Renegade Runaways :: Chapter Nineteen

John watched Bo chew on the inside of his bottom lip. They were unloading what little they had from a new mini van at the new safe house. They'd ditched their phones at the last campsite, along with the SUV. John and Shane were paranoid there were trackers on everything they had. Bo and Steve didn't want to risk anyone knowing where the location of the latest safe house was.

"She didn't take it well did she?" John asked as he watched Bo stew.

Bo glared at him, "What do you think?"

"Is the plan still a go?" John questioned.

Bo thought about how Hope hadn't spoken to him in 24 hours. He was about to make everything worse, but his gut told him he had to. He knew her too well. She'd figure out a way to follow him and he couldn't let it happen, "Yeah."

"I'll do it," John nodded, "We'll keep your hands as clean as possible."

Bo chewed on his lip again. Hope was going to hate him, but if that meant keeping her alive he'd take it. He exhaled slowly. He didn't have much time left with her and it made his heart ache.

"See you on the other side," Bo nodded back and made his way into the new house. He found Marlena in the kitchen and Kayla on a couch in the living room.

"She's in the bedroom down the hall," Kayla replied knowingly.

"I was going to make some tea," Marlena offered, "Do you want some?"

"No, thanks," Bo shook his head. He ran into Steve in the hallway.

"This place is the real deal," Steve reassured, "Much better than the last one. When we're gone, no one is getting in. Or out."

Bo nodded, "Good."

Steve squeezed Bo's shoulder, knowing where he was headed, "Good luck, man."

Bo sighed, "Thanks."

He found her pacing in a spacious bedroom. He tried to harden his feelings towards her, but his heart longed to make everything right. She stopped pacing for a brief moment to make eye contact with him.

"When are you leaving?" Hope questioned cooly. Her jaw clenched. Her arms were crossed. She continued to pace.

"Not till morning," Bo replied evenly and then softened, "FancyFace. I know you're mad, but we don't have much time. Please. Speak to me."

Hope's jaw dropped, "I have nothing to say to you."

Bo approached her slowly as if she were a caged animal, "Hope. I know you don't like this. I know you don't understand where I'm coming from, but I'm not trying to upset you."

Hope shook her head. She didn't want to hear it. Her anger had faded to hurt and sadness. In her eyes he saw her as incapable and inadequate. She wasn't a good partner. She was more of a liability than an asset.

She'd been so strong and defiant since their fight in the woods, but she could tell he was about to break her. She fought it with all she had, but the thought of being separated from him so soon had her feeling pretty emotional.

He reached for her, but she pulled away. It was the only defense that she had left. She had no where to go.

"Why are you fighting this?" Bo asked softly, "I just want to hold you."

Hope felt the tears sting her eyes. She couldn't look at him. She turned away. She made the mistake of letting herself get too close to the wall in an effort to put distance between them. Bo used it to his advantage and slowly turned her to face him, pinning her securely between the wall and his body. He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. Tears finally spilled over onto her cheeks.

Bo gently kissed each cheek, absorbing her salty tears.

Hope whimpered at the tender moment, "Bo, stop."

He caressed her cheek and twirled her hair, "I love you."

"Then don't leave me here," Hope challenged.

"We're not going to fight anymore," Bo shook his head, "Not tonight."

"So you're just going to leave, and what?" Hope argued. She sure as hell wasn't done fighting, "I'll see you in another three years?"

"That's not going to happen," Bo vowed. He was confident he wouldn't survive if it did.

"You would have said the same thing last time," Hope whispered.

Bo's anger flared at the idea. Desperation beckoned him. Knowing he wouldn't be able to fix it, and his time was running out, he kissed her. He desperately cupped her face with both hands. He couldn't leave her without a kiss goodbye.

His heart soared when she kissed him back. The floodgates of guilt and desperation opened for him. He could feel her fresh warm tears on his own cheeks. They broke for air and he smiled weakly at her. His own tears flooded his eyes as he thought about how he knew what was about to happen and she didn't. He was about to break her trust. He didn't know when he would see her again. All of it ate him alive.

A knock on the door signaled it was time. His heart sank, "Yeah, come in."

