used to daydream that I had a big brother. He was sooo big and strong and I dreamed that he would come and take me out of the foster homes."
Chloe smiled wistfully and Shawn looked at her tenderly. "My imagination was so detailed; I knew exactly what he would look like. He was tall, had brown hair and blue eyes like me. He was like, really tough and he rode a motorcycle. I would close my eyes at night and dream of when he would rescue me. He'd ride in on his bike, eyes blazing with fire and he'd snatch me up in his strong arms and tell my foster parents something like, "If you ever come near my sister again I'll kill you!" Then I'd ride off with him on his motorcycle, safe and happy."
She grew quiet and closed her eyes against the pain of her childhood. Shawn reached over and took her hand in his. "Hey, I'll make you a deal okay? You can be my little sister and I'll be your big brother. Okay?" Shawn said with a smile.
Chloe laughed, her blue eyes sparkling. "Deal."
John entered the quiet waiting room with his family close behind him. Without even pausing, he walked over to Bo and Hope for news on his son. Marlena hesitated a moment and then followed her husband.
John came up to Bo who held Hope in a tight embrace. "Thanks for calling me, Bo." John's eyes reflected his gratitude for the man who had every reason to hate him, but had still found a way to push that hatred aside for the good of his son, no, their son.
Bo's eyes spoke volumes of the pain, sadness, forgiveness that he felt. "Don't mention it, John. Right now J.T. needs all of us."
The two siblings stood awkwardly in the waiting room still trying to process the recent turn of events. They were just beginning to accept that they had a little brother and now there was something seriously wrong with him.
Belle looked around the sterile waiting room. "I'm going to try to find Shawn." She nervously wondered what she was going to say – she hadn't seen or talked to Shawn since they first found out the horrible truth. She found Shawn and Chloe in a secluded corner sharing a friendly hug. She stood in front of them, wondering anxiously how to approach him.
Chloe noticed Belle and stood up. "I'll just give you two some time alone. Shawn, it's going to be okay." She said as she squeezed his shoulder. She gave Belle a deep hug and then left the two alone.
Chloe found him sitting by himself with his head in his hands. She gently caressed Brady's shoulder causing him to jump slightly. He looked up quickly and locked eyes with her, a thousand emotions washing over him at the sight. He was overcome with shame and remorse, remembering how he had coldly pushed Chloe away, foolishly thinking that he could handle this on his own.
Chloe wordlessly settled onto his lap and cradled his rough face in her hands. He tried to speak, to apologize. "Chloe, I..I…"
"Ssssh, Brady. No words." She soothed as she pulled his tense body into her arms. He hugged her soft body closely to him, taking comfort in her presence. He had missed her so much, these last couple of days. He vowed to never again keep her out of his life. Whatever was going on; he knew that he would need her to help him through it.
They sat like that for many minutes, communing silently with their souls. Chloe felt comforted as her fears for their future were quieted. She knew that whatever lay before them, they would face it together.
Chloe kissed the top of his head tenderly. "Brady, I'm so sorry. For everything. I don't know what to say to make this better."
His bright blue eyes shone as he looked up at her. His voice was rough and gravely. "Don't say anything." He brought his lips up to hers, taking refuge from the cruel present in her sweet kiss. "I love you." He murmured breathlessly in between mind-blowing kisses.
Chloe felt all fear and apprehension fly from her heart. "I love you too, Brady."
Untold hours passed and they gathered together at an unspoken signal. Bo gently held Hope, while Marlena comforted John. Their kids entered the room in pairs. Brady and Chloe held hands, while Shawn had his arm around Belle's shoulders. They stood there, quietly waiting, somehow knowing that it wouldn't be long now.
A tired, stressed Craig joined them mere moments later. He addressed the small group in front of him calmly and gently. His eyes flickered over Chloe, but he didn't have time to wonder why she was here.
"J.T. is doing fine, at the moment. He has suffered a severe complication due to his Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. One of the valves in his heart had collapsed. Colin and I have worked long and hard to repair the collapse and J.T. is currently stable."
Relief washed over the inhabitants of the waiting room. Craig continued though, a serious expression on his face. "However, the fix is temporary at best. We need to perform surgery to replace the valve, but we can't operate until he has rested and regained his strength. At the very earliest, we maybe able to begin the procedure tomorrow morning."
