Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoys this chapter it took me a while to finally get it all together. But, now that its finally finished I think you'll enjoy it. I'm working on chapter 10 of SR and a new Salem Family Series installment both of which should be out in a few weeks so I hope you'll forward to that so here's the next chapter. Also, if you to keep abreast of my progress check my website for updates as that will have the most current news.
Chapter Forty-Seven – A New Arrival
Chloe sat at a table in the Brady Pub drinking a cup of peppermint tea as she waited for Nancy to arrive with the twins and Jessica. Her mother had offered to take the children to their fittings for their annual Christmas Recital at the school in two weeks. After which, ironically enough, would be near her due date. Considering that she was now mere days away from beginning her ninth month, she was all too happy to relinquish the joy of taking the children on their usual hunt for the things needed for the recital. She'd practically jumped at the chance to let Nancy do it for her. Now, she had time to enjoy a spot of tea and rest her aching feet, without worrying over getting everything done for her children. She loved them to death but at Christmas, the rushed paces of the shoppers and harried cashiers, can wear on even the most blessed person. And with the baby due in a few weeks, she cherished one of the few moments of absolute solitude she was having knowing that it would be a while before she got it ever again.
As she sipped from her mug, she absorbed herself in the most recent gossip rag, her one true guilty pleasure; this one had a full two page spread on Hollywood's latest A-list couple breakup. Her cell phone began ringing to the tune of let it snow that Ariana had programmed into for her. Sighing, she pulled it from its place in her purse and answered it, "Hello."
"Mom, what are you doing out—," Jarod started.
"Jarod, sweetheart if you are about to lecture me again for leaving the house, I may just have to hang up on you. So, unless you actually have something to talk to me about, I'd suggest you get right to it."
"Okay, okay. I was just saying that I thought you were staying at home because of the weather being so unpredictable that's all." Jarod parroted quickly.
"Yes, well, I've been driving on these roads since long before you were born; I am perfectly capable of doing it even now, almost nine months pregnant. So what did you want?" She asked not missing a beat as she flipped another page of the magazine.
"I was wondering if you could pick me up from school. I was going to call Dad but I remembered he had that meeting today."
"Yes, he's in Chicago and won't be back until late. I can swing by and pick you up from school sweetie. It's not a problem. Just let me call you're grandmother and let her know where I'm going to be so she can take the twins and Jessie home. Give me about a half hour. And don't wait outside its too cold."
"Okay Mom, I'll see you when you get here."
"All right bye sweetie." Chloe called her mother to let her know of the change in plans then clicked the off button on her cell phone as she picked up the magazine and her purse. Walking the short distance to the cash register she paid for her tea, then waving goodbye at Caroline she prepared herself for the element outside, making sure all extremities were covered. Finally wrapped up for warmth she exited the Brady pub her purse and magazine in hand.
Unbeknownst to her as she headed for her parked car, a man dropped his cigarette on the ground, stomping on it as he went to his own black sedan. He waited for Chloe to get into her car and pull off before he took off following behind her at a moderate pace.
Jarod stood just beyond the doors to Salem Middle school as he waited for his mother's car to pull into the almost abandoned parking lot.
"Jarod are you waiting for someone?" Ms. Mason asked as she strolled up behind him.
"I'm waiting for my Mom." He answered sparing a quick glance at her before returning to stare out the window.
"I can wait with you if you like." She offered.
"Nope, that's okay you don't have to." Jarod said as he saw the headlights to Chloe's car pull into the school parking lot. "Mom's here. See ya next week, Ms. Mason." Without another word, he grabbed his backpack off the ground, swinging it onto his shoulders he headed out into the brisk night air.
"Goodbye Jarod." Ms. Mason called out as she watched he boy run to his mother's car. She waved at Mrs. Kiriakis as she headed to her own car for the night.
Chloe had just barely pulled into the parking lot of the school before Jarod was running carefully from the school. Unlocking the doors as she put the car in park she waited for him to put his back pack in the trunk before climbing in the passenger seat beside her. She waved at his guidance counselor as the woman walked the car.
"I thought you were going to wait inside for me to come in and get you."
"Nah, I figured it'd be quicker if I just came out for you." Jarod replied as he pulled the seat belt across him as Chloe put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot.
"So how was your day at school?" His mother asked maneuvering the car into traffic.
"It was okay. But, staying after school was much better."
"Oh, what did you stay after for, I can't remember."
"Extra credit in my life science class. It was just me and a couple other kids from class. Mr. Murphy let us help get the primary data for an experiment that we're doing next week. But, even if it wasn't for extra credit, I'd have probably done it anyway. I really like science."