Marlena appeared with two mugs, "I know you said you didn't want any, but I thought it might help."

Hope hastily wiped at her tears. She felt embarrassed and vulnerable. She tried to smile when Marlena handed her a warm cup of tea.

"Thanks," Bo replied. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He reminded himself that it was all for Hope's protection.

"Let me know if you need anything," Marlena replied, "John's gonna start dinner if you get hungry."

"Thank you," Hope finally managed. She hated this. She hated every second of all of it.

Bo sipped his tea, "I'm sorry."

She stared at him. She was exhausted. She was losing this battle and she knew it. She reluctantly sipped her tea. It burned her tongue, but she didn't care. She was grateful for the distraction.

"How long do I have to stay here?" Hope questioned, "When will I see you again?"

"You have to stay here until I rescue Ma," Bo replied, "I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I promise I'll do everything I can to make that as soon as possible."

"What about Ciara?" Hope asked with worried features, "If she really is next, how are we going to protect her from so far away?"

"She's with my father," Bo replied, "I would have told you last night, but we weren't exactly speaking. The Kiriakis mansion has pretty high security on a regular day. Victor is aware of the situation."

Hope sipped her tea again, willing it to burn her tongue. She pondered Bo's words. She would be stuck here climbing the walls worrying about him and their daughter. Her hands were tied.

"What happens when you disappear again?" Hope's voice broke. She glared at him, the wounds all too fresh.

Her words hung in the air like knives to his heart, "I won't." He replied. He watched her eyebrows furrow. It would happen soon, "I have two great men beside me. Shane is on our team. I will come back to you. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Hope threw his own words back to him. Her pain was bubbling back into anger.

She took another sip of her tea and swayed a little. She rubbed her forehead. Bo suddenly looked fuzzy, "I don't feel good."

Bo's stomach clenched. He felt terrible. He caught her as she swayed again, "Let's lay down."

Realization dawned on Hope's face as she looked at him. His face betrayed him as he stared shamefully back at her, "What have you done?"

He scooped her up and gently laid her on the bed. He lay next to her, watching the drugs take effect. Her eyes drooped and she fought him as he tried to hold her, "What did you do to me?"

"I'm sorry FancyFace," Bo whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Her weak attempts to fight him off proved the drug was working. He clung to her, desperate for her forgiveness already, "Go to sleep."

"Brady," Hope whispered, "Help me."

Bo kissed her forehead. His heart broke, "Don't fight it. Just go to sleep. It's just a nap."

Her eyes closed. He hated himself. He cried as he kissed a trail from the inside of her wrist up her arm. He buried his face in-between her neck and her shoulder, "I'm sorry FancyFace. I'm so sorry."

He shook his emotion away. He had a mission to do. Knowing she would be resting safely in this house made his mission so much easier. He was doing the right thing. He kissed her forehead once more, lingering to inhale the scent of her hair. He hated not knowing when he'd see her again, but it was better than the alternative. He covered her with a blanket and quickly wiped at his eyes.

Unable to let go, he kissed the back of her hand desperately, "I love you."

He was certain that she would hate him when she woke up, but he found comfort knowing that she wouldn't be alone. He took one last glance at her sleeping body. She looked peaceful. Beautiful. Guilt consumed him. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it for support.

Marlena startled him, "It was awful wasn't it?"

Bo swallowed, "Yeah. I hate myself."

"We'll take good care of her," Marlena replied, "I promise."

Bo took a calming breath, "She's gonna freak out when she wakes up."

"I know," Marlena replied, "But if I understand it correctly, the house is going to lock from the outside. Only Shane has the code."

"Right," Bo nodded, "Tell her… I love her… and I'm sorry."

"We'll handle it," Marlena reassured, "By the time you get back, she'll just be happy to see you."

"I hope you're right," Bo shook his head. He knew Hope. There'd be a lot of explaining and groveling to do.

"You better get a move on," Marlena nodded towards the living room, "The guys are waiting. You've got about 8 hours until she wakes up."

"Thanks," Bo replied, "For everything."

Marlena watched him go. She cracked the door to peak in on Hope. When she woke up, she wouldn't just be furious with Bo. She'd be furious with all of them.