Chapter 5

'Do have any idea what you've caused?' Hope raged at Rafe.

'Hey, don't you talk to him like that.' Sami objected hotly, glaring at her.

'No honey, it's okay.' Rafe pushed his wife aside. 'How's calling Frankie over to be there for his sister a bad thing?'

' Please...we both know that's not the only thing you did. You could've gone about it a bit more discreetly instead of deliberately setting Frankie against us.'

Sami's mouth hung open in disbelief at Hope's statement. Wrapped up in her own problems, she had taken a neutral stance in her uncle's drama between Hope and Carly. She understood why Rafe did what he did, though rather worried about how her family would treat him from now on. While Sami has done her own share of selfish acts in the past, she was shocked by what Hope just said. Was she kidding?

'As opposed to you setting everybody against Carly all this time, huh?' Rafe replied, his eyes glinting with anger.

'I did no such thing.'

'It must really stink suddenly facing the consequences of what you started to begin with, doesn't it? Well, guess what Hope, I'm not like the rest of the family... I'm not prepared to protect you. Carly didn't deserve what you all did to her and I wasn't about to stand by and watch her falling further apart and do nothing.'

'Is Rafe calling Frankie over here even the big issue?' Sami asked. 'What about Carly... don't you care she's lying in the hospital right now?'

' Of course I care!' Hope protested.

Their silence said it all.

'Carly and I had issues over Bo but I would never wish a thing like this on her. I really want to help find out who did this to her and why.'

Silence then Sami, arms crossed, said slowly, 'Whoever did this, that's something we're yet to find out. But the why... Hope, isn't it obvious? This thing with you, Carly and Uncle Bo- you had everybody in your corner. Whoever did this is a psycho but a psycho who thought he was doing you a favour. And that's because what most people in town think of Carly. You're the cheated wife but she's the whore. You sort of wore the title like a cloak and let Carly take the blame for your marriage crashing.'

'You know what Sami, you're not allowed to judge me or imply what happened to Carly is my fault.' Hope said hotly, stung. 'Because it's not. And she should've stayed away from my husband in the first place.'

Disgusted, Sami fired back, 'Well maybe you should've stayed with your husband! You should've made up your mind what you really wanted, instead of letting Uncle Bo cause that woman so much pain!'

Hope opened her mouth to retaliate but Rafe sternly told her to leave. Not knowing where else to go, Hope drove to Caroline's house.

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Lexie was shocked when Daniel gave her the news about Carly, furious he and Jennifer failed to tell her sooner. Melanie couldn't stop fretting over Carly and Maggie and Brady-who Maggie called over- did all they could to console her.

'Don't beat yourself up over it,' Brady insisted, his arm round her shoulders. 'Carly's probably forgotten all about that by now.'

'I need to tell her I'm sorry, Brady.'

'You'll get the chance to, once we find out where she is. Come on now.'

Watching Melanie's sad expression on her tearstained face, Lexie was more disgusted than sympathetic. Being a mother herself, she had given Carly the benefit of the doubt when Carly insisted she was forced by Lawrence to give Melanie up. Aware of the young woman's disposition, Lexie knew Carly had a lot to do to earn her daughter's trust, love and respect and she seemed to make headway with her for the past year.

That is until Parker's christening, when Melanie joined others in blaming Carly and didn't even stick up for her during her disciplinary hearing. Lexie couldn't believe Melanie would leave her own mother out to dry like that and now the girl was sniffling over her, making it all about herself. Lexie wanted to give her a much deserved rebuking but she knew Maggie, Brady and Daniel would simply jump to the brat's defence. That was exactly what she was, a spoiled brat. If Carly was willing to forgive her behaviour, then she simply had a big heart. For the first time Lexie Carver unexpectedly felt empathy towards Carly, sad over the pain she'd been carrying for months but no one except Adrienne bothered to talk to her about. I wasn't there for her either, she thought. I just let her be and said nothing, glad that Hope and Bo were back together. Her resignation now makes sense. If I knew where she is right now, I would try reasoning with her.

Lexie went to her office to make her own investigation.

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'Sami doesn't know what she's talking about, Hope.'

'She implied I'm responsible. So did Rafe.'

'It's no more your fault than anyone else here. I'm really sorry she got hurt but even Frankie can't hold you or Bo responsible for that.' Caroline insisted, trying to placate her daughter-in-law. 'Try and calm down.'

'I can't calm down. Bo went to meet with Frankie and he's not back yet.'

'Bo can take care of himself and Frankie's not about to kill his own brother, no matter how mad he is with him.' Kayla said.

' Stop trying to make me feel better. Do you honestly believe Frankie thinks of Bo as his brother right now?' Hope demanded. 'Or us as his family after whatever he heard from Rafe? I don't think so.'

Caroline and Kayla exchanged looks, suddenly feeling guilty and awkward as they weighed Hope's words.

The doorbell rang but it was only Roman. 'I wasn't able to find him, Mum.' He said. After hearing what Rafe had done, Caroline had urged Roman to locate Frankie, feeling she could do some damage control before Carly regained consciousness.