"But, the extra credit helps doesn't it?" Chloe asked glancing over at her son a slight smile on her face as she came to a red light.
"Of course, it pushes my grade to a B plus. And if I ace the next test, which I will, I'll get an A in the class."
"I take you're shooting for the honor roll this quarter."
"Yup, I need to have at least a B average to try out for a sport this spring."
"What sport are you thinking of?"
"I'm not sure; I'm good at a lot of sports."
Chloe chuckled. "You're definitely your father's son."
"Well, Dad did play sports when he was my age right?"
"Yes, your Dad was a jock since he began playing on a playground or so your grandmother tells me."
"So what sport did he play?"
"I'm not sure about when was your age. But, back in high school he was all-state in baseball and captain of the basketball team."
Jarod was thoughtful. Although, he admired that his dad excelled at those sports, he didn't want to seem like mimicking his father's accomplishments. "Maybe I'll try out for basketball and football."
Chloe nodded. "That sounds good. You should ask your Dad about his so-called glory days of playing sports tonight, I'm sure he has tons of things to tell you. On second thought, don't tell him at all. Otherwise, he'll put out all of his tapes from high school and no one wants to see that."
"Oh, come on Mom, what's wrong don't you want to see yourself in high school." Jarod teased. "I'm sure Dom and Ana would love to see the tapes of you guys. In fact I'll make sure to tell them about it tonight."
Chloe glanced over at her son, "you'd better—."
"Mo—m!" Jarod cried grabbing the dashboard as the car was suddenly jerked forward; it swerved sliding across the road as Chloe tried to get control of the wheel but failed as the chirmed off the road and into a tree. Then the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the horn going off as Chloe's head lay on it.
From back on a road, a black sedan with tinted windows, slowed behind Chloe's car observing the damage before pulling off and heading down the road. Chloe's car had part of a tree protruding out of the windshield; her door was blocked by the remainder of the tree. She was unconscious, head down on the horn. Next to her, Jarod laid with his head against his air bag, his arm at an awkward angle.
Jarod slowly opened his eyes raising his head slightly to look over at his mother to see some dark red liquid spreading over her lap. "Mom," he whispered before he too lost consciousness, a thin line of blood trialing down his head.
Bo Brady walked into the busy emergency room heading directly over to main desk. He'd been on his way home when the call about the hit and run had come in over the system. A woman had been driven off the road into a tree. But, by the time he'd turned in the right direction at the scene of the alleged hit and run, both the victim and her young son had been rushed over to Salem General Hospital both were unconscious. The forensics team was currently at the scene gathering evidence from what they had found so far the woman had been lead into a tree. It wouldn't have taken more than a tap for the car to go on the skids given the road conditions but from the scuff marks on the road that had been no tap.
"I'm Detective Brady, from the Salem PD. I was told a hit and run victim had been brought in with her son."
The black woman behind the desk looked up from where she was writing on a chart. "Yes, Detective Brady we've been expecting you."
"Can I see the victim?"
"No, there was fetal distress from the impact of the accident so she is prepped for emergency surgery."
"Fetal distress?" He said surprised no one at the scene had mentioned she was pregnant.
The nurse walked around the counter, flagging him to fall in step beside her. "Yes, the victim was thirty-seven weeks pregnant and bleeding when she was brought in. The OB on call decided that an emergency surgery would be the best way to save the baby. I'll have someone speak with about the surgery. But, I think you should see the victim's son first. He was very anxious once he regained consciousness in route. He needed stitches for a cut above his eye and needed to have his arm set, it was broken. We've contacted the victim's parents as well as her husband both are on their way. The victim's son is in Room 1." She pointed him in the direction of the room; he nodded and headed into it.
Once he was in the room, he was surprised to see his nephew having his arm set on the bed.
"Did you call my Dad yet?" Jarod as he watched the man in scrubs put arm in the sling.
"Yes, both your father and grandparents were called, they're on the way. There now, you've have to keep your arm in the cast for about six weeks." The man eyed Bo's badge hanging from a chain around his neck. "A detective from Salem PD is here you'll need to speak with him so he can take your statement. While you're speaking with him, I'll go and see if your grandparents or Dad is here yet." The doctor left the room as Bo walked over to his nephew, head hanging down clutching his arm in the cling.
"Jarod, are you all right?"
Jarod's head jerked up as he turned and saw his uncle walking toward him. "Uncle Bo, what are you doing here? Is my Dad here yet?"
"I'm on duty, were you and Chloe in the accident? Can you tell me what happened?" Bo said as he crossed the room carefully examining his young nephew's countenance, taking in the baggage on the child's forehead.
