Here is the next Chapter! TY to Manda for helping me sort out where this
story will eventually go! Great ideas girl!!! ;)
I disclaim!
Chapter 8: A Good Investment
The Next Morning.
"You just quit!? Just like that," Brady stared at Jason incredulously. Jason had just informed Brady that he was retiring from the force.
"Yeah man, I just gave 'em my notice."
"Just like that?"
"Yeah and actually, I'm staying in Salem now. Mimi found me a great place. I'm really digging her, man." He had the audacity to blush. He'd only just met Mimi but they had really hit it off.
"Meems. You and Meems. . . happily ever after, right?" He sneered bitterly. "Jase. . . I don't even know what to say," Brady ran his good hand through his hair. How could Jason turn on the police force like that? Did he not care about his job at all? Did helping people, protecting them not interest him anymore?
"Look, Brady, I know you're disappointed in me, wondering how I could just seemingly give up like that-"
"That's exactly right. You're giving up. You're-"
"Not giving up. I'm just trying to live my life. When I was shot and my life flashed before my eyes and I thought I was going to die. . ." he trailed off. "There was nothing worse than that feeling. Nothing. Brady, when I die I don't want to have any regrets. I want more from my life. I want to live it, really live it and." He blew out a very frustrated breath. "I just don't know how to explain it."
"Obviously," Brady spat, turning away from his friend.
"I'll see ya later, Brady," Jason stood, figuring he'd give Brady some time to get over his announcement. "And Brady thanks, for always being there and for saving my life."
*********************
"But Nancy thinks it's a good thing. I don't know. I just think getting the George Foreman grill is a much better investment. You agree with me, right Chloe?" Craig Wesley chatted on at his desk, seemingly oblivious to Chloe's disinterest.
"Oh really?" Chloe played with the hem of her black shirt and rubbed her hands on her jeans. "That's nice, Craig."
Crossing his arms over his chest and getting cozy in his chair, Craig frowned at his daughter. She was definitely different today. "So I think Brady may be discharged today," Craig said nonchalantly, looking at his daughter for her reaction.
Chloe's head snapped up at the mention of Brady's name. "Brady?"
"Chloe, why don't you just go and see him? Did you two have a fight or something?" Craig had known how close his step daughter and Brady Black had grown over the last few weeks and was hoping something more was going on between them but he thought it was all just wishful thinking. . . until now.
"No. It's my day off and sometimes I want a break from things. Don't I deserve a break Craig?" Chloe's chin quivered and she bit her lip, hoping to bite back her tears. Ugh, she hated this. She hated that that near kiss in Brady's room threw her for an emotional loop. She hated that she wanted more and she barely knew him. She hated that he wasn't interested. So she didn't want to see Brady. She never wanted to see Brady again!
"Chloe, just go and see him. You'll feel a whole lot better. I mean, you guys have become friends right? I'm sure Brady will come in from Chicago to visit from time to time."
"I'm sure he will," Chloe cried and let the tears fall.
*********************
"So," Dr. Colin Murphy smiled at Brady, who was seated in a wheelchair in his hospital room, dressed in sweat shorts and a plain white shirt. "Looks like I am giving you the okay to go home."
"That's great, Doc. Thanks." Brady only stared straight ahead, his mind obviously on SOMEONE else.
"Will someone be driving you back to Chicago?"
"No, Dr. Murphy, I'll be driving myself," Brady replied sarcastically, gesturing to both of his legs wrapped tightly in their off-white casts.
"Sometimes, you really can be a pissface, Brady," Colin walked out briskly.
"Don't I know it," Brady muttered to himself.
"Ready to go home?" Belle peeked her head in the door and gave her brother one of those too f*cking perky grins.
"Sure," Brady murmured, trying to give Belle and Mimi a smile as they strolled in talking about how good the weather had been and the great fall sale at Ballistix.
"I don't know but I am loving this cold weather," Mimi sighed, peeking out of Brady's window. "I am loving everything lately."
"Ooh," Belle teased. "I'm sure Jason has a little to do with that."
"Just a little," Mimi blushed.
Belle tried to meet her brother's weary gaze when he didn't appear too interested in anything they had to say. "It's her day off, Brady."
"It never stopped her from visiting before," Brady murmured, looking at his left arm in its sling.
"Brady, stop sulking. This is all your fault." Mimi sighed, slapping a stunned Brady's back. "You really hurt her when you rejected her after the near miss kiss yesterday. You know that as well as I do."