Craig's face grew even more somber as he tried to prepare his friends. "Provided he makes it through the night. We will monitor him closely. He is still in very critical condition and it could deteriorate at a moment's notice. I advise that you stay here, so that you can be with him, in case he doesn't make it." Craig then left to consult with Colin on J.T.'s case.
Hope buried herself in Bo's arms. "Bo…our baby. God let him be okay." She whimpered softly. Bo hugged her to her tightly, sharing her pain, her fear.
The family and friends prepared for a long night at the hospital. John and Bo drank massive amounts of strong coffee, while Marlena fixed Hope some herbal tea she had in her office. Belle and Shawn snuggled together on a bench under a blanket.
Brady turned to Chloe who was similarly nestled in his arms. "Do you need me to drive you home?"
"No. I'm staying here." She snuggled closer to him and gradually drifted off to sleep.
Book One
1 Chapter Twenty-one
Chloe rushed breathlessly into the emergency waiting room. She scanned the room and headed over to where Shawn sat with his head in his hands. "Shawn" she breathed as she threw her arms around him. "How is he?"
He looked up and Chloe could see the worry reflected in his dark brown eyes. "We don't know…Craig and Colin are in with him now."
Chloe gave her friend another deep hug. "What happened?"
Shawn straightened in his chair and focused his gaze out in front of him. He fought to compose himself. "He had one of his attacks, like he used to get when he was younger. Mom found him, um he wasn't breathing and his color was wrong, almost blue. He did finally start breathing, but he still doesn't seem right. The doctors have been in there for a while and no one will tell us anything."
Chloe gently grasped his tense shoulder. "I'm sure that Craig will tell you as soon as he knows anything." She pensively bit her lip, wishing she knew how to help her friend.
Shawn glanced at her sideways. "I'm guessing that you know…about J.T.?"
Chloe simply nodded. "I'm so sorry, Shawn. I can't imagine what you must be going through."
He continued staring out in front of him. "Funny. When I found out the truth, it had felt like I was losing my brother. And now I really am."
"Don't say that!" Chloe said softly. "J.T. is going to be fine. You said it yourself; he used to get these attacks all the time. He survived then; he'll make it now. Remember, he's tough; he's a Brady."
Shawn smiled in spite of himself. "Yeah, he is." Shawn smiled gratefully at Chloe. "You know, all my life I've wanted a baby brother. I've just always wanted someone to watch over and protect. Someone who would look up to me. I used to imagine all the things we'd do together. I'd teach him boating, and how to fish. We'd play catch and I'd show him my curve ball." He smiled, lost in his dreams.
He sighed and slumped his shoulders, wondering if those dreams would ever become reality. "It's weird, J.T. is only two years old, and he can't do much, but I can't imagine having anymore fun with him then I do now. Just sitting with him, watching him play with his toys, seeing how he interacts with his world. It's the most amazing thing." Shawn trailed off then, suddenly moved with emotion.
Chloe wrapped her arm around his drooped shoulders. She decided to take his mind off of his little brother by opening up to him about some of her old dreams. "When I was younger and staying at some of the foster homes, I used to daydream that I had a big brother. He was sooo big and strong and I dreamed that he would come and take me out of the foster homes."
Chloe smiled wistfully and Shawn looked at her tenderly. "My imagination was so detailed; I knew exactly what he would look like. He was tall, had brown hair and blue eyes like me. He was like, really tough and he rode a motorcycle. I would close my eyes at night and dream of when he would rescue me. He'd ride in on his bike, eyes blazing with fire and he'd snatch me up in his strong arms and tell my foster parents something like, "If you ever come near my sister again I'll kill you!" Then I'd ride off with him on his motorcycle, safe and happy."
She grew quiet and closed her eyes against the pain of her childhood. Shawn reached over and took her hand in his. "Hey, I'll make you a deal okay? You can be my little sister and I'll be your big brother. Okay?" Shawn said with a smile.
Chloe laughed, her blue eyes sparkling. "Deal."