"Yeah," Jarod sighed, rubbing his head as though it ached. "We were driving on Old Mercury road, Mom wasn't speeding or anything. We-we were talking and then I felt the car be hit, it liked banged against the back of us and Mom lost control of wheel. We were sliding all over the road, the car was hit again … I think … it was like … we went off the road and … I, I don't know what we hit but I remember hitting my head against the dashboard and feeling the air bag come up. I-I looked over at Mom but she wasn't moving," Jarod's eyes filled with tears. "A-and there was blood, she was bleeding. I wanted to-to help her to get out … but I couldn't … I-I blacked out then." He looked away then, swiping at the tears that slid down his face.
Bo silently prayed to god that Chloe would be okay as he gently grabbed his nephew's shoulders. "Jarod there was nothing you could have done. You were injured and you could have injured yourself more. And I'm sure when you're Mom gets out of surgery she'll tell you the same thing and so will Philip."
"Jarod, oh god, son are you okay?" Craig asked as he practically ran into the room with the doctor who'd set Jarod's arm behind him. He moved Bo out of the way taking his grandson in his arms hugging him. Then, he pulled back slightly to bend down and look at the boy carefully accessing for injury.
"I'm fine, Grandpa, glad that you're here. Where's Dad, is he here yet?" Jarod asked looking past Craig into the hallway. Seeing just the doctor who stitched him up and set his arm, he looked back to his grandfather.
"No, he's on his way. Are you done here?"
"Yes, the doctor set his arm and he can go." Bo answered.
Craig nodded as his grandson slid to his feet. With a hand on his shoulder he directed out of the room. He stopped him just outside the hallway, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone. "Jarod, I want you to take my cell phone and go call your Grandmother to let her know you're all right. I'll be right here." He looked to the doctor who showed him where Jarod was. "Is there somewhere my grandson can use my cell phone?"
"Yes, just outside here on the balcony. Jarod man come on I'll take you." The doctor took Jarod down the hall and showed him the balcony.
Craig watched his grandson go. As soon as Jarod was out of distance he closed his eyes rubbing his face in distress. "All right Bo, level with me what the hell happened?"
"Are you sure you want to know? Maybe you should wait until later—"
Craig faced Bo, his expression grim. "My daughter's having emergency surgery and my grandchild might not survive. You'll be better off telling me, so when Philip gets here I'll know what all we're dealing with to reassure him that everything will be alright. Tell me what happened, the nurse at the desk said it was some sort of accident."
"This is off the record," he paused as though trying to decide what to tell him. "It was no accident, the driver of the other car forced Chloe off the road. From what Jarod told me he hit the car twice with brute force."
"Why?" Craig asked frowning. "Why would they force Chloe off the road, it doesn't make sense. Did you at least get the guy?"
"I don't know, when I heard it on the radio I was sent straight here to confer with the victim. But, don't worry Craig, I'm on this, we'll find out what happened Chloe and get the guy who did it I promise you that."
"You're going to have to do a lot better than promises if that baby dies." Craig warned as a petite woman in green scrubs appeared next to Bo with a chart in her hands.
"Detective Brady, I'm Dr. Simons, I was here when they brought Mrs. Kiriakis in."
"Dr. Simons, Dr. Wesley is Chloe's father and the chief of staff at Salem University Hospital."
Dr. Simons nodded shaking Craig's hand. "Dr. Wesley, it's an honor to meet you, I'm sorry for the unfortunate circumstances."
"Yes, that's fine. I understand there was fetal distress with my grandchild and there was some bleeding, is the prognosis good? Will my daughter and grandchild make it?"
"Dr. Wesley, we were able to stop the bleeding. The best option for us now is to take out the baby. Because, Mrs. Kiriakis was so close to her due date, I don't anticipate that the baby will have any problems. But, we have a neonatal surgeon on standby. It is a simple procedure your daughter should recover with no problems. Dr. Morris will be able to give you more information after the surgery, if you'll excuse me." The doctor nodded then left.
"Craig is there anything you need me to do?" Bo offered knowing that there probably nothing he could say or do at this point to make things better.
Pulling his coat back as he propped his hands on his hip, he shook his head. Then as if he thought better of it, he lifted his head eyes full of anger, "You find the bastard who did this before Philip does. That's what you can do." With that he strolled away stalling toward the balcony where Jarod was on his cell phone talking to Nancy.