"How do you know about that?" Brady demanded, his brow furrowing.
Mimi and Belle exchanged a look.
"Because I told them," Chloe walked into his room, a small smile on her face. "Hi Brady," Chloe said softly, giving him a little wave.
Brady only stared at her. Though he was cheering inside, ecstatic to see her, he'd never reveal that to her. So he ignored her, just ready to go home, and turned to look at his now empty bed.
Chloe only shook her head and smiled. "Could you excuse us guys?" When Belle and Mimi left the room, Chloe took a seat on Brady's bed, in his field of vision. "Brady. Brady, look at me." He did and his frown only grew more miserable. "Would you stop with that face," she laughed nervously. "Brady, God, look I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner but I'm here now. . . you big baby." She added, trying to lighten the mood.
"How's your head?" Brady asked, rolling his eyes and turning away from her.
"Why don't you just look and see for yourself," she smiled and smoothed back her hair to show him. He did. "See Brady? Just a little cut. Nothing's broken."
"You're sure," Brady asked meekly, taking her hand in his one good one and rubbing his thumb across her knuckles tenderly.
"Uh huh," was all Chloe could say as she looked into those childlike eyes, the ones that had haunted her for weeks, the ones she was now convinced would haunt her forever.
"Good. I'm glad," Brady turned away from her again and released her hand, running his hand through his hair. God, he was going to miss her. He hated that cared about someone he barely knew. He hated that he cared about anybody at all. He wasn't meant to love anyone, not romantically anyway. He'd had a few experiences with love and they had been brief and unimpressive. He never really saw himself wanting to commit to anybody. And then Chloe had to come into his life, with those damn doe eyes and that amazing voice and her clumsiness and her cartoon scrubs and all that crap about soulmates. He couldn't even look at her.
"You going back to Chicago?" She studied his profile and longed to run her hands through that hair.
He nodded. "Later tonight, after Shawn gets off of work, he's going to drive me." His jaw clenched. He hated depending on people. He'd always taken care of himself.
"So, now that Jason's here, in Salem, who's going to take care off you there, in Chicago?" She studied her hands and felt herself begin to tear up at the thought of Brady in a whole other city. A month ago, she barely knew this man existed and now. . . now she didn't know what was happening.
Brady only shrugged looking at her out of the corner of his eye, wanting to launch himself into her arms and beg her to ask him to stay but he was too proud to do so. He maneuvered his wheelchair around to fully face her and really look at her one last time. "I'm going to miss you, Chloe."
Chloe felt her eyes well up with tears again. "I'm going to miss you, too." The tears ran unheeded down her cheeks.
"Chloe, don't cry. I don't mean to make you cry. Please," he pleaded with her, and cupped her cheek in his hand.
Chloe threw herself into Brady's good arm, being mindful of his opposite hurt shoulder. "You always make me cry, Brady," she laughed as the tears continued to spill down her cheeks.
"Oh, well, geez, that's nice," Brady joked, rubbing her back and burying his face in her hair, inhaling deeply, trying to bottle this moment.
Chloe let out a breath and pulled back to look Brady in the face. Their faces were inches apart. "Brady, don't go to Chicago."
"What?"
"Don't go to Chicago. Stay here in Salem." She caressed his face. "Just until you're all healed up," she reasoned. "Stay here in Salem. . . with m- with Jason. He just moved in down the hall from me so. . ." She couldn't believe she sounded so desperate but she was. "I mean what are friends for, right?"
"Chloe," Brady started, but she cut him off with her finger on his lips.
"Please?" She pleaded, not ready to see him disappear from her life just yet. "Stay with Jason. Stay with anyone. Just. . . stay."
Brady nodded. Who was he to deny her anything? Plus, it was just as well. He'd found out today that his commander thought it might be better if he took some time off anyway-for his "well-being." Though, Brady knew the real reason: His boss wanted him away from Chicago while this seaport scandal died down. He hadn't joined the force to do dirty work for some crooked old cronies. He needed to get away from this for awhile and if Chloe, the woman he'd come to adore these passed few weeks, wanted to offer him an out, by all means, why not take it? Well, that was what he told himself anyway. "Okay. Okay, I'll stay. Just don't cry, okay?" he laughed nervously.
"Yes," Chloe sighed happily and came around behind him to wheel his chair from the room.
