Chapter 11
"Hey Roman. Is Higley still down in the holding cell?" Bo had just gotten back to the station.
"Last time I checked." Roman replied.
"Want to bring him up here for me?" Bo asked him. Roman left to get Higley and Bo paced around his office. His anger hadn't abated any since he heard the news about Higley. And seeing his daughter lying in that bed knowing all the years he missed out on with her had only added fuel to the fire. "Come on man. What's taking so long?" He slammed his fist into his other hand. He was looking for a fight. And Higley was going to get the end result of his anger.
Roman poked his head into Bo's office. "You sure you want to do this right now? Maybe you should cool down a little before you question him." Roman tried to reason with him.
"Just get him in here. Now!" Roman and Higley entered his office. "Mr. Dean Higley. What do you have to say for yourself?" Bo asked him.
"I'd like to call my lawyer." He responded. "I have nothing to say until I talk to my lawyer."
Bo was enraged. "What I have to say to you doesn't require a lawyer. You're fired! You sick son of a Bitch. You are nothing but a piece of scum."
"Bo. That's enough." Roman grabbed him by the shoulder and tried to calm him down. "You don't want to do this, buddy. Let the IA handle this."
"Get off me man!" Bo shoved Romans hand off with a jerk of his shoulder. "You want your lawyer?" He asked Higley. "Call him." Bo picked up the phone and threw it at Higley and then he stormed out of the office. Roman followed him out.
…At the hospital…
Hope was sitting beside Alicia's bed. She had finally been moved back to her room. It was getting late and there was still no sign of movement coming from the bed.
"Alicia? I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I want you to know that I'm here. I'm not going to leave you again. Sweetie, please wake up. Just open your eyes for me. There's so much I have to say to you…so many questions I want to ask you. But I need you to wake up so we can talk." Hope put her head back against the chair and bit on her lip to keep the tears from falling. She had had another memory of Alicia earlier that left her heart broken. Alicia was just a little girl and she was holding her in her arms telling her a story about her grandparents Doug and Julie. "When I was a teenager," Hope was telling her, "your Grandpa Doug and Grandma Julie gave me a locket from my mother." Hope twirled the heart shaped locket, which hung from her neck, around her fingers. "This is very special to me." She continued. "It belonged to my mother. My Gran gave it to her when she was young. See inside." She opened the locket to show Alicia two small photos. One picture was of Hope's mom and the other was of Hope. "I keep this with me, so I can always have my mom with me in my heart." Alicia raised her hand to touch the locket and look at the pictures. She smiled up at her mother.
"That's you, Mommy." She said pointing to the picture of Hope.
"Yes it is, sweetheart." Hope squeezed her daughter tightly in her arms. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mommy." Alicia turned and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her cheek. "Don't ever leave me, Mommy."
Hope struggled to contain her tears. She didn't know if she would be with her daughter for long. Stefano had been doing things to her that made her forget days and memories of the people she cared about. She would do anything to keep her daughter safe, but she had no idea what Stefano had planned for her, or if she'd be able to stay with Alicia for much longer. He started keeping her from seeing her daughter for more than a few hours a day. The time she spent with her wasn't nearly long enough for Hope. Every second she had she treasured. She needed to make sure Alicia knew she was there and would always be there for her even if she wasn't around. Hope hugged Alicia tighter to her chest.
"Alicia, sweetie, do you like Mommy's locket?" She asked her.
"Yes, Mommy." Alicia uttered in her four-year-old babble.
Hope reached around the back of her neck and unclasped the necklace. She then placed it around Alicia's neck. "Baby, this is my Mommy here right beside my picture. She's your Grandma Addie. I want you to have this locket so you can have Mommy with you all the time right here in your heart." She said placing her hand above Alicia's heart. Hope choked up. "My Mommy is with the angels right now watching over all of us. Whenever you get scared and Mommy can't be there with you, I want you to look inside the locket and know that I am right here with you. And your Grandma Addie is watching over you with the angels." Hope pulled her back into a hug and kissed her head and cheeks never wanting to let go of her. She could hear Stefano's men coming down the hall to take Alicia form her. She knew her time was almost over.