The doors opened to the maternity ward as Philip walked down the hallway. He'd been on his way back home when he'd got the call from Nancy that Chloe had been in a serious accident with Jarod in the car and was in the hospital. It took every ounce of his control to keep from getting a ticket for speeding or worse as he'd drove through the rush hour traffic to get back to Salem in one piece. He didn't even bother going home first; he drove straight to the hospital barely parking his car correctly before he ran into the hospital. After a brief call to the mansion, he'd found that his mother was with the children, all except for Jarod, and they were still waiting to hear about Chloe's condition.
His black wool coat swirled about him as he headed toward the end of the hallway where his in-laws and Jarod were sitting. Jarod was stretched out on the chair with his coat covering him. He had a bandage above his eye and was asleep. Nancy sat beside him in a chair, smoothing his hair off his face. Craig stood arms crossed pacing around the circumference of the small waiting room. Nancy saw him first and rose, directing Craig to him, leaving Jarod sleeping on the chair.
"Have you heard any news?" Philip asked of his mother-in-law.
She shook her head. "No, she's still in surgery. But, the doctor said she would come out and tell us when she had any news."
"She's good Philip, I checked the best in the business if there's anything wrong she'll be able to fix." Craig added to which Philip's response was only to nod.
"I thought you were going to take him home."
"We were but he refused, he said he needed to wait for you." Nancy said as the three adults watched Jarod sleep.
"Is he okay, I mean besides the cut on his head."
"He broke his arm, has to have it in a cast for six weeks. But, otherwise he's fine." Craig added as Philip went to his son, turning to Nancy he said. "Let's give them a few minutes." She nodded in agreement. "We're going to get some coffee."
"Sure," Philip said as he took the seat next to Jarod and watched his son sleep, pulling the coat more securely over his son.
Jarod felt the coat that had been covering him be pulled more securely over him and slowly opened his eyes. "Dad," he whispered huskily moving into a sitting position. "When did you get here?"
"Just now, why are you still here? You shouldn't be out here you were injured, you have a cut on your head and you broke your arm, you should be at home resting." He told his son quietly rubbing his head as he boy leaned back against the chair. "You can barely stay up as it is, Jarod."
"But, Mom's not out of the surgery yet. I wanted to stay to make sure she was going to be okay." Jarod asked his eyes drooping again as he forced them open.
"Your Mom is going to come out of this surgery fine and so is the baby, I promise you that. When your grandparents get back why don't you go home with them and get some sleep. Your bed has got to be more comfortable than that chair."
"It's not that bad." He replied softly turning his head to lean up against his father's shoulder.
Philip a gave small smiled noting that his son had fallen back asleep against his shoulder. Moving his arm back against the chair Philip adjusted Jarod so that he was leaning against him, his head lying over his heart. Caressing his son's fine dark blonde hair he leaned down and kissed it glad that even though Jarod was apparently very stubborn he was otherwise fine. He hoped that Chloe would be just as fine once she pulled out the surgery herself. Tucking an arm around his son, he closed his eyes leaning back giving a silent prayer for his unborn child and Chloe.
"Dr. Wesley,"
Philip's eyes snapped opened at the petite woman dressed in scrubs with a paper mask hanging from her neck. Figuring she was the doctor they were waiting on he, gently lifted Jarod's head and placed him back against the chair before rising to meet the Craig and Nancy as they went for the doctor.
"Dr. Morris, this is my son-in-law, Philip Kiriakis." Craig offered as Philip came up.
The petite woman turned to see the sharply dressed man in black join them. She took in how handsome the man was light where her patient was dark; she vainly wondered how her hair looked. "Congratulations, Mr. Kiriakis you have a daughter."
Craig and Nancy both gave a breath they'd been holding. "Oh thank goodness. How's my daughter? She fine isn't she?"
"There were no complications with the surgery both the child and mother came through wonderfully. Your daughter is breathing on her own and will be placed in the general nursery and not the NICU. As soon as we get her ready she should be ready to meet her Daddy. As for Mrs. Kiriakis, we're having her taken to recovery if everything goes as well as planned both mother and daughter should be out of here in a few days."
"Will we be able to see her?" Nancy asked anxiously holding hands with Craig.
"For tonight, I don't want to tire out Mrs. Kiriakis so only for a while. We want to let Mom rest for a while before any family visits. You can visit your granddaughter when she gets taken into the nursery."
"Thank you, Dr, Morris."
"No thanks needed, Mr. Kiriakis, I'm just doing my job. I'll go see how long it will be before you can see your wife." Dr. Morris then left.
"Philip, since we don't want to tire Chloe out how about just you and Jarod see her tonight?"
"Are you sure, Nancy?"
"Of course, I am. Craig and I can see her tomorrow. In fact, after we see our new granddaughter we'll leave so we can be here bright and early tomorrow morning when visiting hours begin after Bo talks to her of course."
