~@~@ Finally Ch.12

I disclaim

~~~

" Honey, I'm home." Jan walked into the loft that she shared with husband, dropping her bag by the door, and then leaned against it. The day had been long and tiring. Mac had shown no improvement, and it was taking its toll on her friends and family. Chloe had brought Gabriela by to see her godmother, but the little girl had no affect.

" Hey look who's here." Brandon walked out the small kitchen with their daughter following behind. " It's Mom."

Jan smiled at the scene her daughter was the spitting image of Brandon, with her dark complexion and jet-black curly hair. The second her daughter was born she fell in love with the small bundle, and she was sure that had Chloe Jessica looked like Paul, she still would have loved her. As it was everyone who saw her and Brandon together, assumed he was her father, which he was. " You say that like you haven't seen in me in weeks." She looked past her husband and focused on her child. "Where's my hug?"

" Hi mom." CJ barreled into her mother and gave her a tight hug, and held on for several second trying to hold the connection for as long as she could.

Brandon watched the hug with concern, it really wasn't like CJ to be so clingy as she had been, but at least now he knew the reason. " Munchkin, don't you have homework?"

" Subtle Dad." The girl shook her head while she grabbed her book bag and climbed the stairs to her room.

" What's up?" Jan sank down onto the couch, and braced herself for bad news.

" First things, first."  Brandon leaned over, kissed his wife on the lips, and smiled at the way she melted into him after all these years. " Hello love of my life."

" Good to be home reason for living." She putted him down on the couch and, and raised her eyebrow." What's up?"

" Did you notice how affectionate CJ has been this last week?"

" Yeah, but I was hoping it was her realizing how much she loves us." Jan drops her head in hands and shakes her head." It's not that is it."

" No, I talked to her and she really been worried about us, you especially." At the look of confusion Brandon continues." You were with Mac when the accident happened, and she's really worried about losing us."

" I was kinda hoping this Mac situation wouldn't affect us like things usually do in this town." " I'll talk to her in a little while, I just need to rest."

" Tough day." Brandon turned and began massaging her shoulders

" Mac has made no improvement." " Her body is healing, but we can't say anything about brain damage until she wakes up, and it gets worst."

" How?"

" Kristen DiMera as been slinking around Mac's room, Patrick's been standing guard to keep her away." " She's trying to become Mac's guardian, she's been talking to some other doctors about the chances of recovery in cases like this. "

" What are the chances?"

" A normal case like this is about 70%, but Mac's not normal and her chances are more like 40%."  

" Damn."

"Yeah, well unfortunately I had to tell Chloe that, and I don't know if she can recover from news like that."

"She has Brady, she'll be fine." Taking her in his arms, he leans back on the couch ad thanks god that his family is safe.

~~

" Hey Chloe." Philip sat down next to the sullen woman in the hospital chapel. " You doing okay?" The question was ridiculous considering everything that has been happening, but he didn't really have another opening.

" No, I'm not." 40 percent, her friend a 40 percent chance of survival, various bumps, and bruises form other fights and battles had destroyed most of her body's immunity. " Jan told me that Mac has 40% chance of survival."

" Oh no." Philip hoped that he had his best sad face on, even thought he was mentally doing a touch down dance. He felt relieved and above all else pride, after everything else he was the one to finally end Mac. " Should I go get Brady for you?"

" No, Brady doesn't care." How else could explain the way he was acting, talking about not taking Gabriela to see Mac. " He thinks I'm spending too much time with her as it is."

" That's stupid, Mac is your friend, and you guys are like sisters." " Where does he expect you to be."

" Thank you Philip at least someone understands me." Chloe almost laughed at the statement once she heard it out loud. Philip had never understood her, and the fact that he did when Brady didn't left her feeling weary. " I should go and check with Craig, before I head home."

Philip quickly stood and offered her his hand as they left the chapel and headed for Dr. Wesley's office. " I wait her and then walk you back to your car."

" Okay, thanks." Chloe gave him a small smile as entered her father's office.

" Please tell me that you're obsessed with her again." Sami sauntered into Philip's line of vision, and glared at the man before her.

" Sami darling." Philip stood and made a move to kiss her cheek when she pushed him away."

"Don't." " What are you doing here?" " Are you checking up on me?"

" What!?" "No, I'm here to see how Mac is." Philip steeped closer, and lowered his voice. " Could you please lower your voice does the entire hospital need to know our business?"

" We have no business Philip, we have a farce of a marriage that I hopefully we'll be out of soon." " I don't know what I ever saw in you, Austin was always the best of Kate's sons, and even Lucas comes closer then you do." " It's sad to think that Victors only worthwhile children are dead or have disowned him."

" Back off Sami." Chloe quickly moves in front of Philip blocking him from the barracuda he mistakenly married. " Don't you have something else to do."

"Well, well little Chloe Lane does your husband, that you're still chummy with your ex." " Why don't you run along and bother someone else."

Chloe silently seethed, she didn't understand how Belle had gone all those years without decking Sami. " First off its Chloe BLACK, second my husband has no problem with my friends." Chloe stepped closer and straightened to her full height, which was several inches taller, then the angry blonde. " Third and I think this is most important, you really shouldn't start something with me today or any day for that matter, I learned a lot of things from a very good friend that suggest violence as a universal problem solver."

" I don't have time for this." Sami gave Philip a final glare, before walking away in a huff.

" Thanks Chloe." Philip looks down at his shoes. " I don't want it is about her, but I just can't get defend myself to her." " Ironic when you think how often I use to fly off the handle at you, back in school."  

Chloe laid a comforting hand on his shoulder." It's because you love her, Philip." She lifts his head and smiles at him." Come on I need a big strong man to walk me to my car, but since I don't see one you'll do."

His lips turn at the corners and he shows his dimples." Gee Chloe, you know how to make a guy feel better."