"Come on, Meems, babe," pleaded Jason.

Turning to face her secret love, Mimi pointed her finger at him and declared, "Don't you dare call me babe. In fact, don't you call me anything. Just stay away from me."

Jason reached out and grabbed Mimi's arm before she could make a dramatic departure from The Cheatin' Heart. His eyes hardening just a little as he became more determined, Jason stated, "You're not going anywhere until we talk. Something is going on with you, Mimi. And, I want to know what it is."

Jerking free of Jason, Mimi responded, "My life is none of your business."

"None of my business? How can you say that?"

"Oh, gee, I don't know. Because, it's true?" Flashing the outrageously expensive ring that was yet another prop that came with being Mrs. Brady Black, Mimi smugly added, "See this? This is all the proof that you should need that my life doesn't concern you."

"Please, don't tell me that you actually expect me to buy that loving couple routine. Seriously, Mimi, I am willing to bet that you and Brady are about as close as the north and south poles."

Still hurt by the words she had falsely believed Jason was saying about her at Star Lane, Mimi wanted nothing more than to show him that she didn't need him - that the void created by his absence wasn't real. Deciding to use a distorted version of the truth as her weapon, Mimi responded, "If you really believe that, then you're even dumber than you look."

"If you loved Brady, then why would you avoid him and sleep with me? Hmm?"

Bringing that twisted truth into play, Mimi replied, "Wrong, again, Jase. The question you should be asking me is where was I before you showed up at the penthouse. Because, I have a really good answer for that one - Brady's bed. I must say that by the time you showed up, my darling husband had already worn me out. Of course, with Brady, it was well worth losing a night's sleep. Well worth it."

Though he was not yet ready to give up on Mimi, Jason felt that he had nothing more to say to her for the evening. He understood that if he was left alone with Mimi, one of them would ultimately say something that could never be taken back. Forgetting that he was supposed to keep Mimi at the bar so that Chloe could have time with Brady, Jason brushed past Mrs. Black and reached for the door.

As he stepped through the door and into the cloudy night, Jason took one last look at Mimi and wondered if things would ever work out for them. His mind was saying no, but his heart was screaming yes. He supposed that only time would tell.

Jason was able to take only a single step before his path was blocked by a familiar figure that he had been avoiding like the plague. His arms crossed over his chest, Shawn demanded, "Why haven't you returned any of my calls?"

"Shawn, not now. It's really not a good time."

"I disagree," answered Shawn as he pushed Jason back inside. Noticing Mimi sitting at the bar, he pondered aloud, "I wonder what she's doing here."

"How would I know?" Jason grumpily responded as Shawn gave him a light shove in Mimi's direction.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to find out," replied Shawn with false cheer as he continued to push Jason toward Mimi. When the men were within a foot of her, Shawn asked, "Mimi, hey, why don't you join us?"

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

Chloe opened her mouth to utter Brady's name but released no sound at all as he harshly slammed the door in her face. For a moment, Chloe could do little more than stare at the oak surface. Though she had forced herself to show no signs of hope, Chloe had secretly longed for, perhaps expected, a warm reaction from her old flame.

Instead of sweet words erupting from his lips, Brady had greeted Chloe with nothing more than a bitter glare. The moment the door slammed shut, Chloe felt as though the door to all her dreams had also been shut.

As desperation triumphed over pride and reason, Chloe began to mindlessly throw her fists against the hard surface that separated her from Brady. Continuing her attack on the door, Chloe screamed for Brady in an almost hysterical manner.

Before Chloe could fall to the floor, a pair of strong arms were wrapped around her tired body. Turning away from the door, Chloe buried her head in the man's chest and began to sob.

The emotional outburst was no doubt the result of years spent masking any and all emotions. After leaving Salem, Chloe had constructed an emotional dam to protect herself from dangerous waters. Brady's silent, unexpected rejection had finally broken down that dam. As she had so often done during her life, Chloe had concealed her feelings until it all became too much and she was forced to reveal her hidden pain.

Breaking through Chloe's thoughts, Philip softly whispered, "Ssh, Chloe, it's going to be all right. I promise that you'll get through this. I'll make sure of it."

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

With Shawn glaring at him from across the corner booth and Mimi ignoring him from her place to his left, Jason felt completely trapped. He was beginning to regret having sat on the inside by the wall.