*********************
Brady and Chloe decided to settle in her place until Jason got back from whatever errands he was running. Brady certainly hoped Jason wouldn't mind his moving in. After all, things between them had been left a little strained since this morning.
"So, how do you like it?" Chloe asked, wringing her hands together apprehensively. She didn't know why she cared so much what Brady thought of this place, but she did.
"That's a loaded question," Brady muttered quietly, wheeling his chair around the loft sizing up the place. It was a nice place, familiar.
"Huh?"
"Uh, nothing Chloe." He cleared his throat. "I think this place looks great. I don't know why but it feels really familiar. Like I've been here before." He shuddered, getting a powerfully intimate feeling with the place. Had he been here before?
"Actually," Chloe began. "I think you've been here before."
Now it was Brady's turn to say "Huh?"
"Well, I bought this place from your father a few years ago when I was just a kid wanting to get out of my parent's house. And if I remember right, he said he used to live here with you and your mother, Isabella."
Brady was speechless as he took another look around the loft. At first he'd thought maybe it was just the loft and it feeling like home because at one time it was but maybe it was more than that, maybe he felt so complete because he was here. . . with Chloe. 'Fate.' The word popped into his head and he sighed and shook his head as if to shake the word and the thoughts that came with it away. 'Stop, Brady,' he told himself.
"Brady," Chloe touched his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
Brady looked at her and felt himself falling for her and he hated it and loved it all at the same time. "I was just thinking. . . I'm starved."
Chloe laughed. "Oh, well that's easily taken care of." She strolled into the kitchen and pulled out a box of 'Lucky Charms,' shaking the box in his face. "Yummy."
"Only you would think so, Chloe." He smiled as he watched her make him a bowl.
"Ugh, lie. Bachelors like you probably have boxes of this stuff just bursting out of your pantries."
"No, way," he accepted the bowl, carefully placing it in his lap and wheeling over to the couch to flip on the TV. "Only 'Fruity Peebles' in my house."
Chloe plopped down on the couch with a bowl of cereal for herself. "Well, you're in my house for now, Black, so you better get used to it."
"Of course," Brady smiled through a mouth full of cereal, glad to not have to discuss that almost kiss just yet, though knowing it was only a matter of time.
"Gross," Chloe threw a marshmallow at him.
"Well, I am so you better get used to it."
Thanks for reading!!! :)
I disclaim!
Chapter 8: A Good Investment
The Next Morning.
"You just quit!? Just like that," Brady stared at Jason incredulously. Jason had just informed Brady that he was retiring from the force.
"Yeah man, I just gave 'em my notice."
"Just like that?"
"Yeah and actually, I'm staying in Salem now. Mimi found me a great place. I'm really digging her, man." He had the audacity to blush. He'd only just met Mimi but they had really hit it off.
"Meems. You and Meems. . . happily ever after, right?" He sneered bitterly. "Jase. . . I don't even know what to say," Brady ran his good hand through his hair. How could Jason turn on the police force like that? Did he not care about his job at all? Did helping people, protecting them not interest him anymore?
"Look, Brady, I know you're disappointed in me, wondering how I could just seemingly give up like that-"
"That's exactly right. You're giving up. You're-"
"Not giving up. I'm just trying to live my life. When I was shot and my life flashed before my eyes and I thought I was going to die. . ." he trailed off. "There was nothing worse than that feeling. Nothing. Brady, when I die I don't want to have any regrets. I want more from my life. I want to live it, really live it and." He blew out a very frustrated breath. "I just don't know how to explain it."
"Obviously," Brady spat, turning away from his friend.
"I'll see ya later, Brady," Jason stood, figuring he'd give Brady some time to get over his announcement. "And Brady thanks, for always being there and for saving my life."
*********************
"But Nancy thinks it's a good thing. I don't know. I just think getting the George Foreman grill is a much better investment. You agree with me, right Chloe?" Craig Wesley chatted on at his desk, seemingly oblivious to Chloe's disinterest.
"Oh really?" Chloe played with the hem of her black shirt and rubbed her hands on her jeans. "That's nice, Craig."
Crossing his arms over his chest and getting cozy in his chair, Craig frowned at his daughter. She was definitely different today. "So I think Brady may be discharged today," Craig said nonchalantly, looking at his daughter for her reaction.
Chloe's head snapped up at the mention of Brady's name. "Brady?"
"Chloe, why don't you just go and see him? Did you two have a fight or something?" Craig had known how close his step daughter and Brady Black had grown over the last few weeks and was hoping something more was going on between them but he thought it was all just wishful thinking. . . until now.