"Hope?" Chelsea had entered the hospital room. "Hope, are you okay?" She asked her looking worriedly at Hope's tear stained cheeks. "Is it Alicia?"
"No, sweetie. I was just thinking about a memory I had of Alicia. She's fine. She just hasn't woken up yet." Hope told her. "What are you doing here? Are you doing your internship today?" She questioned her.
"I thought I'd come by and give you a break." Chelsea told her. "Why don't you go home and get some rest. I know Ciara misses you too. I can stay here with Alicia. She is my sister after all."
"I don't know, Chels. I don't want to leave her. I want to be here when she wakes up." Hope was looking down at Alicia willing her to open her eyes. She brushed the top of her head lightly.
"Hope. I will call you the minute I see any change. Even if she twitches an eyelid. I promise. I've spent plenty of nights up until the crack of dawn just cramming the books. I can do this. You really need some rest, Hope." Chelsea tried to reason with her step mother.
"I don't know. I really want to be here when she wakes up."
"Hope, I will call you the second I see anything. What good are you going to be for her if you're tired and stressed? Go home and get a good nights sleep and I will stay with Alicia." Chelsea stood her ground not backing down for a second. "I'm not going to change my mind. I'll call Aunt Kayla to give you a sedative if I have to, to get you home."
"Alright, alright. I'm going. Promise me you'll call the second there's any change?" Hope told her.
"I promise. The second I see so much as a twitch coming from her, I'll call." Chelsea hugged Hope and went to sit beside her newfound sister.
…Salem Precinct…
Bo paced outside the office waiting for Higley to finish making his call. Roman had gone back in to keep an eye on him.
"Commissioner Brady. I have some evidence I think you might be interested in." Detective Monroe handed Bo a file containing evidence from the explosion of Doug's Place. "Reynolds's and I went over some of the evidence we found there the other day and I think you'll like what we found."
"What is it?" Bo asked taking file and looking over it. "Is this accurate?" He asked Monroe. "Higley was found on the footage from the security camera? I don't believe this. Where's the tape? I want to see it." Bo and Monroe went over to the computer where Detective Monroe pulled up a file on the case.
"Here's the video footage from the security tape we found. If you look right here," he pointed at a figure in the corner of the screen. "You'll see Higley coming out of the back of Doug's Place with a can of gasoline and here he gets into the passenger side of his car which is being driven by Vito."
"Got you now. I knew there had to be a connection to Vito. It was just too neat an escape on his part. So Higley is working with Vito. I bet he's also working for Stefano." Bo smirked just thinking about what this new evidence meant to the case.
Roman poked his head out of the office. "He's finished with his call. You think you're ready to come back in and handle this the right way?"
"Ha-ha funny Roman." He said sarcastically. "I'm ready to handle that scumbag." Bo walked into the office and grabbed Higley by the front of his shirt lifting him up out of his chair. He took him and shoved him up against the wall.
"Hey! That's police brutality!" Higley yelled.
"No man, but this is." Bo slammed his fist into Higley's mouth. "You've messed with the wrong guy." He grabbed him again and shoved him against the wall slamming his head against it in the process.
"Bo? What the hell?" Roman was trying his best to break up the fight. "Bo stop! He isn't worth you losing your job!" He struggled to get Bo off Higley. Bo let go but only long enough for Roman to back off. The second he did, he lunged back at Higley and body slammed him back into the wall.
"This son of …" he grabbed Higley by the collar of his shirt with one hand and pummeled his face with the other fist. "You almost killed members of my family. Don't even think I'll let you get away with that." Bo was huffing trying to catch his breath.
