The following fan fiction contains characters owned by the writers and producers of Days of Our Lives. This fan fiction is purely for entertainment purposes.

Lost in Thought

Brady dined with Chloe and her parents. Although Chloe picked with her dinner, she was bubbly and playful. Chloe's presence at the dinner table reinvigorated the Wesleys, who were overdue for a sign of normalcy. While Chloe's past demeanor was broody and hostile, her effervescence that night was warmly welcomed. Craig, encouraged by Chloe's upbeat attitude, persuaded Nancy to go out for dessert. Nancy agreed to go if Brady kept an eye on Chloe. Brady agreed and kept her company, but she had to go upstairs. He sat on the couch, waiting for Chloe to come downstairs. His mind wandered back to the hours before his life changed.

**********FLASHBACK***********

Brady rang the Wesleys' doorbell. He heard Chloe running toward the door. She looked through the window and saw him. She unlatched and opened the door.

Chloe: Brady, I'm so glad you're here.

Brady: Are your parents here?

Ch: Oh course not! I wouldn't watch the tape if they were in the vicinity! Look, I'm sorry I said that. Please come in.

Brady walked cautiously into the living room. The television and the VCR were on and the tape was on the table. Chloe followed him into the living room and picked up the tape. She held the tape in her trembling hands and looked at Brady.

Ch: What's on this tape is really bad, isn't it?

Brady's face was solemn.

Br: Chloe, you should know all the facts before making any decisions.

Ch: Phillip told me that he and Cynthia only kissed.

Br: There was kissing…

Ch: But there was more?

Brady nodded his head.

Ch: What else happened?

Br: Chloe…I'm not going to tell you.

Ch: But you're my best friend.

Br: Yes, but I won't be responsible for hurting you.

Ch: But you're not above watching the tape with me?

Br: Wait a minute. You asked me to do this. I can think of other places I'd rather be than here.

Ch: Okay, I don't want to argue with you.

Chloe inserted the tape into the VCR. She and Brady stood in front of the TV, waiting for the tape to begin. Cynthia had her back to the camera as she removed her top. Phillip's eyes gleamed as she took off her pants. She walked to the couch and straddled him. He pulled her in for a kiss. She tugged at his shirt and he helped her take it off. She unbuckled his belt and pulled it off. She rose from Phillip and laid on the floor. He got off of the couch and took off his pants and boxers and laid on top of Cynthia. They continued kissing passionately. Cynthia wrapped her legs around Phillip and lowered his head to her chest. Brady pressed the stop button and ejected the tape. Chloe stood in front of the TV, dumbstruck. Brady walked to the kitchen. Chloe was roused from her trance by the sounds of the kitchen being ransacked. She ran into the kitchen and saw the tape on the table and Brady looking in a closet.

Ch: Brady, what are you doing?

Br: I'm looking for a hammer. I'm going to do what I should have done when I found it.

Chloe grabbed the tape and ran into the living room. Brady followed her and saw her transfixed on the images of Phillip and Cynthia. Brady tried to get the tape, but Chloe blocked the VCR.

Ch: This tape is my property. You have no right to dispose of it.

Br: I can't stand to see you like this.

Ch: Well, run out to the kitchen and make a BLT.

Brady watched Chloe's face as she viewed the tape. He could see her mind processing every kiss, nuzzle and caress, wondering whether he was using the same technique he used with her in the stables.

Ch: (detached) You know, he didn't caress me as much as he's caressing her. Her skin must be really soft, considering the many hands that have handled her. Maybe their hands were rough and acted as a scrubbing mitt.

Br: Chloe, don't.

Ch: (tears flowing) Look, he isn't concerned about being caught by her parents. He's taking his time, unlike when we were in the stables. Mind you, his 'dead' father was on the grounds…

Br: Chloe, GIVE ME THE TAPE!

Ch: (voice cracking) No! I'm going to watch the whole thing. Dammit, how long is this tape?!

Brady grabbed the remote from her and stopped the tape. She covered her face, walked to the couch and sat down. She wiped her eyes and fanned her flushed face. Brady sat next to her and rubbed her back. She looked at him and her face crumpled. He placed her head on his shoulder and wept quietly. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a handkerchief and offered it to her. She accepted it and placed her head on his lap. He gently stroke her hair and rubbed her back.

