Chapter 17

After sitting with Nicholas for an hour, Carly left the ICU in search for coffee at the cafeteria. The burly man behind the counter offered her a Danish and she thanked him, even though she didn't feel hungry. And not in the mood for small talk with the staff hanging about, she found a table at the corner. Which turned out to be a mistake on her part because she found herself lost in deep thought as she sipped the hot beverage, her mind going back to the past against her will.

'This is the right spot.' She murmured, getting her breath back. Bo had made love to her over and over from the moment they came out of the water, his fiery, scorching passion engulfing her.

'Yeah, it sure is,' he chuckled, running his fingers through her damp hair; a satisfied gleam in the piercing brown eyes.

Her hand moved over his hair covered chest, feeling the beating of his heart. 'I've never been this happy… in my whole life.'

'That makes two of us, princess.'

'Yeah. Do you know something, it's more than happiness.' She gazed at the blue sky then back to that beloved face. 'I feel weightless, you know. Like I've cast off this burden I've been carrying around all my life. I barely understand it, I barely knew it was there. I'm not making any sense.'

'Yes, you are.' Bo pressed a kiss against her lips. 'You're making plenty of sense. I think everybody feels that burden sometime during their life. It's called loneliness. But *you*,' another kiss, 'are never...' and another 'ever going feel that way again.'

'Not as long as I have you.'

'That's right. You have me… forever.' He claimed her lips again, as though sealing that promise.

'I know' she whispered, feeling his passion rise again as he lowered her back on the blanket, wrapping her legs around his waist as his hard body covering hers.

'Carly?'

She looked up and immediately got up, strong arms enveloping her. 'Oh… it's so good to see you.' She said hugging him back.

Rafe Hernandez pulled back to look at her. 'Even more beautiful. I almost didn't recognise you with the haircut.'

Carly smiled self-consciously, running a hand through the short strands. 'I needed a change. Sit down, please.'

Rafe obeyed. 'I was up at ICU and the nurse said you might be here. How are you?'

'A little drained and trying to get over the fact my son was shot. Please tell me, any leads now?'

'Like I told you over the phone, no witnesses have come forward. But something struck me when I went over Nicholas's medical report.'

'Which was?'

'He was shot in the back with a semi-automatic, no defence wounds on his body. Which means, the shooter took Nicholas by surprise, he probably didn't even see his attacker.'

'Why would the attacker do that, shoot him from behind?'

'Probably he didn't want Nicholas to recognise him and identify him later, or he's simply a coward. He probably felt Nicholas wouldn't fight back since he was armed but still didn't want to take the chance. And yet…' Rafe frowned.

'What?'

'Why did the mugger take just his Rolex, when there was other stuff he could have stolen?'

'I'm as baffled as you are, Rafe. But I really hope you get to catch whoever did this to my son and make him pay.'

'He will pay, Carly. We'll do our best. In the meantime, how are my godkids? Got any recent pics?

Bringing out her phone, Carly showed Rafe the ones taken during Christmas and New Year's Day, which he eagerly went through. She had sent him a birth announcement and one of the twins on their first birthday, after which only emails. 'They're beautiful, Carly. It's really an honour- you giving Ethan my name along with Frankie's.'

'Until Frankie, Marcus and Piper came for me - thanks to you-you and Adrienne were the only friends I had left. If you all hadn't shown up that day, I would have died, with my babies. I can never thank you enough. Once Nicky's better, I'm taking him back with me to recuperate and I want you to come with us, and finally meet the twins.'

'That would be so great, but only if I'm able to wrap the investigation by then.' They spent several minutes talking in general then Rafe glanced at his watch, and reluctantly rose. 'I have to head back.'

At the lobby, Carly kissed him on both cheeks and watched him leave before turning back to ICU. Turning on the ignition, Rafe scowled as he drove away. There was one thing he didn't tell her, a theory he shared with his partner, Alejandra. Nicholas being shot in the head… it hadn't been from behind. It glaringly insinuated that someone may have put a contract on him. If he was right, who the hell did? If Carly knew of his suspicion, she would accuse the first person who had the motive to harm her, Victor Kiriakis.

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'Top you off?'

'Please.' Marcus held out his glass and Adrienne refilled it with Chardonnay, watching him at the same time. The handsome face was wearing a worried frown. 'A penny for your thoughts.'

'The person I'm thinking about is worth way more than that.'