"Bo! What are you talking about? Who'd he try to kill?" Roman was back trying to pull Bo off Higley once again, but it was no use. Bo wasn't budging this time. He kept slamming his fist into Higley's jaw. Blood was dribbling out of the corner of his mouth, but it didn't stop Bo from punching the scum some more. He threw Higley down to the ground and started kicking him in the gut repeatedly. "You tried to kill my wife's parents! You're the one behind the explosion! My daughter was in that building!" Bo was infuriated thinking he almost lost his daughter without getting the chance to even know her.
"Bo? Is this true? He's the one behind the explosion?" The truth dawning on Romans face. "I knew it was his vehicle found leaving the crime scene, but I thought Hope eye deed Vito as the driver?"
"He was working with Vito. Monroe pulled some footage off the security cameras that shows this creep running from the scene with a gas can and then jumping into the passenger side of his car which was driven by Vito." Bo had stopped kicking Higley. He coughed and breathed in huge gulps of air. "Were you the one that helped Vito escape? I call that aiding and abetting. Not to mention you attacked a police officer. Reynolds got knocked over the head by you. Didn't he?" Bo pulled Higley to his feet spitting in his bloody bashed in face. "And all this time we've been looking for the homicidal maniac that's been raping innocent young girls and beating them to death and it turns out to be you! You make me sick." Bo threw another punch at Higley's gut causing him to double over. Having caught a second wind, Bo was ready to tear into Higley again. Before he could, however, Abe walked into the office.
"Bo, Roman. What's going on here?" The Mayor asked them looking from one to the other.
"I just fired Higley, that's what." Bo answered him.
"What happened here? It looks like a blood bath." Abe was surveying the scene and Higley's bloodied face. "What happened to him?" He asked pointing at Higley's face.
"He had a run in with one of the inmates. You know how they are with the crooked cops." Bo lied to him.
"Roman, is this true? Did Higley get like this as a result of an inmate? Or did Bo have something to do with this?" Roman looked over at Bo and shrugged his shoulders. "Answer me!" Abe yelled. "Who did this?"
"I don't know, partner. I didn't see anything. I just got here a few minutes ago and Bo was bringing Higley up from his holding cell. He told me the same thing he told you; one of the inmates attacked Higley." Roman turned his back to Abe and mouthed the words, "You owe me," to Bo.
…At Bo and Hope's house…
Hope had just walked in the door when the doorbell rang. "Dad, Julie, hi. Ciara, my sweet baby girl. Come give Mommy a hug." Hope grabbed her little girl in her arms and lifted her up off the ground swinging her around. "Where you a good girl for Grandma and Grandpa?" She asked already knowing the answer.
"Of course she was." Both Doug and Julie responded in unison.
"You know we love spending time with her. She was the perfect medicine for this guy over here." Julie said nudging Doug in the side.
"Daddy, how are you feeling?" Hope asked returning her attention to her parents. "How's your head? Are you taking it easy. I should've called Caroline to pick Ciara up from school and watch her until I could get home."
"Nonsense. Princess, I'm fine. Yes I'm taking it easy just like the Dr. ordered." He smirked at her. "And Ciara was just fine. You have one great kid right there."
"I know." Hope kissed Ciara's tiny cheeks and hugged her close. "My little girl is the sweetest…" kiss on the cheek, "cutest…" another smooch, "most loveable little girl I could ask for." Hope covered Ciara's face with kisses. All the while Ciara squirmed and giggled loving the attention.
"Not to change the subject, but how's Alicia doing? I heard she had to have surgery." Julie wondered.
"She did. There was some swelling on the brain that they drained. She's doing fine now, but she still hasn't woken up." Hope's face changed from happy to gloomy in an instant.
"Hope, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Julie went over to Hope and hugged her. "I'm sure she'll pull through. She is part Horton after all. From the little I've seen of her, I can tell she has your fight in her. She's exactly how you were at her age. Stubborn and willful. She'll pull through; just you wait and see. Is Bo with her now?" She asked.
"Umm no. He had to go to the office to tie up some loose ends. Chelsea offered to stay with her so I could get some rest." Hope explained.