Ch: I can't believe that he lied to me, again. I feel so stupid.

Br: (quietly) You are not stupid. You wanted to believe in him and his love.

Ch: (sarcastically) His love! What a crock! At the earliest opportunity, he hooked up with Cynthia. I knew that I shouldn't have gone with the movies with…

Br: (hurt) Me?

Ch: (sitting up) No, Brady. I didn't mean it like that.

Br: Yes you did, Chloe. You regret going to the movies with me.

Ch: No. I'm just saying that if I didn't reject him, he wouldn't have done this.

Brady got off of the couch.

Br: I can't believe this. You're making excuses for him, again! He knew what he was doing.

Ch: But he loves me!

Br: Ha! When you love someone, you don't take up with your love's enemy just because she declined a date with you! Who are you two supposed to be, Rizzo and Kenicke?!

Ch: Why are you getting so angry?

Br: Because of the many things you could have regretted about that night, you regret being with me. You don't regret going to that particular theater, or going to the concession stand, at that particular moment, or walking to my house alone at night. The first thing that popped into your head was you being with me. You regret that we had a good time. You regret finding out how much I care about you. And right now, I'm beginning to regret that too!

Brady walked to the door.

Ch: Brady, please don't go!

Br: Why the hell should I stay? To hear more excuses on why Phillip messed up again? To hear you run down our relationship for the sake of preserving the 'thing' you have with him? What you and I have is rare and should be treasured. The only problem is that I'm the only one who feels this way. Goodnight, Chloe.

Brady walked to the door and turned the knob.

Ch: Brady, please. I…

Brady heard a loud thud. He turned around and saw Chloe lying on the floor. He ran to her and cradled her. He gently slapped her cheeks to wake her.

Br: Chloe, sweetie, wake up.

He tried to sit her up and noticed trickles of blood flowing from her nose.

Br: Oh my God!

He grabbed his handkerchief and dabbed her nose. He took out his cell phone to dial 911. As he dialed, he heard the Wesleys walking to the door.

Br: (yelling) Dr. Wesley, come quick!!

Craig dropped the groceries and rushed into the house, with Nancy following him.

Craig: (kneeling) Oh my God! What happened?

Nancy kneeled next to Chloe and cradled her head in her lap.

Nancy: (glaring at Brady) What did you do to my baby?

Br: I didn't do anything! We were arguing, I turned to leave and she fainted.

Cr: How do you explain the nosebleed?

Br: I sat her up and her nose began to bleed.

Nancy looked at Craig as he examined Chloe.

Cr: She doesn't have signs of facial trauma.

N: (agitated) Of course she doesn't, Craig. It's just another nosebleed and another fainting spell that we shouldn't worry about, right Craig?

Br: Wait a minute. This has happened before?

Cr: We don't have time to talk. We have to get her to the hospital.

N: (crying) Chloe, baby, please wake up!

Br: I'll carry her to the car.

As Craig called the hospital, Brady scooped her up in her arms and carried her outside. Nancy unlocked the car and opened the backseat doors. She climbed into the car and Brady carefully placed Chloe's head on Nancy's lap. He handed her the bloodied handkerchief. He closed the car door and ran toward the house. He ran into the linen closet and grabbed some towels. As Craig finished the call, Nancy began to honk the horn.

Br: Here's some towels for her nose.

Cr: Thanks, Brady. Could you make sure that the house is locked up?

Br: Um, sure. Go ahead, Dr. Wesley. I'll take care of everything.

Craig threw the house keys to Brady and ran out of the house. Brady picked up the groceries and placed then in the kitchen. Hurriedly, he turned out the lights in the kitchen and the living room. He noticed the blue screen of the television and turned it off. He turned off the VCR and saw the tape indicator on the display.

Br: The tape. I'd better take it. The Wesleys don't need anymore surprises.

He ejected the tape and placed it into his pocket. He ran to the door, turned on the porch light, and walked out.

**********END OF FLASHBACK**********

Ch: Brady!