The heartfelt tone in Marcus' voice raised Adrienne's eyesbrows, and interest. She sat down. 'I understand you being worried about her.'

'Understatement of the year. If I wasn't so concerned about getting Carly away from Bo, I would have finally given that bastard something to think about, something to make him realise you don't go about toying with a woman's emotions the way he did.'

Adrienne nodded. 'I get you. It's still so hard to believe Carly had to go through the worst sort of betrayal, from Bo of all people.'

'I need to ask you this, Adrienne and I want the truth.' Marcus sat up. 'When they were together, did you get the sense Bo was leading her on at any point?'

'I swear… I didn't. I admit I was shocked when I found out he was even with her- even if Hope did move out. They've had rough patches over the years they've been married, but they always got over them. And yeah, I was inclined to think Carly returned solely to get Bo back, at first. But then she told me about Melanie and what Lawrence did to her all that time, and I saw the way Bo was with her; it was like she never left. They looked so happy, even I couldn't call it a rebound.'

Marcus's scowl deepened. 'You know what really makes me mad about all this? It's not enough he didn't have the decency to at least give her a few minutes of his precious time that day. Carly having to overhear what he said to Hope at the docks.'

'What did she hear?'

Marcus bitterly narrated what he and Frankie read in Carly's journal, Adrienne shook her head incredulously. 'He couldn't have said that… he couldn't have been that cruel.'

'Oh, your cousin- in -law said it loud and clear, not to mention how he never wanted to be without Hope again.'

'My God! Carly never told me this.'

'She was humiliated enough already. You honestly think you could stand the pity if you were in her shoes?'

Adrienne sank back in her seat. Losing Bo had devastated Carly but that conversation coupled with Bo getting back with Hope immediately they broke up, had robbed Carly the one precious thing she probably held on to, the belief that Bo still loved her. Letting him go was her doing the right thing, but for Bo, it was the chance of getting back with his wife. 'Oh, that poor thing… on top of everything else. Then he did lead her on!'

'I swear I wanted to kill him when I saw him standing there.' Marcus growled. 'And I'm going to make sure he doesn't get the chance of going anywhere near Carly again. I'm capable of giving her what he couldn't.'

Adrienne watched Marcus carefully as he took a sip from his glass, remembering his solicitous attitude with Carly from the moment they landed. 'Are you in love with Carly?'

Marcus said nothing at first. Then he sighed deeply. 'I don't know. Once I got to know her when we were first met years ago, Carly was like a sister to me and a kindred spirit. We reconnected while she was recovering in D.C, she confided in me like she used to. While we were in Chicago, she had a little meltdown and… I suddenly felt a deeper closeness to her. I can't put a finger to it yet but what I do know is that I always want to be around to protect Carly and the twins, you know I love them like they're mine. I feel I can be with her, for always.'

'Of course you love the twins, you delivered them and they are Carly's children. But I don't think you should spring this on Carly right now.'

'Why not?' Marcus demanded sharply. 'You don't approve?'

'Don't get the wrong idea. Ethan and Evangeline would be lucky to have you as their stepfather and if anyone can make Carly happy after the hell she went through, it's you. You and Carly have always been close, and Steve and I thought you two would make a great couple when she first came to Salem, remember? If you really want to be with her, great. But I want you to be with her for the right reasons, not because you want to keep Bo away from her.'

'I would never hurt her for anything.'

'I know, you love her. But you don't know if you are in love with her.' Adrienne pointed out gently. 'Even if you are, you have to be sure Carly feel the same way about you. A one-sided relationship leads to heartbreak, you saw what happened with her and Bo. She's really vulnerable right now, if you so much as give her a clue- she might feel she owes you something for taking care of her. Then when it fizzles out, you two could end up never being friends again.'

Marcus knew Adrienne was right. 'And I definitely don't want that, I don't ever want to lose her.'

'And I'm sure she doesn't ever want to lose you. I'm not saying you shouldn't explore your feelings though. When you finally realise what they are, then fight for Carly and slowly make her notice you.' Adrienne smiled. 'It just might end up being a happy ending for you two.'

Marcus smiled back, albeit faintly. 'Fingers crossed then.'