As Shawn continued to stare at him, Jason silently hoped that Chloe was having better luck with Brady. After all, she couldn't be doing any worse, could she?

Jason's musings were interrupted by Shawn's forceful voice saying, "I want answers, and I think that the two of you can give them to me."

Looking at Shawn incredulously, Mimi nervously questioned, "The two of us? Why would you think that Jason and I could help you get answers? I mean, what do you think that we did . . . I mean, know . . . what do you think that we know? Because, we don't know anything. Nope, we have no answers. None at . . ."

Before Mimi could continue her anxious line of babbling, Jason reached his right arm across him body and uncomfortably used his hand to cover Mimi's mouth. He attempted to give Shawn a reassuring look as he amended, "What Mimi meant was that we couldn't possibly know anything more than your parents, grandparents, or anyone else in this godforsaken town."

"Sure, and I'm the Wizard of Oz," dryly commented Shawn, the skepticism oozing with each word of the short sentence.

Mimi pushed Jason's hand away from her face and wryly stated, "Well, I guess that would make Jason the cowardly lion. Although, he does also have a lot in common with the brainless scarecrow."

Plastering an obviously fake smile on his face, Jason responded, "Ah, is the wicked witch getting cranky? It must be from spending so much time with your husband - the flying monkey."

"Excuse me," interrupted Shawn. "I know that the two of you are having a very meaningful conversation, but I'd really appreciate it if you would just can it. Okay?" Having gained Mimi and Jason's full attention, Shawn continued, "Now, I don't know what exactly is going on around here, but I intend to find out."

"What do you mean?" Mimi asked nervously as she wondered how she fit into Shawn's conspiracy theories.

"I mean that it's finally time for someone to come clean with me." Giving Jason a stern glare, Shawn added, "I want the whole truth, not just part of it."

Mimi lowered her gaze, hoping that Shawn wouldn't try to get any information from her. Mimi believed that it was bad enough that Shawn knew she slept with Jason. She could only imagine how repulsed he would be by some of her other actions. Had Mimi known that Shawn knew nothing of her brief affair, she might have felt a little more comfortable. A little, but certainly not much.

"So," prompted Shawn. "Who's going to go first?" Yet again, he was met with nothing more than silence. "All right, we'll do this a different way. I ask the question, you two give me the answers. And, Jase, I don't mean some half-truths. I want to know everything."

Jason barely restrained from groaning as he registered the true determination that colored each word Shawn spoke. As a loud clap of thunder boomed outside, Jason knew a very different storm was brewing inside. Like so many others, Shawn wanted to be free of all the secrets and lies.

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

As the first rain drops began to fall from the dark sky, Brady slowly walked over to the balcony doors to watch the developing storm. He may have been looking at the sky, but he was hearing Chloe's calls. He had a feeling that her voice would follow him not only to his grave but beyond.

Brady wondered if he had truly done the right thing when he simply slammed the door in Chloe's face. Never had Brady heard her sound so desperate and hysterical. The only thing worse than those tearful pleas was the sound of Philip coming to her rescue.

Yet again, Brady had been painted the villain and Philip the hero. Sadly, Brady understood that it was not entirely an incorrect portrait. No matter the time or place, Brady always seemed to find a way to cause more pain than happiness. Philip, on the other hand, had somehow managed to save the day countless times over the years.

When Belle had been heartbroken by Shawn leaving Salem, it had been Philip who eventually showed her that she could love again. And, even before that, it had been Philip who first gave Chloe the devotion she needed to open her own heart.

A soft tap on the front door stirred Brady from his somber thoughts and analyzations. Gruffly, he commanded, "Come in,"

Slowly, the door opened to reveal Brady's younger sister. From the unhappy look upon Belle's face, Brady could easily tell that something was wrong. Though Belle had lost a great deal of her optimism after Shawn's departure, she never failed to carry with her an inner light that shined through the most dark of nights.

However, on a night when the rain was falling and the wind howling, even Belle could not cut through the darkness. Standing in her brother and Mimi's dimly lit living room, Belle wasn't even sure if there would ever be light again. It almost seemed as if the darkness had taken complete and final control.

Crossing the living room, Belle quietly stated, "I came home and was in the corner of the lobby talking to Mrs. Kanley from the sixth floor when I saw them step off the elevator. He had his arms wrapped around her."