"That girl has come a long way." Julie told her.
"Bo! What happened to your hand?" Hope watched as Bo came into the house and hung up his jacket. His hand was swollen and red. "Bo?" She arched her eyebrows waiting to be answered.
"I had an altercation I needed to put an end too." He walked over to Hope and pulled her into a kiss and then he tweaked Ciara's cheek before taking her from Hope's arms. "How's my little sugar bear? Did you miss me?" He asked her pulling her into a bear hug.
"Yes, Daddy. I missed you bunches and bunches." She wrapped her tiny arms around Bo's neck and hung on to him.
"Bunches and bunches." He chuckled.
"Bo? What happened to your hand? I wan the truth!" Hope stated; her hand on her hips.
"I gave Higley what was coming to him."
"Bo…you..I" Hope was at a loss for words. "You could lose your job. Did anyone see? Why did you let him get to you like that?"
"Hope, just calm down for a minute and let me explain." Bo was saying. Julie came over and took Ciara from him.
"Ciara, honey, why don't we go with Grandpa in the kitchen to get you a glass of milk." Julie and Doug led Ciara out of the living room so Bo and Hope could discuss business.
"As I was saying. The guy is a creep. He not only raped and beat those girls to death, but he was also the one behind Vito escaping. He and Vito have been working together and probably for Dimera too. He's the one that set the explosion that nearly killed your pop and our daughter in the process. I couldn't let him get away with that. And you know he'll have an assembly of lawyers looking for loop holes to get him off. Stefano won't let his pretty boy go to jail." Bo was still upset over Higley being their perp. "He shouldn't be allowed to breath the same air that we do. I hope this guy gets the chair. I want to be sitting front row when they fry that scum."
"Bo, come here." Hope pulled Bo into a hug and nuzzled her face in his neck. Soon his hands were running up her back massaging her. Hers were doing the same on his back. Bo trailed kisses down Hope's neck and then he pulled her into a passionate kiss sending shivers down her spine. It lasted for a few luxurious moments before he pulled away. "What was that for?" She asked him.
"Just because I love you." He reached out and traced her jaw line with his finger. Bo leaned into her again and kissed the top of her lip, gently nipping at it. He reeled her in for another long slow kiss. "Hope? What do you say we get rid of your parents, put Ciara to bed and then go up to our room where we can get comfortable?"
"Comfortable, huh? That's a new way of putting it, Brady." Hope squeezed herself closer to his body feeling the hard muscles in his chest beneath her.
"Would you two like to go to your room?" Julie asked as she entered the room. "It was a little quiet, so I thought it was safe to come back. I guess I should've known with the two of you, quiet means keep out." She laughed.
Hope's face was turning a nice shade of red. "We were just um…hugging." She laughed at the expression on Julie's face.
"Hugging? That's a new one. I think Doug and I are going to head out now. Will you two be okay getting Ciara to bed, or should we do that before we leave?" Julie teased.
"Ha ha. Very funny Julie. Go take care of my dad for me. We'll be just fine getting our little girl here to bed." She reached down to Ciara. "Goodnight Daddy." Hope kissed her parents and saw them to the door. "Well Ciara Alice, what do you say we go give you a bath and get you all warm and snuggly in your pajamas and then Daddy can read you a bedtime story?"
"Yeah!" Ciara jumped up and down with delight.
……
Ciara lay snuggled in her bed between her parents. She was freshly bathed and lying comfortably in her pink polka dotted pajamas. Bo was reading The Wizard of Oz to her and she was just drifting off to sleep. "Just click your heels together three times…" Bo was reading as he looked over to see his child sleeping . She was laying curled up in Hope's arms. They both looked so content. Hope had her head resting against Ciara's. Her eyes were partially closed. He closed the book and leaned over to kiss the top of Ciara's head. "Goodnight my little sugar bear. I love you." He whispered softly in her ear. "Hope? She's asleep. You coming to bed?" He asked her. Hope stretched out her arm and yawned.