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Giving Carly time to cool off was way easier said than done. Nicholas could regain consciousness any time soon and before he knew it, Carly would be gone again. Bo remembered just how stubborn she was, she would do all she could to avoid him. However, he wasn't going to let his guilt overwhelm him, she would have to talk to him sometime whether she liked it or not. When she was still married to Victor- a marriage that should never have happened in the first place- they weren't able to stay away from each other, no matter what they did, under the pretence of just being 'friends'. But after dreaming of her almost every night and a pep talk from Pop, he attempted to make her realise how much he wanted her... for keeps.

'Hold it, hold it... don't go away.' He urged as Carly turned to leave.

'There's really no reason for me to stay here.' she replied stiffly, displeasure all over her face.

'if there's nothing between us, there's no reason to go either.' He was going to have his say, how he'd made a huge mistake letting her marry Victor. He must have been crazy, keeping silent during the ceremony. Tonight, he was going to tell her to come away with him.

'I just don't want to take the chance of Victor seeing us and misunderstanding, I don't want to spoil tonight for him.'

'One dance, that's all I ask. Even Victor wouldn't refuse me that. Would you?'

Carly stared at him.

You're not afraid, are you?' he cajoled, knowing full well she would rise to his barely veiled challenge. And sure enough, she walked past him to stand near the fountain, a vision in her red and gold trimmed outfit, hair pulled back in an elegant hairdo. How could he have ever rejected her?

He walked to her, and- eyes lowered- Carly slipped hers into his when he held it out to her; her fingers warm under his touch. God... he wanted to kiss that sensual rosebud mouth. Being near her like this only made his regret over his past behaviour towards her grow.

'See? We can do this. There's nothing between us, nothing at all.' He managed to say as he slipped his arm around her waist.

In silence, they danced to Chris Issak's seductive 'Wicked Games.' He held her against him inhaling her scent, wishing she would relax. To his dismay, she moved away.

'I thought you weren't afraid.'

'I'm not.'

'Then why are you pulling away?'

'I don't know what you want me to do, what you want me to say.'

'We don't need words.' Breaking his resolve to tell her he loved her first, he ran his fingers across her cheek then pulled her back to him. Holding her face, he captured her lips with his, savouring the sweet taste of her.

Bo shook his head, focusing more on his driving as he finally got to his street. When he let himself into the house, Ciara was just coming down the stairs. 'Hi Daddy.' She said.

He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. 'How was school, munchkin?'

Ciara, now 12, shrugged. 'Same ol' same 'ol.'

'Where's your Mum?'

'She's upstairs, in the shower.'

Somehow Bo managed not to flinch at the word shower. 'Alright then.' Slipping off his jacket, he went to the kitchen and raided the fridge for bottled water.

'Daddy?'

He turned to see that Ciara had followed him, and had a worried frown on her face. 'Yes, sweetheart?'

'Do you know Dr Manning's back in town?'

'How do you know?'

'I saw her having coffee at The Java- with Aunt Adrienne and a guy- through the window. Did you know she's back?'

'I figured she would be.' Bo replied, dodging her question.

'Why?'

Putting the plastic bottle down, he placed his hands on Ciara's shoulders. 'She's here because of her son. The day we went to the lake, she told you she had a son, remember?' At Ciara's nod, he continued, 'His name's Nicky. And he's in the hospital right now because a mugger shot him a few nights ago.'

Ciara gasped in horror. 'Oh no! Is he going to be okay?'

'His doctors are sure he'll pull through. And obviously, Carly came down here to be with him, like any mum would. You understand now?'

Ciara nodded again. 'Have you arrested the mugger?'

'Not yet, we're still looking for him. And we're going to find him. And listen to me, if you ever run into Carly, I want you to show her some kindness by telling her how sorry you are about Nicky. And don't listen to any nasty gossip about her either, because none of it is true. Promise me you're going to do this.'

'I promise.' Fear had gripped the young girl on seeing the woman who came between her parents years ago again, nursing a nasty feeling she came back to get back at her Dad for going back to her Mum. But hearing this info about Carly's son aroused her pity. 'I... I hope Nicky gets better soon.'

'He will. Maybe you might even get to meet him after he leaves the hospital. He and Shawn D were friends when they were little boys, you know.'

Ciara was now confused. 'Did you date Dr Manning back then?'

'I was wondering where you were hiding.' Hope entered the kitchen, stopping short on seeing Bo. 'Oh hi.'

'Hi, Fancy face.'

Ciara was quick to see that her father made no effort to kiss her mother and she was scared again.