John entered the quiet waiting room with his family close behind him. Without even pausing, he walked over to Bo and Hope for news on his son. Marlena hesitated a moment and then followed her husband.
John came up to Bo who held Hope in a tight embrace. "Thanks for calling me, Bo." John's eyes reflected his gratitude for the man who had every reason to hate him, but had still found a way to push that hatred aside for the good of his son, no, their son.
Bo's eyes spoke volumes of the pain, sadness, forgiveness that he felt. "Don't mention it, John. Right now J.T. needs all of us."
The two siblings stood awkwardly in the waiting room still trying to process the recent turn of events. They were just beginning to accept that they had a little brother and now there was something seriously wrong with him.
Belle looked around the sterile waiting room. "I'm going to try to find Shawn." She nervously wondered what she was going to say – she hadn't seen or talked to Shawn since they first found out the horrible truth. She found Shawn and Chloe in a secluded corner sharing a friendly hug. She stood in front of them, wondering anxiously how to approach him.
Chloe noticed Belle and stood up. "I'll just give you two some time alone. Shawn, it's going to be okay." She said as she squeezed his shoulder. She gave Belle a deep hug and then left the two alone.
Chloe found him sitting by himself with his head in his hands. She gently caressed Brady's shoulder causing him to jump slightly. He looked up quickly and locked eyes with her, a thousand emotions washing over him at the sight. He was overcome with shame and remorse, remembering how he had coldly pushed Chloe away, foolishly thinking that he could handle this on his own.
Chloe wordlessly settled onto his lap and cradled his rough face in her hands. He tried to speak, to apologize. "Chloe, I..I…"
"Ssssh, Brady. No words." She soothed as she pulled his tense body into her arms. He hugged her soft body closely to him, taking comfort in her presence. He had missed her so much, these last couple of days. He vowed to never again keep her out of his life. Whatever was going on; he knew that he would need her to help him through it.
They sat like that for many minutes, communing silently with their souls. Chloe felt comforted as her fears for their future were quieted. She knew that whatever lay before them, they would face it together.
Chloe kissed the top of his head tenderly. "Brady, I'm so sorry. For everything. I don't know what to say to make this better."
His bright blue eyes shone as he looked up at her. His voice was rough and gravely. "Don't say anything." He brought his lips up to hers, taking refuge from the cruel present in her sweet kiss. "I love you." He murmured breathlessly in between mind-blowing kisses.
Chloe felt all fear and apprehension fly from her heart. "I love you too, Brady."
Untold hours passed and they gathered together at an unspoken signal. Bo gently held Hope, while Marlena comforted John. Their kids entered the room in pairs. Brady and Chloe held hands, while Shawn had his arm around Belle's shoulders. They stood there, quietly waiting, somehow knowing that it wouldn't be long now.
A tired, stressed Craig joined them mere moments later. He addressed the small group in front of him calmly and gently. His eyes flickered over Chloe, but he didn't have time to wonder why she was here.
"J.T. is doing fine, at the moment. He has suffered a severe complication due to his Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. One of the valves in his heart had collapsed. Colin and I have worked long and hard to repair the collapse and J.T. is currently stable."
Relief washed over the inhabitants of the waiting room. Craig continued though, a serious expression on his face. "However, the fix is temporary at best. We need to perform surgery to replace the valve, but we can't operate until he has rested and regained his strength. At the very earliest, we maybe able to begin the procedure tomorrow morning."
Craig's face grew even more somber as he tried to prepare his friends. "Provided he makes it through the night. We will monitor him closely. He is still in very critical condition and it could deteriorate at a moment's notice. I advise that you stay here, so that you can be with him, in case he doesn't make it." Craig then left to consult with Colin on J.T.'s case.
Hope buried herself in Bo's arms. "Bo…our baby. God let him be okay." She whimpered softly. Bo hugged her to her tightly, sharing her pain, her fear.
The family and friends prepared for a long night at the hospital. John and Bo drank massive amounts of strong coffee, while Marlena fixed Hope some herbal tea she had in her office. Belle and Shawn snuggled together on a bench under a blanket.
Brady turned to Chloe who was similarly nestled in his arms. "Do you need me to drive you home?"
"No. I'm staying here." She snuggled closer to him and gradually drifted off to sleep.