"I feel so comfortable right here. I don't feel like moving." She smiled up at Bo and pulled Ciara closer to her gently kissing her cheek so as not to wake her.
"Don't get too comfortable here. I want to snuggle with you when I get back."
"Get back?" Hope raised herself off the bed fully awake now. "Bo, where are you going?" She asked him in a loud whisper.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just going to get some ice for my hand. It's throbbing. I'll be right back, and then I want you in my bed lying right next to me. Preferably naked." He grinned at her and raised both eyebrows. Bo leaned over and kissed Hope full on the lips and trailed kisses along her neck. He nibbled on her neck before pulling away. "I'll have a little more of that when I get back up here. And you better be in my bed." Hope tapped his behind as he turned to leave. "Now you're getting the idea." He laughed as he walked out of the room.
"Mommy?" Ciara moaned in her sleep.
"Shh shh. I'm right here, baby. Go back to sleep." Hope wrapped her arms around Ciara and snuggled closely to her. She felt a little guilty that she was able to share this togetherness with one daughter while she had been kept from sharing the same tender moments with Alicia. And she would never again be able to have her little angle baby, Zach, in her arms. A small tear trickled out of the corner of Hope's eye. She would never get over losing Zach, nor would she ever get the time lost with Alicia back. Hope kissed Ciara's head one more time and rose to go to her own bed.
……
Hope Peeled off her clothes and stepped into the shower. She felt the tension of the day slowly ease out of her body as she stood under the warm water raining down on her. She heard a click and turned to see Bo stepping into the shower behind her. She smiled at him. Bo pulled her close to his body and nibbled along the back of her neck. He picked up a bar soap and began washing Hope's back.
"I thought you'd be waiting for me under the covers, but I like this idea a lot more." Bo ran his hands across her shoulder rubbing the soap in and then down her back before moving around to the front of her body. Hope turned to face him tipping her head up to his so he could kiss her.
"Mmm that feels good." Bo was slowly moving his hands up the sides of her arms to the top of her shoulder. Hope reached her hand up to her hair to get it under the stream of water causing her body to arch into Bo's. Bo leaned in closer and began kissing her; first on the lips and then to her neck, slowly making his way down to her navel. He lingered there for a moment before running his tongue back up her front to her chin and finally stopping at her lips. Her mouth tasted so sweet beneath his tongue. He wanted her badly. His kisses became more passionate. A moan escaped from Hope's lips. "Oh Bo."
"I think we should take this back to the bed." Bo suggested. Bo turned off the water and draped a towel around his waist. He turned to see Hope had wrapped one around her body as well. He went over to her, bent down and lifted her cradling her in his arms like a baby as he carried her back to their bed.
Bo lay Hope back against the bed. He brought his lips to her leg and kissed her. He traced her leg with his tongue stopping where the towel clung to her wet body. Bo reached up and peeled back the towel from Hope. Her body glistened in the moonlight.
"Come here Brady." Hope motioned to him and grabbed his hand. Bo winced in pain. "Oh Bo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Hope gently took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips slowly kissing each bruised knuckle.
"That's okay Hope. I don't feel pain anymore, but I definitely feel something." Hope laughed as he fell on top of her. His mouth found hers and they kissed long and slow until the passion from it became too much. Bo guided himself into Hope and they moved in unison, their bodies becoming one. Hope gripped his back her nails digging into him. She could feel the hard muscles of his chest against her body. Bo ran his hands up along the side of her legs grabbing her thigh when he reached the top. "Fancy Face." Bo cried out as Hope moaned his name her hands entangled in the sheets gripping at them with the overpowering passion that filled her body.
After awhile, they lay spent in each others embrace . Bo kissed the back of Hope's neck as he held her in his arms. "Each time with you just gets more incredible. I love you, Fancy face." They fell asleep in each others arms and slept more peacefully than they had in weeks.