"No. It's my day off and sometimes I want a break from things. Don't I deserve a break Craig?" Chloe's chin quivered and she bit her lip, hoping to bite back her tears. Ugh, she hated this. She hated that that near kiss in Brady's room threw her for an emotional loop. She hated that she wanted more and she barely knew him. She hated that he wasn't interested. So she didn't want to see Brady. She never wanted to see Brady again!
"Chloe, just go and see him. You'll feel a whole lot better. I mean, you guys have become friends right? I'm sure Brady will come in from Chicago to visit from time to time."
"I'm sure he will," Chloe cried and let the tears fall.
*********************
"So," Dr. Colin Murphy smiled at Brady, who was seated in a wheelchair in his hospital room, dressed in sweat shorts and a plain white shirt. "Looks like I am giving you the okay to go home."
"That's great, Doc. Thanks." Brady only stared straight ahead, his mind obviously on SOMEONE else.
"Will someone be driving you back to Chicago?"
"No, Dr. Murphy, I'll be driving myself," Brady replied sarcastically, gesturing to both of his legs wrapped tightly in their off-white casts.
"Sometimes, you really can be a pissface, Brady," Colin walked out briskly.
"Don't I know it," Brady muttered to himself.
"Ready to go home?" Belle peeked her head in the door and gave her brother one of those too f*cking perky grins.
"Sure," Brady murmured, trying to give Belle and Mimi a smile as they strolled in talking about how good the weather had been and the great fall sale at Ballistix.
"I don't know but I am loving this cold weather," Mimi sighed, peeking out of Brady's window. "I am loving everything lately."
"Ooh," Belle teased. "I'm sure Jason has a little to do with that."
"Just a little," Mimi blushed.
Belle tried to meet her brother's weary gaze when he didn't appear too interested in anything they had to say. "It's her day off, Brady."
"It never stopped her from visiting before," Brady murmured, looking at his left arm in its sling.
"Brady, stop sulking. This is all your fault." Mimi sighed, slapping a stunned Brady's back. "You really hurt her when you rejected her after the near miss kiss yesterday. You know that as well as I do."
"How do you know about that?" Brady demanded, his brow furrowing.
Mimi and Belle exchanged a look.
"Because I told them," Chloe walked into his room, a small smile on her face. "Hi Brady," Chloe said softly, giving him a little wave.
Brady only stared at her. Though he was cheering inside, ecstatic to see her, he'd never reveal that to her. So he ignored her, just ready to go home, and turned to look at his now empty bed.
Chloe only shook her head and smiled. "Could you excuse us guys?" When Belle and Mimi left the room, Chloe took a seat on Brady's bed, in his field of vision. "Brady. Brady, look at me." He did and his frown only grew more miserable. "Would you stop with that face," she laughed nervously. "Brady, God, look I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner but I'm here now. . . you big baby." She added, trying to lighten the mood.
"How's your head?" Brady asked, rolling his eyes and turning away from her.
"Why don't you just look and see for yourself," she smiled and smoothed back her hair to show him. He did. "See Brady? Just a little cut. Nothing's broken."
"You're sure," Brady asked meekly, taking her hand in his one good one and rubbing his thumb across her knuckles tenderly.
"Uh huh," was all Chloe could say as she looked into those childlike eyes, the ones that had haunted her for weeks, the ones she was now convinced would haunt her forever.
"Good. I'm glad," Brady turned away from her again and released her hand, running his hand through his hair. God, he was going to miss her. He hated that cared about someone he barely knew. He hated that he cared about anybody at all. He wasn't meant to love anyone, not romantically anyway. He'd had a few experiences with love and they had been brief and unimpressive. He never really saw himself wanting to commit to anybody. And then Chloe had to come into his life, with those damn doe eyes and that amazing voice and her clumsiness and her cartoon scrubs and all that crap about soulmates. He couldn't even look at her.
"You going back to Chicago?" She studied his profile and longed to run her hands through that hair.
He nodded. "Later tonight, after Shawn gets off of work, he's going to drive me." His jaw clenched. He hated depending on people. He'd always taken care of himself.
"So, now that Jason's here, in Salem, who's going to take care off you there, in Chicago?" She studied her hands and felt herself begin to tear up at the thought of Brady in a whole other city. A month ago, she barely knew this man existed and now. . . now she didn't know what was happening.