Brady felt tears spring to his eyes as he listened to his baby sister speak in a painfully detached manner. He hated hearing the pain that was evident in her trembling voice. It only proved how wrong things had gone.

Approaching his sister as she sat down on the couch, Brady had no need to ask whom she was referring to - only one person could hurt Belle that much. That was the same person that only Brady had been able to shatter with his misguided manipulations - Chloe. Sitting beside Belle, Brady remarked, "Philip loves you. Don't forget that."

"He loved Chloe, too."

Brady placed his hand under Belle's chin and turned her head so that he could look into her eyes. With more conviction that he actually felt, Brady stated, "Yes, but she isn't the one he married."

A few tears slid down Belle's cheeks and caused Brady to instantly wonder what he had said that had done more harm than good.

Using her left hand to wipe away the tears that were spilling from her eyes, Belle responded, "No, Philip didn't marry her. But, that's only because she left him for you. He bought her a ring, Brady." Choking on her own words, Belle repeated, "He bought her a ring."

Brady released a sigh and moved his body so that his head rested on the top of the couch's back while the rest of his body stretched out, giving him the appearance of one laying down. Following her brother's lead, Belle threw her own body back further on the couch and allowed her gaze to wonder to the balcony doors and the rain that was hitting against them.

Also staring at the dreary night, Brady said, "The past is over. We can't go back. You're married to Philip, and I'm married to Mimi. That's the way things are, the way they have to be."

"Have to be?" Belle questioned, turning her head to stare at her brother's profile. "What do you mean by that, Brady? Were you talking about me and Philip . . . or you and Mimi?"

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

"Question number one," began Shawn. "Jason, you told me that you thought Philip and Belle were just as screwed up as the rest of us - why?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," lied Jason.

"Let me refresh your memory," responded Shawn with an almost cruel smile and a glance in Mimi's direction. "It was the same night that you told me about what a certain person did before leaving town. Are those memories starting to return?"

Jason's mouth dropped open in disbelief. He never would have expected Shawn Brady to resort to blackmail. Now, that was an interesting turn of events. Then again, Jason figured he had it coming.

"Yeah, I think I'm starting to remember," replied Jason, stealing a quick glance at Mimi's curious expression. There was no way he was ready to tell her that he slept with Chloe Lane. No way.

"Well?" Shawn prompted.

"Well, I just meant that even Philip and Belle don't have a perfect marriage. I was being completely honest when I said that I didn't know all the details of their marriage."

"But," guessed Shawn. "You do know more than you originally told me."

Jason once again glanced at Mimi. This time, however, he was seeking some type of silent approvement. With a simple nod, Mimi gave it to him.

"Philip and Belle didn't exactly have the usual courtship. For about six or seven months, Belle lived in Colorado with some family members. I guess during that time, she and Phil had some sort of long-distance relationship. But, that's not the part that would really interest you. While Belle was in Colorado, Philip almost broke things off with her to go after Chloe again. When Brady and Chloe had their falling out, Philip was only a few steps away from being back in the picture."

Trying to form a mental time line, Shawn asked, "And, this was right before Chloe left town?"

When Jason nodded, Shawn only became more confused. He knew that Chloe had been with Philip, but left him for Brady. And, according to Jason, Philip had almost tried to win Chloe back. So, how exactly was it that Chloe ended up sleeping with her arch enemy Jason Masters? Even more important, why had Philip, among others, made various comments concerning Shawn having some type of relationship with Chloe?

While Shawn silently contemplated the events he had missed, Mimi became increasingly nervous. Believing that Jason had told Shawn about their relationship, Mimi felt as though her former friend deserved some type of explanation. Of course, Mimi knew that she would never be able to put into words what happened when her body came in close contact with Jason's. There simply weren't words to sufficiently express something so passionate and heavenly.

Breaking the silence, Jason commented, "Besides, not everyone can have a relationship as loving and loyal as Mimi and Brady's."

Slamming the palms of her hands against the table, Mimi emotionally declared, "That's it! I can't take this anymore, it's killing me inside." A single tear made a path down Mimi's cheek as she focused her gaze on Shawn and confessed, "I know Jason told you that we slept together."

Directing her teary gaze at Jason, Mimi softly added, "I know that you were just using me to get back at Brady. And, I'll never forgive you for it." Her voice rising just a little as her emotions took complete control, Mimi added as she stood, "You had no right to let me fall in love, Jase. No right."