Philip nodded. "Of course, hopefully he'll find the bastard who ran her off the road. Before you go can you do me a favor and pick up Chloe's bag from the house?"
"Sure, we'll pick it up after we see the baby and bring it by on our way home. Craig did you get Jarod's prescription?" Nancy asked looking at her husband.
"Yes, I did. They're pain pills for his arm," Craig explained to Philip nodding toward the arm in the sling.
"We'll pick up his prescription too and drop it by so you don't have to stop when you guys go home."
"Thanks, Nancy." Philip said as took off his coat, suit jacket and pulled off his black silk tie, throwing it down on top of the coat and jacket and watched as Craig and Nancy grabbed up their coats and went down to the nursery.
Philip and Jarod only had to wait another hour and a half before they could go see Chloe. . They had only been in the room for a brief period of time when a nurse came in carrying a small bundle swaddled in a pale yellow blanket.
"Hey Dad, I figured you might like to feed your new daughter here." The nurse said smiling as Philip rose from his chair beside Chloe's bed. After shedding his coat, jacket and tie, Philip had rolled up the sleeves of his pristine white shirt. She gently placed the baby in his arms. "I trust I don't need to tell you how to feed her."
Philip grinned up at the nurse as he took the bottle with a free hand. "I'd hope not considering this is baby number five." Looking down at his daughter he was immediately taken with how much she looked like a little angel, staring up at him with dark blue eyes. He lowered himself into the chair beside Jarod.
"Well you should be a pro at this. Is this baby number one?"
Philip glanced over at Jarod who seemed enthralled by the small baby in his arms. Smiling he answered, "Yeah, he's our oldest."
"Congratulations on your new baby. Since Mrs. Kiriakis isn't able to feed her just yet, I'll be back in a bit to pick her up." Philip nodded as he and Jarod were steadily watching the new baby. Shaking her head the nurse left the room.
"Well, big brother how would you like to hold your new baby sister?" Philip asked looking over at Jarod who glanced up at him in surprise.
"A-are you sure? I mean my arm," Jarod said raising the arm in the sling slightly.
"I think you should be all right, now sit down." Philip nodded to the chair beside him. Jarod sat down and took the baby in his arms holding her head with his good arm. He used the other to touch the baby's tiny bird like fingers. At the gentle touch the baby squawked rising her arms as she grabbed at his finger with her hand, holding it tightly.
"She's got a strong grip." Jarod said looking at his father who was smiling at him.
"That she does. Do you want to feed her?" He held up the bottle in question.
"I'm not sure I can. I mean I don't know how."
Philip stood, leaning down over Jarod and the baby as he repositioned the baby in Jarod's arm so that he could hold the bottle for the baby to suckle. "There, see it's easy once you get started. All you have to do is hold the bottle and she'll do all the work." He went back to his seat by Chloe's bed, taking her hand in his as he watched Jarod feed his sister. If Jarod's reaction to her was any indication, she was clearly going to be spoiled. He didn't know how long he had been watching them until he heard the baby give out a small cry, Jarod had fallen asleep and was no longer holding the bottle for the baby and she clearly didn't like that. Not wanting Jarod to jerk awake as he tended to do, he gently took both the baby and the bottle from Jarod and sat back down in his seat to resume feeding her.
Chloe moaned softly as turned her head to the side to see the blurry body of her husband settled in a chair next to her. "Philip," she croaked.
Philip jerked his head up to see Chloe looking at him confused as her gaze roamed around the hospital room before landing on him again.
"Hospital … baby?" She pronounced huskily as her hands moved down to her stomach.
"Yeah, you're in the hospital. You were in an accident—"
"I remember, Jarod?" She asked groggily.
"He's okay, he's sleep over there." Philip nodded over to the corner where Jarod was asleep in the chair.
"Baby okay?"
"What do you think?" Philip said as he brought up to her face to see.
Chloe turned her head slightly to see the baby. "Beautiful," she said as her eyes fluttered closed.
"That's right, she's beautiful." Seeing that she was tired and quickly falling back asleep, he kissed her forehead. "Just sleep, baby. We'll see you tomorrow." Chloe nodded slightly before falling completely asleep again.
Philip resettled himself back in the chair only to see that his daughter had fallen asleep while he'd fed her. Sighing he put the bottle on the table and gently raised the baby to his shoulder he patted her back as he moved to sit down next Jarod. He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. He gave a silent prayer of thanks as he opened his eyes looking from his wife and son to the baby in his arms because everyone was save … for tonight.
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