Brady only shrugged looking at her out of the corner of his eye, wanting to launch himself into her arms and beg her to ask him to stay but he was too proud to do so. He maneuvered his wheelchair around to fully face her and really look at her one last time. "I'm going to miss you, Chloe."
Chloe felt her eyes well up with tears again. "I'm going to miss you, too." The tears ran unheeded down her cheeks.
"Chloe, don't cry. I don't mean to make you cry. Please," he pleaded with her, and cupped her cheek in his hand.
Chloe threw herself into Brady's good arm, being mindful of his opposite hurt shoulder. "You always make me cry, Brady," she laughed as the tears continued to spill down her cheeks.
"Oh, well, geez, that's nice," Brady joked, rubbing her back and burying his face in her hair, inhaling deeply, trying to bottle this moment.
Chloe let out a breath and pulled back to look Brady in the face. Their faces were inches apart. "Brady, don't go to Chicago."
"What?"
"Don't go to Chicago. Stay here in Salem." She caressed his face. "Just until you're all healed up," she reasoned. "Stay here in Salem. . . with m- with Jason. He just moved in down the hall from me so. . ." She couldn't believe she sounded so desperate but she was. "I mean what are friends for, right?"
"Chloe," Brady started, but she cut him off with her finger on his lips.
"Please?" She pleaded, not ready to see him disappear from her life just yet. "Stay with Jason. Stay with anyone. Just. . . stay."
Brady nodded. Who was he to deny her anything? Plus, it was just as well. He'd found out today that his commander thought it might be better if he took some time off anyway-for his "well-being." Though, Brady knew the real reason: His boss wanted him away from Chicago while this seaport scandal died down. He hadn't joined the force to do dirty work for some crooked old cronies. He needed to get away from this for awhile and if Chloe, the woman he'd come to adore these passed few weeks, wanted to offer him an out, by all means, why not take it? Well, that was what he told himself anyway. "Okay. Okay, I'll stay. Just don't cry, okay?" he laughed nervously.
"Yes," Chloe sighed happily and came around behind him to wheel his chair from the room.
*********************
Brady and Chloe decided to settle in her place until Jason got back from whatever errands he was running. Brady certainly hoped Jason wouldn't mind his moving in. After all, things between them had been left a little strained since this morning.
"So, how do you like it?" Chloe asked, wringing her hands together apprehensively. She didn't know why she cared so much what Brady thought of this place, but she did.
"That's a loaded question," Brady muttered quietly, wheeling his chair around the loft sizing up the place. It was a nice place, familiar.
"Huh?"
"Uh, nothing Chloe." He cleared his throat. "I think this place looks great. I don't know why but it feels really familiar. Like I've been here before." He shuddered, getting a powerfully intimate feeling with the place. Had he been here before?
"Actually," Chloe began. "I think you've been here before."
Now it was Brady's turn to say "Huh?"
"Well, I bought this place from your father a few years ago when I was just a kid wanting to get out of my parent's house. And if I remember right, he said he used to live here with you and your mother, Isabella."
Brady was speechless as he took another look around the loft. At first he'd thought maybe it was just the loft and it feeling like home because at one time it was but maybe it was more than that, maybe he felt so complete because he was here. . . with Chloe. 'Fate.' The word popped into his head and he sighed and shook his head as if to shake the word and the thoughts that came with it away. 'Stop, Brady,' he told himself.
"Brady," Chloe touched his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
Brady looked at her and felt himself falling for her and he hated it and loved it all at the same time. "I was just thinking. . . I'm starved."
Chloe laughed. "Oh, well that's easily taken care of." She strolled into the kitchen and pulled out a box of 'Lucky Charms,' shaking the box in his face. "Yummy."
"Only you would think so, Chloe." He smiled as he watched her make him a bowl.
"Ugh, lie. Bachelors like you probably have boxes of this stuff just bursting out of your pantries."
"No, way," he accepted the bowl, carefully placing it in his lap and wheeling over to the couch to flip on the TV. "Only 'Fruity Peebles' in my house."
Chloe plopped down on the couch with a bowl of cereal for herself. "Well, you're in my house for now, Black, so you better get used to it."
"Of course," Brady smiled through a mouth full of cereal, glad to not have to discuss that almost kiss just yet, though knowing it was only a matter of time.
"Gross," Chloe threw a marshmallow at him.
"Well, I am so you better get used to it."
Thanks for reading!!! :)