Caroline sighed. 'I thought I might try and talk to him and maybe offer him an explanation.'

Roman shook his head at his mother's naivety. 'Explain what to Frankie? Mum, I don't think you really understand just how mad Frankie is right now.'

'We're a family.' Caroline said firmly. 'We've gotten through worse things than this. I can imagine Frankie being angry but I can reason with him. It's too bad about Carly but all the same, Frankie will just have to understand the situation. By the way, how is she?'

'I don't know, we don't even know where she was taken to. But Rafe says she was hurt pretty bad. There's also something else, Mum.' Roman added hesitantly, glancing at Hope.

'What?'

'Rafe told me Folic Acid and Vitamins were found in Carly's apartment, prescribed to her.'

Caroline sprang to her feet. 'You mean...' she gasped. Hope went pale in the face and turned away. Kayla stared down at her hands.

'She's pregnant, or was. I don't think the baby made it, Mum.' Roman's voice was now hard.

'Oh my God...' Caroline whispered, pressing a hand on her trembling mouth.

'I didn't mean for this to happen.' Hope said in a low voice. 'I never meant for it to go this far, you have to believe me, Roman.'

'I don't know just what to believe right now.' Roman replied, his face now a mask of fury. 'Bo's not the only one who's got a lot to answer for.'

'But how was I to know he would hook up with an old girlfriend so soon? A woman he never told me about?'

'You had a problem with Carly before anything even happened.' Roman snapped. 'But instead of doing something about it, you stayed away, blaming her! How can you say you love my brother and hurt him the way you did. No wonder he turned to Carly, even though I tried talking him out of it! And that's because I remember how much he loved her years ago, I didn't want him getting stuck between you two! This whole thing is on you, Hope and you know it!'

'It's not like I egged somebody on to beat her up either!' Hope shouted, feeling Roman was being unfair.

Roman shook his head, suddenly realising how much they've all being blind to Hope's flaws. Supported by the family and more than half the town during the triangle between the two women and Bo, it would be a miracle if Frankie decided to forgive and forget. It was bad enough Bo left Carly the way he did, but leaving her pregnant too, much worse. Did he even know about the baby?

The door bell rang again and he went to answer it. Caroline buried her head in her hands, miserable and upset. She raised her head and got up when Roman returned, with Frankie. The angry scowl on her adopted son's face said it all. He shrank back when she tried to hug him.

Hope stared down at Frankie's bruised knuckles. 'Oh my God, what did you do to Bo?'

'I taught your husband a lesson he won't forget in a hurry. And do me a favour Hope, you and Kayla just don't talk to me because I just might forget I'm a gentleman and tag you both with names that more than describes you.'

Hope and Kayla flinched at the utter hatred in Frankie's voice.

'Words don't even begin to describe what I think of the three of you right now. You Kayla, trying to sabotage my sister. Hope, congratulations, you won Bo back in more ways than one didn't you, after turning everyone against my sister because you were too proud to accept responsibility for wrecking your marriage to begin with.'

'Frankie.' Caroline implored.

'I don't want to hear what you have to say. I don't want to even be here longer than I have to.' Frankie said, concentrating on Caroline, his eyes glinting with anger. 'There's nothing you can say that will make me understand why my sister was treated the way she was. Especially you, who I've called my mother for so many years. That you, of all people, would treat Carly- my flesh and blood- the way you did, is unforgivable.'

'Rafe fed you with distorted facts, son.' Caroline said weakly, knowing even as the words came from her mouth, she was making things much worse.

'Rafe Hernandez was the only one who cared enough about Carly, he did nothing but tell me exactly what happened. By the way, you're so quick to judge Carly for being with Bo, how was your adultery with Kiriakis any different?'

Stung, Caroline sank back on her chair.

Roman jumped to the fray. 'Hey now, Frankie, that's enough. I understand how you feel but I'm not about to let you talk to Mum that way.' He warned.

' Don't go pulling the "big brother" act on me, Roman. I know exactly what I'm talking about and I don't owe her anything! She switched that stupid pregnancy test but Carly was the one who got the blame and almost got fired!'

'Frankie, I thought I was doing the right thing at the time. I'm sorry,' Kayla began awkwardly.

'I thought I told you not to speak to me,' Frankie interrupted, his voice deep with contempt. 'I don't accept your apology, because you're a snake and a hypocrite. I have a good mind to have Carly sue you for defamation of character.'

Kayla reddened, biting her lower lip in humiliation.

'Frankie, come on please.' Roman urged, playing the peacemaker. 'We're not heartless like you're making us out to be. This whole thing has been awful enough, without you turning it into some vendetta. At least tell us where Carly is so we can offer some support.'

'A little too late for all that, Roman.' Frankie said coldly. 'I'm taking her out of Salem when she's able to leave, far away where none of you can even ever hurt her again, especially Bo and Hopeless over here.'

Hope took in several deep breaths, trying not to lose her temper. 'You're mad at Bo and me, I get it. But I honestly never meant for anyone to get hurt...'

'Don't you even try justifying yourself. I dealt with that husband of yours when he tried to.'

'I'm trying to talk to you and you're just making me out the bad guy! Okay, Okay! I started all this, is that what you want to hear Frankie? But you have to believe me, I never...' she lowered her voice. 'We were going through a very rough patch. Even after I moved out, I knew it wasn't what I wanted. I just needed time.'

'That's just your problem, isn't it?'

'What are you talking about?' Hope demanded angrily.

'How many times have you screwed with Bo's emotions because you knew he loved you enough to wait for you? Only this time, he had my sister. She would never treat him the way you always do. But you and your family called her a whore and a home wrecker, making it look like she stole him.'

Hope swallowed, flushing red, unable to meet his eyes.

'You always got to be the victim; always got to be the favourite, always got to make sure everyone has your back. Saint Hope, Salem's quintessential golden girl, when what you really are is a self-centred, ball breaking bitch!'

'You're being unfair,' Hope muttered, still unable to look him in the eye. She longed to cover her ears with her hands but didn't want to give Carly's brother the satisfaction how much his words stung deep. Roman said nothing.

'Unfair? Unfair?' Striding over to Hope, Frankie gave her the benefit of the angry glint in his dark eyes.

'I'll tell what's unfair. Bo left my sister pregnant and she got beaten up because of you!' he snarled, pointing a finger at her. 'Whoever did this, did it out of loyalty, to you. You have no heart. You make me sick.' He turned to Caroline who was staring at him, her eyes wet with tears. ' You all make me sick. From the moment I got here, I've uncovered nothing but betrayal and more betrayal, from my so-called family.'

He turned his furious glance back to Hope. 'Damn you. Damn all of you!'

He slammed his way out of the house and Roman moved forward to console his weeping mother. His sister and sister in law had nothing to say to each other, avoiding eye contact. Roman couldn't help but think they had it long coming.

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A low moan sent Marcus hurrying to Carly's bedside, Piper and Adrienne making way for him. 'Carly?'

The injured woman moaned again, then slowly opened her eyes. Or rather, one eye as the other was bandaged. She looked disoriented as she tried to focus on the face hovering over hers.

'Carly it's me. Marcus. Marcus Hunter. It's me, honey.' He gently stroked her bruised cheek.

Carly's eye closed then opened again, the haze slowly lifting, revealing the familiar face. She tried to smile but the pain on her jaw, cheeks and swollen lips made her wince.

'Hey there, Manning.' Tears falling down his face, Marcus pressed a kiss on her forehead.

Wiping her eyes, Adrienne moved to kiss her carefully. 'We've all been so worried about you. But don't worry, you're safe alright?'

Carly blinked her eye to show she understood. She looked askance at the slim, pretty woman with silver gray eyes and precision-cut black hair.

'I'm Piper Allen. Frankie's girlfriend.' She said earnestly. 'He's told me so much about you, Carly. We flew in together with Marcus here. Frankie stepped out but he'll back soon.'

'Your friend Rafe Hernandez called Frankie over. We know what happened, Carly. Everything's going to be okay from now on.' Marcus kissed her bruised cheek carefully. 'No one's ever going to hurt you again.'

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There was a knock on the door and a male nurse came in. 'Here are the charts you wanted, Dr. Carver.'

'Oh right... put them on the desk, thanks.' Lexie said distractedly, still in search of Carly by calling several hospitals and yet to find the right one. The nurse obeyed and turned to go. He hesitated, looking down at Melanie who was still being comforted by Maggie and Brady and anxiously waiting for Lexie's search to yield results.

'Mel, I'm so sorry about your Mum, how is she?' he asked.

Melanie raised her head in askance. Maggie, Daniel, Lexie, Brady and Jennifer sprang to attention. 'What?'

The young man look bewildered. 'I said I hope your Mum's okay, I heard she was attacked at her place.'

'How did you find out?' Melanie demanded harshly.

'One of the paramedics who responded to the call is a buddy of mine, he told me.'

'Colin, did he tell you where she was taken? This is really important.' Lexie urged.

Still staring at them in astonishment, Colin gave them the name of the hospital, adding, 'But I don't understand, I thought they called you ages ago about her.'

'It's a long story Colin. Are you sure that's the right name?' Lexie said.

'I'm positive.'

'But you called that hospital earlier, didn't you?' Daniel said, after Lexie sent Colin on his way, with thanks.

'I did. Maybe she's under another name.'

'Oh... of course!' Jennifer exclaimed. 'Frankie probably checked her under their family's last name; Von Leuschner. Katerina Von Leuschner.'

'Katerina Von Leuschner?' Melanie said, confused.

Lexie called the private hospital again, this time asking if a Katerina Von Leuschner was a patient and received a confirmation. 'She's there,' she said, putting the phone down.

'Thank God, finally!' Melanie exclaimed springing to her feet.

At that moment, the two Von Leuschner siblings were having a tearful reunion.